Never been to Universal

[Patricia1]

We've ever been to Universal Studios and are researching trying to figure out which park to visit. Couple of questions for Dis U.S. experts please
1) if you have one day, which park would you visit ? (I love Harry Potter, DH & DD9 not so much, but they like amusements parks.)
2)I looked through pricing on their website, which is the best option?
2) how far from DW resorts?

Thank you!

 

[RMulieri]

If you love Harry Potter you would need to visit BOTH parks.There is Hogsmeade in Islands of Adventure and Diagon Alley in the Studios with the Hogwarts express connecting the 2 parks( meaning you need a park to park ticket to ride).If you are only interested in one area and the kids are big on rides, then I would go with Islands of Adventure.I would take a look at the UniversalOrlando.com site and see which rides or shows you may be interested in

 

[Metro West]

We've ever been to Universal Studios and are researching trying to figure out which park to visit. Couple of questions for Dis U.S. experts please
1) if you have one day, which park would you visit ? (I love Harry Potter, DH & DD9 not so much, but they like amusements parks.)
2)I looked through pricing on their website, which is the best option?
2) how far from DW resorts?

Thank you!

If you are only allowing a single day tickets won't matter. There is no discount on single day admissions so whichever park you're looking at will cost the same as the other. You'll have to decide which park holds more interest for you. We all have our favorites but you'll have to make your own decision. Disney is roughly 15-20 miles from Universal depending on where you are starting on Disney property.

 

[Patricia1]

Thanks much for the advice and ideas... Now to make a choice?!

 

[DOOM1001]

Both parks have Potter now,Universal will be the busier park in the next year or so with the new Potter section going in there.Islands of Adventures has more outdoor rides,coasters and drop towers(Hulk,Dragon Challenge,Flight of the Hippogriff,Dr.Doom),water rides(Dudley Do Right,Popeye and Jurassic park) along with two movie simulator rides(Spider man and Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey) with Universal having more indoor attractions based on movies with simulator technology,3-D movies and shows (Despicable me,Transformers,Shrek, Terminator,Simpsons,Twister,Disaster)a dark ride shooting ride(Men in Black), two dark rides/coasters(Revenge of the Mummy and the new Gringotts ride) with one major rollercoaster(Rip,Ride Rockit).I think to do Universal you need at least 2 days minimum in the slower months or 3 in busier months but if you could only do one day I would have to go with the original Universal park as it's the park that has the latest additions.Islands of Adventure is still a must do but you could come back when they open the new King Kong ride.As far as distance between the Disney resorts and Universal,it's about 12-13 miles on I-4 and about a 20-25 minute drive without traffic.

 

[Patricia1]

Both parks have Potter now,Universal will be the busier park in the next year or so with the new Potter section going in there.Islands of Adventures has more outdoor rides,coasters and drop towers(Hulk,Dragon Challenge,Flight of the Hippogriff,Dr.Doom),water rides(Dudley Do Right,Popeye and Jurassic park) along with two movie simulator rides(Spider man and Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey) with Universal having more indoor attractions based on movies with simulator technology,3-D movies and shows (Despicable me,Transformers,Shrek, Terminator,Simpsons,Twister,Disaster)a dark ride shooting ride(Men in Black), two dark rides/coasters(Revenge of the Mummy and the new Gringotts ride) with one major rollercoaster(Rip,Ride Rockit).I think to do Universal you need at least 2 days minimum in the slower months or 3 in busier months but if you could only do one day I would have to go with the original Universal park as it's the park that has the latest additions.Islands of Adventure is still a must do but you could come back when they open the new King Kong ride.As far as distance between the Disney resorts and Universal,it's about 12-13 miles on I-4 and about a 20-25 minute drive without traffic.

Thank you for the info, sounds like you've been there a time or two