What park to go to first?

[nhmommy]

We are Disney regulars going to Universal for the first time I have done no research I’m far to used to going to Disney and knowing what I need to know. We have 5 day tickets not park to park where should we start? What park? 7,10,and 11 yo boys that are very used to Disney.

 

[Skippyboo]

Are you staying onsite? One of the 2 parks will have early entry for on site guests. Islands of Adventure has marvel area, cartoon area, Jurassic park section, Dr Seuss area and Harry Potter Hogmeade- the castle. Bigger coasters than Universal side.

Universal side -Minions, Transformers, Simpsons, Harry Potter Diagon Alley,Men in Black, more shows.

If you can afford it, upgrade to park to park. The 2 parks are right next to each other unlike Disney. You can also do the Hogwarts Express with park to park ticket. It’s different each way

 

[nhmommy]

Not staying on site. We are at Sheraton Vistana. I can upgrade if I really need to but with 5 days it feels so much like a waste. Can I upgrade only one day? My son has the medical disability pass for Disney his Dr said that universal has something similar so that may play a part too.

 

[barb969]

If you are Harry Potter fans you should upgrade to park to park ticket. The Hogwarts Express runs between the parks and can only be ridden if you have P to P.

 

[macraven]

Are your 5 day park tickets for only one park?

If so, suggest you update it to be park to park tickets

 

[djmeredith]

I am in the minority here, but I do not recommend you upgrade to park to park tix unless you have a big Harry Potter fan in your group. Even then, only upgrade if it is not too much of a financial stretch. It is cool to do once if you are a HP fan (which I am). However, I do not consider it a can't miss attraction. Especially when you factor in that it is a slow loader so the waits can be pretty long without Express Pass. I took my 14 yo nephew on it for the first time a couple of weeks ago and his reaction was "That's it? I expected more."

 

[CAPSLOCK]

I like park-to-park for the freedom of going between the parks more so than the Hogwarts Express (that's just a bonus). However I don't think it is necessary.

I'd suggest either picking which attraction you want to start with, and heading to that park first, or figuring out which park you want to spend the extra day in, and starting with that one (so you can alternate). Or, look at weather and aim for Studios on rainy days & Islands in better weather; more rides close for inclement weather in Islands. Really, I don't think you can go wrong with either. I think Islands has more "wow" factor overall as far as theming - does that mean you start there, or save it for 2nd?

 

[Kit Jackson]

I don't think it matters which park you do first. Maybe ask your boys which rides they are most looking forward to, and if they are all in the same park, do that first. Otherwise, you could flip a coin. Five days will allow to see and do everything you want without having to rush or do rope drop to close every day. If you want to sleep in, you can.

 

[DoryGirl1963]

We're like CAPSLOCK above - the parks are SO close together, that we really just consider and tour them as if they're one big park !

 

[Pooh's World]

We are Disney regulars going to Universal for the first time I have done no research I’m far to used to going to Disney and knowing what I need to know. We have 5 day tickets not park to park where should we start? What park? 7,10,and 11 yo boys that are very used to Disney.

If you want to follow the Harry Potter story ark then you have to go to Universal first to do Diagon Alley

 

[Pooh's World]

Not staying on site. We are at Sheraton Vistana. I can upgrade if I really need to but with 5 days it feels so much like a waste. Can I upgrade only one day? My son has the medical disability pass for Disney his Dr said that universal has something similar so that may play a part too.

Get the Annual Pass.

 

[schumigirl]

We're like CAPSLOCK above - the parks are SO close together, that we really just consider and tour them as if they're one big park !

That`s what we do too.....treat is as one big park, they`re both fabulous and makes no odds to the average person, even a Potter fan which is first.