Harry Potter & Sea World in one day?

[Levenseller215]

Hi -

I've got a free day while staying onsite at Disney.

Traveling with my wife and 2yo. We are not crazy rides or coaster people, but love shows and the easy family rides.

I'd love to see Harry Potter and either walk through the castle queue or actually do the ride - but would skip the other two. Would also like to visit the unique shops.

It looks like my daughter and wife would love the aquatic displays and shows.

Can we visit both in one day?

What order would you go?

What would I miss at SeaWorld? Care to suggest a sample touring plan / idea?

Thanks.

 

[bumbershoot]

I couldn't spend all that money for one day tickets to two parks.

Universal is more than just HP, and you'll be walking through the Suess area to get to HP, which might just catch your toddler's eye. We started thinking about Universal b/c of Wizarding World, but gave it a really solid first visit (4 days) and discovered that it is just chock full of goodness, even if you don't ride the big rides. Our first visit my son was too small or scared, I'm a chicken, and the ride restraints just dno't work with DH's current body. So that first visit was all slower rides (well, I did go on Forbidden Journey by myself). And it was still GREAT!

I personally would pick one or the other and really try to enjoy myself there.

 

[BrinkofSunshine]

I feel like both need to be given their own day. You would be spending about $318 (before tax) on one day of cramming a lot of activities together, and I just don't think it would be much fun.. especially when you'd have to travel from one park to the other. Would you have a rental car? Because you'd add $30 just to park at both places for the day.

I would pick the one that appeals to you and your family the most; the park that you feel like you would get the most out of.

 

[Levenseller215]

Could I 'meander' through Universal and Islands of Adventures in one day - mostly just soaking in the sites and doing 2-3 family rides?

 

[AJA]

For us, it would be too crowded to pay, park, walk to the park through City Walk, walk to the end of IOA for HP, the HP shops are to scale with the movie...meaning small and crowded (can be REALLY crowded) do the trip all the way back to the parking garage, drive to Sea World, pay, park, walk to the gate.....then enjoy SW!

Remember SW is mostly about the animal shows, you have to time your touring around the shows, if you show up mid day it might be impossible to get to more than one of the shows just because of the show times/walking and waiting between shows (at a crowded time you need to enter the stadium at least 20 mins early in order to get a seat, some people show up 45 mins early or more......depends on crowd level and if you want a good seat or not).


IOA has a really great childrens play area. You could take turns with your DD there leaving the other parent free to enjoy the rest of the park and at least ride Flying Journey (it's that good, don't miss it!!!).

Or just wait on HP and enjoy the entire day at Sea World. -remember a two year's attention span, is your DD really going to be able to spend one plus hours sitting on bleachers waiting for the animal shows at SW? One of you may end up missing quite a bit just walking her around when she's bored (my DD would have gotten bored, two is very young to really appreciate and be patient while the animals are performing kwim? Since you don't see most of the animals in your face close....no way at two would my DD have been as awed by them as she was at 7 ). For just a one day visit, would have chosen IOA so we could have an easier touring plan, no animal show schedules.

 

[damo]

You can do it if the parks hours are long enough. I don't think it will be nearly as enjoyable as it should be, though.

 

[Seeker615]

Yikes! I think it would be a huge challenge to try and get to Seaworld and IOA in one day.

A better bet might be to go to Universal and do both of their parks. It's a very easy walk between parks.

There is so much to see at both of them and Universal has a real cute animal actors show and character meetings are so easy at Universal that i think your child would really enjoy it.

 

[Brit_Jude]

Could I 'meander' through Universal and Islands of Adventures in one day - mostly just soaking in the sites and doing 2-3 family rides?

Sounds like a better option to me. Though depending on the crown level it might be hard to 'meander'.

I would think a two year old would get tired, and couldn't keep up with the pace of visiting IOA and SeaWorld. Will your two year old need a quiet place to nap for a while? You don't say what time of year the trip is so the heat might be a factor. The heat can effect kids a lot more than adults, especially if they are not used to being out in it all day. You may find a nice day at your hotel, playing in the pool, relaxing and giving your two year old some downtime is a better option. Disney is such a sensory overload to small kids.

I know it is hard to not try and do everything when in Orlando. However, if it were me I would pick one place and enjoy it with my family. Take a look at the attractions on each of the websites for Universal and SeaWorld and pick out the ones you feel would be best suited to your family and park touring style. There is plenty to appeal to non-coaster riders at each place. There will be other years and vacations to go to the other parks.

 

[DOOM1001]

Sea World requires a minimum of a full day especially since shows are spaced out throughout the day.Since you're not into big thrill rides at Universal but want to do the Potter area I would try to get a 1 day pass to both Universal parks.It'll cost a little more than a 1 day pass to IOA but there will still be more than enough to see and do at both parks.To try and do both IOA and Sea World in one day is pretty impractical because you'll be paying full price to get into two parks,two parking fees,about an hour getting from one park to another and in the end you just won't get much more than a walk through the parks getting a few rides and shows in,for the money you'll be shelling out it won't be worth it.I would either just do a day at Sea World or a day at both Universal parks.