One Day or Two?

[NickyKnack]

Hi - first time to Universal (then we're off to Disney).
But I'm trying to figure out whether to book one or two days at Universal.
Here are our details.

2 adults no kids
Onsite hotel with Express Pass
May 3 2014 ish

And this is what we want to do in each park:
(Any advice?)

Islands of Adventure

Rides
ET
Men in Black
Despicable Me
Shrek 4
Terminator 3D
Twister

Shows:
Beetle Juice
Horror Make Up Show


Harry Potter

Rides
Forbidden Journey

Shops
Dervish & Bangs
Honeydukes
Ollivanders
Zonkos


Meal: Three Broomsticks

Universal

Rides
The Amazing Spiderman
Jurassic Park

Shows
Posidon

 

[MEK]

Well, if you book one night you get your Express pass from the time you check in straight through checkout day. That's potentially two park days there. I think I'd do a two day ticket if you are not pressed for time.

 

[NickyKnack]

The problem is we're driving up so I wont get there until late on arrival day.
If the parks close around 7 I don't think I'll have enough time to even do the 3 things I want to do in the studios that day.

Well, if you book one night you get your Express pass from the time you check in straight through checkout day. That's potentially two park days there. I think I'd do a two day ticket if you are not pressed for time.

 

[MEK]

The problem is we're driving up so I wont get there until late on arrival day.
If the parks close around 7 I don't think I'll have enough time to even do the 3 things I want to do in the studios that day.

I see. Then I would probably do two park days so you didn't feel rushed. That's just me. I'm sure others might have a different opinion.

 

[RMulieri]

2 days.1 per park..

 

[Metro West]

2 days.1 per park..

 

[NickyKnack]

Really? 1 full day just to do the 3 things I picked in Universal? That seems like a bit of over kill. Two days for IOA if the crowds will be bad maybe - but one whole day for Universal, where if you read my list, there is next to nothing I want to do?

2 days.1 per park..

 

[wiigirl]

I see. Then I would probably do two park days so you didn't feel rushed. That's just me. I'm sure others might have a different opinion.

 

[RMulieri]

Really? 1 full day just to do the 3 things I picked in Universal? That seems like a bit of over kill. Two days for IOA if the crowds will be bad maybe - but one whole day for Universal, where if you read my list, there is next to nothing I want to do?

The shows are the rate limiting step for Universal.Beetlejuice often starts at 1230 ish IIRC.If you want to try and cram it in one day , by all means do so, it can be done if you are just doing certain things.We do 5 days and have a blast.But we tour leisurely and do everything

 

[KorbensMomma]

I think you will probably need at least 1/2 day to do the 6 things you listed for universal. And by then transformers will be open in case you wanted that one also. I would figure 20-30 mins per ride, there are usually a few people also in line, nothing like the regular line but I would figure 10 mins for walking thru the que and waiting (5 que 5-10 wait) then 10 mins to load, ride and exit.

Some things take longer like terminator which is show with a time schedule. Also there is usually a wait at Shrek since it is a movie.

I would do 1 day each park. If possible I would do 1 night and 2 day 2 park ticket so you can jump back and forth between if you need to finish up a park.

 

[NickyKnack]

Hon I couldn't do everything if I wanted to.
The things listed above were all approved over an AllEars as those things a "hefty" girl could reasonably pull off. I'm pretty sure I wont fit on most of what Universal has to offer.
As it is I'm trying really hard to get down to a size 22 so that I can ride FJ.

And even if I do manage to lose enough weight by May, my mom probably shouldn't be on the more intense (Mummy, the Hulk ect) anyway.

And another bit of me being honest despite being embarrassed - I can't afford Universal the way I can Disney. Universal is actually more expensive for me. (Mostly because I can stay at the French Quarter instead of a deluxe on Disney Property and still get all the perks.) I might be able to pull off two nights at US if I had to - but it would be a big bite out of our vacation money.

The shows are the rate limiting step for Universal.Beetlejuice often starts at 1230 ish IIRC.If you want to try and cram it in one day , by all means do so, it can be done if you are just doing certain things.We do 5 days and have a blast.But we tour leisurely and do everything

 

[NickyKnack]

Unless the US website confused me I didn't pick six things - I picked 3. Spiderman, Jurrasic Park & Posidoen's Fury (Which I'll probably skip anyway).
No desire to see the Transformers movie, much less ride the ride.

Actually the more I talk the more I think I'll just skip Universal Studios all together and stick with Islands of Adventure.

I think you will probably need at least 1/2 day to do the 6 things you listed for universal. And by then transformers will be open in case you wanted that one also. I would figure 20-30 mins per ride, there are usually a few people also in line, nothing like the regular line but I would figure 10 mins for walking thru the que and waiting (5 que 5-10 wait) then 10 mins to load, ride and exit.

Some things take longer like terminator which is show with a time schedule. Also there is usually a wait at Shrek since it is a movie.

I would do 1 day each park. If possible I would do 1 night and 2 day 2 park ticket so you can jump back and forth between if you need to finish up a park.

 

[KorbensMomma]

Almost all the rides/show you have listed are at universal studios

 

[Akwafunk]

You've got the parks/rides muddled. also, as others have said, the shows happen on a set schedule, you may burn through a lot of time waiting for the next show time.


Universal Studios

Rides
ET
Men in Black
Despicable Me
Shrek 4
Terminator 3D
Twister (wouldn't bother)

Shows:
Beetle Juice
Horror Make Up Show


islands of Adventure

Harry Potter

Rides
Forbidden Journey

Shops
Dervish & Bangs
Honeydukes
Ollivanders (do this first, otherwise you will wait an hour in line, 2 in peak times)
Zonkos

Meal: Three Broomsticks

The Amazing Spiderman
Jurassic Park

Shows
Posidon (wouldn't bother)

 

[NickyKnack]

Thank you so much for this - I thought I had it divided the way the website said they were - not sure where I went wrong.
Now - how on earth am I going to afford a two day pkg?

You've got the parks/rides muddled. also, as others have said, the shows happen on a set schedule, you may burn through a lot of time waiting for the next show time.


Universal Studios

Rides
ET
Men in Black
Despicable Me
Shrek 4
Terminator 3D
Twister (wouldn't bother)

Shows:
Beetle Juice
Horror Make Up Show


islands of Adventure

Harry Potter

Rides
Forbidden Journey

Shops
Dervish & Bangs
Honeydukes
Ollivanders (do this first, otherwise you will wait an hour in line, 2 in peak times)
Zonkos

Meal: Three Broomsticks

The Amazing Spiderman
Jurassic Park

Shows
Posidon (wouldn't bother)

 

[Akwafunk]

:

You're welcome. It's hard to pick between them, which I guess is the pôint. From their perspective anyway.

 

[RMulieri]

You can save money by booking Cabana Bay resort ( no express pass though)

 

[NickyKnack]

Wouldn't that kind of even out then? Spend money for two days there and get less done because there's no pass or spend one day onsite and get through more per day with express?

You can save money by booking Cabana Bay resort ( no express pass though)

 

[hermionesnape]

I would book 1 night on site. If driving down you won't arrive until the evening don't waste a park ticket and stay some where near universal but not on site.

Day one:
On your first day in the park get up early and check into an onsite hotel for one night (before parks open). You will be able to print your fast passes and gain early entry to which ever park you got to day one.

Day two:
Get up early to check out and store your luggage in your car. Your fast pass and early entry are still valid until park closing the day you check out. Have fun at the 2nd park.

Fyi - your dates just might fall into the soft opening for phase 2 of HP. Usually reserved for on site guest and ap holders. (At leaat that is what happened for phase 1).