How much time to spend in Universal?

[Mickey_fan_4_life]

Hi everyone,

My mom and I are big Disney fans. We have never even thought about going to Universal before - didn't want to waste Disney time! But, I've finally read the Harry Potter books and am hooked. Now I have to go to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter!

For our next WDW vacation, we have seven and a half park days. We will definitely be using one day at IOA with a focus on Harry Potter. We're having a hard time deciding between doing 1 park 1 day ($85 each), 2 parks 1 day ($120), or 2 parks 2 days ($130). Some background on us. We don't like big rides, which is part of the reason why we have avoided Universal before this. My mom has a muscle problem, so I'll be pushing her in a wheelchair. I'd hate to lose extra Disney time, but part of me feels like if I'm going to Universal I should see both parks. I'm sure I would also like regular Universal more since that one doesn't have the thrill rides as much. Although, I would probably also be content to just spend the full day in the Harry Potter section of IOA. It seems to do it all both parks might make sense, but then the price increase for an extra day is so small that maybe I should do the 2 parks 2 days. But, then that's an extra day of transportation costs to add on. Also, Mardi Gras will be on while we're there, so we could use the second day ticket to go to that.

I'm just so confused, as you can tell, so any opinions would be great. Thanks!

 

[nytimez]

What do you mean by "big" rides? Thrill rides? Can you give me an example of Disney rides you can do -- for example, if you can do "Dinosaur" at AK you can do the Mummy at US... if you can do Rock n Roller Coaster, you can probably do any of the US coasters.

If all of those are out of the question, then yes -- you will have some real limits at US/IoA and one day would really be enough to hit everything you'd enjoy and the second day IMO would be unnecessary.

 

[Mickey_fan_4_life]

Thanks for the advice!

We don't do any roller coasters. We stick to the smaller rides at WDW and like the shows/parades/fireworks. I'd say the biggest ride we do is Soarin'. I won't do Rock n Roller Coaster, Expedition Everest, Splash Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain, Space Mountain, Mission Space, etc.

 

[nytimez]

Thanks for the advice!

We don't do any roller coasters. We stick to the smaller rides at WDW and like the shows/parades/fireworks. I'd say the biggest ride we do is Soarin'. I won't do Rock n Roller Coaster, Expedition Everest, Splash Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain, Space Mountain, Mission Space, etc.

Honestly, I'm not even sure Harry Potter will be right for you unless you just want to see the land. You may not like any of the three attractions there, including the small "kiddie" coaster.

Sure, it's a nice land to see -- I'm not even a Potter fan and I love the place. But considering the cost of going there, it would stink to pay all that money and not be able to go on any of the attractions (and not enjoy them if you did go on them).

 

[RMulieri]

Honestly, I'm not even sure Harry Potter will be right for you unless you just want to see the land. You may not like any of the three attractions there, including the small "kiddie" coaster.

Sure, it's a nice land to see -- I'm not even a Potter fan and I love the place. But considering the cost of going there, it would stink to pay all that money and not be able to go on any of the attractions (and not enjoy them if you did go on them).

2nd..Forbidden journey ( the main HP ride in Hogwarts) is pretty intense ,Dragon challenge is an intense roller coaster and Flight of the hippogrif is on par with goofys barnstormer.That is it for rides in Harry Potter.There is the walk through of the castle and the short show at Ollivanders and throughout the day the Frog choir and Triwizard pep rally are going on, but that is really it.As for the rest of IOA, alot is thrill rides .Universal has more shows, but again has some thrill rides as well.

 

[Belle83]

If you aren't going to go on any rides, I would do 2 parks / 1 day. I would start with Harry Potter at IoA, and then head over to Universal to see the shows/special effects things. You may enjoy some of the rides at Universal (like Men in Black). If you don't go on most rides, there won't be a lot to do for you at IoA.

 

[macraven]

i don't know your dates for the trip but on an average day, you could spend up to 4 hours in the parry hotter section taking in all the sites.
at a slow pace that is.


also, park hours are different for times of the year.
if you are going in the fall, it would be a rush day trying to do both parks completely.

 

[Mr Toad was Framed]

If you aren't going to go on any rides, I would do 2 parks / 1 day. I would start with Harry Potter at IoA, and then head over to Universal to see the shows/special effects things. You may enjoy some of the rides at Universal (like Men in Black). If you don't go on most rides, there won't be a lot to do for you at IoA.

i agree with belle... IoA's main appeal (other than harry potter now) is the thrill rides. if you dont ride those or the water rides you can basically walk right through to harry potter and spend half the morning there. Then head over to universal for the afternoon and check out the shows and attractions. again youll be skipping some of the busier lines if you dont like thrill rides. I enjoy both universal parks but there is less theme and atmosphere to enjoy than compared to disney so a day will probably be ok.

 

[SharonS]

Have you ever done any of the simulators, such as Star Tours or Body Wars? Forbidden Journey is similar, but actually moves, and it is pretty intense. It is also really amazing. If you get motion sick, I would take Bonine.

As far as the parks, I agree with some others, IOA will not hold a lot of interest with the exception of the Harry Potter section. Basically, there are only about 2 other things for you to do there: Sinbad show and the Atlantis walk thru. The theming and architecture in the park is really amazing though...it is worth walking through the entire park.

for the most part, I think you will enjoy the Universal Studios side better. There are many shows and mild attractions. I think you would be able to do the following there: Terminator show, ET Ride, animal actor show, Beatle Juice Graveyard review, blue brothers show, Shrek 4D, Disaster, Twister, maybe Men in Black (similar to Buzz Lightyear in concept). Overall, I enjoy the US side better than IOA and spend more time there.

If you are planning on being there from open to close, I would do 2 park 1 day.

 

[Metro West]

If you are planning on being there from open to close, I would do 2 park 1 day.

I would agree with this.

 

[cindy373]

we have a similar situation of only planning 1 day, but thought going to Harry Potter would be ok. We really don't do the thrill rides either, but mainly because we have little children.
At IOA, do they have some attractions for little ones? I thought maybe so, so didn't plan on going to US also that day.
now i'm doubting myself.-- thanks.

 

[RMulieri]

we have a similar situation of only planning 1 day, but thought going to Harry Potter would be ok. We really don't do the thrill rides either, but mainly because we have little children.
At IOA, do they have some attractions for little ones? I thought maybe so, so didn't plan on going to US also that day.
now i'm doubting myself.-- thanks.

Seuss landing at IOA has kiddie rides.There is Carosseusal ( a carousel) ,One fish two fish ( a dumbo type ride where you get wet),High in the sky trolley( an elevated train ride over Seussland) ,The Cat on the HAt ( a classic dark ride)There are also 2 playgrounds at IOA...Camp Jurassic in Jurassic park and If I ran the zoo over in Seuss landing

 

[heidi8]

If you have little ones (under 8 or 9, really) plan to spend some time in Curious George's Ball Factory - mine love it and can spend an hour or so collecting balls and throwing them at each other. It's adorable.

My kids - all 5+ - love the Hippogryff roller coaster and Woody Woodpecker's Coaster, too. They're mild enough that if you've done Goofy's Barnstormer at Magic Kingdom, you'll be fine with them.

 

[RMulieri]

If you have little ones (under 8 or 9, really) plan to spend some time in Curious George's Ball Factory - mine love it and can spend an hour or so collecting balls and throwing them at each other. It's adorable.

My kids - all 5+ - love the Hippogryff roller coaster and Woody Woodpecker's Coaster, too. They're mild enough that if you've done Goofy's Barnstormer at Magic Kingdom, you'll be fine with them.

Just to be clear Curious George and Woody Woodpecker are at Universal studios, not at IOA(The one poster asked about IOA kid rides)

 

[Metro West]

Seuss landing at IOA has kiddie rides.There is Carosseusal ( a carousel) ,One fish two fish ( a dumbo type ride where you get wet),High in the sky trolley( an elevated train ride over Seussland) ,The Cat on the HAt ( a classic dark ride)There are also 2 playgrounds at IOA...Camp Jurassic in Jurassic park and If I ran the zoo over in Seuss landing

You only get wet if you don't follow the song.

 

[RMulieri]

You only get wet if you don't follow the song.

well until round 3 when all bets are off..LOL..I swear that song was BURNED In my brain the whole trip since my daughter and I rode it 4 times...the last day it was chilly and we really followed the song till the last part and then got wet

 

[trist]

I just recently got back from my first Orlando trip and did both IOA and Studios in one day. I personally enjoyed both parks as much as Magic Kingdom, but that's from a riders POV. I am not a roller coaster rider either. Though I was trying to get my feet wet for the first time on some of the smaller ones on this trip. But if even the little ones are not for you, then I think it might be best to not go. There is a lot to see at Universal, like their theater shows for Shrek 4D and Terminator both of which I'd recommend, but I'm not sure it's worth the money just to see those couple of min. shows. I'm also a major Harry Potter fan, and so you shouldn't miss seeing his section of the park. There are lots of shops there to wander around in, though they are crowded. And for some reason the area seems to be a bit of a resting spot for people in the park. Honestly just crowds of people all sitting around, not doing anything. I actually thought it was kinda strange.

But unless you can get on the Harry Potter ride, you'll definitely be missing the real reason to even go there. And it most definitely is worth it. It's a simulator, but it does move around inside a building. It's somewhat thrilling, but really it's not scary. I rode it twice and would have loved to go on again. But it does sound like you've decided on IOA just not Universal. So if you've checked out their line up of rides and checked out youtube videos of them and can honestly say "nope....not for me", then I'd skip that park.