Yet another planning question....

[JMLBrats]

We will only be going to Universal and IOA for one day with hoppers...so the big question is:

To get as much done as possible, is it better to go on one of the days that is rated the slowest but with the least amount of hours or go on a day that is rated moderate but has a couple of more hours?

We aren't staying on site.

Thanks for the advise!!!

 

[andyman8]

I would go on a day with longer hours and get the Universal Express Pass. It is well worth it and somewhat of a necessity for one-day/two-park trips.

 

[Metro West]

To get as much done as possible, is it better to go on one of the days that is rated the slowest but with the least amount of hours or go on a day that is rated moderate but has a couple of more hours?

I would go with the longer hours and a moderate crowd level. If you're going during the summer, lots of people leave later in the day so the crowds will thin out.

Do not purchase the Express Plus passes ahead of time. They are non-refundable and date specific. Wait until you arrive to see if the lines warrant purchasing the EPs.

 

[JMLBrats]

I would go with the longer hours and a moderate crowd level. If you're going during the summer, lots of people leave later in the day so the crowds will thin out.

Do not purchase the Express Plus passes ahead of time. They are non-refundable and date specific. Wait until you arrive to see if the lines warrant purchasing the EPs.

Thanks for the replies. I was thinking the same thing about the express plus passes but does the price change if you buy them at the gate? Right now the day we are looking at is 45.99 a person....

 

[JMLBrats]

what is the best strategy to hit HP if we aren't staying on site? Do we try to be there right at opening and run over to HP with the rest of the crowd? Or should we wait until later in the day? I guess there's no way of knowing for sure...

 

[Metro West]

Thanks for the replies. I was thinking the same thing about the express plus passes but does the price change if you buy them at the gate? Right now the day we are looking at is 45.99 a person....

Prices can change w/o notice so there is a risk of the price being different when you arrive as opposed to online. Normally that's not the case though...prices are the same. The only time the price would change is because the crowd estimate has increased making them more expensive. Also...if you already have your theme park tickets, don't wait in the outside lines to purchase the EP...wait until you're in the park so there is no line. They are sold at several locations in each park.

 

[macraven]

what is the best strategy to hit HP if we aren't staying on site? Do we try to be there right at opening and run over to HP with the rest of the crowd? Or should we wait until later in the day? I guess there's no way of knowing for sure...

hit parry hotter ville the last two hours before park closing.
the crowds will have thinned out considerably by that time.

depending on the day you go to ioa, it is possible that the parry hotter section isn't packed if you get in the park at 9:00.

avoid going on saturday if you can.

if it is not a part of a 3 day weekend, sundays can have lower crowds.

 

[bcinohio]

I was looking on the Universal site for the hours of June 25 when we will be at IOA and it said they open at 8. We are not staying onsite and was planning on being their early and doing HP first before Hulk & Spiderman. Is it usually less crowded if it opens at 8? I would like to do HP first and get it out of the way. We may come back into the park after Blue Man Group show at 6 but not sure.

Thanks

 

[JMLBrats]

metro west and macraven, thanks for those tips! We will probably try to do HP when we first arrive but if it seems too crazy we'll wait and go back closer to the later part of the day.

As far as express passes go, we prob won't get them unless it's REALLY bad because that's a lot of extra money for us-not saying it's not worth it but we have been to US and IOA before and we will be going back within the next couple of years and plan on staying on site for that trip so not sure it's really worth spending for us this trip.

 

[macraven]

metro west and macraven, thanks for those tips! We will probably try to do HP when we first arrive but if it seems too crazy we'll wait and go back closer to the later part of the day.

As far as express passes go, we prob won't get them unless it's REALLY bad because that's a lot of extra money for us-not saying it's not worth it but we have been to US and IOA before and we will be going back within the next couple of years and plan on staying on site for that trip so not sure it's really worth spending for us this trip.

you might do a tentative plan in order to avoid some of the long lines for rides at ioa.

the onsite guests enter first, one hour early prior to park opening.
then, all others enter at 9, when the park officially opens.

there will be many in that group that will head back to parry hotter and just wait the lines out.

you could concentrate on the rides at the front of the park when you first enter.

work towards the back to jurassic park/parry hotter after lunch and see how the crowds/lines are holding up.

do the castle view so you have an general knowlegde of the place.
then get in the single rider line.
in the srl you do miss sections of the castle but that would be ok since you did the castle tour already.

return back to parry hotter at the end of the evening for FJ, DD, FotH and shops.
.......and for butterbeer!

there are no express lines for ollivanders show and FJ.

don't buy the epp unless the lines are at an hour wait or if you are limited by time.
you can only use them one time per ride/show.

so much depends on the date you will be in the parks.
there are some days i would not expect to have high crowds and have been taken back by that.

if you are facing crowds on the day you are in the parks, hope for rain as it clears out the lines.