Best choice for travel to Universal? October? November?

[Disneycrazymom]

DH and DD are taking a trip together to see the Harry Potter stuff at Universal. They will stay on site. They could go either October 25 - 28 or they can go November 1 - November 4. Which is better crowd wise? Can we avoid Halloween on either date?
Thanks!

 

[patster734]

If the plan is to avoid crowds, the Nov. 1 - 4 should be the best dates.

 

[doris1976]

I'd vote for November too.

 

[macraven]

definitely november for lower crowds and lower onsite hotel rates.

 

[Metro West]

DH and DD are taking a trip together to see the Harry Potter stuff at Universal. They will stay on site. They could go either October 25 - 28 or they can go November 1 - November 4. Which is better crowd wise? Can we avoid Halloween on either date?
Thanks!

Frankly I think either of those dates would be fine. The October dates will still be during HHN but if you're going to WWoHP, you shouldn't see any of the crowds and the weather is pretty the same. You should go whenever it fits your schedule better. Of course I say all this w/o knowing if you're going to stay onsite or planning on visiting both parks.

 

[Zim]

If I had my choice and I was avoiding Halloween stuff, I'd go in November. I agree crowds won't be much different, though.

If you could go the last week of November, right after Turkey day, that is my absolutely favorite time to go. The crowds are super low and that week starts their low season rates, so you'll save a little too. And sometimes you get lucky like we did this past year and we managed to get in to the Grinch Breakfast on the first day it opened (December 1st) even though technically the Xmas stuff didn't really kick in until the 3rd.

 

[Disneycrazymom]

Thanks!

I booked today for Nov 1 - Nov 5. Doing the parks on Fri, Sat, Sun, and Mon. Now I need to decide on the hotel. Onsite? or offsite? The whole goal is to see Harry Potter and ride the big coasters in both parks.

 

[macraven]

Thanks!

I booked today for Nov 1 - Nov 5. Doing the parks on Fri, Sat, Sun, and Mon. Now I need to decide on the hotel. Onsite? or offsite? The whole goal is to see Harry Potter and ride the big coasters in both parks.

you'll see low crowds in the park on your dates.

for convenience, if you are onsite, you are walking distance to the parks, be eligible for early entry and unlimited usage of the express lines.

do the coasters over and over without waits.
see parry hotter with the early entry perk without large crowds involved in that section.

easy to take breaks back at the hotel for an afternoon swim, weather permitting.


you could have dining late at city walk and be minutes away from their hotel room is staying onsite.
or take in mini golf or a movie at city walk.

if you decide to stay offsite, they would need to work out transportation to the hotels and probably wouldn't be convenient to take breaks back at the offsite hotel.

you would have to give yourself more time in order to be at the park when it opens.


i say go with the onsite hotels.
make it a full vacation.........

 

[Disneycrazymom]

We are in general on site people! I was thinking I could use our Hilton points and save a bit on money as it is slower season. Not sure what is the best way to go right now.

Is there any kind of airport to on site transportation (like Magic Express) or will we need a cab?

Thanks!

 

[patster734]

We are in general on site people! I was thinking I could use our Hilton points and save a bit on money as it is slower season. Not sure what is the best way to go right now.

Is there any kind of airport to on site transportation (like Magic Express) or will we need a cab?

Thanks!

There is no official on site transportation like Magic Express. A cab would probably be your cheapest cost between airport and the hotel. However, a better alternative would probably be use a towncar service for round trip service between the airport and the hotel, preferably one that offers a free grocery stop when you're picked up at the airport.

 

[AJA]

Thanks!

I booked today for Nov 1 - Nov 5. Doing the parks on Fri, Sat, Sun, and Mon. Now I need to decide on the hotel. Onsite? or offsite? The whole goal is to see Harry Potter and ride the big coasters in both parks.

Onsite as long as the cost isn't a hardship!

Staying onsite adds so much to the experience. But, if it's really stretching the budget too much to stay onsite I think you'd be fine without the express pass since you'll have four days at a lower to moderate crowd level, that's plenty of time to do and see everything.