How to schedule these 2 days

[Mary.Poppins]

We will be in Orlando with a large group Thursday March 8 and
Friday March 9.
125 kids and 12 adults. We'll be in Orlando for the Showchoir Fame competition on Saturday March 10 at the Hard Rock Live Theatre located at Universal Studios.

We are scheduled to be at WWoHP in Islands of Adventures on Thursday from 3:30 - 7:15. And scheduled to be at Islands of Adventures on Friday from 10:00 - 5:45 (have to be at bus by 6:00). I am one of the chaperons for this group but would like to suggest to my kids a good plan. I have been to WDW many times and ALWAYS plan our schedule. Never been to WWoHP or Universal. Have to say this is VERY hard for me to not have control over the timing.. LOL!!! MY DD is very used to knowing how to get through the parks so is finding this schedule a bit annoying as well. We are staying at the Double Tree by Hilton at the Entrance to Universal.

So, is Universal different from Islands of adventures? Can you go to both parks on one tickets? Just a bit confused on the whole Universal adn Islands of Adventures whole park thing... Now ask me about Disney and I know everything!!

Any advice? All would be helpful.
Thanks in advance!!

 

[mesaboy2]

Universal Orlando is comprised of two theme parks: Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure (IoA). Their front gates are less than a five minute walk apart. You can purchase tickets for one park per day or two parks per day (what Disney would call a 'hopper')--guess which one is more?

As for WWoHP (what Disney would call a 'land' and is within IoA), it is best experienced either in the first couple of hours or the last couple of hours of any given park day. The middle part of the day tends to be crowded on all but the most lightly-attended days.

 

[zack123]

The previous poster is right, if you want to visit both Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure, you will need either a two-park ticket, or plan to visit a different park each day. The parks are a short walk apart, so doing them both on the same day is possible.

I suggest that you look at the Universal Orlando website to see the attractions for both parks and think about what you are going to do, and then decide which tickets you want to buy.

As for your touring plan, I have a question:

How old are the students, and will they be required to stay in a group with a chaperone at all times, or will they have time to wander off and do their own thing?

If the students will be allowed to explore the park on their own and check back with chaperones throughout the day, I wouldn't worry too much about giving them a strict plan. I don't remember ever once following the adult's suggested plans during a junior high/high school field trip.

If your plan is to send an adult with a small group, perhaps ask them which attractions they want to see and try to group them that way. Not everyone may want to ride Hulk, Forbidden Journey, Dragon Challenge, or some of the other big thrill rides.

 

[Mary.Poppins]

Since this is an event sponsored by National Showchoir Championship Series, we don't have a lot of control over our schedule. We will be at IoA on Thurs March 8 from 3:30-7:00. Then we have a sponsored dinner at the Hard Rock Cafe for all of the competing groups.
Then we return to IoA Friday, March 9 from 10:00- 6:00.

How can we plan our day to hit the most attractions? The kids are high School age.

We're staying at the Doubletree by Hilton Hotel at the entrance to Universal Orlando. Is the City Walk walking distance to this hotel?

 

[macraven]

welcome back mary poppins!!
good to see you here again.

i checked on the dates for what the epp would cost and it looks like low crowds for your two dates in the parks. ($25.99 for ioa, $19.99 for studios)

you posted above me that both days will be spent at ioa.
i'm sure the kids will have enough time to hit everything in the parks.
tell them to utilize the single rider lines when possible.
that will cut time in line waits if that happens.

have them go to the uo website and write down the places they want to see and rides/shows they have to do.

also, tell them to pick up the park guide map when they enter the park.
they can check show times, events, etc on it.
they can also use the map for directions in the park.

have them bring a change of clothes and rent a locker if they plan to go on the water rides those days.
it looks like you have a busy schedule and don't know if you will be back at DT anytime after the parks.

from your hotel to city walk could be about a 15 minute walk.
it all depends on how fast of a pace the teens have.


i hope your group wins first place in the contest!!