IOA/USF Friday or Saturday? Trip help

[Jeap13]

Hi everyone,

I've been a long fan of Universal Orlando and was a frequent poster over at IOA Central many years ago (I'm not sure even that forum exists anymore). I'm glad to see OU is still going strong.

I'll be taking two newbies to IOA and USF this weekend, and they're most interested in seeing WWHP. IOA closes at 6pm on Friday, and at 8pm on Saturday--if IOA is our primary park of interest, would you suggest going there on Friday because there might be smaller crowds? Or Saturday because it's open a bit longer? (I always loved seeing Hogwarts lit up at night, but I'm afraid the park will be closing too early this weekend for that) Our tickets only allow us to visit one park per day.

Please let me know if you have any tips!

 

[The_Bled]

I would most definitely go Friday to IOA. Shorter lines with little to nomcrowds seeing as though its a weekday. If you want to see the castle at night then I'd say go Saturday for sure.

 

[Brian G.]

JEAP! Long time!

Both days have pros & cons. Potterland tends to die down towards the night, and the land looks fantastic at night. I'd say Saturday.

 

[jtsalien]

I second BriMans suggestion for night at WWOHP. Even if you see it earlier in the day, come back at night and stroll around with a Butterbeer. It's just something to eexperience.

 

[Jeap13]

Long time no see indeed!

Thanks for the responses everyone; sorry I've been late in getting back to you. We ended up going to USF on Friday and IOA on Saturday, and all in all had a fantastic time. There definitely seems to be an air of vitality and energy in the parks compared to my previous visits--lots of new attractions, events, updates, etc. The Spiderman upgrade was incredible (did Stan Lee show up in the old ride film? I counted 3-4 cameos of him in this one). The Forbidden Journey, though, was missing a few effects (the whomping willow did not whomp, and the soul projection didn't even show the standard skulls). I also preferred the chimney film footage to the new, standard growing green things in the floo powder sequence. Ah well, still a fantastic ride!