US/IoA Experts, need your advice

[iNTeNSeBLue98]

We are planning our vacation to WDW, SW and US/IoA for 6/11-6/17 this year. I've polled DH and DD14 as to which attractions they must see/do at US and IoA. I would like to schedule one day at each park, but according to our budget and schedule I'd like to do be able to do it all in a day and have that day planned for Thursday 6/15. I was figuring about 5 hours per park....and if we don't get to do it all, so be it. We are not staying on US property, nor will we spring the extra $$ to pay for Express Passes.


Here are the attractions selected by 2 out of the three of us. Would it be feasible, in one day touring of both parks, to make the most of these attractions?
Universal Studios

• Shrek 4D
• Twister
• Revenge of the Mummy
• Earthquake
• Jaws
• Men in Black
• Back to the Future
• Animal Planet Live
• ET
• Terminator 2

Islands of Adventure

• Jurassic Park Discovery Center
• Jurassic Park River Adventure
• Triceratops Discovery Trail
• Poseidon's Fury
• 8th Voyage of Sinbad
• Dueling Dragons
• Spiderman
• Doctor Doom's Fearfall
• Hulk
• Storm Force Accelatron

 

[barrett7890]

5 hours would be time enough to do all of them

When we were there in October the Jurrasic park discovery centre and triceratops trail were closed, not sure if this is permanent

Sinbad and Animal Planet Live are only shown at certain times so you'll obviously need to check that out straight away to schedule around it

cami
x

 

[MrsMud]

I don't mean to put a damper on things, but I think that may be a bit too ambitious, especially without FOTL. You are allowing yourself an average of 30 minutes per attraction, but keep in mind that time must include navigating TO the attraction, waiting in line and the actual length of the attraction. Some of those that you have planned are 30 minutes long in themselves (Shrek, Animal Planet, Terminator, Poseidon, Sinbad, Twister). Others (Mummy, BTTF, Spiderman, Hulk) will likely have a queue that long. I have never been at that time of year so I am going on my experience during slow times, and the wait times I have noticed. Plus you have to factor in the walk between parks (only a couple of minutes) and going through the second gate. Also you will need to eat at some point. I would think 6 or 7 attractions in each park is more realistic.

 

[Figment22]

In my opinion, at that time of year and considering the amount of attractions you've listed, you'll need one day at each park. I truly don't think it would be possible to see both parks in one day on June 15th.

 

[macraven]

i suggest that you be at the parks around 8:15. technically, the parks open at 9 but if the lines are long, guests are allowed in earlier.

many times i have been in line at 8:20 and the employees allowed guests in at 8:30 and also 8:45.
i was lucky to start the day early. i stay on site but still am an early bird.


start earlier than when the park opens, hit the major rides first before any lines form.
if there is a line, by pass it and do another ride/attraction that is on your list.
you can come back for that ride later.

also, even though there are three of you, use the single file line for the rides MIB, spiderman. this will save you lots of time. you will not regret it.
i stay on site and have fotl and we always use single line rider.

eat your lunch around 11 ish to avoid crowds. then continue enjoying the park 11:30 while others are starting to do lunch. again, this will save you time.

go opposite of the flow of the crowds once it is lunch time.

are you buying a 2 park 1 day pass?
you might be better off buying a 2 day 2 park pass as seaworld for some families do not take up the entire day.
do universal and ioa for one day.
when you do seaworld, come back to universal to use your other ticket. if you leave seaworld at 3:30, you could be at the other park around 4 ish.

it might be to your advantage to spend the extra money for the 2 park 2 day tickets. i think the 1 day 2 park tickets are about $74.20 per person which is $7 something more than the 1 day 1 park ticket
i would not try to do both ioa and universal in one day. too much to see.

 

[Ziva]

Given the time of year, I'd say it's close to impossible.

 

[iNTeNSeBLue98]

I've been avoiding it, but it looks like I'll have to add a second day, probably Saturday morning, instead of AK for EMH, before flying home.

 

[ChrisFL]

Overall there's a lot more attractions to see at US or IOA than at Animal Kingdom or MGM (you could fit both of those parks in one day probably), IMHO, and that takes more time. Take 2 days at US/IOA, you'll need them.

 

[Slacking]

We are planning our vacation to WDW, SW and US/IoA for 6/11-6/17 this year. I've polled DH and DD14 as to which attractions they must see/do at US and IoA. I would like to schedule one day at each park, but according to our budget and schedule I'd like to do be able to do it all in a day and have that day planned for Thursday 6/15. I was figuring about 5 hours per park....and if we don't get to do it all, so be it. We are not staying on US property, nor will we spring the extra $$ to pay for Express Passes.


Here are the attractions selected by 2 out of the three of us. Would it be feasible, in one day touring of both parks, to make the most of these attractions?
Universal Studios

• Shrek 4D
• Twister
• Revenge of the Mummy
• Earthquake
• Jaws
• Men in Black
• Back to the Future
• Animal Planet Live
• ET
• Terminator 2

Islands of Adventure

• Jurassic Park Discovery Center
• Jurassic Park River Adventure
• Triceratops Discovery Trail
• Poseidon's Fury
• 8th Voyage of Sinbad
• Dueling Dragons
• Spiderman
• Doctor Doom's Fearfall
• Hulk
• Storm Force Accelatron

1- Triceratops Discovery Trail is permanently closed.

If you arrive before park opening and do the rides in this order:

Hulk
Spiderman
Doom
Storn Force
Jurassic Park River Adventure
Discovery Center (quick browsing)
Dueling Dragons
Poseidon's Fury (if you want a faster start at USF you may want to skip this)

That should take you no more than 2 - 3 hours to do. I know I left out Sinbad but, this touring plan would not line up very well with that show's showtimes. And if you skipped anything, Sinbad is something that should be skipped.

After you do these rides, walk over to USF and do things in pretty much this order:

Mummy
Jaws (if open)
Men in Black
Back to the Future
E.T.
Animal Planet (if showtime is available)
Terminator 2
Shrek
Twister
Earthquake (these last 4 are interchangeable.)

If you were to not have time to fit everything in for USF, I would recommend skipping Animal Planet, Earthquake, and possibly Back to the Future (some love it, I despise it)

I honestly believe that you could fit all that into one day if you were willing to be somewhat commando (no resting, walking briskly, etc.) for that day, and leave all your shopping and stuff until after you've hit the rides. But it can definitely be done.

 

[iNTeNSeBLue98]

1- Triceratops Discovery Trail is permanently closed.

If you arrive before park opening and do the rides in this order:

Hulk
Spiderman
Doom
Storn Force
Jurassic Park River Adventure
Discovery Center (quick browsing)
Dueling Dragons
Poseidon's Fury (if you want a faster start at USF you may want to skip this)

That should take you no more than 2 - 3 hours to do. I know I left out Sinbad but, this touring plan would not line up very well with that show's showtimes. And if you skipped anything, Sinbad is something that should be skipped.

After you do these rides, walk over to USF and do things in pretty much this order:

Mummy
Jaws (if open)
Men in Black
Back to the Future
E.T.
Animal Planet (if showtime is available)
Terminator 2
Shrek
Twister
Earthquake (these last 4 are interchangeable.)

If you were to not have time to fit everything in for USF, I would recommend skipping Animal Planet, Earthquake, and possibly Back to the Future (some love it, I despise it)

I honestly believe that you could fit all that into one day if you were willing to be somewhat commando (no resting, walking briskly, etc.) for that day, and leave all your shopping and stuff until after you've hit the rides. But it can definitely be done.

Thanks for the update on Triceratops Discovery Trail.

 

[robvia]

Previous posts are correct, great advice. Parking garage opens at 8am, so you want to leave Disney around 07:30am. The early start is the key. You can tour IOA in 3 hours doing the major attractions. Then you can head over to USF in the afternoon and do some movie attractions and shows. The thing about USF, is those attractions take longer, because they are shows.

Many people on these boards visit 1 park per day (or think they need too), but it doesn't have to be that way. I visit 1 park in the morning, and then another in the evening. Disney parks stay open late year around, usually until 10pm.

So my idea is to visit IOA one morning, then USF another. You tour each park for about 4 hours, then head back to your Disney hotel, rest, then tour a Disney park in the evening. Rush hour at most parks is the afternoon from 11am to 4pm. So by going back to your hotel and resting, you are avoiding the crowds, and the heat.

 

[yaytezIOA]

Chris and Slacking are old pros when it comes to UO, so listen to what they say and follow it if you want to get both parks done in the day. But the most important thing to remember is have fun! Dont try to "schedule" every minute. Just go around the park in the order Slacking gave you, get there very early...and I recommend the valet parking, its a heck of alot closer, that alone will save you about 20-30 mins. The cost is about 16 bucks, but for the convience and the time you save....to me, its worth it. Also to save time, keep a cooler with ice, either at your room or in your vehicle, to keep drinks in. Get one of the kids to take a book bag and cram it full of sodas, snacks, etc. That way you dont have to wait in long lines for drinks or food, you just pop open the bag when you're in line for something. A lot of people on these boards seem that they go during the slower times like October through April. June is a totally different story altogether, it will be busy, even during the week.

 

[Motherfletcher]

I agree with Slacking's touring plan. Skip Sinbad and Poseiden's Fury. You should arrive at the Mummy about 11. If you have annual passes use the Hard Rock Cafe Entrance. One "not to be missed" on my list is the Horror Makeup Show. I would add that Twister is another skippable attraction if time is running out.

 

[yaytezIOA]

If you have annual passes use the Hard Rock Cafe Entrance.

Would you believe that I've been APH for 2 years, and I've never even heard that before?? Where is it, how do I go about it, and does it let into IOA?

 

[ChrisFL]

you walk up to the entrance area of Hard Rock, go to the right of the entrance, and walk along the side of Hard Rock, then straight to where Nick Studios used to be and it's there (assuming it's still open)

 

[Motherfletcher]

The intent of this gate is to allow guests to exit US and eat lunch at HRC. So the gate opens when HRC opens at about 11. At 11 am the US turnstiles will have a sizable queue and this can avoid that wait.

 

[Figment22]

The OP would be able to use the HRC entrance to USF even without an AP as they'd be coming over from IOA with a handstamp anyway.

 

[MIB999999]

you walk up to the entrance area of Hard Rock, go to the right of the entrance, and walk along the side of Hard Rock, then straight to where Nick Studios used to be and it's there (assuming it's still open)

it is still there and opens at either 11 or 11:30