Which park first, and why?

[Jill Schwartz]

Current plan is to be at Disney, and then check into HRH early a.m. on the Saturday of Labor Day weekend (to get our FOTL passes). We will do Universal Sat and Sun, and then have a few hours on Monday before an afternoon flight. Unless there is something we really want to see, we may spend Monday morning just hanging out at the pools.
Which Universal Park would you do first (Saturday) and which one last (Sunday)?
Thank you!
Jill

 

[kenban]

For me its almost always IoA first. The rides are shorter, no real long pre shows, you get in and get out fast. During the off season its possible to do every attraction at IoA before 1 in the afternoon if you get there when the park opens. Also if you head clockwise around the lake you get to Sinbad later in the day so there should be shows around the time you get there.

 

[Nan]

One thing that might affect your choice is the weather. Universal Studios is much easier to do in rainy weather because almost everything is indoors. In the summer there is often a shower each afternoon so you might do IOA in the morning and US in the afternoon of each day. The parks are situated close enough together to do this. You will have a great time!

 

[PlutoLuvr]

A few factors for us when we only have two full or one and three quarters days:

IOA we prefer on sunnier days and/or our shorter day. I guess it's the fewer shows there that enable us to get through the park quicker? Sometimes it takes a while to check into the hotel, and sometimes -- even early -- our room is ready, so we end up getting to a park mid-morning or close to lunch. When that happens, that's our IOA day.

Another factor is lunch If we feel like our fish & chips & pints, we head for USO and Finnegan's. If we feel like a "foodie" lunch, we head to Mythos & IOA.

Have a wonerful time!!!

 

[robvia]

Depends on how early you show up the first morning. You can try to check in at 7am, and if your room is ready, you'll get it. Otherwise you get your keys and head to the parks.

You want to arrive IOA early one morning so you can get a front seat ride on Hulk, both sides of Dueling Dragons, and ride Pteranondon Flyers before the kid rule goes into effect.

So on that first morning, if you don't get there early, just head to USF and ride the Mummy, MIB, ET, and do a few movie attractions. Walk back to your hotel room around noon, rest, then go to IOA and check it out, possibly doing the water rides and getting soaked.