Which would you choose - Island of Adventure or Universal studios

[cate2]

Hi our family is being gifted a one day Universal pass for for our next trip. I think that doing both parks in one day would be to much for us as it's our first visit, so I'd like to ask you -

if you had only one day to spend at either Universal Island of Adventure or Universal Studios, which you choose and what would be your #1 thing to do while you were there?

 

[goldie09]

Hi our family is being gifted a one day Universal pass for for our next trip. I think that doing both parks in one day would be to much for us as it's our first visit, so I'd like to ask you -

if you had only one day to spend at either Universal Island of Adventure or Universal Studios, which you choose and what would be your #1 thing to do while you were there?

It really depends on your family - do you have younger kids, or older kids? Do you guys like more wild rides?

 

[macraven]

I could not choose

It would be like which one of my kids would I save if we were going down on a sinking ship ...... Lol

I could not be in one of the darkside parks and chose only one

Wow it would eat me alive to be so close to the other park and not be able to dash over for a few of my favorite rides

I'm no help on these type of questions
I love both parks

 

[babesboo99]

For me that is a hard choice I don't think I would be able to choose. I think it would depend on if you have young children or what kind of rides does your family like.

 

[cate2]

It really depends on your family - do you have younger kids, or older kids? Do you guys like more wild rides?

Hi goldie, we have two teenage boys age 13 and 15, the youngest still likes Harry Potter and they both like action rides as does my husband - me, I'm not keen on anything that spins or is terribly fast (i.e. - rock'n roller coaster) but I'm easily occupied while others are riding.

I could not choose

It would be like which one of my kids would I save if we were going down on a sinking ship ...... Lol

oh no, I guess that means that we can't go wrong with whichever one we choose

 

[DisBuckMan]

If I just HAD to choose one, I'd go with US as it now sits. There's just simply more to do at US than at IoA.

Now, when Kong opens...Hulk re-opens, etc...my mind could change.

 

[macraven]

Cate2, you really can't go wrong with the one you chose

Both have stunning rides you all will love
Each park has rides that will wow you

Check out the UO site and check out the rides and shows in each park
Go with the park that your family feels has the most entertainment for the entire day

 

[bchbetha]

I think I'd pick the US side. Diagon Alley is just so awesome. But, then again, so is Hogwarts. . Transformers, Rip Ride Rockit, The Mummy, MIB- all fun.

 

[goldie09]

As a PP said...If you're going once Kong and Hulk reopen, I'd say IoA. But US is amazing also, it may have more attractions for you to do with your family. I've gone to Universal for one day a few times, and last time, we did a park-to-park ticket and found we did get a lot done in each park. If you can, I would look into upgrading to the park-to-park ticket. Both parks are now VERY well rounded, I'm finding it hard to recommend one over the other!

 

[Bluer101]

If I choose I say both parks.

 

[imprint]

If the pass is park-to-park, you could still see all of Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Either way, I'd probably pick the Studios side: Mummy, RRR, Escape from Gringotts, Despicable Me, Transformers, ET, Men in Black, Horror Makeup Show, Animal Actors Show, Blues Brothers, and Mummy (worth mentioning twice).

 

[tinydancer09]

USF. Leaky caldron fav place to eat, gringotts fav potter, ET fav dark ride, MIB (seems I can't remember why it's my favorite... Just some flashing light) ....mummy fav coaster... All my favorites. Oh and horror make up show(fav show outside of grinchmas.)

As others said though to me it's a package deal. Can't really imagine not visiting the other side.

 

[hamilkm]

I just got back from my first trip. I had my 15 year old cousin with me. He definitely enjoyed US more. Gringotts, mummy, and transformers were ridden many times! We enjoyed IOA but a few of their major rides are water rides and all of us have a dislike for water rides, so we didn't enjoy it as much. Though as others have said, this could change once hulk and Kong open. My cousin was very disappointed he couldn't get on either one of those when we walked by!

 

[georgina]

Our first trip we only had one day, spent it at IoA. But that was in 2002 - pre-Mummy, Rip Ride Rockit, Transformers, or either Harry Potter land, so IoA was the place to be then. I would agree with the consensus that US would be your best bet now.

 

[angryduck71]

Ok, this isn't your question, but may I make a suggestion... since this was a gift... upgrade it to a two or three day park ticket and do both. Shouldn't cost TOO much to do so!

 

[phillymummer]

I'm the odd ball of this thread- I like IoA more! I love the water rides and Dr. Seuss World. I also think I like Hogsmeade more than Diagon Alley (but prefer Gringott's to FJ).



You would not be able to do everything in both parks in one day BUT you would do both HP sections and the train which is worth the price of the hopper ticket. If you can't tell from my response, the #1 fav thing is HP.

 

[PrincessNelly]

I would definitely upgrade to atleast a park hopper! But if I had only one choice... the studios for sure.

 

[velvetsqueeze]

We went last week to both parks. All 9 of us unanimously liked USO over IOA. IOA will be better when everything is open (Hulk, Kong, Jilly Fallon, Toothsome). Nothing compares to Diagon Alley! We could've easily spent 2 or even 3 days in USO. IOA needs to do some serious upgrades in Toon Lagoon. Yes, those are classic cartoons, but nobody under the age of 40 has a clue who any of the characters are.

 

[wookiebeck]

cate2, I love your avatar!

I agree with most here. IOA is more appealing for the overall feel of transporting you away to a far away theme. The rides are all first-rate. There are three that will get you rather wet.

For riding rides in a park, USO has more to do. I will get light headed on the most thrilling rides (RRR, Hulk, Dragons), but have no problem on Mummy, Simpsons, MIB, Transformers and Gringotts. You might be able to participate more.

 

[PrincessNelly]

We went last week to both parks. All 9 of us unanimously liked USO over IOA. IOA will be better when everything is open (Hulk, Kong, Jilly Fallon, Toothsome). Nothing compares to Diagon Alley! We could've easily spent 2 or even 3 days in USO. IOA needs to do some serious upgrades in Toon Lagoon. Yes, those are classic cartoons, but nobody under the age of 40 has a clue who any of the characters are.

As a 25 yr old, I can promise thats not true.