Best day of the week to go?

[Mcqueen Fans]

We are thinking about going to us and Ioa during our vacation. We are staying at Disney Feb. 2-8 and then offsite on the 8-10. We are guessing that through the week would be better than the weekend. I was just wondering if there is a better day through the week to go.
We are excited about going, my kids have never been!

 

[Mcqueen Fans]

Anyone?

 

[kellymonaghan]

I've been writing guidebooks about Orlando area theme parks since 1995. Here's is the distilled essence of my wisdom on the subject.

A fair bit of advice has been written about the best days of the week to visit the various Orlando area theme parks and I’ve written my share of it. In the fullness of time, however, I have come to believe that such guidance is of limited use, for a number of reasons. First, as I’ve already mentioned, if you’re anywhere near normal, theme park crowds are going to seem overwhelming most of the time anyway. Second, there’s a problem with averages. You could well arrive on the “slowest” day of the week only to find that there’s been an atypical blip in attendance.

One reason for attendance being unpredictable is the frequent special events and corporate promotions that can flood the parks with an extra several thousand people or even close them altogether. To cite just one example, I was visiting Islands of Adventure on a day when a major car manufacturer was hosting thousands of its customers as part of a special promotion. Not only did these lucky folks get early admission to the park, so that when the rest of us mere mortals were allowed in the place was packed, but the park closed early so that the favored few could have the place to themselves until late into the night.

That being said, one popular view has it that Saturday and Sunday are good days to visit Universal Orlando on the theory that most folks start their vacations on the weekend and that most of those who come to Orlando go to Disney first. Following this theory, Monday through Wednesday become the “busy” days. However, my recent experience suggests just the opposite. I found fewer people in the parks on weekdays and bigger crowds on the weekends. Go figure.

Finally, there is no reason to cram a visit into a day or two (although many people insist on doing just that). If you decide to make Universal Orlando your primary Orlando destination, you can get a fourteen-day Orlando FlexTicket (see The Price of Admission, below) that offers unlimited admission to both Universal Orlando parks, as well as some others nearby. The per-day cost of these tickets is quite reasonable and they remove the insane pressure that comes with a park-a-day touring schedule.

(From "Universal Orlando 2008.")

Hope this helps.

 

[TigerKat]

I can only tell you about our one and only (two days) visit. Our first day was a Thursday, we walked onto everything. Back on Saturday much more crowded. This was on 11/29 and 12/1 of this past year.

 

[cbdmhgp]

It all depends on the time of year, weather, etc.

This past summer we went in June/July from 6/30-7/4, and the busiest day was the 4th, which is one of the most popular days to go to USO. But, besides the 4th, the other days had no crowds what so ever. I recall how our first day in the parks was on a Sunday, and we were done with all the rides that we wanted to do by 11 a.m., so we were flying through everything, and the same thing happend to us the next day.

 

[phamton]

Weekends tend to get the busiests. You are going during a non-peak time so any week day should be fine.

 

[Mcqueen Fans]

It looks like we are going to try and go to USO on Monday and IOA on Saturday or Sunday. We want to do Seaworld on one of those days also. The rest of the week we will be at Disney. I think our boys will do more at USO than at IOA. Thanks for all your advice.

 

[Jakey Rowling]

I've always found this guide pretty good, I'm sure it will be updated soon for Feb.

http://www.askdaisy.net/orlando/busy_day_guide.asp

 

[bubba's mom]

We are thinking about going to us and Ioa during our vacation. We are staying at Disney Feb. 2-8 and then offsite on the 8-10. We are guessing that through the week would be better than the weekend. I was just wondering if there is a better day through the week to go.
We are excited about going, my kids have never been!

Last year we were at UO on Feb. 1st (a Thurs)...didn't even have EP lanes open cuz there was no crowd The next day, Friday, Feb 2nd...definately used the EP...more crowds for sure.

 

[BigDaddyRog]

It all depends on the time of year, weather, etc.

This past summer we went in June/July from 6/30-7/4, and the busiest day was the 4th, which is one of the most popular days to go to USO. But, besides the 4th, the other days had no crowds what so ever. I recall how our first day in the parks was on a Sunday, and we were done with all the rides that we wanted to do by 11 a.m., so we were flying through everything, and the same thing happend to us the next day.

Wow...are you serious? Im planning a trip for sometime soon, but have been trying to make a decision on if I should take my kids out of school to avoid crowds or bite the bullet and fight the heat and crowds of summer vacation. But if the crowds are light in late june, that would definately make my decision easier.Me & my wife havent been to USO in like 12 years, and my youngest daughters have NEVER been...and we LOVE our pixie dust, but are definately due for some spiderwebs and green ham.

 

[bubba's mom]

Wow...are you serious? Im planning a trip for sometime soon, but have been trying to make a decision on if I should take my kids out of school to avoid crowds or bite the bullet and fight the heat and crowds of summer vacation. But if the crowds are light in late june, that would definately make my decision easier.Me & my wife havent been to USO in like 12 years, and my youngest daughters have NEVER been...and we LOVE our pixie dust, but are definately due for some spiderwebs and green ham.

First of all...I like the phrase "due for spiderwebs & green ham"

We always go the end of June into early July (have 2 trip reports on the DIS for that time frame).... As any vet here will tell you, stay onsite. 1 night at the hotel will give you 2 days FOTL. The parks at the end of June (or any other time in the summer for that matter) are totally do-able with light lines from opening time till about 10:30-11am. Most show up about 11am (which, is mostly people staying onsite using their fotl ) If you have AAA, you can get that discount on your room (bookable now) AND in restaurants and gift shops If you do decide to go during the summer, and stay offsite, go early. I mean, park opening early....you will be able to get thru most everything by the time the crowds filter in around 11..then again, you can sleep in and walk over at any time and still ride with practically no waits if you stay onsite I think you will be pleasantly surprised at UO...especially IF you stay onsite. My DH HATES crowds and waiting in line...but, he doesn't mind going to UO in the summer as long as we stay onsite...sure, it's a bit more money to stay onsite, but you can WALK to the parks (no waiting on the bus) it's a 4-star hotel and service, AND you are paying for the priveledge to use the Express Entrance all day long, every day you are there We love it...just cannot beat it!!!

 

[BigDaddyRog]

Do you have to use the 2 fotl days on any specific date? Or are they usable whenever you want to use them? Does that sound right?

Ok, here's the deal....we've decided to move it up a month and will be arriving later in the evening on May 21st. We have reservations to camp at Disneys Ft Wilderness for May 22nd-31st. We are arriving a day early so that we can WAKE UP early the next morning (the 22nd) to set up the camp site, that way Im not trying to erect a tent in the dark. So, I definately need a hotel, but we probably wont go to UO until Friday the 23rd since the best time to go, as you said, is early in the morning.(whew) OK, so the question is (finally) will my fotls only be valid on the 21st and 22nd since those are my check in/check out dates? Or will they be valid on ANY 2 days that my park tickets are valid?

I know that was a loooong road to a short question, but I dont want to be misunderstood. Thanks for putting up with my epic novel...I heard they may be making a film out of this...I'll suggest YOU as the supporting actress! Of coarse, Brad Pitt will play the part of me, as you can see from my sig pics below....we're practically twins....if he were balder and fatter!!SO you'll get to be Brads babe!!!!!!

 

[bubba's mom]

Do you have to use the 2 fotl days on any specific date? Or are they usable whenever you want to use them? Does that sound right?

Ok, here's the deal....we've decided to move it up a month and will be arriving later in the evening on May 21st. We have reservations to camp at Disneys Ft Wilderness for May 22nd-31st. We are arriving a day early so that we can WAKE UP early the next morning (the 22nd) to set up the camp site, that way Im not trying to erect a tent in the dark. So, I definately need a hotel, but we probably wont go to UO until Friday the 23rd since the best time to go, as you said, is early in the morning.(whew) OK, so the question is (finally) will my fotls only be valid on the 21st and 22nd since those are my check in/check out dates? Or will they be valid on ANY 2 days that my park tickets are valid?

I know that was a loooong road to a short question, but I dont want to be misunderstood. Thanks for putting up with my epic novel...I heard they may be making a film out of this...I'll suggest YOU as the supporting actress! Of coarse, Brad Pitt will play the part of me, as you can see from my sig pics below....we're practically twins....if he were balder and fatter!!SO you'll get to be Brads babe!!!!!!

Your room key will have your check in and check out dates on them.... Your room key is only valid between those dates (the dates you're staying at the hotel...but, it's valid entire day of check out)

 

[Metro West]

Wow...are you serious? Im planning a trip for sometime soon, but have been trying to make a decision on if I should take my kids out of school to avoid crowds or bite the bullet and fight the heat and crowds of summer vacation. But if the crowds are light in late june, that would definately make my decision easier.Me & my wife havent been to USO in like 12 years, and my youngest daughters have NEVER been...and we LOVE our pixie dust, but are definately due for some spiderwebs and green ham.

Oh Tag Fairy...where for art thou? Sounds like a winning tag to me.

 

[bubba's mom]

Oh Tag Fairy...where for art thou? Sounds like a winning tag to me.

If needs a "second"....I will ''second'' it!

 

[BigDaddyRog]

Your room key will have your check in and check out dates on them.... Your room key is only valid between those dates (the dates you're staying at the hotel...but, it's valid entire day of check out)

I figured as much....great advice though, thanks a mill. Oh, and thanks for the votes to the tag fairy...but I may have too many warnings to be rewarded with a tag. Im a reg on the camping boards and sometimes my colorful commentary gets me into a little trouble...at least they havent banned me yet!!!