IOA and Universal in one day?

[jplee3]

Hey all,

So we'll be at Universal Orlando with a 1-day parkhopper on 2/14 (ugh, I think it'll be crazy but we have no other options really).

Any strategies on what park to visit first? IOA?

I haven't been to Universal Orlando probably since my elementary years so I really have no idea what to expect. We didn't get the express passes or anything either.

 

[Silock]

It depends on what you want to do.

Here's what we did on Thursday:

IOA "rope drop"

Harry Potter Forbidden Journey (x2)

Dragon Challenge, each side once

Hulk

Spiderman

Lunch at Citywalk

Transformers (single rider)

Mummy (x4)

Rip Ride Rockit

Left about 3:00

Now, we skipped a LOT, but we don't have children, either. Could have done Simpsons, MIB, and maybe a couple of other things, but it wouldn't have put us at the park past about 5:00 if we had.

 

[jplee3]

It depends on what you want to do.

Here's what we did on Thursday:

IOA "rope drop"

Harry Potter Forbidden Journey (x2)

Dragon Challenge, each side once

Hulk

Spiderman

Lunch at Citywalk

Transformers (single rider)

Mummy (x4)

Rip Ride Rockit

Left about 3:00

Now, we skipped a LOT, but we don't have children, either. Could have done Simpsons, MIB, and maybe a couple of other things, but it wouldn't have put us at the park past about 5:00 if we had.

Thanks! We definitely want to do the Harry Potter and Transformers rides. Really, we want to just do as much as we can.

Right now, we're planning on visiting Disney World on 2/12-13 but since the tickets are open-ended, we could divide up our time anyway we want (e.g. visit Universal/IOA on 2/12 and Disney on 2/13-14). I'm starting to wonder which way we should go with this to really maximize. I've been looking at this crowd calendar, which people say is pretty on target, for Disney: http://www.easywdw.com/calendar/february-2014-walt-disney-world-crowd-calendar/

They actually recommend 3 out of 4 parks on both 2/13 and 2/14 where only 2 parks are recommended on 2/12. If that's truly the case, and if this guy is as accurate as people say he is, I'm wondering if it's best to do Universal on Wednesday then.

Thoughts?

 

[Silock]

Thanks! We definitely want to do the Harry Potter and Transformers rides. Really, we want to just do as much as we can.

Right now, we're planning on visiting Disney World on 2/12-13 but since the tickets are open-ended, we could divide up our time anyway we want (e.g. visit Universal/IOA on 2/12 and Disney on 2/13-14). I'm starting to wonder which way we should go with this to really maximize. I've been looking at this crowd calendar, which people say is pretty on target, for Disney: http://www.easywdw.com/calendar/february-2014-walt-disney-world-crowd-calendar/

They actually recommend 3 out of 4 parks on both 2/13 and 2/14 where only 2 parks are recommended on 2/12. If that's truly the case, and if this guy is as accurate as people say he is, I'm wondering if it's best to do Universal on Wednesday then.

Thoughts?

The crowd calendar was totally wrong for us last week, but as long as the crowds are "low," it shouldn't matter too much. Universal just doesn't really get THAT crowded.

 

[RMulieri]

The crowd calendar was totally wrong for us last week, but as long as the crowds are "low," it shouldn't matter too much. Universal just doesn't really get THAT crowded.

Universal CAN get that crowded, it just Depends on when you go..I went in late August and waits were up to 90 mins for Despicable me , Transformers, Forbidden Journey and Spiderman.Crowds calendar had it listed as low crowds.Easter week last year people were reporting packed parks.Christmas week 2012 , parks at Universal closed to capacity.Like I said it all depends on when you go, and with all the park improvements and additions Universal is doing over the next few years, I would anticipate the crowd levels to increase

 

[RMulieri]

I would do IOA first, Hit Ollivanders wands ( if it interests you) than Forbidden journey.From there Hulk, spiderman.Over at the Studios, Despicable me for some reason always has longer waits , so I would do that than Transformers

 

[jplee3]

The crowd calendar was totally wrong for us last week, but as long as the crowds are "low," it shouldn't matter too much. Universal just doesn't really get THAT crowded.

Were you using easywdw's calendar? Or one from Touringplans or UndercoverTourist?

How would you anticipate the Universal Crowd to be this Friday, being that it's Valentine's Day? I'm assuming crowd-size will almost always be lower compared to most of the parks at Disney World...

 

[RMulieri]

Crowds are predicted as moderate/average .If you check out the price of the Express pass it is a good indicator of crowds.The price goes up with the projected crwods.For the 14th , the price is $39.99 per park or $45.99 for both..they start at $29 for low crowds

 

[Silock]

Were you using easywdw's calendar? Or one from Touringplans or UndercoverTourist?

How would you anticipate the Universal Crowd to be this Friday, being that it's Valentine's Day? I'm assuming crowd-size will almost always be lower compared to most of the parks at Disney World...

I used easywdw and tp.

 

[jplee3]

I used easywdw and tp.

Thanks guys! Helpful tips. So I noticed there seems to be two camps regarding the whole Extra Magic Hours topic.

Camp 1 says to go ahead and take advantage of the early morning extra magic hours because it's usually the late night ones that draw the crowds anyway and you can get more done with the extra morning hour.

Camp 2 (e.g. easywdw) says to avoid any park with any extra magic hour because it will inevitably draw out huge crowds from the people at the Disney resorts. I see the psychology behind this too.

So who's right?!

 

[damo]

There are always some days to avoid that get crazy crowded when you don't expect it ... like Fridays in May with school groups. We've been there on the February holiday weekend and we were glad we had the unlimited express pass.