Besides Manta and the selling of the parks (which took out the horses), there's really not significant changes to the park. But if you love animals, you just can't get enough of it.
On top of the second day free, they're offering your second day to Aquatica or Busch Gardens now. Instead of getting a readmission ticket on your way out, it's part of your ticket purchase at the booth. But it's on the website, under tickets. Even if you don't think you'll use the second day, go ahead and get it, you might find you'll have time for it.
Universal/Islands of Adventure can be done in a few days max (minus the new Harry Potter). It just rides and shows, which don't change. I even went the week of Christmas last year, and still pretty much got on everything in the park (studios side) in the one day. And to top it off, we didn't get there till almost lunch time. The longest wait was 2hrs for Rip Ride Rock it, which we did last and got off 5 minutes prior to closing.
Animals on the other hand, can be so interesting. And there's so many people to talk to. The trainers and the educators, they all have something new and interesting to talk about. And it's fun to just watch them. Like when some one does the beluga whale interaction tour, it's fun watch them play with the whales. I love going to the penguin talks at 2pm, as to how I got my picture in my signature. I was like a little kid in a candy store finally getting to pet a penguin and see the inside (BTW, I FROZE my little butt off). I used to go two three times a week last winter after work, cause it was too cold for Aquatica. Some days I would ride Manta a dozen times in a row, watch the penguins for 3 hrs, watch the polar bear sleep away the day, watch Believe, and I'd also stand at the dolphin cove waiting for one to come over to touch. Never did get tired of the park.
Definitely give it a go
