How much time should we spend on Universal?

[Breedlove]

My wife and I take the kids to Disney every other year. Our last trip was Jan, 2020 and we have mentioned going sometime late this year (2021) or early 2022, nothing definite as of now. We have toyed with the idea of going to Universal for a day or 2 then going to Disney for a week. I have read online that you need 3 days at Universal and I was wondering if that is true. If not 3 days then how many do you suggest?

THANKS, in advance for anyone that responds to this post.

Breedlove

[JLThemeParkDude]

I say you can do it okay in 2 days, with one day devoted to each park (Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios park), and perhaps a portion of the evening devoted to checking out Citywalk (the shopping/dining/entertainment section).

If you want it to be a little more leisurely, then 3 days... one for each park, and one to go back and enjoy whichever attractions at each park you feel like doing again. (And do Citywalk on some nights, or on that last day and night.)

Edit: One more thing: I forgot about the third Universal Orlando park, Volcano Bay, which is a water park. I dont believe its open now. But when it does, and you feel like doing this too, then add 1 day for it).

[Peter Pan’s Shadow]

To me it’s 2 or 3 days depending on crowd levels and if you have express passes. We stay at the hotels that give us express passes and we like to sit and walk and soak things in so we do 3-4 days. Also I recommend staying at a Universal Hotel. Read the fine print, but as of now they guarantee entry to the parks. If at an off property hotel and parks are at capacity you won’t get in. Are you the same Breedlove that works with Molly?

[nicoledesay]

I say you can do it okay in 2 days, with one day devoted to each park (Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios park), and perhaps a portion of the evening devoted to checking out Citywalk (the shopping/dining/entertainment section).

If you want it to be a little more leisurely, then 3 days... one for each park, and one to go back and enjoy whichever attractions at each park you feel like doing again. (And do Citywalk on some nights, or on that last day and night.)

Edit: One more thing: I forgot about the third Universal Orlando park, Volcano Bay, which is a water park. I dont believe its open now. But when it does, and you feel like doing this too, then add 1 day for it).

so, there are only two parks that are actually theme parks?
We were thinking of doing Disney for the majority of a week and Universal for a couple days (making sure to do the Harry Potter sections).
So, would we do one full day in the one park that has one Harry Potter section and then one full day in the other park that has the other Harry Potter section?
Would you suggest switching from a Disney hotel to a Universal hotel when we switch from going to Disney parks to going to Universal parks?

[JLThemeParkDude]

I say you can do it okay in 2 days, with one day devoted to each park (Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios park), and perhaps a portion of the evening devoted to checking out Citywalk (the shopping/dining/entertainment section).

If you want it to be a little more leisurely, then 3 days... one for each park, and one to go back and enjoy whichever attractions at each park you feel like doing again. (And do Citywalk on some nights, or on that last day and night.)

Edit: One more thing: I forgot about the third Universal Orlando park, Volcano Bay, which is a water park. I dont believe its open now. But when it does, and you feel like doing this too, then add 1 day for it).

so, there are only two parks that are actually theme parks?
We were thinking of doing Disney for the majority of a week and Universal for a couple days (making sure to do the Harry Potter sections).
So, would we do one full day in the one park that has one Harry Potter section and then one full day in the other park that has the other Harry Potter section?
Would you suggest switching from a Disney hotel to a Universal hotel when we switch from going to Disney parks to going to Universal parks?

I actually live in the Orlando area, so I've never done the Theme Park hotel thing. I dont feel experienced enough to give advise about that.

Also, a disclaimer: these recommendations are based on my own quirky mindset, so maybe get other opinions too. I would hate to misadvise you.

Yes, Universal Orlando has two theme parks (Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios park), a water park (Volcano Bay), and a shopping/dining/entertainment area (Citywalk). (and yes, various resort hotels.)

You raise an interesting point, when you asked about the Harry Potter sections of both parks. Both of the Harry Potter sections at the two different parks are actually connected via a train ride called the Hogwarts express (a very immersive train ride), as long as you have a two-park ticket (or pass). (And the Hogwarts express is so immersive that its actually a ride in itself, so I would recommend riding it as a ride as much as a form of transportation to the other park). So, that may be one reason why you may want to "park hop" at least in regard to the Harry Potter areas.

Otherwise, not thinking about the Hogwarts express, I would recommend a day per each park, if you do the 2 day plan. (If you do plan to park hop, make sure you get a multi-park pass.)

[Breedlove]

To me it’s 2 or 3 days depending on crowd levels and if you have express passes. We stay at the hotels that give us express passes and we like to sit and walk and soak things in so we do 3-4 days. Also I recommend staying at a Universal Hotel. Read the fine print, but as of now they guarantee entry to the parks. If at an off property hotel and parks are at capacity you won’t get in. Are you the same Breedlove that works with Molly?

I am gonna say no on working with Molly. There are not a ton of Breedlove's running around so there is a chance that might be related to the one you are referring to, lol.

[Lovedisney20]

For context, it is just my boyfriend and I. Last November, we went to Orlando and did two WDW parks days (one park a day, MK and HS) then a third park day at Universal (on a Sunday). We had so much fun and really got to do everything we wanted. In my opinion, two days might have been more leisurely, but one day was amazing for us!