Is 1 day 2 parks enough?

[lippylulu]

This is our first trip with our 10 year old daughter. She and I will not be go on very scary turbulent rides. Can we do both parks in one very full day? We are staying onsite at Disney SSR and will have the next day free to rest until 4 pm or so.

We are also hoping to squeeze in Seaworld. How far is Seaworld from Universal or Downtown Disney area?

 

[CPanther95]

If you're familiar with Disney - would you be able to do MGM and MK in one day? If you can, then it might be worth a shot.

No chance of doing both parks and Sea World in one day unless you just want to make an appearance at each place.

 

[Melanie230]

I dont think so. I think you need a minimum of 2 days to do the parks.

 

[lippylulu]

If you're familiar with Disney - would you be able to do MGM and MK in one day? If you can, then it might be worth a shot.

No chance of doing both parks and Sea World in one day unless you just want to make an appearance at each place.

Sorry I should clarify...I meant doing Universal and Islands of Adventure in one day!

 

[Metro West]

Sorry I should clarify...I meant doing Universal and Islands of Adventure in one day!

You could but if you have the time, spend a day at each park...don't rush through it. This isn't WDW so you don't have to be in commando mode.

 

[rodkenrich]

This is our first trip with our 10 year old daughter. She and I will not be go on very scary turbulent rides. Can we do both parks in one very full day? We are staying onsite at Disney SSR and will have the next day free to rest until 4 pm or so.

We are also hoping to squeeze in Seaworld. How far is Seaworld from Universal or Downtown Disney area?

By all means, create an intineary that you can follow. Your intineay must include attractions and shows that you are willing to forego and the ones that are a must see in order for you to accomplish both parks in one full day.

 

[dr&momto2boys]

I dont think so. I think you need a minimum of 2 days to do the parks.

I agree! There is sooo much to do and see! You won't regret spending a day at each park! (We spent 2 days at each park on our last trip.)

 

[Lynne1875]

If you're just going there purely to go on tame rides, then you should have an itinerary to follow definitely.

Which time of year are you going? If you're going in the high season then you should consider using your rest day to do another park. I find you don't enjoy the parks so much if you have to rush them and you may end up tiring yourself out more than you assumed.

 

[lippylulu]

If you're just going there purely to go on tame rides, then you should have an itinerary to follow definitely.

Which time of year are you going? If you're going in the high season then you should consider using your rest day to do another park. I find you don't enjoy the parks so much if you have to rush them and you may end up tiring yourself out more than you assumed.

We are going Oct 6-13. We have never een to Disney so between MK, Epcot, AK, Universal, and MGM its hard to get it all in (not to mention Sea World which would benice too).

 

[Lynne1875]

We are going Oct 6-13. We have never een to Disney so between MK, Epcot, AK, Universal, and MGM its hard to get it all in (not to mention Sea World which would benice too).

During the day in October the crowds tend to be quite manageable, from my own experience. Again, it depends on exactly how much you want to see and do whilst at UO. When I was there in October 2004 you were rarely waiting longer than 20 minutes at most to get on rides. Occasionally there were no lines at all!

Again, speaking from personal experience, I would say you'll need a day each for Magic Kingdom, Epcot & Seaworld. AK and MGM you can do in one day, by starting off at AK first thing in the morning and heading to MGM mid-afternoon (Do not miss Fantasmic at MGM!). The transport at Disney is great (Monorails, buses and boats) so getting between the parks isn't a problem.

You should have time enough for a full day at each Universal Park even if you choose to take a full day each at MGM and Animal Kingdom (If it's seven full days you're going for). This means no rest days, of course!

I would definitely recommend a full day at each of the Universal Parks as there's loads to do!

Do your kids like kiddy rides only or can they go on the more exciting thrill rides?

 

[lippylulu]

Do your kids like kiddy rides only or can they go on the more exciting thrill rides?

Our daughter is 10 years old. She doesn't like to be scared so we would only be doing mild to moderately intense rides. I have a neck injury so I am limited, but noticed there are some Universal Stuidio rides with stationary seats for people with exactly my peroblem. I ws surrised that IOA rides didn't have this option.

Thank you so much for your insight and advice. If we combine AK and MGM into one day it will give us a more flexibility.

 

[disneygal55]

We have always done both IOA and US in one day doing the park hopper option. My husband and sons try to ride all the thrill rides and we still are able to do the regular attractions without a problem. We also do the park hopper option at WDW and are able to do most of the major rides without a problem unless it's a holiday when the parks are crowded. You can go to Universal's and WDW's sites...find what you interests you...and plan an itinerary. Have fun!

 

[damo]

I think people do the parks an injustice by just rushing from ride to ride. There is so much to be seen and after ten years, I am still discovering little jewels that I never noticed before. Universal is so detailed but many people don't take the time to look.

 

[robvia]

Ah, I think it's funny that others are finally starting to repeat what I've been saying. That being, I'm staying at Universal and want to visit the MK and Epcot in 1 day, can it be done?

Not ragging on the OP, but we've been seeing this a lot lately. Disney people always want to try to dip their toe in the water, but only spend ONE day to visit both parks. It can be done, but only if you arrive the parking garage at 8am.

What we usually find, is people who arrive late at 11am, they run into large crowds, don't feel the magic, and go home unhappy. The fact they you're staying at Disney already puts a negative on things. To get the full effect, you have to stay onsite at Universal. We've tried to be nice and explain it, but it's very hard to do without screaming what Disney people are doing is just wrong.

Here they'll stay at Disney for a week taking their time. But to try Universal, they will only take one precious day away from Disney, and cram two parks into one day. It doesn't work. Any little thing that goes wrong, from the walk to the gate, to the way the characters interact, to someone bumping you, to anything, will make your view jaded.

 

[disneygal55]

My family happens to like both US/IOA and WDW...each for different reasons. We have been coming to both for about 20 years(not exactly sure when US opened) and appreciate both for their own merits. I know what my family enjoys at the parks and going to two in one day is effortless for us. There are rides that we don't enjoy and don't waste our time with them...both resorts. We are DVC owners and appreciate staying at them. If you are a Florida resident you have the opportunity to stay longer at each park but most of us have limited time and try to see as much as we can.

 

[PlutoLuvr]

I think squeezing both parks into one day for someone who's never been before would be very, very difficult.

If the scary, turbulent rides are not your family's cup of tea, maybe just concentrate on enjoying the rides US has to offer rather than IOA?

Seaworld is really close to DTD, two or three exits west on I-4, I believe, 10 to 15 minutes in non-rush hour.

Also, only because you said you've never been, Epcot is huge. DH & I have been to Epcot hundreds of times, selectively pick a handful of rides to go on, know the park like the back of our hand, like to enjoy all the countries of the World Showcase, and it still takes us a full day. To see everything and go on all the rides of Epcot for a first-timer would take a day and a half, maybe even two days, IMO.

Seaworld is huge, too. Definitely not a half-day park.

HTH with your planning & hope you have a wonderful vacation

 

[tarheelmjfan]

We are going Oct 6-13. We have never een to Disney so between MK, Epcot, AK, Universal, and MGM its hard to get it all in (not to mention Sea World which would benice too).

Personally, I think you'll need that many days at WDW for a 1st time visit. I also don't think you can do Universal justice by doing both parks in 1 day. If it were me, I'd go to WDW only this trip, then plan the next trip onsite at UO & combine US/IOA/SW in that trip. Whatever you decide, I hope you guys have a great time on your 1st visit to Orlando.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

I think people do the parks an injustice by just rushing from ride to ride. There is so much to be seen and after ten years, I am still discovering little jewels that I never noticed before.

ITA!!! We're going in July & I've already informed my DH & DS that we will be seeing the shows/ live entertainment that we've never seen. I'm embarrassed to admit how many times we've been to the parks & still haven't seen it all.

 

[calgarygary]

I'm going to have to agree with tarheelmjfan. If all you can devote is one day, you would be far better off just making it a resort day or a highlight day at WDW. Many folks will indicate that they think that US/IOA is only a 1 day experience but I can assure you that to fully appreciate the parks, I believe that at least 2 but preferrably 3 or more days are required. Staying onsite at one of the 3 Loews hotels makes it a memorable experience that is very different than Disney. I think you will find that most of your Disney vacation you will be in commando mode moving from attraction to attraction to get the most of your days at WDW. Universal is best savoured, enjoyed slowly at your pace, with full use of fotl from staying onsite. Returning to the hotels for rest or back to the parks or Citywalk is an important part of our onsite stays. Save your visit to when you can devote more time and stay onsite.