How many days is good?

[disneyfor5]

First time going to Universal with my family. Won't be staying a full week but what is a good amount of days to cover the parks? Is one day in each park enough time? Thanks for any info!

 

[bchbetha]

4 if doing Volcano Bay, 3 if just the main parks is good for my crew. Park to park tickets are a must for us.

 

[DisneyMom93]

First time we did Universal 3 days with Park-to-Park tickets was more than enough. We did one day at each park for the first two days, and then 1/2 day each park the last day. And that included a weekend (Friday through Sunday). However, my girls weren't old enough to go on Hulk, Ripride Rocket, or Doom at the time. Not sure how much time those add. However, we did a lot of the rides several times each. I think we did Spider-man six times in one day. My girls also spent a long time playing in the water play areas. We did have Express Pass though. Not sure if it makes a difference, depending on what time of year you go, I guess...

 

[DisneyMom93]

If you don't get a lot of replies there are several other threads asking this same question...

 

[bobbie68]

Hi I agree with bchbetha!

 

[skier_pete]

Honestly 3 days with park-to-park should be plenty unless a very crowded time of year. we are doing 4 days but not buying park to park so giving ourselves 2 days in each park (3rd trip) but also it's memorial day weekend so thinking the crowds will be high.

 

[Silvermist999]

If you have limited days with express passes then 2 days should be enough if you stay at the park from open to close. 3 days would be ideal. We had the 2+2 park to park tickets along with express passes but we always left in the afternoons to go back to swim at our onsite resort, returning in the evenings. We sat on most rides multiple times and felt satisfied we did everything we wanted to in those 4 days.

 

[keishashadow]

OP you’ll get answers ranging from 2 days to 2 weeks

Are you doing a split trip between U & WDW or focusing on U?

If staying onsite in one of the resorts that offers EP, i’d Suggest 2 nights minimum to allow for pool time & 3 semi-full days in parks. It is a much less frentic experience at Universal with this advantage.

If offsite, your experience will be different, no matter if you purchase EP or not. Make sure to rope drop.

 

[Sue M]

It depends on how you like to tour. If you’re a park open to close person, or like a more relaxed style touring with mid day breaks back at your resort. Do you like to linger in areas to take it all in?
Our last time we had a 3 day park to park pass, and volcano bay wasn’t open yet. I found it rushed just to get in 2 parks in the 3 days, with a not long enough afternoon pool break in August!
So for us, if just doing the 2 parks I’d want a min of 4 days, add in volcano bay 5 days.

 

[EmJ]

It depends on how you like to tour. If you’re a park open to close person, or like a more relaxed style touring with mid day breaks back at your resort. Do you like to linger in areas to take it all in?
Our last time we had a 3 day park to park pass, and volcano bay wasn’t open yet. I found it rushed just to get in 2 parks in the 3 days, with a not long enough afternoon pool break in August!
So for us, if just doing the 2 parks I’d want a min of 4 days, add in volcano bay 5 days.

I’m not OP, but can I get your opinion on the half-day schedule? My family (me, DH, and our five-year-old) will be there five days. We will have early entry, but no EP and not visiting Volcano Bay. I’m thinking 8:00-1:00/1:30 in the parks each day, including lunch, back to the resort until 5:00, and then 5:00-7:00 for dinner and some of the evening stuff like the Hogwarts lights.

My personal style is to commando my way through the parks, and while my DH is game, I don’t want to overtax my kid. Does this seem about right? Too much still? Or, conversely, not enough time in the morning?

 

[macraven]

Check the park hours if you plan on going back to the parks at 7 pm

Park hours vary based on dates

 

[EmJ]

Check the park hours if you plan on going back to the parks at 7 pm

Park hours vary based on dates

Right, I wasn’t clear. I meant going back from 5:00 until 7:00, h

Check the park hours if you plan on going back to the parks at 7 pm

Park hours vary based on dates

Right, sorry, I wasn't clear. I meant going back starting at 5:00 until 7:00. It looks like at least one park should be open until 7:00. Kiddo will need to be in bed by 8:00, so we wouldn't stay out later even if the parks were open.

 

[Sue M]

I’m not OP, but can I get your opinion on the half-day schedule? My family (me, DH, and our five-year-old) will be there five days. We will have early entry, but no EP and not visiting Volcano Bay. I’m thinking 8:00-1:00/1:30 in the parks each day, including lunch, back to the resort until 5:00, and then 5:00-7:00 for dinner and some of the evening stuff like the Hogwarts lights.

My personal style is to commando my way through the parks, and while my DH is game, I don’t want to overtax my kid. Does this seem about right? Too much still? Or, conversely, not enough time in the morning?

Sounds reasonable to me. I may head back to parks around 4ish. That’s leaving for park, at 4.
As Macraven noted, it doesn’t hurt to check out park schedule before hand too.