US/IOA help for first timer

[abbey7121]

Hi there,
I've got 2 days in Orlando coming up in May and want to make the best of my time there. I plan to do Disney Animal Kingdom and MGM on the Sunday 20th and then want to try and do both US and IOA on the monday 21st. I'm keen to ride most rides except for DUeling Dragons and Hulk at IOA. My question is which park am i best to start off in? And in your opinion which park takes longer to do? I plan to buy one of those express pass things with my ticket.
Thanks

 

[calgarygary]

I would still start my day at IOA as you could do Spiderman without using an express pass and then save the pass for a repeat ride.

 

[macraven]

start early with IOA. do the major rides such as spiderman early as you said hulk and dd were not your thing.

hit seuss land and then head over to the studios. pick up a guide map when you enter to see when the shows are if you are planning to do any of them.

if you buy the express pass, they are not valid for both parks. (unless that has changed)

if you start early, you can get a lot done.

if this is your first time at Universal, you might want to do the studios for most of the day. many great things over there based on the movies.
don't forget to work in horror make up show and MIB.

 

[basas]

One of the things that annoys me with Universal is their early park closing times. At Disney, at least one park is open until 9pm (Epcot) even if the other parks close earlier. Having both USF and IOA closing at 5 or 6 is a real drag when you're trying to tour both parks in 1 day. It would be nice if they kept the Studios open until 8 or 9 on early closing days so their onsite guests and Citywalk guests would have something to do.

 

[abbey7121]

thanks for your tips everyone. Keep them coming. It sounds like IOA first is the way to go. What do you think the skippable rides/attractions would be at each place if you only have a day?

 

[basas]

thanks for your tips everyone. Keep them coming. It sounds like IOA first is the way to go. What do you think the skippable rides/attractions would be at each place if you only have a day?

My favorites at IOA:

--> Spiderman
--> Hulk (though you said you didn't want to do this one...)
--> Dr. Droom is OK, but nothing special (Tower of Terror is 10X better)...line moves really slow and the ride is short.

--> Popeye and Bluto's Bilge Rat Barges (the best river raft ride I've been on...you'll get soaked)
--> Dudley Do Right (no Splash Mountain, but a fun road...you'll get soaked)

--> Jurassic Park River Adventure (you'll get wet, but in my experiences, not soaked)

--> Dueling Dragons (you said you didn't want to do)
--> The Unicorn (a good starter coaster)

--> Cat in the Hat
--> One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish (just a Dumbo type ride but has a catchy song!)

at USF:

--> The Mummy (not sure you would like this...)
--> Men in Black
--> T2:3D
--> Jaws
--> Earthquake
--> Twister (not all that great)
--> Shrek 3D
--> Jimmy Neutron (not all that great)
--> ET

Lots of good stuff to see...not let me see if I can think of any more! Keep in mind that alot of IOA rides get you wet! Since you're visiting in May, it should be pretty warm and OK to do them in the morning. The parks are mostly open until 7pm in May (8pm the last week, and USF 9pm on a few select days). I'd get to IOA at 9 and spend about 4-5 hours there, then head over to the Studios until closing.

 

[macraven]

the only time the parks are open late when i was there is during the summer.
for the last , going on, 7 years, i go in october.

they close early then 5 and 6, depending on park for setting up and clearing out the crowds for HHN.

yea, i prefer it when the parks stay open late but i go to the parks early right before they open and get my ride time done then.

these parks are smaller and closer together than the disney ones.
if you start early morning, you can get all the highlights in on one day if it is not packed.

early may should be very doable to complete the park if you have a plan.

 

[kirbsam]

if you want to save money, only buy the express pass at the park you visit second. i would go to ioa, and ride spiderman first, then make my way around, if you are going to avoid hulk and dueling, you can be out of the park by noon and still pretty much see everything. when you get to universal, you can use your express pass to make your rounds. should be easy to get it all done.