Can you help me organize these attractions to get through them in one day?

[Belle5]

My DS13 and DS7 have never been to USF although DH and I went a couple of times with our older sons. None of us have ever been to IOA. Just the four of us are going to WDW in February and we have decided to go to both these parks for just one day. We have one day hopper tickets for USF and IOA. We are not into Harry Potter, but would like to walk through and see everything and ride the Forbidden Journey. From reading my guidebook, it sounds as if we would be good candidates to visit WWHP late in the day since it's not a big deal to us.

We are not roller coaster people...the main reason we usually don't prioritize USF/IOA. We have chosen attractions we are interested in and wondered if some of you USF/IOA experts could help us prioritize our attractions.

Here are the things we would like to do all in one day, if possible:

USF
1.Possibly the Simpson's ride (never watched the show...would we even enjoy?)
2.) Men in Black
3.) Jaws
4.)Disaster
5.)E.T.
6.)Shrek
7.)Possibly Jimmy Neutron (should we rent the movie...never saw it, is it worth it?)
8.) Twister
9.)Terminator
IOA
1.) Forbidden Journey and just time to wander around WWHP
2.) Spiderman
3.) Cat in the Hat
4.) (If warm) Jurassic Park
5.) High in the Sky Seuss Trolley Train
Eat something at Circus McGurkus

If you don't think we can do all these things on a weekday near Valentine's Day, we could take these off the list: Simpson's and/or Jimmy Neutron.

TIA for any direction you can give us about our day!

 

[Metro West]

You won't be able to do all of those attractions at both parks in a single day. There's just too much to do so you would probably be better off doing one park. The wild card is WWoHP...it depends on the crowds. If it's really busy and you decide to wait in line, you won't be doing much of IOA. If it's slow...which it hasn't been...then you would be able to spend some leisure time at WWoHP.

I think what you should do is decide which attractions you REALLY want to do and then decide which park you want to tackle. The Studios hasn't been extremely busy but you'd still have a problem seeing the whole park.

 

[Belle5]

Really? That's so disappointing...

Well, we only have one day...so I need to cut some attractions. If the parks close at 6 pm the day we are there I was hoping to arrive at IOA (WWHP) around 3 pm. We really aren't wanting to do THAT much at IOA...I would say we could even drop it pare it down to Forbidden Journey(with a little time to walk around WWHP) and Spiderman.

Obviously, it would be easy for us to drop Simpsons and Jimmy Neutron over at USF.

I know it's value season during our dates over at WDW. I was hoping that might translate to smaller crowds at IOA/USF, as well...helping us to see the highlights (to us) in both parks in just one day.

 

[tara lynn]

We did both parks in one day on Tuesday and we were able to ride the following: Forbidden Journey, Flight of the Hippogriff (twice), Cat in the Hat, Seuss Trolley, Spider-man, The Simpsons Ride, Jimmy Neutron, and Men in Black. We definitely could have gone on a lot more things if we didn't spend so much time in the WWOHP area (our main reason for going) and we also spent a lot of time eating and strolling through shops. We're not big thrill ride people so WWOHP was really the only reason we got the 2-park tickets. There were some things we wanted to do in USF that we unfortunately didn't get to, but that's our own fault.
I think you might be able to do everything you want to if the crowds are reasonable.

and for what it's worth, I have never seen anything Jimmy Neutron related in my life and I really enjoyed the ride.

 

[SarahWeasley]

If you've never seen The Simpsons and your time is limited, I really don't think you should have any qualms about missing that one. You might still enjoy it but you'd be missing 90% of the value.

 

[ms1031]

We were there Monday, Jan 10th, arrived at 8:15 and got in line for 9:00 opening.

Went straight to Forbidden Journey and rode with 10 minute posted wait time. By the time we got off and walked around the area for about an hour, the wait was up to 50 minutes.

Dragon Challenge, single rider, 5 minute wait. (Stand by was 15 minutes)

Next to Jurassic Park, 10 minute wait.

On to Spiderman, 10 minute wait.

Hulk, did single rider line, 10 minute wait. (Stand by line 20 minutes)

Lunch at Hard Rock Cafe, 1 1/2 hours out of the day.

Over to US, Rip Ride Rockit, single rider line, 10 minute wait. (Stand by line 35 minutes)

Mummy, single rider, 5 minute wait. (Stand by line 20 minutes)

About to ride Jaws when they closed ride for lightning in area.

Over to MIB, single rider, no wait. (Stand by line 15 minutes)

ET, 10 minute wait.

Back to Jaws, no wait.

Back to IoA, shopping in WWoHP.

Forbidden Journey, single rider, 15 minute wait. (Stand by line was 70 minutes)

Forbidden Journey again, single rider, 10 minute wait.

Cat in the Hat, no wait.

More shopping at front of park.

Left the park at 4:30 to head back to Disney.

We could have done SO much more if we'd wanted. IoA was scheduled to close at 7:00. US closing at 6:00.

If you and your kids are willing to utilize the single rider lines, you'll save so much time when the stand by lines are 20 minutes or more.

 

[the Dark Marauder]

Here are the things we would like to do all in one day, if possible:

USF
1.Possibly the Simpson's ride (never watched the show...would we even enjoy?)
2.) Men in Black
3.) Jaws
4.)Disaster
5.)E.T.
6.)Shrek
7.)Possibly Jimmy Neutron (should we rent the movie...never saw it, is it worth it?)
8.) Twister
9.)Terminator
IOA
1.) Forbidden Journey and just time to wander around WWHP
2.) Spiderman
3.) Cat in the Hat
4.) (If warm) Jurassic Park
5.) High in the Sky Seuss Trolley Train
Eat something at Circus McGurkus

Here's what *I* would do, based on the possibility of 9-6 park hours and you only wanting to hit specific rides. You can always use the single riders lines to save time.

Option 1: IOA Start
-Be at gates by 830 for 9am opening
-Head directly to WWOHP, go through single riders for Forbidden Journey (unless line is under 20 mins)
-Go through the Castle Tour Line of FJ (chance to walk through the castle at your own pace)
-Get a butterbeer from the Hog's Head Pub (shorter lines!) and wander around a bit. If the shops are too crowded, you can return later.
-Exit WWOHP near Jurassic Park and ride River Adventure (if it's cold, ignore this statement)
-Ride Spider-Man (use single rider line if available and over 20 min wait posted)
-Ride Cat in the Hat
-Ride Seuss Sky Trolley
-Eat at Circus McGurkus (if you want; there are better options)

Your Time Goal for this is between 12-1pm

-Head to USF
-See Terminator
-Ride ET
-Ride MIB (use single riders if line is >20 mins)
-Ride Jaws
-Experience Disaster
-See Twister
-See Shrek

Your Time Goal for this is 4-4:30pm

-Head back to IOA
-Spend the rest of your time exploring WWOHP again

Option 2: USF Start
-Be at gates by 830 for 9am opening
-See Jimmy Neutron
-See Shrek
-See MIB
-See Jaws (opens at 10)
-See Twister (opens at 10)
-See Disaster (opens at 11)
-See Terminator
-See ET (opens at 11)

Somewhere in there you should have lunch at one of the eateries. Louie's, Lombard's, and Finnegan's are all very popular and very good.

Your Time Goal for this is between 130-3pm

-Head to IOA
-Ride Spider-Man
-Ride Cat in the Hat
-Ride Seuss Sky Trolley (if pressed for time, skip Cat & Sky Trolley)
-Go into WWOHP and go to Forbidden Journey. Use the Single Rider Line if the wait is >20
-Go through the Castle Tour Line
-Get a butterbeer from the Hog's Head Pub
-Wander around WWOHP until park close

 

[Belle5]

ms1031--Thanks for the encouragement!


the Dark Marauder--I will follow one of your plans! Thank you for taking the time to help me...I can't tell you how much I appreciate what you've done!

 

[NPD]

Yes, I think you could definitely get all of those done in one day. To me, Universal doesn't get crowded much at all these days, except for WWHOP of course.

I read through dark Marauder's post, I like his Option 2 where you start at USF first. For me, I always get minimal waiting times which is mostly walking through the castle with no stopping as I'm about to get on Forbidden Journey during the afternoon.

And for Butterbeer, you must get one, I prefer the liquid over the frozen, but both very good.

 

[torinsmom]

Single rider lines can definitely help you get all that done. If you decide to do Simpsons, I would go there first. That ride has a long line after the beginning of the day and there is no single rider line. SOme people are a little leery of putting a younger child through as a single rider, but if you send one adult first, then the kids, then the other adult. That way kids are not alone except for the actual ride.

 

[twinkleman]

I think you can get it done in one day also - the key will be getting there early for park opening. We visited in November and other than the WWOHP, crowds were very low. I think that either of the Dark Marauder's plans would work. And re: the Simpson's and Jimmy Neutron rides, they are worth doing even if you don't watch the shows. My sons, 6 and 10, LOVED both rides. Both boys have seen a few Jimmy Neutron cartoons, but weren't big fans, and neither of them had ever watched a Simpsons cartoon, but loved the rides. Both are really well done. Good luck on your trip!

Oh and @Dark Marauder - thanks for the trip plan! We are going back with my parents in late March and since we were just there and spent lots of money in November, I really didn't want to buy more than 1-day ticket to Universal. Your plan is great! Going to try to get my muggle parents to "buy in" to it!

 

[Planogirl]

I get exhausted just reading these plans! Kudos to those who can get all of that done in one day. I can see it being possible since the wilder rides are left out.

One thing, be sure to read the estimated wait time boards when you enter a park. They aren't necessarily exactly accurate but they give a good sign as to where most people seem to be. When we go Disaster seems to give us the biggest hassles at the Studios with the wait times being all over the place. Shrek can get a little backed up too sometimes but hopefully not during this quieter period.