Best days to visit each park?

[dolphindan1]

We are plannig an early December trip 3 thru 9th to be exact and will attend Disney, SW and Universal....We are trying to plan the days to each park and wasnt wanting some recomendations as to which day is best for the Universal parks....We will being staying at Disney so the early entry stuff to universal will not apply....We want to avoid what crowds might be there that time of year....Thanks in advance

 

[phamton]

Universal and IoA won't be busy at that time but the least crowded days are usually Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday. (With Sunday usually being the least crowded)

 

[eritouma]

We were just a Universal and IOA last Wednesday and we arrived at aroudn 9:20 am. We stayed there until around 3 pm and never waited longer that about 15 minutes for anything, inlcuding the Mummy, Spderman, Hulk, etc. Probably wont be busy then either

 

[Wengino]

Am going Oct 2-10 to WDW, US,and SW. Is Sunday REALLY the best day for IOA or US? I would have thought the locals would crowd this park on a weekend. Any other realtime eperience out there? DW will KILL ME if I drag her and DD1, DD2, DD3, and DS to IOA on our first weekend day and it is packed! Thanks for your help!

 

[RC Fan]

I think phamton's advice is pretty sound.

 

[Jiffy]

Phamton is there all the time so is able to give good advice. She is very helpful to everyone, and is always more than happy to answer any questions about the parks. Dark Marauder is another one who knows all.

 

[Wengino]

Sounds good to me. Will be staying off-site, so no FOTL passes for my crew.................Sunday morning it will be, with MNSSHP later that night, better eat my wheaties! Thanks again all.

 

[phamton]

The locals hit the parks on Saturday. Sunday mornings are deserted except in the summertime, then all bets are off.

Y'all will not believe how empty the parks are right now. I was there Saturday, Sunday, and Monday (today). I don't see how the parks can even stay open. I have never, ever seen it so empty. I'm starting to get worried about the tourist economy and Universal in particular. Is Disney empty right now also, has anyone heard?

As far as the question on crowds on different days of the week, really any day Sunday through Thursday is fine in the off season. In the summers when it is really crowded, Friday and Saturday are the worse days to be at the parks. Sundays are the days that most people are leaving to go home from vacation so the parks are less crowded then. But Sundays can still be crowded during the summer.

Be aware though that the Friday and Saturday after Thanksgiving are also very crowded.

Wengino, just PM me right before you go and if there are crowds, I'll make sure you don't have to wait in lines for the major rides. I wouldn't want to chance having your DW kill you.

Bev

 

[newholiday]

Im planning on getting us all there Tues 10/5 and maybe a 2nd day that Thurs?

 

[ScotLady]

Phamtom - you mentioned Sundays are usually slow - but with Oct. 10th being the day before Columbus Day, won't this affect the crowds?

 

[robvia]

You have to remember that people go to church on Sunday, so if you arrive early, the park is empty until they show up at 11am.

If you arrive early in the morning, you can take a lap and everything has short waits. It is at 11am that everyone arrives and the park becomes packed. Most of the time, I'm leaving at 11am, having already done the thrill rides. It's like the people sleep in, and wait for the park to open. I've even heard comments of people saying this. Huh? What are they thinking?

 

[phamton]

Even in the afternoons on Sundays, I haven't noticed any crowds on Sunday except in the summer.

I can't remember if Columbus day was crowded. Very few of the Florida school will even be out that day. Most of the extra holidays have been cancelled because they need to make up lost days from the holidays, plus must never had Columbus day off anyway here.

But I honestly don't remember if I was even at the parks on Columbus day last year.

 

[ScotLady]

Phamton - so does this mean the Orlando area school are in session the Friday before Columbus Day? I've been trying to get this question answered because thinking of going to IOA half a day on Friday, then to DQ, and I'm guessing it will be more crowded if school is out.

Thanks for all your info!

 

[phamton]

Originally posted by ScotLady
Phamton - so does this mean the Orlando area school are in session the Friday before Columbus Day? I've been trying to get this question answered because thinking of going to IOA half a day on Friday, then to DQ, and I'm guessing it will be more crowded if school is out.

Thanks for all your info!

Orange County (Orlando) has school that day. You can go here: http://www.ocps.k12.fl.us/ and click on School calendar and it will show you all the dates they are off.

Here's the Kissimmee website with calendar: http://www.osceola.k12.fl.us/
It looks like they are off the Friday before Columbus day.

Tampa is off Oct. 15. : http://apps.sdhc.k12.fl.us/information/calendars/cal0405.htm

 

[lorilori]

phamton - thank you for the excellent info. We'll be checking into HRH just for Friday night, Oct. 8, and plan on going to Universal Studios only that day. Do you think since they close at 5pm, that will be enough time? Are Fridays very busy then? Thanks!

 

[phamton]

It may be busier than usual as Halloween horror nights start in October. Many people come to the parks earlier in the day so they can do "Stay and Scream." Since you have FOTL though, you should be all right during the day on Friday.