How do you plan a Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure one day itinerary? Best way- Plan before you arrive! In this post I share tips to maximize your one day, our tested one day Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure itinerary, and what to prioritize as you plan.
Universal Orlando has the convenience of having two of its theme parks, Universal Studios Florida and Universal Islands of Adventure within walking distance to each other, this makes the option of visiting both parks in one day something you may want to consider.
They also have the Hogwarts Express train station to get between parks, located at both Wizarding Worlds of Harry Potter which offers a different attraction depending on the direction you are going, more on that later in this post.
If you are planning on doing one day at Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure you want to take time to plan your day before you arrive at the park. Consider park opening and closing times, cost of a park-to-park ticket, and prioritize the rides you want to experience.
Let’s get into more details on how to plan one day at Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure to help you decide if it is a good choice for your trip.
- Can You Do Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure in One Day
- Cost to Do Both Parks in One Day
- Tips to Maximize One Day at Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure
- Getting Between Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios
- My Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure One Day Itinerary
- Do I Recommend 1-Day for Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure
Can You Do Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure in One Day
The short answer is yes. The parks are conveniently located close together and it is possible to get a lot of rides and attractions done at both parks.
On a perfect day with low crowds and no weather or mechanical delays, you could have a very successful day at the parks.
Another reason you may want to do both parks in one day is if you only have one day available to visit Universal Orlando. You could plan a best of at both parks, although there is an argument to be made about allocating more vacation days to spend at Universal Orlando.
With the opening of Epic Universe, Volcano Bay water park, Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure, Universal CityWalk, and 13 unique places to stay on property, there is enough to do to plan a week at Universal.
If you are a first time visitor and you have time, I suggest at least one day at each of the parks, but for this post I want to help those that only have a day-you can still have a great visit!
Cost to Do Both Parks in One Day
Tickets are sold on a sliding scale of “the more you play, the less you pay”. If you purchase a 3 day ticket you will be paying less per day than a one day ticket.
You will also spend more for a park-to-park ticket over a one park per day ticket. The table below gives an estimated idea of ticket cost.
| One Day Ticket (Universal Studios or Islands of Adventure) | $119.00/day |
| Park to Park Ticket (USF and IoA) | $174.00/day |
| 3-Day One Park Per Day (includes Epic Universe) | $333.99/total |
| 3-Day Park to Park (Includes 1 Day at Epic Universe, 2 Park to Park Days at US & IoA) | $393.99/total |
These prices are starting prices and vary depending on season, price changes, date of visit.
Something I always mention is considering an annual pass. Currently the annual pass cost $425.00 for unlimited visits to Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure, it does have blackout dates.
We have been annual passholders for 8 years now and it has saved us on ticket costs for multiple trips as well as discounts on hotel stays. Read more about it: Is a Universal Orlando Annual Pass Worth It? Here’s What You Need to Know Before You Buy
The biggest question with current annual passes are Epic Universe. As of when I wrote this post Epic Universe is not included in any annual passes. I expect this to change in 2026 but there will also be an increase in cost. Stay tuned as we learn more.
Tips to Maximize One Day at Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure
If your vacation plans only allow for one day at the Universal parks you need to do the following to maximize your time:
- Arrive 30-40 minutes before park open. Stay on-site to take advantage of early entry hours.
- Purchase tickets before you arrive. You will need a park-to-park ticket.
- Research and make a list of your top priorities at both parks.
- Expect to stay at the parks from open to close.
- Start your day at the park that opens first, end your day at the park that is open latest.
- Use Single Rider Line
- Consider staying at a Universal Hotel that includes express pass.
Getting Between Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios
Walking is the best way to get to and from the parks. Exit the gates and walk through CityWalk to the gate of the other park. It should take less than 10 minutes gate to gate.
Actual time will depend on where you are inside the park when you leave as well as any lines at the gates to get into the park.
Hogwarts Express Train
Another way to get between parks is to take the Hogwarts Express. The Hogwarts Express is a train ride that takes you between The Wizarding World of Harry Potter-Diagon Alley(Universal Studios Florida) and The Wizarding World of Harry Potter-Hogsmeade(Islands of Adventure).
I am not the biggest fan of taking the train because the wait times are typically long. If it is 20 minutes and under take the train, if not walking will be fastest. Hogwarts Express does not save you time transferring between parks.
The experience of riding Hogwarts Express is actually very nice. Guests must have a park to park ticket to ride, no exceptions are made. If you don’t have a park to park ticket you can’t experience it.
The experience is different depending on which direction you are going and I highly recommend doing it if it is your first visit. We visit often and do skip it at times but when wait times are short we enjoy it. Check out this post for more Harry Potter tips.
My Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure One Day Itinerary
There are so many factors that go into planning a day at two parks. Crowds, weather, ride breakdowns, and other unforeseen things can throw off even the best made plans.
When I am planning on one day at Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure this is the itinerary I plan before we arrive and then keep it flexible once inside the parks.
Night Before:
- Check park hours and decide which park you will start at. It is almost always Islands of Adventure for us because of Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure.
- Plan the time you will leave your hotel room. Work backwards from park opening and consider transportation needs. Guests staying on property have Early Entry, off property do not.
- Write out or list in your phone the order you plan to do the rides and attractions.
- Check on the Universal App for times of the night shows and plan where you want to end your night.
Day of Itinerary for an 8:00am Early Entry Start at Islands of Adventure:
For this trip we stayed at Aventura Resort and it is a short bus ride to the parks. This is the order we do attractions starting with the most popular ones first, we get as many done as possible before 11:00am.
We rope drop Islands of Adventure using Early Park admission because we stayed at a Universal hotel.
If there are rides and attractions on here that you do not want to ride, skip them and go on to the next on the list.
- 7:00am- Leave hotel room and take Universal bus to the parks.
- 8:00am: Park Open, Start doing Early Entry Rides
- Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure
- VelociCoaster
- Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey
- Flight of the Hippogriff
- 9:00am: Rope Drop Park Open at Marvel Super-Hero Island, then continue through rides.
- The Incredible Hulk
- The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man
- Jurassic River Adventure or The Cat in the Hat and Seuss Landing attractions.
- Water Rides if Interested or Save them for end of day.
- 11:00am: Lunch at Islands of Adventure
- 12:00pm: Walk or take Hogwarts Express to Universal Studios
- 12:45pm-4:00pm: Explore Universal Studios, Watch a few Shows, Use App to find rides with short wait times.
- 4:00pm-5:30pm: Walk around Diagon Alley, Spell Casting, Knockturn Alley
- 5:30pm: Dinner at Universal Studios Florida, I suggest Minions Cafe.
- 6:30pm-Close: Finish up Universal Studios Florida, return to Islands of Adventure. Ride attractions you missed.
My biggest tip for a visit on a busy day is to use the Universal App. Check the app as soon as the park opens and start riding the attractions that have short wait times.
If wait times are high check out a show. The Bourne Stuntacular is a fantastic stunt show, DreamWorks Land has a great kids show featuring characters like Trolls and Kung Fu Panda, and The Horror Make-Up Show is a comedy/horror show that goes behind the scenes of how horror make up enhances a movie.
Again I would keep an eye on the app. The afternoon hours are always the busiest and it is best to ride the attractions that have short wait times.
For the time at Universal Studios ET Adventures, Escape from Gringotts, and the Minion Villain-Con attractions are popular. Also Men in Black, Revenge of the Mummy, and Transformers.
If lines are really long you can take a break at the hotel for a couple hours or use the time to explore shops and the lands. Diagon Alley at Universal Studios has a lot of cool shops and areas to explore.
When planning 1-Day at Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure you want to be sure to prioritize the attractions you and your group want to experience. Skip rides that are not for you!
If Islands of Adventure is open later I would stay at Universal Studios until near closing time then go back to Islands of Adventure.
Expect to get most of your rides done during the early morning hours and the evening hours. Save the middle of the day for shows and to walk around at your own pace.
Do I Recommend 1-Day for Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure
Honestly-I don’t. 🙁 We didn’t start doing both parks in one day until we had an annual pass but I believe it’s better to get to do something than nothing.
You won’t be able to see and do everything but the rides you do get to do will be a blast. There are fun attractions at both parks that you don’t want to miss.
If you plan to skip certain attractions a one day to both parks visit might be a great option.
My suggestion- if you have one day, and that is it, do it! The parks are so much fun. The rides and attractions you do get to see will make for an enjoyable day.
Are you at the start of your Universal Orlando trip planning check out this post to start planning: How to Plan a Universal Orlando Trip
If you are overwhelmed with planning or just want someone to make all the reservations for you consider using a travel agent. Our friend Nikki at Royal Treatment Travel is amazing and has helped us plan and book many of our trips. She finds the best deals and her service is complimentary for most theme park vacations! It is a win-win. Learn more here.
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Leah has been planning and writing about Universal trips since 2016. She loves finding the best places to eat and stay during her visits to the park. Leah enjoys the little details that make visiting the parks so immersive and special, and sharing that with her readers.
