How many days at Universal is good for 1st visit??

[dazednconfused]

Question for Universal experts. We'll be making our 3rd trip to WDW in 2012. This time, we want to include a trip to the Dark Side.

We love WDW and pretty much fall into the category of Commando. Knowing this, how many days do you think would be good for a 1st visit to the Dark Side? We're planning for 2 days. A day at each park. Is that enough? How long does it take to tour each park? Would appreciate any advice. Thanks.

 

[Metro West]

Question for Universal experts. We'll be making our 3rd trip to WDW in 2012. This time, we want to include a trip to the Dark Side.

We love WDW and pretty much fall into the category of Commando. Knowing this, how many days do you think would be good for a 1st visit to the Dark Side? We're planning for 2 days. A day at each park. Is that enough? How long does it take to tour each park? Would appreciate any advice. Thanks.

If it's your first visit, you should allow a full day for each park at a minimum. That way you can get the full experience instead of skipping attractions to get everything in.

 

[macraven]

going next year?


i agree with metro but if you go during a high season or holiday time, 2 days might be stretching it in order to see everything or doing repeats.


unless you stayed onsite...



if you go in the summer when the hours are extended, arrive at the park before opening, eat at off times, it can be done.
you would have to time when shows are if you are including them and work around blocked time periods.

but like i said, the time of the year you go could change the opinions you recieve here.

going in slower time periods, yes, 2 days would be fine.
going in spring break, 4th of july, thanksgiving, christmas, summer will have you see crowds.

 

[dazednconfused]

We'll be there early Dec 2012 and staying on-site. Was thinking of exploring CityWalk and the hotel grounds the day we check-in. Then begin our Commando style touring the next day and finish up the day after. What do you think?

 

[kazpaul]

going by posts on this and other forums early dec should be a fairly good time to go,i think there is a parade as well(macys?),your plan seems ok but it will be hard to resist going to a park your first day,a day in each park should enable you to do all the rides and shows 11

 

[Metro West]

We'll be there early Dec 2012 and staying on-site. Was thinking of exploring CityWalk and the hotel grounds the day we check-in. Then begin our Commando style touring the next day and finish up the day after. What do you think?

With unlimited Express for onsite guests, there really isn't a need to go commando. Slow down and enjoy yourselves...this isn't Disney you know.

Make sure you see Grinchmas at IOA and the Macy's Holiday parade at the Studios. There are holiday concerts at the Studios on Saturday nights that are included in your park admission.

 

[macraven]

We'll be there early Dec 2012 and staying on-site. Was thinking of exploring CityWalk and the hotel grounds the day we check-in. Then begin our Commando style touring the next day and finish up the day after. What do you think?

piece of cake.

it can be done going early december.

 

[Queen2PrincessG]

Id say 4 days.

 

[macraven]

i stay 8 days but didn't think the op wanted to be there that long.

 

[dazednconfused]

8 days?! Ahhh... probably not. Even adrenaline junkies might think 8 days is a little much. Unless of course there's lots of down time at the Mandara Spa. A theme park commando at the spa... Imagine that!

Thank you all for your input. There's still time to plan, replan and all that. For now, we're planning for 3 nights at the PBR and 2 full days at the parks. I might extend our trip to the Dark Side a day more though. The rides do seem more thrilling than those at WDW. No flames, please! And yes, we do want to catch the Macy's Parade and the other holiday shows. And we're big Scooby fans. So, we hope to catch the big pooch, Shaggy and the rest of the gang for a photograph!

 

[Samandmom]

8 days?! Ahhh... probably not. Even adrenaline junkies might think 8 days is a little much. Unless of course there's lots of down time at the Mandara Spa. A theme park commando at the spa... Imagine that!

Thank you all for your input. There's still time to plan, replan and all that. For now, we're planning for 3 nights at the PBR and 2 full days at the parks. I might extend our trip to the Dark Side a day more though. The rides do seem more thrilling than those at WDW. No flames, please! And yes, we do want to catch the Macy's Parade and the other holiday shows. And we're big Scooby fans. So, we hope to catch the big pooch, Shaggy and the rest of the gang for a photograph!

I agree that 2 days is good. We just went last week. We bought 4 day hoppers and stayed on site so we had Express pass. We took breaks and our last 1.5 days was repeats.

 

[macraven]

8 days?! Ahhh... probably not. Even adrenaline junkies might think 8 days is a little much. Unless of course there's lots of down time at the Mandara Spa. A theme park commando at the spa... Imagine that!

Thank you all for your input. There's still time to plan, replan and all that. For now, we're planning for 3 nights at the PBR and 2 full days at the parks. I might extend our trip to the Dark Side a day more though. The rides do seem more thrilling than those at WDW. No flames, please! And yes, we do want to catch the Macy's Parade and the other holiday shows. And we're big Scooby fans. So, we hope to catch the big pooch, Shaggy and the rest of the gang for a photograph!

dazed, you will not find the regular homies on the darkside flaming you or others when you give your thoughts and opinions.
it just doesn't happen.

many of us are laid back and are here to help newbies with their questions and plan trips/days. we mainly talk about the darkside but do answer things about the motherland.

you might see someone that will reply to a post in an unkind way if they are someone new to this side of the sun.


we have mummy dust on the darkside and welcome all questions
always remember we are the red headed step children of the dis and we try to be nice and have fun all the time.

feel free to say anything you wish except the things that get you points from the mods...

 

[4greatboys]

You can see it all in 2 days especially if you stay onsite but I would make it 3 so you can go back and hit some of your favorites again and have some down time at the pool.

 

[the Dark Marauder]

Thank you all for your input. There's still time to plan, replan and all that. For now, we're planning for 3 nights at the PBR and 2 full days at the parks. I might extend our trip to the Dark Side a day more though. The rides do seem more thrilling than those at WDW. No flames, please!

Ice is nice.

And yes, we do want to catch the Macy's Parade and the other holiday shows. And we're big Scooby fans. So, we hope to catch the big pooch, Shaggy and the rest of the gang for a photograph!

Scooby and Shaggy are present in the Studios. The others are not. And 2-3 days is the generally recommended time to spend at the parks. That gives you time to see everything.

 

[dazednconfused]

Hahaha. Thanks, guys!! We made our 1st visit to Universal Studios SINGAPORE (USS) just a few days ago. And now we're very hungry for a taste of what US Orlando has to offer!
There's a ride in USS called Battlestar Galactica which is somewhat similar to Fire and Ice. Except only the Cylons have the suspended coaster. The humans have a battleship (the usual coaster car). In Fire and Ice, both are suspended coasters, right? The experience on Cylons and Humans was out of this world! USS also has Revenge of the Mummy. We really liked that too. So see? Now we can't wait to visit get to Orlando! And by the looks of things, we might have to extend our stay!

 

[the Dark Marauder]

Hahaha. Thanks, guys!! We made our 1st visit to Universal Studios SINGAPORE (USS) just a few days ago. And now we're very hungry for a taste of what US Orlando has to offer!
There's a ride in USS called Battlestar Galactica which is somewhat similar to Fire and Ice. Except only the Cylons have the suspended coaster. The humans have a battleship (the usual coaster car). In Fire and Ice, both are suspended coasters, right? The experience on Cylons and Humans was out of this world! USS also has Revenge of the Mummy. We really liked that too. So see? Now we can't wait to visit get to Orlando! And by the looks of things, we might have to extend our stay!

Dragon Challenge (Formerly Dueling Dragons/Fire & Ice) are both inverted coasters, yes.

Also, ROTM is different at each Universal Park. Different story, different coaster experience.

 

[accumax]

I would have to give it 3 days. One park for each day, and a 3rd day to park hop and redo the things you liked the most and to catch any thing you might have missed at either park.

 

[dazednconfused]

I would have to give it 3 days. One park for each day, and a 3rd day to park hop and redo the things you liked the most and to catch any thing you might have missed at either park.

Yeah. I am now thinking we should spend 3 days there too.
I hope things will go smoothly next year and we'll be able to go and fulfill this dream of ours!

Dark Marauder,

Oooooh. ROTM is different at each Universal park?? This is most interesting!! Can't wait to experience it!