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1 day at Universal

Posted on 3/16/23 at 1:39 pm
Posted by Salmon
I helped draft the email
Member since Feb 2008
85402 posts
Posted on 3/16/23 at 1:39 pm
Do you have time for 2 parks? If you do, do you need express passes?

If you don't have time for 2 parks, which park is the best for kids under 10? Which one has the most Harry Potter attractions?

Islands of Adventure seems to be the best for that in my research.
Posted by MamouTiger65
Baton Rouge, La
Member since Oct 2007
850 posts
Posted on 3/16/23 at 2:17 pm to
Get the express pass and run to the Harry Potter ride that isn't covered by it when the park first opens. After that you could hit most of the rides in both parks using the pass. The Velociraptor ride isn't covered either, but it had times with a short wait when we were there. The app with all of the wait times is a big help to optimize what to ride next.
This post was edited on 3/16/23 at 2:44 pm
Posted by fish union
Baton Rouge
Member since Oct 2014
10 posts
Posted on 3/16/23 at 5:52 pm to
Express pass is now available for Velocicoaster.
Posted by Big Scrub TX
Member since Dec 2013
38521 posts
Posted on 3/16/23 at 8:48 pm to
quote:

Express pass is now available for Velocicoaster.
Ha! I started a Universal thread last summer for a visit I made in October (this board came through big time), but both Veloci and Hagrid's were NOT one express pass then. For Hagrid's, that was catastrophic - the line never dropped below 150 minutes - and at times was listed at 220 minutes.

Veloci, however, is still a pretty danged quick line even when it looks really long. I would also add, this might be the best ride in the country at present.
Posted by Big Scrub TX
Member since Dec 2013
38521 posts
Posted on 3/16/23 at 8:50 pm to
quote:

Do you have time for 2 parks?
You'll be jamming, but yes, you can do it. In Universal Studios, there's really only 2 rides that matter that much, IMO (rock n roller coaster thingy and Gringott's).

quote:


If you don't have time for 2 parks, which park is the best for kids under 10?
If they like thrill rides, then definitely Islands. If they like "experiences" more, then MAYBE studios, but I would still lean to Islands.

quote:

Which one has the most Harry Potter attractions?
Kind of even. Studios has Diagon Alley which is pretty cool. It also has Gringott's. But Islands has Hogwarts and Hagrid's.
Posted by Dam Guide
Member since Sep 2005
16556 posts
Posted on 3/16/23 at 9:29 pm to
You can see a good bit of both parks in one day if you keep moving, especially with the express pass.
Posted by SippyCup
Gulf Coast
Member since Sep 2008
6828 posts
Posted on 3/16/23 at 11:16 pm to
quote:

would also add, this might be the best ride in the country at present.


It was until Guardians of the Galaxy opened at Epcot. Supposedly Tron is even better.
Posted by SippyCup
Gulf Coast
Member since Sep 2008
6828 posts
Posted on 3/16/23 at 11:17 pm to
quote:

there's really only 2 rides that matter that much, IMO (rock n roller coaster thingy and Gringott's).


Rip Ride and Rockit.

The Mummy is good.
Posted by Big Scrub TX
Member since Dec 2013
38521 posts
Posted on 3/17/23 at 12:27 am to
quote:


It was until Guardians of the Galaxy opened at Epcot.
Meh. That indoor stuff doesn't really appeal to me.
Posted by UpToPar
Baton Rouge
Member since Sep 2008
22872 posts
Posted on 3/17/23 at 8:46 am to
Both parks are very doable in a single day with the express pass. I would do both.
Posted by Salmon
I helped draft the email
Member since Feb 2008
85402 posts
Posted on 3/17/23 at 8:49 am to
quote:

Both parks are very doable in a single day with the express pass. I would do both.


well I'm trying to avoid the $1800 bill for 1 day

which is what it would cost for park hopper + express pass
Posted by UpToPar
Baton Rouge
Member since Sep 2008
22872 posts
Posted on 3/17/23 at 8:53 am to
Yea, it ain't cheap. I don't know your lodging situation, but if you stay at certain Universal hotels, I believe you get an express pass for no additional cost.
This post was edited on 3/17/23 at 9:00 am
Posted by Salmon
I helped draft the email
Member since Feb 2008
85402 posts
Posted on 3/17/23 at 9:04 am to
We are staying at Disney. We didn't want to move just for 1 day.

My 10 year old loves Harry Potter, so we figured we would take 1 day to do some of the HP stuff.

It's basically the same price for park hopper with no express passes or 1 park with express pass, which is what I'm trying to decide upon.
Posted by TheDeathValley
Louisiana
Member since Sep 2010
20136 posts
Posted on 3/17/23 at 9:37 am to
quote:

Do you have time for 2 parks?


Yes, but if you really want to enjoy it you need

quote:

express passes
Posted by Dirtysouthdeacon
Dirtysouth
Member since Aug 2018
261 posts
Posted on 3/17/23 at 10:00 am to
My son (almost 11) and I were there last week. As has been stated, you will want to get there at least a half hour before opening and then race to the motorcycle HP ride. We were staying at a park property and got in at 8AM (park opens at 9AM) and the line was over an hour both days we were there. That said, it is a fantastic ride and our favorite by far. I would stay in that park (adventure) and do all the rides on that side with express. This should only take until lunch, maybe a little after. Then walk outside the park (skip the dumb train) and go into the other Universal. There are three maybe four rides on that side and the only real winner is the roller coaster and the HP.
Posted by bluestem75
Dallas, TX
Member since Oct 2007
4925 posts
Posted on 3/17/23 at 11:32 pm to
We had one day on New Year’s Day 2022 and got through Islands (incl two trips through the Hagrid’s ride) easily. We hit up Diagon Alley and the Rip Ride Rockit before closing. We did not buy an express pass.

Prioritize what you want to ride in both parks and you can do everything you want to do.
This post was edited on 3/17/23 at 11:33 pm
Posted by Clark W Griswold
THE USA
Member since Sep 2012
10873 posts
Posted on 3/19/23 at 8:01 am to
With express pass you can do both parks easily. We did it when it was very busy.
Posted by madamsquirrel
The big somewhere out there
Member since Jul 2009
55041 posts
Posted on 3/20/23 at 11:45 am to
quote:

1 park with express pass,
this will help to see everything in that park but
quote:

park hopper with no express passes 
allows you to take the HP train between parks
Posted by Captain Want
Member since Nov 2009
2174 posts
Posted on 3/20/23 at 4:32 pm to
(no message)
This post was edited on 8/13/24 at 9:00 am
Posted by soccerfüt
Location: A Series of Tubes
Member since May 2013
72943 posts
Posted on 3/20/23 at 9:15 pm to
Universal Private VIP Tour is around $3k pp for one day
That’s two or more folks with one guide

I took the Universal VIP Experience last year, it was around $400 pp for about 7 hours with a buffet breakfast at the beginning.

It is one guide with around 8-10 people.

We did about nine rides total, some from both parks.

Universal VIP Packages Link
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