i can tell you how it has been for me.
i stay on site and use the fotl but have noticed that monday before noon is quite quiet at both parks.
i have found universal less crowded on a friday than ioa the last two years.
even with the fotl, i get up early and at the gate at 8:30 in the morning.
i stay at the park until 1:30 then go back to my room. i change to my chainsawwolf tshirt then head back to the park around 3 and stay until the park closes for
hhn.
the last 4 years i go to universal during the halloween horror nights events.
3 years ago, by chance, i did make a trip in early june as an extra one prior to october. the monday ioa for less crowds worked for us then also.
also found that tuesday up to about 1:00 was a no crowd day at that time.
i try to eat when the crowds are not. when i am hungry, standing in line and then looking for a table for cs doesn't thrill me.
i have been going solo the last few trips so no one to help me out in hunting down a table while i am in line for food.
to avoid the crowds for cs, i eat around 11:15 for lunch and 5:30 evening.