Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not to hijack but since Epic is opening sometime in 2025, would it be best to wait and experience the new parks?

Depends how much you care about Epic. Prices and crowds will be WAY better before Epic opens as other people delay their trips. Only you know what you prefer. But if you want lower prices on hotels and tickets and shorter lines, go before.

This. Most Universal fans (and Universal has a strong fan base of repeat/habitual visitors) will be focused on Epic soon. Universal is being coy about opening date but the rumors are that it may be in the spring. So spring or summer 2025 would be an excellent time to visit Islands of Adventure or the eponymous Universal Studios park.

If you wait until Epic opens, the other parks will be more crowded too. It will be a rising tide that lifts all boats. PP needs to visit before Epic opens if she wants lower crowds, even if not going to Epic.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not to hijack but since Epic is opening sometime in 2025, would it be best to wait and experience the new parks?

Depends how much you care about Epic. Prices and crowds will be WAY better before Epic opens as other people delay their trips. Only you know what you prefer. But if you want lower prices on hotels and tickets and shorter lines, go before.

This. Most Universal fans (and Universal has a strong fan base of repeat/habitual visitors) will be focused on Epic soon. Universal is being coy about opening date but the rumors are that it may be in the spring. So spring or summer 2025 would be an excellent time to visit Islands of Adventure or the eponymous Universal Studios park.

Anonymous wrote:Not to hijack but since Epic is opening sometime in 2025, would it be best to wait and experience the new parks?

Depends how much you care about Epic. Prices and crowds will be WAY better before Epic opens as other people delay their trips. Only you know what you prefer. But if you want lower prices on hotels and tickets and shorter lines, go before.

Not to hijack but since Epic is opening sometime in 2025, would it be best to wait and experience the new parks?

Anonymous wrote:For my kids, Volcano Bay at Universal was the highlight of the trip. If it's warm enough to do, it is very fun.

I was surprised not to enjoy Kennedy Space Center, but I didn't. My kid who loves space loved it, and the rest of the family found it hard going. The tours we took were long and very technical, and not very well presented. We were a little rushed getting there, and maybe if we had looked more carefully into which tours to take we would have had a better experience.

I think it’s a niche crowd that likes KSC. The reviews online are either terrible or glowing and no in between. The high ticket price is what ultimately made me decide against - was way cheaper to just add more days at theme parks. I’m guessing DH will make me go in retirement once the kids are grown.

One day might have been enough for me, but my tween was up for the 4-day park-hopper pass. Not sure if they are still running that promotion but it did not cost much more than the 1-day pass.

It was a great time, 11-12 hours a day with lots of walking. Be sure to dress up for Harry Potter etc!

For my kids, Volcano Bay at Universal was the highlight of the trip. If it's warm enough to do, it is very fun.

I was surprised not to enjoy Kennedy Space Center, but I didn't. My kid who loves space loved it, and the rest of the family found it hard going. The tours we took were long and very technical, and not very well presented. We were a little rushed getting there, and maybe if we had looked more carefully into which tours to take we would have had a better experience.

Two days for universal and stay at hard rock and walk to the park, take water taxi’s to dinners and back. Our teens loved it and yep Harry Potter stuff was fun.

Also with warm weather do Volcano bay, rent a cabana, parents can order adult drinks ahem, stay at nearby gorg sapphire Loews hotel (walk to/from v bay); we had an awesome time.

We go for 1 day park hopper and express passes. DS is always done with everything he wants to do by 5 or 6.

Anonymous wrote:2 days at Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure (get park-to-park pass) then 1 day at Kennedy Space Center.

You will have a great time. The KSC is awesome!

That sounds reasonable. My kid is definitely interested in a space adjacent career so Kennedy is a huge draw (and I love the Simpsons 😂)

2 days at Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure (get park-to-park pass) then 1 day at Kennedy Space Center.

You will have a great time. The KSC is awesome!

Entirely depends what you want to accomplish. Just Harry Potter, then probably yes but you would need a park to park pass to visit 2 parks in one day. If you want to ride any of the other stuff too, especially the other coasters and thrill rides, you’d need at least 2 days.

BTW - if you haven’t read reviews of Kennedy Space Center, I would. It’s very expensive and the reviews are not great. Of course we decided against going because of this so no personal experience.

I think the park hopper is definitely worth it. I think either 1 or 2 days is reasonable. It all depends on how much your family will want to do, and whether you are the type that likes to take breaks, shop at the gift stores, etc. If you want to do most of hte good stuff, you can do it in one day but you'll be moving a lot during the day.

If you really want to drop cash, Universal does do a 1 day VIP tour where you can skip lines for everything and do things as many times as you want. It includes full meals and parking, as well, and is pretty well done with some behind the scenes access. But it is expensive!

Anonymous wrote:Is one day enough for Universal? We were thinking of taking a long weekend to Florida at the end of January and would do Kennedy Space Center and maybe 1-2 days at Universal

I think 1 day at Islands of Adventure is the way to go. We did a trip several years ago and did 3 Universal parks, and then we were in Orlando this spring and just did Islands and did other things (including Kennedy). I think the more recent trip was better. Islands was the best park—we did not really need to do the others.

Is one day enough for Universal? We were thinking of taking a long weekend to Florida at the end of January and would do Kennedy Space Center and maybe 1-2 days at Universal