US and IoA in one day!

[Exomonia]

Hello there, we will be in Universal Studios on the 18th December and are planning to do both parks in one day. However, we are not staying on property, but do have express passes. Are we better to do US first, and go to IoA (WWoHP) in the afternoon? Or IoA first? We would prefer to save WWoHP until the evening, but wondering if there will be problems with crowds? If you think we'll still be able to get in around 6: oopm, we'll stick with going to US first. Thanks!

 

[andyman8]

Well, assuming that you will want to ride Forbidden Journey, then it is hard to say. We were able to ride FJ with about a 40 minute wait around 4:30/5pm, but that was the Sunday before Labor Day (9/4/11). You are going just several days before Xmas. Just to be safe, I would say get up extremely early (sorry about this) and head over to the WWoHP. I just checked and the park opens at 8am, so be there for "rope drop." We have done both parks in a day with the Express (back during Spring Break), and I have to say it is much easier than Disney. If you need help planning the rest of your day, just ask!

 

[mesaboy2]

Crowds at WWoHP, or any theme park really, are best either first thing in the day or near park close. Since you won't have early entry privileges, you'll be at a disadvantage in the morning, but you'll be assured of doing everything you want. If you save WWoHP until 2 to 3 hours before park close, you're obviously limiting your time there, but you'll be able to enjoy WWoHP at night, which is cool. The riskier choice is going late, but I think you have the potential to enjoy it more. Don't be afraid to use the single-rider queue to cut down your wait on Forbidden Journey if the wait time in the normal standby queue is long. The only downside is you will miss most of the outstanding HP elements in the queue. But then there is also the no-wait castle tour queue that will show you most of those elements without riding FJ at the end.

Enjoy your trip whatever you decide.

 

[torinsmom]

I would start at IOA for WWOHP at rope drop, then do whatever else you want to do at IOA. Then head over to US and do the rides there. You can always head back to WWOHP at the end of the day to see things at night. It's really easy to get a lot done at US/IOA because the parks are so small and close together.

 

[damo]

I would start at IOA for WWOHP at rope drop, then do whatever else you want to do at IOA. Then head over to US and do the rides there. You can always head back to WWOHP at the end of the day to see things at night. It's really easy to get a lot done at US/IOA because the parks are so small and close together.

That is exactly what I would do.