Can you do both parks in 1 day when they're only open 9-6?

[dozermusic]

I'm trying to decide between a 1 day-1 park or 1 day-2 park ticket.
We'll be going October 1 and the parks are only open 9-6 then.
We're definitely going to US, but IOA isn't too big of a deal if we miss it because my friend doesn't like the thrill rides.
Is US likely to take the entire day or would there possibly be a few hours left to go to IOA if we ride everything at US at least once?
I would consider buying the Express Pass if it would make a big difference too.
Thanks for any help.

 

[MrToad_at_BLT]

I had this same problem back in April. We were able to do mostly everything we wanted to do in both parks, but we did have the Express Pass. I don't think it's possible without it.

You might also want to avoid a sit down lunch, since this took another 45 minutes or so out of our day.

 

[Metro West]

I'm trying to decide between a 1 day-1 park or 1 day-2 park ticket.
We'll be going October 1 and the parks are only open 9-6 then.
We're definitely going to US, but IOA isn't too big of a deal if we miss it because my friend doesn't like the thrill rides.
Is US likely to take the entire day or would there possibly be a few hours left to go to IOA if we ride everything at US at least once?
I would consider buying the Express Pass if it would make a big difference too.
Thanks for any help.

It's not much more to upgrade to the 2 park ticket so you might want to purchase the one park now and upgrade if you find you still want to do IOA. Keep in mind that the Studios usually closes at 5pm...not 6pm on October 1st because of Halloween Horror Nights but the calendar still says 6pm...that's strange. You shouldn't have much of a crowd during the day but in the afternoon, the crowds will pick up for HHN that evening. You should have no problem doing one park w/o the Express pass but if you decide to do both, you might want to purchase the EP for whatever park you haven't done yet.

 

[dozermusic]

Their website showing 9-6 Thursday is why I picked it instead of Friday, as it was going to be originally. So that is unfortunate to hear that both days would be 5PM anyway.
I thought about upgrading if I find I have time for IOA, but didn't think I could if I bought discounted tickets through ticketmaster.

 

[Metro West]

I thought about upgrading if I find I have time for IOA, but didn't think I could if I bought discounted tickets through ticketmaster.

I don't think you can either...I know nothing about the Ticketmaster tickets.

 

[Dertbag]

In May, me and my best friend had the 7 day passes for both parks. We only used 3 days worth of the passes, and we wore BOTH parks out everyday WITHOUT express passes. We would have wasted our money if we bough express passes. The first day, we got there at open, and wore everything out at both parks, and left at about 4. The next 2 days, we got there around 1 and wore it out until close. Without express passes. If you are thinking about getting passes, at least wait until you check out the crowds, that is unless money is not a problem for you.

 

[dozermusic]

I'll definently wait to see the crowds before buying Express Pass. I assume the park shouldn't be too busy then?
Were the parks open late in May or closed early then as well?
It seems like with the 12 or so attractions to do at US, it would take at least 8 hours especially if we want to go on any twice.

 

[Dertbag]

I'll definently wait to see the crowds before buying Express Pass. I assume the park shouldn't be too busy then?
Were the parks open late in May or closed early then as well?
It seems like with the 12 or so attractions to do at US, it would take at least 8 hours especially if we want to go on any twice.

When we went the parks were open from 9-6. I doubt you will want to do EVERYTHING. We did all the major stuff and a few less major things to fill in the gap. I don't know what the crowds will be like, but I doubt it would be as crowded as say a June-Labor Day type crowd. When I say we wore everything we wanted to ride out, we rode Revenge of the Mummy at least 5 times everyday, Dueling Dragons umpteen times, Hulk umpteen times, Jurassic Park right on and right off again. The longest we waited in line was for Simpsons for maybe 30 minutes.

 

[Darcy03231]

I would plan a day for each park. I'm not a thrill ride person and I'll ride everything in IOA except for Hulk, Dr. Doom and Dueling Dragons. I'm the type of person that likes to take my time to see/do as much as possible and not skip over things. Also, if you're rushing from ride to ride you miss a lot of the great theming of the parks. I also like to be able to re-ride my favorite rides and see the shows. One extra thing I will recommend, if you have the time and money, is to see Blue Man Group. It was an amazing show!

 

[macraven]

i could never do both parks in one day.

there is a lot more to the universal parks than just the major rides.



if you took in the shows at both parks, you would have even less time to do the rides you want.



check out the uo website and map out what you want to do in each park.

read thru the descriptions and check out some of the TR and other threads in the forums.
if you can only spend one day for both parks, you might be able to plan a schedule of the items you have to do.

 

[MissionSpace7]

I was just at Universal this past Monday. All we had was a one day, two park pass. We were able to see all the major attractions at both parks in one day. Here are some quick suggestions.

#1: Get to the park EARLY. Be in line at least 30 minutes before 9am, so when they open up the park, you can make a dash for it. Pick a popular attraction to go on first when the lines are minimal in the morning. We did the Simpsons Ride then immediately to Men in Black and had no wait time.

#2: Make use of the single rider line on some of the major rides like the Mummy, The Hulk, and Spider-Man. I had minimal wait time with the Mummy and Spider-Man, and actually rode the Hulk 4 times as there was no one in the single rider line at all. It makes me wonder how many people know the single rider line exists for that ride.

#3: Don't spend alot of time eating at a sit down dinner. Grab a quick burger or something. We ate at the City Walk Burger King in the middle of the day.

#4: Decide what attractions at both parks you want to see before you go. Then, make it a point to see those first and move onto the other ones you are only so so about.

Bottom line, both parks can be done in one day.

 

[Metro West]

#2: Make use of the single rider line on some of the major rides like the Mummy, The Hulk, and Spider-Man. I had minimal wait time with the Mummy and Spider-Man, and actually rode the Hulk 4 times as there was no one in the single rider line at all. It makes me wonder how many people know the single rider line exists for that ride.

Hulk has a single rider line but it's not always open...it depends on the standby wait times. If the standby line is 60 mins or more, they will usually open the line. Believe me...MANY people know about the single lines so maybe you hit when it just opened. If your wait time was under 60 mins, there was a good chance it wasn't open. Same thing with most of the rides at Universal...just because there is a single line, doesn't necessarily mean it will be open.

 

[dozermusic]

I assume if 2 people go on a single rider line, they won't get to sit next to each other?
I feel a little weird riding separately from my friend surrounded by strangers.

 

[Metro West]

I assume if 2 people go on a single rider line, they won't get to sit next to each other?
I feel a little weird riding separately from my friend surrounded by strangers.

You probably wouldn't sit together...maybe in the same ride vehicle but not right beside each other. I used to feel that way too but you know what...once you do it a couple of times you get over it. Single lines usually save lots of time especially if you're riding something multiple times. The only time I ever went through the standy line was my first time or entertaining someone who had not been on the ride.