First Question: Is a day enough time to attend both IOA and USF? As mentioned we're going on a Thursday and most kids are still in school so I don't know how crowded I should expect it to be. If a day is not enough, I will be going to just IOA and can just buy the single park access tickets.
Second Question: Should I buy the Express Pass? I'm concerned that if I only go to IOA and get the Express Pass that I'll have done everything there is to do in about half a day. I understand HPFJ does not accept it, and I should expect to wait there regardless. I also saw that one of the few rides we would be interested in at USF (Rockit coaster) doesn't accept it either.
Third Question: Since I won't have early access, my preliminary plan is to go WWoHP in the evening. If the recommendation is to go to both parks, I'm considering going to USF in the morning and getting on the few rides we'd like there, then IOA in the afternoon. I figure most will do the opposite to go see the new parade/light show that will open 2 days prior. Thoughts on this plan?
Any other advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
Any advice on driving there from Daytona Beach area? I've read I-4 is a nightmare in rush hour. What time should I leave? Alternate routes?
Seeing that you aren't interested in the kids rides, you should have no problem riding everything you want in both parks on a single day visit.
You should hit HP at opening and ride Forbidden Journey since that is your main reason for visiting. The wait for Ollivanders is always crazy and it is worth seeing once, but you could waste an hour of your day just waiting in line.
The line for Dueling Dragons seems to be very short all morning because everyone is focused on FJ. You should be able to ride both sides of the coaster pretty quickly in the AM.
Since you will be close by, you could catch Poseidon right after. If you double back through Jurassic Park, you can ride River Adventure, then head to Toon Lagoon if you feel like getting wet on Rip Saw Falls and Bluto's Barges.
I would then head to Marvel and then ride Spider-Man, Fearfall and the Hulk. You will be right near the main entrance at that point and you will have hit all of the adult rides. It doesn't sound like you will have any interest in Seuss Landing.
It should be early afternoon by this time so you can grab some lunch. I would skip most of the food stops at IOA unless you want to treat her to Mythos. The pizza at Jurassic is... kind of blah. Circus McGurkus is not so good either.
Universal is a whole different story. It is hard to have a plan, so you may want to make a circle around the park, hitting the adult rides as you go. If you go right, you can ride T23D, E.T. Simpsons, MIB etc. Then make your way to the other side where Disaster, Mummy, Twister, Dispicable Me and Rip Ride Rockit are located.
RRR is definitely better at night and hopefully, you can be done with all your riding by the time the night time show starts. It would a shame to miss that as it is brand new and looks amazing.
I'm not sure about the parade times at Universal, but it may give you an opportunity to do some riding if there are crowds gathering to view it. I am not used to parades at Universal, so everyone may ignore it completely. Disney is better known for its parades and crazy squatters who camp out a spot two hours early.
I am not sure I would save IOA for a night visit, I don't think anything would upset her more than not being able to enjoy HP from what you posted.
If you get in line for FJ before they close it off, you will get to ride mo matter what. We got on RRR a full hour after the park was closed because the ride broke down. Hundreds of people were leaving the line and we went from 3/4 of the way from the start to the loading platform in a matter of minutes.
I don't live in Florida, so I am not sure about traffic, but I would get to Orlando as early as possible. Even if you are really early, you can always grab some breakfast near the parks (Waffle House is a couple minutes away) :).
I think your only option for tickets is a pair of 2 park hoppers. If you want to ensure fast wait times on everything except FJ and RRR, you can always purchase Express. I think it may be worth it for a single day 2 park visit.
From experience, your wait times with Express will be 5 minutes or less for everything except the Simpsons and Hulk. They blend you into the line pretty close to the loading platforms, but we have never waited more than 10 minutes for each.
You can only use them once for each ride, but I can guarantee you will be able to ride everything in both parks, even if you got there at noon. You would also be able to catch the live shows if you feel like it.
Be sure to let us know how the trip went after you get home. I think you can definitely do what you want without Expess if you get there early, however.
