One day Two Parks

[chinhk]

We plan to do both the Universal Studio and Islands of Adventure in one day. Is that possible at all?

We have been before two years ago but visiting this time mainly for the Harry Porter attractions but would also like to do the simpsons and mummy rides again.

Our visit date would be wed (11th Sept). What's the crowd like in Sept and should we consider the express plus ticket?

 

[braddillman]

It depends on your definition of 'do', doesn't it?

You can have a fun-filled entertaining day and see some highlights, but you won't go on every ride and eat at every restaurant.

What do you want to do, or what do you expect to do in 1 day/2 parks?

On my last visit in 2011 (mid-Feb), on our last day we 'did' both parks - just hitting our favourites and highlights. A last-day-all-you-can-ride blowout. We had the flexpass and this was the last day of 2 weeks, we'd already see and done everything in both parks before that last day.

I've been in mid-Sept, one of favourite times to go to USF/IoA, it's not busy at all, I recommend it. I'd still go that time if not for my 3 kids in school. I'd recommend against purchasing the express pass, lines are short that time of year.

The reason I felt compelled to answer here is, I see this sort of question over and over again. If you race through the park to cross ride off a list, are you enjoying your vacation or accomplishing objectives? Just MHO. Would you be better off relaxing by the pool and having a nice dinner instead?

 

[macraven]

your date sounds like a winner.
low crowds in the park type of day.


i agree with the poster above me.
if your plans are only to hit certain rides by criss crossing park to park, it can be done.


but, you will miss all the other things that can be enjoyable and amazing in the parks.


never buy the express pass in advance.
wait until you are in the park to make that decision.
they are non refundable, date and park related.

 

[Metro West]

I wouldn't do two parks in a single day at either Disney or Universal. They all deserve to be savored and enjoyed...not rushed through.

 

[RMulieri]

It is possible to hit the HILIGHTS of each park in one day.But not everything.USF is alot of shows, and during the off times the shows run on a less frequent basis and very often at the same time.Some of the attractions are long too.Example-Disaster is one of the long ones..

 

[rebelzrule]

I don't know what the crowds are like during that time, but ego every year on the Thursday a week after Thanksgiving, and do both Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure in one day and have plenty of time to ride all of the rides multiple times. We have 2 young kids (3 & 5). We start at Islands of Adventure and go straight to WWOHP. Ride the small roller coaster about 4 or 5 times, then go through the Forbidden Journey ride.

We then make our way through the rest of the park riding the kids rides at Suess Landing multiple times, as well as the Spiderman ride a couple times. We usally stop for a late lunch and hit Universal Studios at about 1:30 do pretty much everything there until it closes at 6, and then back to IOA for one more hour of our favorite stuff. I have never felt rushed, and never felt like we missed anything.

 

[mamabear0222]

I don't know what the crowds are like during that time, but ego every year on the Thursday a week after Thanksgiving, and do both Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure in one day and have plenty of time to ride all of the rides multiple times. We have 2 young kids (3 & 5). We start at Islands of Adventure and go straight to WWOHP. Ride the small roller coaster about 4 or 5 times, then go through the Forbidden Journey ride.

We then make our way through the rest of the park riding the kids rides at Suess Landing multiple times, as well as the Spiderman ride a couple times. We usally stop for a late lunch and hit Universal Studios at about 1:30 do pretty much everything there until it closes at 6, and then back to IOA for one more hour of our favorite stuff. I have never felt rushed, and never felt like we missed anything.

This is good to know. We will have 2x5 yr olds.... we are only interested in the kids rides.....

Sent from my Samsung S3 using DISBoards

 

[chinhk]

Many thanks for all your replies.

We don't expect to go on every rides or see every shows at both parks. The main reason for us to visit this time would be because of WWOHP. Good to know that the date that we are going will be less crowded.

So at the Islands of Adventure, we plan to do the WWOHP, spiderman and jurassic park adventure. As for the Universal Studio, the simpsons ride and revenge of the mummy are all we wanted.

Any additional rides on other attractions would be a bonus but we don't count on that.

 

[glocon]

Sounds like a lot of $$$ for 7 rides. I wouldn't do it.

 

[RMulieri]

Keep in mind that the Simpsons expansion and the New Transformers ride will ALSO BE OPEN in Sept..May be worth a look.

 

[LINYMOM]

I don't know what the crowds are like during that time, but ego every year on the Thursday a week after Thanksgiving, and do both Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure in one day and have plenty of time to ride all of the rides multiple times. We have 2 young kids (3 & 5). We start at Islands of Adventure and go straight to WWOHP. Ride the small roller coaster about 4 or 5 times, then go through the Forbidden Journey ride.

We then make our way through the rest of the park riding the kids rides at Suess Landing multiple times, as well as the Spiderman ride a couple times. We usally stop for a late lunch and hit Universal Studios at about 1:30 do pretty much everything there until it closes at 6, and then back to IOA for one more hour of our favorite stuff. I have never felt rushed, and never felt like we missed anything.

This is great to know! Our kids will be 4 & 7 and I think they will enjoy a lot of the rides and characters at both but most of our vacation is taken up by Disney. We will only have one day to do all this. I think I will plan it for the middle of the trip though and not the last like I originally planned. Might be too much for the last day.

 

[chinhk]

Keep in mind that the Simpsons expansion and the New Transformers ride will ALSO BE OPEN in Sept..May be worth a look.

Thanks for the info, we will definitely keep an eye on the opening of the new transformer.

The tricky part now is that which part should we visit first in the morning.
We are actually staying at WDW and have only one day at Universal. We initially planned to go to the Islands of Adventure for WWOHP first thing in the morning and then off to the Studio in the afternoon.

But with the opening of the new transformer, I'm worried that the queue would be very long if I can only be at the studio in the afternoon.