RunDisney + Universal - it's all new to me!

[tacey]

So, my sister talked me into doing the RunDisney 5k with her in February (2015). I'm totally excited - she's run several 5ks, but none with Disney, and my husband and I will run our first there. Should be lots of fun! We've decided, though, that we want to spend most of our time at Universal - the Harry Potter areas first, but as much as we can manage.

Our basic schedule looks like this:
• Arrive Thursday 2/19, check into a Disney resort, visit a favorite park, and attend the mandatory pre-run Expo.
• Friday o'dark hundred, run a 5k. Should be back to the rooms by 9.30am to clean up and change. Head to Universal, probably arriving in time for a quick lunch.
• Saturday much like Friday, since my sis is running the 10k. Likely reach Universal in time for lunch again.
• Sunday is all Universal until sis leaves to catch her Magic Express ride about 2.

Obviously with the races, we won't be able to get to Universal for rope drop on Friday or Saturday. Sunday is possible, but we'll be on the tired side by then. What's our best strategy to include as many rides etc as possible on these three partial days? What are the must-do's, if we can't do it all? Do you think we'll need a park hopper ticket, or just the basic 1-park per day access?

Sorry for the massive question list - I'm feeling pretty out of my element here!

 

[damo]

So, my sister talked me into doing the RunDisney 5k with her in February (2015). I'm totally excited - she's run several 5ks, but none with Disney, and my husband and I will run our first there. Should be lots of fun! We've decided, though, that we want to spend most of our time at Universal - the Harry Potter areas first, but as much as we can manage.

Our basic schedule looks like this:
• Arrive Thursday 2/19, check into a Disney resort, visit a favorite park, and attend the mandatory pre-run Expo.
• Friday o'dark hundred, run a 5k. Should be back to the rooms by 9.30am to clean up and change. Head to Universal, probably arriving in time for a quick lunch.
• Saturday much like Friday, since my sis is running the 10k. Likely reach Universal in time for lunch again.
• Sunday is all Universal until sis leaves to catch her Magic Express ride about 2.

Obviously with the races, we won't be able to get to Universal for rope drop on Friday or Saturday. Sunday is possible, but we'll be on the tired side by then. What's our best strategy to include as many rides etc as possible on these three partial days? What are the must-do's, if we can't do it all? Do you think we'll need a park hopper ticket, or just the basic 1-park per day access?

Sorry for the massive question list - I'm feeling pretty out of my element here!

I'd take a good look at all the information on www.universalorlando.com

They have lots of good little videos and descriptions of all the rides.

If you want to ride the Hogwarts Express, you will need a park to park ticket.

 

[tacey]

Thanks for the link - I've read the TouringPlans descriptions but haven't watched any vids yet.

How much of a problem is our late arrival going to be? I think that's the part I'm most concerned about, since we're going to be coming about lunchtime. Are we stuck with 2-hr lines (really, I'm not up for that!) or do things wind down later in the evening? Is there anything that we won't be able to do at all, arriving so late?

 

[damo]

Is that President's Week? If so, it will be busier than normal. If not, you'll be fine! Remember that the Universal parks close much earlier than the WDW parks. It is more like Disneyland hours. You can go backwards in the calendar to see what hours were like last year.

Only Gringotts and Despicable Me will probably have long lines.

 

[tacey]

It's the weekend following President's Day. Medium crowds, I guess? I'll verify the hours before I do any more planning. Thanks!