Any day Monday through Thursday would be your best bet for less crowded conditions at the park. As for what rides to ride when........hit Spiderman first thing, then the Hulk, then do the others at your leisure. If you go on a weekday as suggested, you shouldn't find very long lines at most of the attractions.
Do the water rides in the afternoon because it gets brutally hot in the afternoons here in the Sunshine State. And make sure you keep yourself well hydrated. There's many, many stands available that sell both water and Gatorade in mass quantities. Be sure and grab a lemon ice while you're there too. They are not to be missed.
IOA is a great place! Have fun! ;)
i would actually recommend hittin DD first as it is at the back of the park and so you will able to get loads of walk on rides before everyone else gets there. everyone else will head for hulk first, so dont get caught up in a Q for that when you can just walk on to DD!
Last time I went, they only ran one side of DD in the morning - so no "dueling". With 2 sides (4 trains), that line moved pretty quick. I would hit Spiderman and Dr. Doom at park opening since their lines seemed to crawl.
Or, better yet, stay at one of Universal's hotels and get front of the line access all day...
I worked in Jurrasic Park for a whole year and enjoyed IOA durring my spare time. I normally was a "guest" there one and a half days each week.
Get an Express pass for Spidy or Hulk and then run to the back of the park to enjoy JPRA, DD, and Psoidens Fury (sp?) before the crowds hit these rides. You'll have half of the park done before most others get out of the spiderman building.
The park doesn't have a whole lot of rides or attractions and if done right, it will be easy to see it all in one day.
I will agree that Mon-Thurs. are the least busy days.
IOA is unlike anything you will ever experience. Have a great time. If you have time, make sure you take a stroll around the small, uncrowded paths near the lake in each themed area. The scenery is uncomparable to anything else.
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-KoRn is the Millennium Force of ROCK-
Posideon's Fury is the most awesome non-ride attraction I have ever witnessed.
I'd have to say run to Hulk, ride Spidey, then drift on over to DD. Dueling Dragons is essentially two high capacity rides sitting right next to each other, so the line will always move swiftly.
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1.Fire Dragon 2.Ice Dragon 3.Raptor 4.Batman Knight Flight 5.Kraken
One tip that will make your trip:
Stay at a Universal Loews hotel, you'll get to skip all lines for a good price!
Another tip no one has mentioned yet -- Single Rider Line. Don't worry about this at 9am when the park opens, but an hour or two into the day, when the lines start building up, always ask the attendant at the front about the Single Rider Line.
You'll see it on most of the thrill rides like Hulk, Dr. Doom and Spider-Man. Assuming that you are willing to be split up in your party, you will shave the wait time in half at least.
Someone else had advised to hit the water rides in the afternoon. I wouldn't, unless you grab a Universal Express pass for one. Florida summer. EVERYBODY is in the Popeye and Dudley queue at that time. My suggestion is that you take in the Marvel trio first thing in the morning, then hit the two water rides in Toon Lagoon. Sure, you'll be soaked, but then you can skip Jurassic Park and hit Dueling Dragons. Done right the lines will still be short for the Dragons.
Then, as the afternoon heat takes hold, duck into the shady areas like the Sindbad show, Poseidon's Fury, Jurassic Park's Discovery Center. Or take in the cool gems of the park like the talking fountain in front of the Sindbad show or the secluded areas on the lake (personal fave, the back seating of Enchanted Oak Tavern). Jurassic Park River Adventure is the only water ride that won't have much of a line in the peak afternoon hours (capacity runs about 2400 riders an hour).
Enjoy yourself!
Rick
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