Universal in one day?

[MellyBeans]

Hi all! I'm a Disney addict who has never been able to break away from my Disney vacations to see Universal even though I'm also Level 10 obsessed with Harry Potter. We will be at Disney for only 3 nights this January. Because we will have a car this time (primarily a Florida Beach vacay, with 3 nights set aside for parks), I'm considering spending 1 day at universal primarily to see Harry Potter. I'm not into the big thrill rides. Like I said, I mostly just want to see HP, and maybe do some of the tamer Universal attractions. Is one day enough? Or should I just book a Universal hotel for one night (to get Express Pass) and budget 2 days? I'm nervous about cutting into precious Disney time... but I have wanted to see HP for years and feel like this could be a good opportunity. Do you think 1 day at $175 a pop is worth it? Seems so steep to me! I think it's kinda shady they put HP in both parks to make you get their park-to-park at $70 MORE for one day just to see it all. Like I get it, but that's a pretty steep cost for our family for one day. Do you think I could see most of what I want in one day without EP? Thoughts?

 

[bchbetha]

2 days!! Try something new! Thst second day will be great so you won't feel like you missed anything. You can watch sunset in Hogsmeade, play on Knockturn Alley and try all the versions of Butterbeer.
When in January are you going? Sapphire Falls and Cabana Bay will give you early entry and no EPs- that could be ok. Bring on site is really nice. If budget allows one of the other hotels, go for it.

 

[Allie B]

Yes! In November we covered both parks in one day including HP attractions and spending time going in diagon alley shops. If you are not interested in the thrill rides you have plenty of time to enjoy both parks
I do recommend going to HP attractions first before they become crowded around lunch.

 

[Pipkin]

We just wrapped up our second half day. We have park admission for two more days that are good until the end of the year. We plan to save them for a later time. Two days of Universal is more than enough. We didn't see or do every but honestly many
Of the attractions seem repetitive. We will check out of SF early tomorrow and relax at Blizzard Beach.

 

[gotomu212]

The problem with one day at HP is that the areas seem to get packed midday. We usually do early, then bug out to other rides when it's packed, then come back later in the day. It's a little harder to do that in one day. BUT for a fan, HP areas are UNBELIEVABLE and totally worth it. You can eat at the three broomsticks, buy a wand at Ollivanders (then use it to do spells all over- the interactive spells are awsesome), exchange money with the goblins. So fun!!

 

[flortlebap]

If you only wanted to see HP you could do it in a day.

But it's well worth going for at least two days. In fact, as much as I love Disney, if I only had a three day trip, I'd be spending it all at universal...

 

[gottalovepluto]

My BFF & I did Universal in one day because we wanted to see HP. Sure, we missed some stuff but we went during early Nov so lower crowds & did everything we wanted. We spent the money to stay one night onsite at RPR for early entry with Unlimited Express Pass. The early entry was GREAT for doing HP! We were there at park opening & spent the first hour doing the castle & Hogsmeade & then caught the first train to Diagon Alley. It was great to see the HP areas in the early morning when they were not packed shoulder to shoulder like they are later in the day.

The unlimited Express Pass was also great. If we loved a ride we turned around & did it again! We finished what we were interested in by late afternoon. It was lots of money to us at that time (heck, still would be!) but we had no regrets. I'd do it like that again in a heartbeat. (Also no park hopper = no Hogwarts Express. A must for even a casual HP fan.)

 

[qemom]

If you are a level 10 HP fan I would recommend 2 days. It is amazing and definitely worth it!

 

[macraven]

if you are a big fan of potter, how could you be that close to it and not go for one day.......

there are some dates in january where the parks are not crowded.
weekends do tend to get more peeps but many weekdays are good.

last week of january is the hp gala event.
the holiday in january can boost the park crowds.

if you go solo, use the single rider lines where available.
don't think there are any for the potter sections but other areas of the park have them.

what date will you be at there?