Avoiding crowds when visiting during Halloween but NOT doing HHN

[Hilary]

How busy are the parks on HHN days for those NOT going to HHN in the evening? How do they clear the park before HHN? Are crowds heavy all day on HHN days, or build towards the evening when the HHN ticket-holders arrive?

DD and her BF will be visiting USF and IOA during our trip in October. I'm trying to help them plan the best time to visit. They will be staying in WDW, so no FOL access. Their budget won't run to Express passes

Our plans at the moment leave the best days for DD and BF to visit USF and IOA at the weekend (all HHN nights), but it would be silly for them to do this if it will be impossible for them to see/do much because of the crowds then. OTOH we have only a week in Florida and have to work around other factors such as birthday meals, half of the group going to Vero Beach for 3 nights, etc., so we don't want to mess up all the other plans if they could go to USF at the weekend and not feel it was too crowded.

 

[macraven]

weekends when HHN is open would not be the best dates to attend if you are trying to avoid crowds.

studios will close at 5 and ioa at 6

try universal during the week, for less crowds.

the parks start to get the crowds around 3ish in the afternoon.
guests are arriving then into the parks.

if you could switch your dates around to avoid saturday and sunday at universal on hhn dates, you would have less crowds

 

[Hilary]

Thanks for the advice

 

[macraven]

Thanks for the advice

you're welcome.

i was hoping others would give their thoughts also to you.