What's Your Vote: Two Day or Three Day at Universal/IOA?

[tamaraten]

We also get park to park. It's just easier since we like to visit WWoHP in the morning and then go over to the Studios for a while. The Studios is our favorite park.

Considering your answer two days would probably be enough but be sure to get there at rope drop. I still enjoy a more relaxed style of touring but if you go pretty hard and can keep up the pace then more power to you!

Thanks for reply Planogirl. So interesting to hear US is your favourite - what a (refreshing) change from everything I read! Why is that ?

Don't think we'll get there for rope drop on our first day, considering everything we have to do on that first morning. (leave prior hotel, late previous night, won't be able to wake kids up early first morning, etc). Would you start off then at the Studios in that case (it'll be Sunday Dec. 5) - in which case, if we don't get park to park we'll miss out on late hours of IOA that day (and only day of late hours at IOA during our time there).

 

[Planogirl]

If you have to arrive late one day, you might want to consider three days. Just in case.

Universal Studios is my favorite for many reasons. I adore the Revenge of the Mummy. It's just my favorite ride anywhere. I also love the Men in Black, the Simpsons, Shrek, the Terminator, Gruesome Makeup show, Starbucks, the overall ambience of the New York area and the hokey charm of Jaws. I find that I can just relax and hang out in Universal whereas I always feel like we need to hurry from place to place in IOA for some reason. My son seems to prefer the Studios too since we spend about 3/4 of our Universal time there.

 

[KellyWasHere]

Thanks KellyWas Here - I am considering the park to park tickets now. I hadn't before because as a first timer, I figured there's so much to do in each park, I'd just do one park a day without the stress of feeling we should be in Park A when we're in Park B. Also, we're 6 people so it does add up, which I'm ok with as long as we use it. I just keep thinking if we're at IOA for example, there's so much to do and see, why pay more if we won't have any time to go to US that same day anyway? I'm trying to figure out how they'd be beneficial in our (newbie) case!

Well, I'm not sure that we'll need the park to park access. Our plan is to do Universal the first day then head over to get an hour or two at WWoHP if we have the energy. Then do IOA our second day, heading back to Universal if the girls have anything they really want to do again. The third day my mom is joining us so that's our exclusive IOA day to really hit any big rides we want to do and WWoHP, hard.

We may never use the park-to-park access, but again, I think it's worth it. If you're going to do 3 days, it's only $2 extra to add park-to-park. And since we're using Undercover Tourist we're already saving. A 3 day park-to-park ticket there is $141.95. Ordering through Universal, after adding in taxes and fees, it's $156.57. Plus if you use the Mousesavers link in their newsletter, I believe you save even more.

 

[tamaraten]

Well, I'm not sure that we'll need the park to park access. Our plan is to do Universal the first day then head over to get an hour or two at WWoHP if we have the energy. Then do IOA our second day, heading back to Universal if the girls have anything they really want to do again. The third day my mom is joining us so that's our exclusive IOA day to really hit any big rides we want to do and WWoHP, hard.

We may never use the park-to-park access, but again, I think it's worth it. If you're going to do 3 days, it's only $2 extra to add park-to-park. And since we're using Undercover Tourist we're already saving. A 3 day park-to-park ticket there is $141.95. Ordering through Universal, after adding in taxes and fees, it's $156.57. Plus if you use the Mousesavers link in their newsletter, I believe you save even more.

Just wondering, is it your first time at Universal? If so, how are you dealing with not going to WWoHP first thing first morning from the kids' excitement point of view? I also thought of going to Universal S the first day (because we won't make it for early morning hours at IOA) but then was wondering about the kids' excitement factor!

 

[Mtnman44]

Note: Undercover Tourist currently has the 4 day park to park tickets on sale for $142.95, essentially the same price as the 2 and 3 day hoppers and CHEAPER than the 4 day basic tickets.

 

[derekw]

We just got back and did 2 day single park access. Kids 2,5,7,9 and 11. We did most everything except not into WWoHP and the 2 days was good for us (heavily depends on what time of year you visit.) A few of the best rides we rode twice. If you find you want to go back you can always upgrade your ticket on that 2nd day before you leave the park.

 

[KellyWasHere]

Just wondering, is it your first time at Universal? If so, how are you dealing with not going to WWoHP first thing first morning from the kids' excitement point of view? I also thought of going to Universal S the first day (because we won't make it for early morning hours at IOA) but then was wondering about the kids' excitement factor!

How old are your kids? (Sorry if I missed it.) Mine are 4 and almost 2 and have no idea who Harry Potter is. It's more my husband and I containing our excitement. Husband and I have been there before but it's been about 5 or maybe 6 years.

 

[tamaraten]

How old are your kids? (Sorry if I missed it.) Mine are 4 and almost 2 and have no idea who Harry Potter is. It's more my husband and I containing our excitement. Husband and I have been there before but it's been about 5 or maybe 6 years.

My kids are 6,8,10,& 12. They are all into HP, although its the two older ones who have read all the books. They have all seen all the movies and are eagerly waiting for HP #7. So that's the tough part!

 

[tamaraten]

We just got back and did 2 day single park access. Kids 2,5,7,9 and 11. We did most everything except not into WWoHP and the 2 days was good for us (heavily depends on what time of year you visit.) A few of the best rides we rode twice. If you find you want to go back you can always upgrade your ticket on that 2nd day before you leave the park.

Just wondering, if I may ask, how come no HP? Wondering because of your kids' ages, which are pretty close to mine (except for your youngest) - mine are 6,8,10,12. Did it have to do with the crowds? Our trip to Orlando is planned for Dec. 5-Dec. 8, four full days, and staying on-site, but hoping to also see Seaworld. And it's our first time.

thanks for reply.

 

[tamaraten]

Note: Undercover Tourist currently has the 4 day park to park tickets on sale for $142.95, essentially the same price as the 2 and 3 day hoppers and CHEAPER than the 4 day basic tickets.

thanks Mtnman44. I'm actually going to buy the Annual Pass (for the huge discount at hotel), which will then let me buy the park tickets for 15% off. After looking at the numbers, I think it comes out to pretty much the same or just a touch less than the Undercover Tourist tickets.

 

[SignMeUp]

For your purposes, I would buy the 2 day park-to-park tix. Go to US as soon as you're able that first day, then hop over to IOA around 5-ish. I've read many accounts that WWoHP is crazy busy soon after the public (off-siters) is allowed into the park, which is probably around the time you'd get there, but then it clears out considerably in the late afternoon/evening. That way your kids will still get to experience WWoHP on the first full day, even if not first thing. And you'll get to see it at night which I've also read is really cool. Stay till close, enjoy the shops (which stay open an hour after closing), then come back first thing the next morning to do WWoHP again using early entry. Enjoy the rest of IOA, then maybe hop back to US in the afternoon to ride anything you missed or favorites there.

THEN decide your plan for day #3 (or #4 if your doing SW on day 3). If your crew wants more time to ride favs at UO, then it's easy to add another day to your tix. If not, get online or call to sign up for the earliest KSC tour.

 

[tamaraten]

For your purposes, I would buy the 2 day park-to-park tix. Go to US as soon as you're able that first day, then hop over to IOA around 5-ish. I've read many accounts that WWoHP is crazy busy soon after the public (off-siters) is allowed into the park, which is probably around the time you'd get there, but then it clears out considerably in the late afternoon/evening. That way your kids will still get to experience WWoHP on the first full day, even if not first thing. And you'll get to see it at night which I've also read is really cool. Stay till close, enjoy the shops (which stay open an hour after closing), then come back first thing the next morning to do WWoHP again using early entry. Enjoy the rest of IOA, then maybe hop back to US in the afternoon to ride anything you missed or favorites there.

THEN decide your plan for day #3 (or #4 if your doing SW on day 3). If your crew wants more time to ride favs at UO, then it's easy to add another day to your tix. If not, get online or call to sign up for the earliest KSC tour.

Fantastic idea SignMeUp - thank you for taking the time to write all that out! I so appreciate the help considering I am a total newbie here. It sounds like a really logical plan. Can you tell me how long of a walk it is from one park to another? (this was also something I considered re regular base tickets vs. park to park - I was wondering how practical it is hopping from one park to the other with four kids).

thanks again.

 

[damo]

Fantastic idea SignMeUp - thank you for taking the time to write all that out! I so appreciate the help considering I am a total newbie here. It sounds like a really logical plan. Can you tell me how long of a walk it is from one park to another? (this was also something I considered re regular base tickets vs. park to park - I was wondering how practical it is hopping from one park to the other with four kids).

thanks again.

It takes under 5 minutes to walk between parks.

 

[SignMeUp]

Like Damo said, the parks are right next to each other so it's easy to walk from one to the other. It's not like hopping at Disney which can easily take up to an hour. You are going to have a great trip!

 

[tamaraten]

Like Damo said, the parks are right next to each other so it's easy to walk from one to the other. It's not like hopping at Disney which can easily take up to an hour. You are going to have a great trip!

I will get the park hoppers after finding out from someone on another thread that there's a great deal for non-US and non-Canadian residents on park to park tickets (actually for 14 days even, which unfortunately I can't use completely!). So that will help in that debate, and will give us the flexibility to check things out as we go. And it's great to know the parks re so close.

Thanks so much for your help!

 

[KellyWasHere]

For your purposes, I would buy the 2 day park-to-park tix. Go to US as soon as you're able that first day, then hop over to IOA around 5-ish. I've read many accounts that WWoHP is crazy busy soon after the public (off-siters) is allowed into the park, which is probably around the time you'd get there, but then it clears out considerably in the late afternoon/evening. That way your kids will still get to experience WWoHP on the first full day, even if not first thing. And you'll get to see it at night which I've also read is really cool. Stay till close, enjoy the shops (which stay open an hour after closing), then come back first thing the next morning to do WWoHP again using early entry. Enjoy the rest of IOA, then maybe hop back to US in the afternoon to ride anything you missed or favorites there.

THEN decide your plan for day #3 (or #4 if your doing SW on day 3). If your crew wants more time to ride favs at UO, then it's easy to add another day to your tix. If not, get online or call to sign up for the earliest KSC tour.

I think this sounds like a great plan. I have heard about WWoHP not being so crowded toward the later part of the day too, which is why we may hit it after an almost full day at Universal.

You're going to have a great time! I'd love to experience HP with kids that age, they must be so excited!

 

[derekw]

Just wondering, if I may ask, how come no HP?

Short story is we don't think HP material (books/movies) are appropriate for our children hence they aren't into HP. I've seen the movies and did myself only ride FJ at IOA (which again is IMHO is a PG13 ride.)

 

[quest4dl]

Signmeup - just want to confirm that it won't cost me extra to add the additional day. We are arriving Saturday morning and leaving Monday for Disney. Depending on how much we cover on Sat and Sun (3rd week March and our first visit to Universal) we may or may not want to go back to the parks on Monday. I guess it is cheaper to buy in advance and that would be the main downside or waiting until we are on-site? Thanks!

 

[SignMeUp]

I don't really know the ins and outs of Universal ticketing... damo is probably the one to ask... but I think you just pay the difference between a 2-day ticket and a 3-day ticket if you decide to add on the extra day. There is probably some savings if you were to buy your ticket in advance from some place like UT, but it's probably not much.