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Universal studios Orlando

Posted on 7/10/24 at 9:23 am
Posted by YeauxGurt
Daigoba
Member since Dec 2011
281 posts
Posted on 7/10/24 at 9:23 am
I've got an Orlando trip coming up in September. Can Universal studios be covered/done in a day? Both parks/parts in one day? Worth going to now or just skip till it's redone in 25?
Thanks
Posted by UpToPar
Baton Rouge
Member since Sep 2008
22849 posts
Posted on 7/10/24 at 9:32 am to
It can be done. You likely won't ride every major attraction unless you have an express pass, but it can be done.
Posted by Someone
West Monroe, LA
Member since Jan 2007
1981 posts
Posted on 7/10/24 at 9:54 am to
quote:

It can be done. You likely won't ride every major attraction unless you have an express pass, but it can be done.


This. Especially if you’re going on a weekday, as September is not usually one of the busier months.

Also, it’s not being “redone.” Universal is opening a new park, Epic Universe, next year.
Posted by LSUfan4444
Member since Mar 2004
56623 posts
Posted on 7/10/24 at 10:14 am to
Yes so long as you have early admission and express pass.

You can probably knock them out by lunch.
Posted by Dam Guide
Member since Sep 2005
16527 posts
Posted on 7/10/24 at 11:55 am to
It's pretty easy with express pass, especially in September. Coasters and HP stuff will be your biggest time loss. You can hit a lot of the major rides without express pass and early admission with a little planning and checking line waits.
Posted by LSUfan4444
Member since Mar 2004
56623 posts
Posted on 7/10/24 at 12:52 pm to
Early admission is key to hit those rides not on Express Pass

You could still do it without early admission but its a big time saver to have it for sure.
Posted by xBirdx
Member since Sep 2018
2291 posts
Posted on 7/10/24 at 3:52 pm to
You can do it in a day- I’d suggest 2 days to be able to relax, etc without trying to “see it all”.

We spent 3 days / 3 nights right after new years a few January’s ago- it was great. This after 5-6 trips to Disney…. Hotel was in walking distance to parks/ city center (or whatever it is called), pretty laid back.
Posted by bluestem75
Dallas, TX
Member since Oct 2007
4902 posts
Posted on 7/10/24 at 4:28 pm to
We did it. Didn’t ride everything, but we were mostly interested in Islands of Adventure for Velocicoaster and Hagrids.

We rode quite a few rides and felt like we got enough bang for our buck.

Didn’t use Express Pass either.
Posted by Napoleon
Kenna
Member since Dec 2007
73155 posts
Posted on 7/10/24 at 4:48 pm to
It can be done.
You may not get to Hagrid's or Velicoaster but you can ride most rides in a day.
I like to start with Islands of Adventure and then walk over to Studios and start with the coaster. The hogwarts train is cool but if the wait is more than a few minutes I'll skip it because it takes longer.
ET, MiB, Mummy, Simpsons and Fast and the Furious are usually walk on. The Harry Potter rides usually have longer lines, ditto with Jurassic Park and King Kong so that's a reason I start with IoA.

I also skip the water rides because you get drenched.
Posted by dallastiger55
Jennings, LA
Member since Jan 2010
33103 posts
Posted on 7/10/24 at 5:14 pm to
we did it last month. started at rope drop and they close at 9 which sucks, but we did both parks. Islands is crazy busy..


Universal part is dated, and they want to do a big reno on it and replace the whole Simpsons/Men in Black section. It was run down, and the employees looked like fair employees. I would breeze through it. Most of their rides are indoor 4d rides that made me hate my life and want to throw up.

Also, their fast pass is ridiculously expensive. Its more than the damn ticket.


Go at rope drop and head straight to Islands and the back of the park and do Hagrid's(best ride IMO) and anything else in Harry Potter world. Then do Jurassic area which is next to it. Those are always the busiest.

This post was edited on 7/10/24 at 5:19 pm
Posted by Lsut81
Member since Jun 2005
83682 posts
Posted on 7/10/24 at 5:48 pm to
Did it in December and doing it again in November.

With Express pass, can easily ride anything and everything in a day, outside of Hagrids that doesn't allow express, so as others have said, you need to get in line before open and make a run to it.

Think we rode Velocicoaster 3 times and every other coaster/ride at least once.
Posted by VinegarStrokes
Georgia
Member since Oct 2015
14050 posts
Posted on 7/11/24 at 8:00 am to
quote:

Worth going to now or just skip till it's redone in 25?
Thanks


i definitely would not recommend waiting until the new park opens. The crowds will be insane and the 2 older parks will be filled with people who are in town for the new park.

Both can be done in a day easily if you have the express pass. I'd recommend staying at one of the 3 premium resorts to get express for free depending on how many people you have going with you. If it's just you, then the cost increase of the room doesn't make up for the free express pass but 2 or more and I think you are already looking at break even or better.
Posted by Napoleon
Kenna
Member since Dec 2007
73155 posts
Posted on 7/11/24 at 8:13 am to
I'm thinking about going in October for the Halloween overlay they do. My sister lives in Tampa so I'll likely stay with her and bring her kids with me to the park as their Christmas gift from me.
I haven't been to Halloween Horror nights since the 90s before IoA.
Would be fun.
Posted by Dam Guide
Member since Sep 2005
16527 posts
Posted on 7/11/24 at 8:37 am to
quote:

Early admission is key to hit those rides not on Express Pass


Not really, we do it all the time as family of Universal employees. It’s pretty easy to hit the major stuff and without running around no early entry. We don’t even arrive til the park is already open and never get express pass anymore. Just have good knowledge of the parks. Hagrids is the biggest trouble point usually.

With them not as famaliar, express or more time would help a ton though.
This post was edited on 7/11/24 at 8:43 am
Posted by LSUfan4444
Member since Mar 2004
56623 posts
Posted on 7/11/24 at 9:13 am to
quote:

Not really


It is if you're trying to do both parks in one day. It's not necessary but the time you save for Hagrids in the morning sets up the rest of the day. Sure, you can hope to get w VQ spot, get lucky with single rider, etc. but early admission to knock out Hagrids with a minimal wait and then EP for the rest is the best option. Not the only but the best.


Posted by Joseywalesdsd
Member since May 2022
11 posts
Posted on 7/11/24 at 9:17 am to
Has anyone ever done the VIP ticket for Universal? Is it worth it ?
Posted by Dam Guide
Member since Sep 2005
16527 posts
Posted on 7/11/24 at 9:51 am to
quote:

It is if you're trying to do both parks in one day. It's not necessary but the time you save for Hagrids in the morning sets up the rest of the day. Sure, you can hope to get w VQ spot, get lucky with single rider, etc. but early admission to knock out Hagrids with a minimal wait and then EP for the rest is the best option. Not the only but the best.


Depends on what my mood is, Hagrids at night is a trip. Highly recommend it. Sometimes we do it twice in one day if we do manage to go in early, depends on the line other days. We don’t do virtual queue, we hardly see the single rider line open in less busy times.
Posted by Dam Guide
Member since Sep 2005
16527 posts
Posted on 7/11/24 at 9:56 am to
quote:

Has anyone ever done the VIP ticket for Universal? Is it worth it ?


A long time ago before HP existed, so not very relevant to today, was an employee perk. Was super nice to get whisked around and have zero wait times. Wish HP existed. If you have the disposable money, I say go for it.
Posted by DarkDrifter
Louisiana
Member since Aug 2011
5054 posts
Posted on 7/11/24 at 3:46 pm to
quote:

Can Universal studios be covered/done in a day?


Yes, we just got back about a week ago and were able to do both parks in 1 day.. Get there for opening and go straight to the Hagrid ride then VelociCoaster immediately afterwards.. The park app is really handy as well
Posted by Slinky Dog Travel
Member since Jul 2024
39 posts
Posted on 7/11/24 at 9:03 pm to
If you get express pass you can ride almost every ride in both parks. It’s very expensive though. I did it during spring break and skipped only the water rides because it was kinda cooler that day.
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