Please help...touring questions (revised)

[CJK]

Hi all!

We're soo excited to be returning to Universal after a 5yr hiatus! I've been reading up on some of the new rides such as Rip Ride Rockit and Simpsons. Our big dilemma, is that we only have ONE day to see both parks!! We're using up an old parkhopper pass which only has one day left. We're staying offsite, so we won't get front-of-the line passes either. We're planning on going on a Sunday near the end of September (the other days of the week are booked up unfortunately, so going on a weekday isn't possible). It is not a HHN day, and we're a party of 2 adults. Anyway, that's the background.

Having been to Universal a fair bit as a teenager, I don't need to see some of the older attractions again (such as E.T. or Jaws), so that helps save us some time for the other attractions. We're also very willing to criss-cross the parks if it makes sense to avoid crowds. I haven't done much of that in my tentative itinerary below, because I'm not sure what routes work better.

We're definitely going for park open, 45min. in advance. Here's my tentative plan:

*Revised Itinerary*
I've been spending some more time reading, and have learned that we should start with IOA first instead, since it gets busier faster. Is that correct? This is the revised plan.

Itinerary

Hit IOA about 45min. before park opening
Switch to Islands of Adventure
Hulk (single rider)
Spiderman (single rider)
Jurassic park River Adventure
Dueling Dragons
High in the sky trolley train (new to us)
Back to Dudley Do-right's Ripsaw Falls (so we get wet at end of day, not during)

Switch to Universal studios
Rip Ride Rockit (single rider line open sporadically throughout the day?)
Shrek
Simpsons
Men in Black (single rider)
Revenge of the Mummy (single rider)
Universal Horror Show

From what I've read and remember from previous trips, the above are the attractions we definitely want to hit. We've already seen most of the shows and older rides in both parks, but if we're doing well for time, we'd also like to do:

Popeye & Bluto's Bilge-Rat Barges
Eighth Voygage of Sindbad
Cat in the Hat
Dr. Doom (single rider)
Terminator 2 3D
Beetlejuice's Review

ANY feedback would be VERY much appreciated!!!!! Am I being unrealistic with how much I want to see/do in just one day? As I mentioned, I'm willing to criss-cross if that saves time. Thanks so much for any input!!!!!

 

[Metro West]

I think that's fine but you need to stick with IOA until you do everything you want to do and then switch to the Studios....switching back and forth wouldn't make much sense. The only problem you might have that would mess your schedule up is the HR3...as you mentioned the single line is open sporadically and you never know if the ride is even operating as scheduled. Just take your time and enjoy yourselves.

 

[macraven]

i agree with Mr Metro.
switching parks might not be to your advantage.
and HR3 might tie you up longer than you want to be.
you could lose a lot of ride time at the studios if you have a good wait for that coaster.

IOA will have more rides open before the official opening time, if they let the guests in early.
so that is a good thing you are starting at IOA.

if you drive, be at the parking lot early. the garage won't be open but if you are near the front of the line to enter, you will be in and parked quickly.
you don't want to be the car 20 cars behind the leader of that line.

you can do a lot when you use the single line.
only issue might be, if it is open.
i have seen the single line not available first thing in the morning on some days. if there are no crowds in the park, that single line might not be available until the regular lines get longer.

I'm sure you will get a lot done in the one day by doing the highlights.

if you have your heart set on the water rides before the park closes, you might be able to do them if you leave the studios side by 4:30 ish and head back to ioa.

sending you mummy dust and hope you get to leave the parks drenched!



i notice Dr Doom is not on your list.......

 

[CJK]

Thank you soooo much for the responses!!!!!! I feel a bit better now about our plan, having gotten input from the pros. I think maybe I'll try for the water rides midday, but will wear a poncho...... I just can't bear the thought of walking around in wet clothes for the rest of the day!!

As for Rip Ride Rockit, I guess we'll play it by ear. I definitely won't be waiting in a long line. Is it worthwhile to keep checking back (if we find ourselves in the area) for the single rider opening up? I admit that I'll be disappointed if I can't ride, but I just can't justify wasting too much time in line (especially since dh won't be riding with me).

I actually love Dr. Doom! My problem is that dh has severe motion sickness and won't be riding 5 or 6 of these rides with me as it is, so I feel guilty adding more thrill rides to the list. I'm actually now trying to figure out what ride/show/attraction dh can do while I'm on the thrill rides. On our last Universal trip, dh was sick the whole time due to his motion sickness, so he's being VERY careful this time. He will do Spiderman/Mummy/DuelingDragons, but that's it for thrill rides.

My new itinerary is:

Hit IOA about 45min. before park opening
Hulk (single rider)
Spiderman (single rider)
Dudley Do-right's Ripsaw Falls (poncho baby!)
Jurassic park River Adventure
Dueling Dragons
High in the sky trolley train (new to us)
Depending on time.....we may add Cat in the Hat, Dr. Doom, Popeye's Barge ride

Switch to Universal studios
Rip Ride Rockit (single rider line open sporadically throughout the day?)
Shrek
Simpsons
Men in Black (single rider)
Revenge of the Mummy (single rider)
Universal Horror Show
While I do RRR & Simpsons, dh may do (Earthquake, Jaws or E.T. depending on time and location)

Does this sound better? Thanks a million!!

 

[damo]

One thing to remember is that ponchos don't really help on the water rides at IOA.


Here's a little info on how the single rider's line works on RRR

The chain is up (closing the line) at the front of the queue if the line is full. If the chain has recently been put down, the single line will be very low. If you are lucky enough to time it right so they just open the line, you should be right at the front. If the chain is down when you get there, you may want to ask how long it has been down for. You could also always go into the line and if it is long, just go back out and try later.

When we were there we waited for the single rider line to open. One it was 30 minutes and then we rode immediately. Once it was 5 minutes and we rode immediately. The other time it was about 20 minutes.

We never got there and had the single rider's line already open. You can always ask as to how long it has been since they closed the line and that should give you an indication of how long you may need to wait for it to open.

 

[macraven]

buy the dh a bag of peanuts and you go on Dr Doom......


what damo said is true, very true.

why don't you wear to the park the quick dry shorts and tops?
some of the shorts you can buy with the built in undies.
you could wear a swim suit top instead of a bra that day.
or just be a rebel and don't wear one...


put a pair of socks in a bag with your shoes and tie it up.
it shouldn't be too big to hang on to. or for the convenience, rent a locker for $8 and store the change of items for the day.

i know you might have to back track to the locker and change after the ride/shoes and socks, but it would keep youse both from being drenched and icky walking around for the rest of the day.



bring along a pair of flip flops/or boat shoes to wear when you ride the water rides.


these are just a suggestion so you can do your water rides in the middle of the day and still feel comfortable later in the day.