HELP. I don't know the difference

[MeganMango]

Hi all!!

I'm coming to Disney world and staying on property June 24-July 1. I want to do one day at universal as I have never been!

BUT I don't know the difference between Universal Florida, Universal Orlando, and Islands of Adventure! I don't know where to go, as I'll only be there for a day (solo).


I'd like to see Harry Potter World if I can! I have a few questions:

How long are typical rides to these parks? I'll be there solo...

Cheapest place to get a one day ticket? Do I need a "park to park" ticket? (I don't even know what that is...)

Tell me all you know, tips and everything for someone new to Universal!

 

[macraven]

www.universalorlando.com is a good start.

also the stickies will help for finding more about what is in the parks.

i go solo and either use the ep lines as i stay on site or the single rider lines.
both get me on the rides quickly.

park2park tickets for one day has a slight discount.
UO, UT, MapleLeaf, Best of Orlando are some of the sites where you can compare the prices to each other.

 

[rwdavis2]

You will need park-to-park tickets to ride Hogwarts Express between the 2 parks.

 

[Parker Clan]

We do park to park so we can ride the Hogwarts Express between parks. Universal is where Diagon Alley is (Gringotts ride) and IoA is where Hogsmeade is (Forbidden Journey) I cannot speak to wait times for when you are going but when we were there in Aug 2015, we waited 15 mins for Gringotts every time. When we go in Aug is less crowded, so maybe someone who has been during the time you're going can speak to wait times then. We stay on site so we get the express pass. It's so worth it.
Have fun! Universal is the best!!

 

[tinydancer09]

Universal Orlando Resort (UOR) is the entire resort as a whole: Both parks, all the hotels, and I guess city walk too. (Kind of like WDW includes all the parks and hotels)
Universal Studios Florida (USF) is one park. Diagon Alley, London, MIB, Rip Ride Rockit, ET, Horror Make Up Show, Mummy, Animal Actors, Krustyland (Simpsons)
Islands of Adventure (IOA) is one park. It has Hogsmeade, Suess Landing, Super Hero Island(Marvel), Toon Lagoon, Skull Island (Kong), and Jurassic Park

You've been to Disney right? So all those areas in Islands are kind of like all the different areas in Magic Kingdom. The areas are all specifically themed to their sections and then when you go to a new area the theme completely changes so you're immersed into it. USF Is a little less HERES A THEME, except in the Potter and Simpsons area.

To go between USF and IOA you will need a two park ticket. You can either walk between the two parks or ride the Hogwarts Express.
If you only buy one park one day ticket you cannot ride the hogwarts express and you must choose which park. If you get in there and decide you want to upgrade you can go to guest services, but that can take up some vital time and it's not that much more just to get the P2P ticket, right?

 

[SharkyGoddess]

Reiterating advice... If you are only going one day it would benefit you to get the PTP (park-to-park) ticket and add on an express pass. As mentioned, you should visit the UO website and make a list of your 'must do' rides and get those out of the way early. Hogwarts and Diagon Alley will take a huge chunk of your day, as their are no express lines and there is just so much to see, but seeing both parks and riding the rides is definitely doable.

 

[bumbershoot]

Hogwarts and Diagon Alley will take a huge chunk of your day, as their are no express lines and there is just so much to see, but seeing both parks and riding the rides is definitely doable.

Flight of the Hippogriff and Dragon Challenge have Express Pass lines.

 

[SharkyGoddess]

Flight of the Hippogriff and Dragon Challenge have Express Pass lines.

I was referring more to Gringott's and Forbidden Journey