How many days?

I always tell people to do 3 days....Then you can spend a whole day in each park and the third day redoing attractions that you liked the most. Stay on site and get the unlimited express pass for free...you won't be sorry. Their hotels are nicer than Disney's and walking to the parks instead of waiting for a bus is so nice.

Their Halloween Party is so much fun. If you go in October make sure you get tickets.

We were bored by the third day...I say two full days is more than enough..

I guess it depends on how you like to tour the parks. Are you the type who gets there first thing in the morning and leaves when the park closes? Or do you like to spend the first part of the day in the parks, take a break, then go back?

We are going at the end of June and will be there for 5 days (Saturday - Wednesday). we got 4 day park to park passes. we are staying on property so we have Early Park Admission advantage as well as the Express Passes. We like to go first thing in the morning, then leave around 2 for the day. That just gives us the chance to spend the rest of the day relaxing and doing other things. It'll keep us from getting worn out - especially since we'll be during such a hot time of year.

I agree with the first poster that 3 days is great - and especially now with the Harry Potter area, you could easily spend a whole day JUST doing the Harry Potter areas at both parks.

Good luck and ENJOY!!!

I will probably be taking a break in the afternoon, but my kids may keep going. I have some physical disabilities and anticipate not being able to ride everything. For comparison, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is about the roughest thing I can do at Disney World. We do have a huge harry potter fan, so that will probably turn into an all day affair. I also plan in a rest day every 2-3 days of playing in the parks, so it sounds like Gregandmel's plan may work well for us - 5 days there with 4 day tickets.

Cinderelley;2456990 wrote: How many days would you recommend for each park at Universal?

Honestly, 2... but I could easily take 3... Pretty soon you'll need 3... then 4...

If I only want to do the two Harry Potter lands and was not interested in any thrill rides at all, would one and a half day be enough? Say from around 2 PM one day and a full day the next? How about half a day if I can make it there before noon?

Thanks!

Tinky-Bell;2457228 wrote: If I only want to do the two Harry Potter lands and was not interested in any thrill rides at all, would one and a half day be enough? Say from around 2 PM one day and a full day the next? How about half a day if I can make it there before noon?

Thanks!

Need at least one full day... You are missing out if you take only half a day for the two Potter sections... so much to see and take in... A day and a half should suffice for what you want to do...

Tinky-Bell;2457228 wrote: If I only want to do the two Harry Potter lands and was not interested in any thrill rides at all, would one and a half day be enough? Say from around 2 PM one day and a full day the next? How about half a day if I can make it there before noon?

Thanks!

Not only do I think it's not enough time but why wouldn't you want to do the other attractions they offer? Not everything at Universal is extreme. Personally I would never go to a theme park with the intention of only going for a half day. Theme park tickets cost too much money IMO to do that.

Tinky-Bell;2457228 wrote: If I only want to do the two Harry Potter lands and was not interested in any thrill rides at all, would one and a half day be enough? Say from around 2 PM one day and a full day the next? How about half a day if I can make it there before noon?

Thanks!

Yes, that is what we did last year. 1.5 days and one day the park even closed at 5pm for Halloween stuff. We were in from 9a-5pm the first day and then 9am-2pm the second day. We saw everything in HP lands, riding all those rides once each day. We ate in both Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley, saw the wand show, went in all the stores, rode the train both ways twice. In addition we rode Men in Black, E.T., Mummy, Hulk, and Spiderman. The only thing we missed was Despicable Me because the wait was over an hour. Rip Ride Rockit we also missed because it was down every time we were near it.

Honestly, I can't imagine spending more than 2 days there. I've been before and done all the other rides and once we were done with the ones we really wanted to ride, we were ready to go to Disney.

BrerGnat;2457269 wrote: Yes, that is what we did last year. 1.5 days and one day the park even closed at 5pm for Halloween stuff. We were in from 9a-5pm the first day and then 9am-2pm the second day. We saw everything in HP lands, riding all those rides once each day. We ate in both Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley, saw the wand show, went in all the stores, rode the train both ways twice. In addition we rode Men in Black, E.T., Mummy, Hulk, and Spiderman. The only thing we missed was Despicable Me because the wait was over an hour. Rip Ride Rockit we also missed because it was down every time we were near it.

Honestly, I can't imagine spending more than 2 days there. I've been before and done all the other rides and once we were done with the ones we really wanted to ride, we were ready to go to Disney.

See I just don't get that Nat. I stayed 3 recently and with all else the resort has to offer along with the hotels, restaurants, night clubs etc... We said we easily could do 5-7 days there and really relax. The attractions and hotels are top notch and with Universal Express... It makes the vacation hassle free unlike the way FP+ has gotten.

They have a lot to offer. A vacation to me is more than just running from ride to ride.

All in all, universal now feels a lot like Disneyland. A self contained, very well done theme park, shopping, dining and resort complex.

Love Disney but think you are severely underselling Universal.

I was answering the question posed based on my experience. If someone really only wants to see the Harry Potter stuff, then 1.5 days is plenty.

I can't really put my finger on it but I just never have an AMAZING time at Universal. I have gone numerous times over the years. I stayed at Cabana Bay last year and really liked it but I don't have the desire the spend a whole week at Universal. It's just something about the atmosphere there I don't really enjoy. I am not super into movies so maybe that is it. I find much of the park lacking in cohesive themeing and I get tired of all the simulators. Frankly, a lot of it feels cheesy and poorly thrown together (i.e. Simpsons area). Universal, in particular, feels very disjointed and I often feel lost there. It makes me uncomfortable.

I keep giving Universal more chances, though, and the Harry Potter addition was spectacular. The hotels are very nice and the upcoming water park and new hotel will probably bump the place up a couple more notches. Nintendo coming is also VERY exciting for my family so I know we will be back.

Wow. Can't disagree more. I think much of the park is as nice if not exceeding Disney (esp in the wizarding world areas).

Also, suggest that staying at cabana bay doesn't give that connected resort experience ala. Disneyland. I've been at both Hard Rock and Portofino - both are outstanding properties

In general, I think that many have their Disney rose glasses on and don't see Universal for all it has to offer...

To be clear, I love both but have been enjoying the Universal experience more as of late.

In the end, we all like what we like. Just think a day and a half is short.

Its like going in the magic kingdom and feeling like you've done everything because you did the mountains and ate in the castle. The experience is so much deeper than that.

John, if you don't mind, can you tell me how your days at Universal generally go? Just to kind've walk me through what to expect.

I completely agree that a day and a half is not enough time to fully explore Universal Orlando Resort. I would never tell a first time visitor that it is. But it's definitely enough for JUST Harry Potter.

I agree about Cabana Bay. It was kind of far, required a bus that we waited FOREVER for. But, we were trying to keep the trip very low cost so it suited us. I would love to stay at Portofino one day!

And I don't have rose colored Disney glasses. I just have a longer history going there and more sentimental memories. I got married there, for gosh sakes! It makes me happy to be there, even if I don't ride a single thing. Universal will never do that for me.

For the record, though, DisneyLAND is really where it's at. ;)