Can You Do Universal Orlando in One Day?
I often get people asking me if they can just spend one day at Universal Orlando.
Short answer? No, not if you want to see everything.
Long answer? It depends on what you want to see!
How Many Days Do You Need at Universal Orlando?
Now that Universal Orlando has 4 theme parks—Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure, Epic Universe, and Volcano Bay Waterpark—you’ll need at least 3–4 days to experience it all. Each park has enough attractions and entertainment to fill a full day. In fact, you may even want 2 days at Epic Universe to fully enjoy the new rides, lands, and shows.
But Can You Do Universal Orlando in One Day?
If you’re short on time, it is possible to see highlights in one day. For example, with a park-to-park ticket and an Express Pass, you can experience the best of Universal Studios Orlando and Islands of Adventure in just one day.
Visiting the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in One Day
Many people only want to see the Wizarding World of Harry Potter attractions. With the addition of the new Harry Potter Ministry of Magic at Epic Universe Orlando, this will require multiple days to cover fully.
Currently (2025), Epic Universe is not part of the park-to-park ticket and is located a mile away from the other parks. No specific Harry Potter transportation exists between Epic Universe and the other theme parks. That means you can’t ride the Hogwarts Express to connect all three Harry Potter areas.
However, if you only want to experience Diagon Alley (Universal Studios) and Hogsmeade (Islands of Adventure), you can definitely do both in one day as long as you have a park-to-park ticket. The Hogwarts Express connects these two parks.
Volcano Bay in One Day
If you’re more interested in water fun, Volcano Bay Waterpark is perfect for a one-day experience. With unique water slides, a wave pool, and the relaxing lazy river, you’ll easily fill your day.
Epic Universe: How Many Days Do You Need?
If your focus is the new Epic Universe theme park, you can see most attractions in one day. But for a more relaxed experience (and to explore the Wizarding World inside Epic Universe), 2 days is ideal.
Is Universal Orlando Worth a Full Vacation?
In order to fully experience Universal Orlando, it has truly become its own vacation destination. It shouldn’t be seen as just an add-on to another Orlando trip, like Disney World. With four parks and countless attractions, restaurants, and shows, there’s more than enough to make it worth staying for your entire vacation.
Are you ready to discover everything Universal Orlando has to offer? Whether you have one day or a full week, I’d love to help you plan a stress-free vacation that fits your family’s needs.
