How many days to go??? Universal, Islands, CityWalk..

[marriedmarylander]

I was wondering...Can we get through both parks in 1 day? Are there 1-day park hopper passes for Universal/Islands of Adventure available?

Also, which is the best and cheapest way to travel between Disney and Universal? I heard cabs cost a lot - and especially not beneficial if we end up going more than 1 day... I heard about these transportation companies that take you $70 roundtrip... I know renting a car is cheaper, but then there are parking fees, car rental fees, tax, gas... We are also planning on doing 2 days outside Disney (Universal/Islands, and possibly Discovery Cove or Sear World). SO we'd have to travel outside 2 days... The shuttles that would be $140, would renting a car (even with all the parking fees, etc) be more cost effective?

CityWalk:
Is this something we can skip? If we do one day and try to do 2 parks I'm wondering how tired we would be... If this is a must do and have fun .. we plan to do Disney's Pleasure Island already , so I guess Citywalk is just the same thing?

 

[robvia]

Yes, there's a 1 day ticket, sold at the gate for about $69. For about $40 more, you can get a bonus pass that last for a year with blackout dates. You can do both parks in a day if you get there early.

I tell everyone to rent the car, even if that means paying parking fees and gas. It just gives you more freedom to go where you want.

If you do two parks in a day, you'll be tired and won't care about city walk. It's just restaurants that turn into clubs late at night.

 

[marriedmarylander]

I thought the tickets for 1 day were only for one park though.

We may only do 1 or the other unless we make it 2 days up there.. we will have to sit down and plan it out.

 

[Foladar]

They do have a 1-day 2-park ticket aswell. Thought it was about 74 bucks though.

 

[robvia]

Yeah, it's probably gone up, I don't know the exact price.
If a single day ticket is $60, then I'm sure the 2 park 1 day ticket is about $75.
The Bonus pass is $119, and seems to be the best deal. You get a full year with some blackout dates that happen during the most busy times of the year.

It's really better to do 2 days with the bonus pass. Yes, it costs a little bit more, but then you have a year of access, and can go to both parks on either day.

 

[maui2k5]

I am also thinking about doing Universal and IOA in one day. I will be in Walt Disney World from Sept 22-Oct 1 and planned on going to Universal for one day and IOA for another. However, the more I thought about the rides at IOA, I realized that my girlfriend and I could likely do the major attractions in about 1/2 a day being that we would be going on a Tuesday in late Sept so I would imagine the crowds will be very light. Also, I went to Universal Studios in Hollywood last summer so I would not mind skipping some of the rides such as Back to the Future. Any idea how late the parks would be open in late Sept? Which park to do first? How early would they open? I would also be taking a Mears shuttle from the Swan in WDW over at an early hour to get there for opening...

I was thinking IOA 9 AM-2 PM and Universal 2 PM-7 PM (or closing).

Thanks!