1 day - Is it enough?

[mamacon67]

Planning 8d/9n in Orlando early 6/2017 with most time being spend at WDW. We want to incorporate time at Universal as well. While at Universal, the primary focus is Harry Potter and then whatever else we can fit in. Am I short changing myself by only allowing one day to see HP in both parks, and then fit in some of the Universal highlights? Wavering on split hotel stays as well. Never having been to Universal, I am a bit lost, help!

[John]

Planning 8d/9n in Orlando early 6/2017 with most time being spend at WDW. We want to incorporate time at Universal as well. While at Universal, the primary focus is Harry Potter and then whatever else we can fit in. Am I short changing myself by only allowing one day to see HP in both parks, and then fit in some of the Universal highlights? Wavering on split hotel stays as well. Never having been to Universal, I am a bit lost, help!

I'd *at least* stay overnight at a Universal resort that gives you Express. You can get there early in the morning on day one, check in, pick up your express pass, go to the parks and then use it on day 2 as well. Personally, I'd do two nights and take things at a relaxed pace, enjoy the nightlife and dining. Like Disney, it's not just parks, it's a resort.... lots to do.

[MizMissy]

If you are really just focusing on HP area in both parks, you can see it in a day. It would probably be a very tiring day, especially if the crowds are high. We prefer to spread out our visit over several days with early park entry, then breaks during the heat of the day.

If you are only going for a day, I would pick early/mid week and not a weekend day.

[joonyer]

June will be a busy month. A weekday would be better than a weekend. You can do it, but it will be crowded.

[MNNHFLTX]

I'd *at least* stay overnight at a Universal resort that gives you Express. You can get there early in the morning on day one, check in, pick up your express pass, go to the parks and then use it on day 2 as well. Personally, I'd do two nights and take things at a relaxed pace, enjoy the nightlife and dining. Like Disney, it's not just parks, it's a resort.... lots to do.I agree with this 100%. To try and cram everything into one day would stressful and not allow you to fully enjoy the Universal parks.

[Pirate Granny]

We only do one day, we arrange for a cab 1 hour before park opens...get there and walk over to Universal and wait in line (normally the first ones), when park opens head to Rip tide if you like that sort of thing...hubby goes there, I walk on to Diagon Alley and put our stuff in a locker...meet up and the crowds are so small we ride the Gringots ride twice...then we leave, take the train over to Hogsmeade and ride Forbidden Journey twice and hubby rides the dueling dragons. We have an early lunch at the three broomsticks, walk around hogsmeade and visit Jurassic Park. Take the train back to Diagon Alley (which may have 30 -45 minute wait...now we look around Diagon Alley and if the wait is under 20 minutes ride Gringots again...have an early dinner at the HP restaurant, name escapes me, and we wander the Universal side and do some shows and a couple of more rides...catch a cab back to Disney around 7pm...full day, you bet, but very doable. We even did it that way with two 9 yr olds. Universal resorts are very expensive, to just get the express pass, which none of the HP rides can use that express pass

[John]

We only do one day, we arrange for a cab 1 hour before park opens...get there and walk over to Universal and wait in line (normally the first ones), when park opens head to Rip tide if you like that sort of thing...hubby goes there, I walk on to Diagon Alley and put our stuff in a locker...meet up and the crowds are so small we ride the Gringots ride twice...then we leave, take the train over to Hogsmeade and ride Forbidden Journey twice and hubby rides the dueling dragons. We have an early lunch at the three broomsticks, walk around hogsmeade and visit Jurassic Park. Take the train back to Diagon Alley (which may have 30 -45 minute wait...now we look around Diagon Alley and if the wait is under 20 minutes ride Gringots again...have an early dinner at the HP restaurant, name escapes me, and we wander the Universal side and do some shows and a couple of more rides...catch a cab back to Disney around 7pm...full day, you bet, but very doable. We even did it that way with two 9 yr olds. Universal resorts are very expensive, to just get the express pass, which none of the HP rides can use that express pass


I can't recommend you do this. Sorry PG. You're skipping way too much of the park. It's not just about Harry Potter. Plus, their night time movie - fireworks show is quite good at the studios.

And Universal Very Expensive for their resorts? How so? Have you looked at Disney Prices lately? For a family of four, a one night stay, which includes Express for 2 days is in my opinion, VERY reasonable. This isn't a value hotel. They are on par with Disney Deluxe and with express, offer a relaxed couple days - which shines in stark contrast to the planning and craziness that Disney has become.

No, you can't use express pass on the potter rides, but you can do early entry by staying at the resorts which also gives you a leg up.

Anyway, there will be those here that will tell you Universal doesn't compare to Disney. I'm here to tell you, it's a fantastic resort that compares favorably with what Disney has to offer. It's not 4 parks but it does provide an experience similar to Disneyland and Disney's California adventure combined with Downtown Disney and the Disney Resorts out there.

You don't need to do a week at universal but a 2-3 night stay combined with chilling at the resorts, pools, restaurants, parks and night clubs are a great way to get away.

[BrerGnat]

I would recommend staying overnight as well and planning for 2 park days.

[DonaldDuck1117]

I can't recommend you do this. Sorry PG. You're skipping way too much of the park. It's not just about Harry Potter. Plus, their night time movie - fireworks show is quite good at the studios.

And Universal Very Expensive for their resorts? How so? Have you looked at Disney Prices lately? For a family of four, a one night stay, which includes Express for 2 days is in my opinion, VERY reasonable. This isn't a value hotel. They are on par with Disney Deluxe and with express, offer a relaxed couple days - which shines in stark contrast to the planning and craziness that Disney has become.

I also agree the resorts are way too expensive. Well, I should clarify and day Universal needs more different price points. All but one are "deluxe" resorts and Cabana Bay is more of a "moderate" to use Disney terms. They need a true "value" resort.

I do agree that I wouldn't do 1 day at Universal. I would recommend 2 days with 1 day at each park. I personally think their park hopper isn't worth it. You are throwing away money if you only do Potter. They have a a lot of great attractions.

[BrerGnat]

I can highly recommend Cabana Bay. The prices are "Disney value" but the resort is fantastic! The express pass isn't needed really. We did 2 days at Universal without express pass and did all the rides no problem.

[MNNHFLTX]

I can highly recommend Cabana Bay. The prices are "Disney value" but the resort is fantastic! The express pass isn't needed really. We did 2 days at Universal without express pass and did all the rides no problem.
I liked our stay at Cabana Bay, but IMO the Express Pass option is totally worth paying more to stay at the other three resorts, especially during peak time frames. You visit the HP stuff first thing in the morning and then go on the other rides as much as you want. It's the only way to get as much as possible out of a short visit.

[MizMissy]

I will just add that with all of the construction going on at Disney, I feel that 7 days is a lot of time at those parks. Since you have not been to Universal, I would recommend spending 2 or 3 days at Universal to really be able to slow down and enjoy all the Universal parks have to offer. If you do decide to spend more than one day at Universal, I would recommend purchasing the park hopper. While I was not that impressed with the train ride itself, you should experience it and it's a nice way to get from the back of one park to the back of the other (and directly into HP areas), but we also like to move from park to park. It also helps with dodging or avoiding crowds and not limiting yourself since everything is so close together, it is very easy to move between parks and Citywalk and hotels.

[Pirate Granny]

I had an annual pass to Universal this year...BORING...and hubby feels he's too old and some rides too rough after riding the thrill rides (we're 65)... So one day is more than enough IF the idea is to visit the Harry Potter areas. I'm not into getting soaked, although the water rides look nice, that's a no. And I suppose since we are DVC owners and not paying cash for Disney rooms, the value for us to stay at Universal isn't value added. I did take our adult daughters on site for three nights when HP first opened...they rode all the rides, and agreed...three nights were WAY too much...we were all bored by mid second day, and we don't come to shop, eat or drink...can do that at home....never saw fireworks on the program sheets though ��

[buzznwoodysmom]

I can highly recommend Cabana Bay. The prices are "Disney value" but the resort is fantastic! The express pass isn't needed really. We did 2 days at Universal without express pass and did all the rides no problem.

I could have typed this myself! We stayed at Cabana Bay last summer and it's a great little resort for the price. We were there during the summer, last week of July, I believe. We did not miss having express pass at all. We really didn't need it.

If you've done the Universal parks before, then one day to do mainly Harry Potter would work. However, if it's your first time, or you haven't done all the Harry Potter stuff before, I really feel that squeezing it all into one day wouldn't be nearly as enjoyable as having at least two days.

[Tearin_it_up]

If you know you only want to do a certain list of attractions it can be done, we went on a Monday and got there right before opening and left at 7ish, an hour before closing. Here is what we accomplished that day in order:

Transformers
Rip Rocket
Mummy
Simpsons
Wondered Diagon Alley for almost hour
Gringotts
Lunch at Leaky Cauldron
Animals, Actors
Hogwarts Express
Dragon Challenge
Forbidden Journey
Dr. Doom (this wasted a lot of time in a slow line)
Spiderman
Jurassic Park x 3
Raptor Encounter
Forbidden Journey again
Hogswart Express
Gringotts