Universal Touring Plan - Updated with Results!
We are going in a few weeks, once school starts on week days. Can give each park at least a day. Have never been before. Will not use express pass. So ...
Looking at the maps, and reading a bit about the attractions, would this be a sound strategy:
Universal Studios
At opening, go to Rip Ride Rockit and Mummy right off the bat. After that, it should be smooth sailing regardless, correct?
Islands of Adventure
At opening, should we follow the herd to WWoHP, going to Forbiden Journey first, then roam the land, then see the rest of the park, or do you think it would be best to go contrary to the herd, and turn left at opening and go to Spidey, Hulk, Dudley, Popeye, and Jurassic Park first, then over to WWoHP?
I suspect it may not really matter, as some of you may say. But even if it is dead, I feel having an effective plan enables you to amble about all the more, and enjoy a relaxed, leisure pace for the majority of the day.
UPDATE:
Went to Universal on the Tues after Labor Day. Decided to go to Islands of Adventure first. Got there just after opening. Went away from Potter. SO we get to Hulk, and it is down so we walk on Spiderman. Hulk still down. So we wlk on Jurrassic park, then Dudley Doo right, then Popeye. We are now soaked to the bone.
(Is this a water park, it sure feels like it!)
"People dryers" do not work BTW. Hulk is now open. Wait says 20, and it is that or less. Ride hulk, and make our way to Potter. Get to land at about 11:15. Land is packed. Gift shops/candy store is packed. Decide to eat at 3 broomsticks before it gets packed as it gets closer to noon. Wair about 5 minutes to get served. So we now head to Forbidden Journey. Wait says 50 minutes. We are fine with that as we have heard queue is great, and it is. Line is moving and plan seems to have worked. But then tragedy strikes. Ride "breaks" twice while we are in line and have waited over a half hour already. After two periods of standing still for long period of time, we have had it. Walk out of the line very dissappointed. Ride Dragon challenge- walk on. Ride Hippogrifth- 5 minute wait. FJ is still down. Leave park with really bad taste in my mouth, really appreciating Disney.
Next day, go straight to FJ just after opening, 20 minute wait. This ride is awesome. Bad taste removed. Go over to Universal Studios, and walk on about everything, others wait only 5-10 minutes. Leave satisfied by 1:30.
Overall, waits were short. Express pass was not needed. 2 day ticket is about right for both parks, unless you want to stay from open to close (we leave at the heat of day usually). Plan of not going to Potter first was sound. Would have worked like a charm if not for 1) Hulk being down and 2) FJ "breaking down". We went back on Sunday (yesterday) at about 11:30 or later. Went straight to FJ. Wait said 40, and it was that or less. Line moved really well. then went to Spiderman, waited about 5-10, then went to Mummy and walked on. Left paks about 1:30 with a much better impression than the first time. Will go back some day.
We are going in a few weeks, once school starts on week days. Can give each park at least a day. Have never been before. Will not use express pass. So ...
Looking at the maps, and reading a bit about the attractions, would this be a sound strategy:
Universal Studios
At opening, go to Rip Ride Rockit and Mummy right off the bat. After that, it should be smooth sailing regardless, correct?
Islands of Adventure
At opening, should we follow the herd to WWoHP, going to Forbiden Journey first, then roam the land, then see the rest of the park, or do you think it would be best to go contrary to the herd, and turn left at opening and go to Spidey, Hulk, Dudley, Popeye, and Jurassic Park first, then over to WWoHP?
I suspect it may not really matter, as some of you may say. But even if it is dead, I feel having an effective plan enables you to amble about all the more, and enjoy a relaxed, leisure pace for the majority of the day.
UPDATE:
Went to Universal on the Tues after Labor Day. Decided to go to Islands of Adventure first. Got there just after opening. Went away from Potter. SO we get to Hulk, and it is down so we walk on Spiderman. Hulk still down. So we wlk on Jurrassic park, then Dudley Doo right, then Popeye. We are now soaked to the bone.
(Is this a water park, it sure feels like it!)
"People dryers" do not work BTW. Hulk is now open. Wait says 20, and it is that or less. Ride hulk, and make our way to Potter. Get to land at about 11:15. Land is packed. Gift shops/candy store is packed. Decide to eat at 3 broomsticks before it gets packed as it gets closer to noon. Wair about 5 minutes to get served. So we now head to Forbidden Journey. Wait says 50 minutes. We are fine with that as we have heard queue is great, and it is. Line is moving and plan seems to have worked. But then tragedy strikes. Ride "breaks" twice while we are in line and have waited over a half hour already. After two periods of standing still for long period of time, we have had it. Walk out of the line very dissappointed. Ride Dragon challenge- walk on. Ride Hippogrifth- 5 minute wait. FJ is still down. Leave park with really bad taste in my mouth, really appreciating Disney.
Next day, go straight to FJ just after opening, 20 minute wait. This ride is awesome. Bad taste removed. Go over to Universal Studios, and walk on about everything, others wait only 5-10 minutes. Leave satisfied by 1:30.
Overall, waits were short. Express pass was not needed. 2 day ticket is about right for both parks, unless you want to stay from open to close (we leave at the heat of day usually). Plan of not going to Potter first was sound. Would have worked like a charm if not for 1) Hulk being down and 2) FJ "breaking down". We went back on Sunday (yesterday) at about 11:30 or later. Went straight to FJ. Wait said 40, and it was that or less. Line moved really well. then went to Spiderman, waited about 5-10, then went to Mummy and walked on. Left paks about 1:30 with a much better impression than the first time. Will go back some day.
