Half day at Universal Orlando suggestions?

[d0naldduck123]

My flight is supposed to land at MCO right before noon on a Wednesday, and I am departing on a 6pm plane on Saturday.
I have two full days for US and IOA each on a Thursday and Friday, but I have the 3rd day free ticket, so I need to choose between arrival day and leaving day to spend half a day in the parks.

Going on Wednesday would mean we'd get to the parks in the afternoon and stay there until closing...but that's also after a very early morning getting to the airport (our flight to orlando is at 6:30ish) If we go on Saturday, we'd get the morning+some afternoon before we leave for the airport (plus a parking fee because we'd be checked out of the hotel and would need to leave our bags in our rental car) and it's also the weekend so it would probably be busier.

Would you guys happen to have any suggestions/advice?

 

[dixonsontour]

Are you staying onsite or offsite?

If you have paid to park at the hotel onsite you are good to stay all day even after you have checked out.

My instinct would be to do the Saturday before you fly and use it to do any favorites or things you missed on your 2 full days. You could always visit citywalk to eat on the Wednesday evening (maybe minigolf too)

 

[macraven]

I'm always too excited not to do the parks the first day I arrive

In the past I have car service pick up at 3:00 am and head to the airport
Have a 5:30 am departure for Orlando

Beat tired once I check into the hotel but still hit the parks for part of first day

I found Saturday departures make the airport very busy so if you do parks on your departure day, give yourself plenty of time for turning in the rental car and long and waits for tsa

 

[bchbetha]

I'd do arrival day. I would feel stressed and rushed trying to do it before our flight.

 

[schumigirl]

I would do as long as I can on arrival day too.

You'll have a much more relaxing time on the Wednesday knowing you don't have to get to the airport.......and Saturdays in the parks will be busier generally speaking.

 

[love4wdw]

I would absolutely go on your arrival day. MCO was a nuthouse when we flew home, and it was a Thursday. I would give yourself plenty of time for TSA.

Usually we're so excited even from traveling that we are ready to do *something* on arrival day. If we have enough days for park passes then we do a park. If you have a dual park ticket, I would go into whichever one has a lower wait time for some important things you'd like to do (use the official Universal app -- so helpful), and you can always take the train over to the other park.

 

[elaine amj]

I'd be too excited - my vote is for arrival day Departure day can be for sleeping in.

 

[d0naldduck123]

Thank you for all the comments and suggestions!! Yes I think we could use the sleeping in on departure day!