Itinerary Check - 1 Day 2 Park Strategy with Early Entry

[wareagle57]

I'm trying to figure out the best touring strategy for a 1 day trip we've got coming up. It is a group of 6, all guys in late 20s/early 30s and in good shape so a long tiring day with a lot of walking back and forth. But most are first timers. I've always done both parks in one day and done pretty much everything I wanted, but it's been a few years and we will be there on a Mardi Gras Concert Saturday. (March 2). TP says it will be a level 6 but I'm preparing for the worst. I want to know if this is feasible or if you would do anything differently.

According to my travel agent, buying their tickets through them get us early entry even though we won't be staying on site. So I know we want to start and end at Universal since it opens before and closes after IOA. Currently I have 2 thoughts on how I should approach opening. My understanding is there is no guarantee Mummy or Rip Ride Rocket will be open during EE. Minions is not a priority but if we can fit it in at the end of the night we may. Though I'd rather get rerides on RRR. My main issue is with how to make the most of the Early Entry hour if Gringotts is the only thing running. It would be nice to knock out as many rides as possibly from 8-11.

So I think we should go straight to Gringotts, then double back to try and hit RRR and Mummy before Islands open at 9. Obviously it would be better to do this in the other order and catch the HE just before IOA opening. I want them to experience the HE, especially from US to IOA so I'm thinking instead of walking over to island, we need to double all the way back over to Diagon Alley and do that. Does the HE start running right at 9, or will it run at say 8:55 to get you there by 9? If neither RRR or Mummy open before 9, then maybe just stay in DA and explore/do Olivanders while waiting for the train.

I then hopefully want to knock out FJ, Kong, Spider-Man, and Hulk before the waits build. I'm thinking this will hopefully be possible to do in the first 2 hours (9-11). Then the only thing left in IOA we would be interested are the water rides, which I assume won't have bad waits that early, and possibly rerides on Hulk and FJ with single rider. If we do all of that, it would probably be 1 by then, maybe 12 if we skip a couple things.

Then grab lunch and take a couple of hours to explore both HP sections and do Olivanders. Maybe a show? While we are doing this I'll grab virtual returns for FatF and Fallon (not sure if you can get both at the same time), and do MiB a few times while we wait for one or both of those. That just leaves Simpsons and ET, neither of which should have terrible lines I wouldn't think. Maybe I'm being too optimistic, but I feel like all of that could be done by 6:00, which leaves a 3 hour cushion for things going worse than expected, or if not to re-ride things.

Do you see any ways to improve my plans? I know walking between parks would probably be faster, but I don't want to spend early hours exploring DA/Hogwarts while the lines are low and so it seems more immersive to take the HE back and just explore both sides while we rest in the middle of the day.

I also know basically nothing about food options and any other shows we might should check out during the middle of the day crowds, so any suggestions there are welcome. Though I think lunch in Hogsmead or DA is probably best since most are HP fans.

I know this is long, so thank you for reading. Any advice is much appreciated! Priorities are: 1. All HP rides. 2. Hulk. 3. RRR. 4. Mummy. 5. Kong. 6. Spider-Man 7. MIB several times. We also have no problem splitting up in single rider for the rides that offer it.

 

[bchbetha]

My suggestion is to move lunch to 11:30. Other people eat later so you’ll have shorter eating lines/ meal will take less time then everyone else will be eating at noon+ so ride lines will be a bit shorter.

 

[bobbie68]

Hi I agree with pp move lunch to about 11:30, we do this every visit and eat at the HP worlds. After that the lunch crowds pick up.

I have heard from some people and I experienced in the summer that the Mummy has been open for early entry. I would walk by that when you go into the studios early and see. You might want to go on it and then head over to Diagon Alley and go right onto Gringott's. You can explore around after then get in line for HE to go over to IOA. We usually head over for HE about 9:00 but I believe it starts at 8:50 or 8:55 boarding. I don't know if you can get passes for JF and F&F at the same time. I have always had express pass. I would check to see as you are walking in if they have the machines open to get a return time.

When you go over to IOA by HE you might want to consider going to Kong first if that is a priority. This ride is consistently busy all day. I heard that the single rider line closes when it gets busy. You could keep going and do Spider Man and Hulk then circle back up to Hogsmeade or you could head back to Hogsmeade after Kong and do FJ and anything else there have lunch then do the rest of IOA..

If you choose to do Kong and the other two before Hogsmeade you might have a little more crowds in HP. I always have express pass so outside of HP lands early for crowds I don't worry about the other rides.

I would do everything in IOA once you are there in the morning and have lunch then take the HE back over to the studios mid afternoon, or walk then do everything there. Even though the parks are close you still use time going back and forth multiple times. I don't do water rides in the parks so I can't comment where and if to fit those in.

It sounds like a fun trip!

 

[SPAM]

I'm trying to figure out the best touring strategy for a 1 day trip we've got coming up. It is a group of 6, all guys in late 20s/early 30s and in good shape so a long tiring day with a lot of walking back and forth. But most are first timers. I've always done both parks in one day and done pretty much everything I wanted, but it's been a few years and we will be there on a Mardi Gras Concert Saturday. (March 2). TP says it will be a level 6 but I'm preparing for the worst. I want to know if this is feasible or if you would do anything differently.

According to my travel agent, buying their tickets through them get us early entry even though we won't be staying on site. So I know we want to start and end at Universal since it opens before and closes after IOA. Currently I have 2 thoughts on how I should approach opening. My understanding is there is no guarantee Mummy or Rip Ride Rocket will be open during EE. Minions is not a priority but if we can fit it in at the end of the night we may. Though I'd rather get rerides on RRR. My main issue is with how to make the most of the Early Entry hour if Gringotts is the only thing running. It would be nice to knock out as many rides as possibly from 8-11.

So I think we should go straight to Gringotts, then double back to try and hit RRR and Mummy before Islands open at 9. Obviously it would be better to do this in the other order and catch the HE just before IOA opening. I want them to experience the HE, especially from US to IOA so I'm thinking instead of walking over to island, we need to double all the way back over to Diagon Alley and do that. Does the HE start running right at 9, or will it run at say 8:55 to get you there by 9? If neither RRR or Mummy open before 9, then maybe just stay in DA and explore/do Olivanders while waiting for the train.

I then hopefully want to knock out FJ, Kong, Spider-Man, and Hulk before the waits build. I'm thinking this will hopefully be possible to do in the first 2 hours (9-11). Then the only thing left in IOA we would be interested are the water rides, which I assume won't have bad waits that early, and possibly rerides on Hulk and FJ with single rider. If we do all of that, it would probably be 1 by then, maybe 12 if we skip a couple things.

Then grab lunch and take a couple of hours to explore both HP sections and do Olivanders. Maybe a show? While we are doing this I'll grab virtual returns for FatF and Fallon (not sure if you can get both at the same time), and do MiB a few times while we wait for one or both of those. That just leaves Simpsons and ET, neither of which should have terrible lines I wouldn't think. Maybe I'm being too optimistic, but I feel like all of that could be done by 6:00, which leaves a 3 hour cushion for things going worse than expected, or if not to re-ride things.

Do you see any ways to improve my plans? I know walking between parks would probably be faster, but I don't want to spend early hours exploring DA/Hogwarts while the lines are low and so it seems more immersive to take the HE back and just explore both sides while we rest in the middle of the day.

I also know basically nothing about food options and any other shows we might should check out during the middle of the day crowds, so any suggestions there are welcome. Though I think lunch in Hogsmead or DA is probably best since most are HP fans.

I know this is long, so thank you for reading. Any advice is much appreciated! Priorities are: 1. All HP rides. 2. Hulk. 3. RRR. 4. Mummy. 5. Kong. 6. Spider-Man 7. MIB several times. We also have no problem splitting up in single rider for the rides that offer it.

I just signed up for a year subscription to touringplans.com universal Orlando access. It helps you make detailed plans step by step where you check off all you want to do and where you want to eat for how long. I haven’t figured out if you can make a 2 park plan but on the days I was planning on hoping I just made two plans for the same day (like 8am-2pm and 2pm-close). It might be something to look into if you guys want to hit so much.

 

[wareagle57]

I'm still torn on the idea of trying to get over to Islands to hit up 2 rope drops. I just feel like if Mummy isn't open during EA, only getting ONE ride in from the early hour and Rope Drop is not that great. And the lines I'm most worried about building are Kong and Hulk. I would imagine if I RD Islands we could hit Hulk really quick and get to Kong before it's much of a wait.

 

[wdwshelby9]

Can I ask how buying tickets from your travel agent gets you early entry? I have asked this before and the response has always been you must be staying onsite to get early entry.

 

[wareagle57]

Can I ask how buying tickets from your travel agent gets you early entry? I have asked this before and the response has always been you must be staying onsite to get early entry.

I have no idea how this works. I assume Universal just gives certain travel agencies this perk for selling their tickets. I was skeptical about it, but sure enough on my invoice it says it includes early admission. Of course I will still be nervous until I show up at the gate and they let me in. I thought they checked for hotel keys.

 

[Nsaudra]

I'm guessing you are staying at a partner hotel that gets you in early.... it's too bad your not staying at a lowes hotel you get free express passes.
Three broomsticks family feast gets you the most food for the money. It's on the islands side.