Haven't been since 94--need a plan, please help!

[surfsupdon]

I'm going to both parks for a day on Jan 6th, a Friday, over marathon w/e at WDW. I haven't been to Universal since 94, and was at IoA in 99. So I am really excited!!


Studios close at 6pm and Islands at 7pm. I will get there by 9am.

-Do you think the parks will be very crowded that early in January?

-Which park first? Of course I want to ride Harry Potter, but will the line be shortest first thing in the morning or at the end of the day? I've also never been on Spiderman or Mummy (and a ton others at Studios) and need to develop a plan to hit EVERYTHING!!

What do you think??? Which park first, which rides have the biggest bottlenecks that I should get to early on? I am expecting to get on everything!

 

[britlightyear]

We went in January of this year and we are going again this coming Feb. I would really really suggest getting to the parking garage by around 8am. We thought we would be a little early last year and arrived and parked by 8:15 but by the time we walked from the car to the entrance section where they check your bags (they are checking bags for people going to both parks) so the line for security took almost 30 minutes. Once we got past security though, we moved pretty quickly and headed to IOA. We were about ten people back in the entrance line.

Once it was 9am, they started letting people into the park and would not let anyone go through Suess land to get to HP, we had to take the long way around and there were a lot of people just flat out running. When we got to Forbidden Journey though we walked right on twice. We then wondered around WWoHP for awhile, visiting the shops and eating at 3 broomsticks. At around 11:30 we went to the rest of the park and did pretty much all the rides since they were mostly walk-on (Spiderman wait was about 20-25 min but TOTALLY worth it)

We left IOA around 3, walked over to US and did most of the rides (Jaws was closed) Then when US closed at 6 we walked back to IOA and rode FJ 2 more times and shopped a little more.
This next trip we are doing 2 days at US/IOA because we did feel a little rushed and would like to spend more time just enjoying the universal parks but as long as the crowds aren't too bad, it can be done in one day.

Just remember- universal doesn't let you take bags on any of their rides and most of the lockers give you like thirty minutes to an hour free and then you have to pay but some make you pay no matter what. It was really annoying having to deal with the locker situation at EVERY SINGLE RIDE. But other than the locker issue we had a great time and hopefully you will too! :wave:

 

[surfsupdon]

Thanks for the great response. I think I will head to Islands first and do Harry Potter and then Spiderman (waited in line for Spiderman 2x in '99 and it broke down both times!!--no idea how frustrating). I love their 3 coasters, and reallylove the whole island of Jurassic Park, and its ride. I'd like to try the water rides too if it isn't freezing out.

Then head to Universal, grab a quick late lunch, and go right to Mummy and the bunch of rides I've never done there either.

Then finish up with favorites, at whichever park I liked best.

 

[britlightyear]

Sounds like a pretty good plan
Just remember to get there early and also Citywalk has some pretty good places to eat for lunch. We stopped by the BK Whopper bar place that has a couple other fast food places in it and ate at Moe's- it has mexican food. My husband loved their burritos and I thought the quesadilla was very tasty. Then since they were in the same building (kinda like a mini food court) we got BK for the little guy and he was happy.

 

[AswaySuller]

When I visited at Easter we went first thing and had about a 2 hour wait, later on in the day we had like a 20 minute wait.... I'd sit tight and go later personally.

 

[surfsupdon]

Wow thank you!

I know what I am going to do, which I think I knew I would do all along.

Start at Universal and do all of my must do rides there. Eat here too.

Then walk to Islands and do everything I want there, and head to Harry Potter later on.

Islands is open later than Universal. And, truth be told, my top 4 attractions to hit are Spiderman, Mummy, Rip Ride Rocket, and River Adv. JP is my all time favorite movie and I remember really really liking the River Adventure, and that whole land.

Harry Potter rounds out the top 5. Haven't read the books or seen the movies, so there isn't a pull to go there. All the hooplah actually annoys me. I'll ride it and I'm sure I'll like it, but I have amny other things I want to try too.

 

[AswaySuller]

I have never ready HP,

I was forced by a girlfriend to watch one of the movies.... I hated it.....

I also don't get the hype and hysteria...


But that ride and theming is phenomenal.

 

[britlightyear]

I have never ready HP,

I was forced by a girlfriend to watch one of the movies.... I hated it.....

I also don't get the hype and hysteria...


But that ride and theming is phenomenal.

I have read all the books more than once.
The movies do not even come close to the books.
The hype and hysteria has gotten a ton of kids to start reading more so it can't be a bad thing.
If you enjoyed the ride and theming without having read the books, trust me, it's 1000 times cooler understanding what all the decorations mean and why certain things are how they are.

 

[javy2004]

I have never ready HP,

I was forced by a girlfriend to watch one of the movies.... I hated it.....

I also don't get the hype and hysteria...


But that ride and theming is phenomenal.

totally agree on this. as someone who could care less for HP, its the best section of the park. i think lines won't be an issue for you. all else fails you can ride the single riders lines should there actually be a ridiculously long line. i went this past mid july and it was really busy. HPFJ had the longest waits (maxing probably near 2 hours), but waited about 20 or so min in the single riders. the queue area for single riders is actually nice too. dudley do right is nice, but beware of popeye. i think it'll be too cold for that and you will be thoroughly soaked on that ride. bring a change of clothes if you plan on riding that. if lines are too long, pretty much all the bigger attraction has single riders lines, and i've never waited over 30 min at IoA on those. i havent been to the studios since 92 so i don't have advice for that.... and drink the butterbeer!!

 

[RonAnnArbor]

Get the newest Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World, which includes a complete Universal Touring Plan and their suggested routes ALWAYS work if you want to get everything in with an only one-day trip....