Best strategy for weird park hours

alvernon90

Two Decade Veteran
Joined
Feb 12, 2001
Messages
1,647
We will be going to Universal over Columbus Day weekend, and we will not be attending the HHN events that weekend. According to the current schedule, IOA will have 9:00 opening with 8:00 early entry, but USO will have 8:00 regular opening. We will have full days on Saturday and Sunday, but we have to leave for the airport around 11:00 on Monday so we will only have the first couple of hours that day.

What is the best rope drop strategy under these circumstances. We have not been in over a decade, so while Harry Potter is a priority we are open to seeing the whole shebang. Should we do early entry at IOA even though crowds are building across the way? Should we do USO first and take Hogwart's Express to IOA before the regular crowds arrive?

Also, any advice for the afternoons? I've read that USO crowds build during the afternoon as people come to ride before the 5:00 closing. Should we do USO every morning and then hop over to IOA?

Any advice from the experts would be greatly appreciated!
 
i've done the columbus day weekends for hhn forever it seems.
a great time to be there but it does bring in crowds.

you'll find that the parks will be very crowded by late afternoon for saturday and sunday.
many hit the parks to do rides and then stay for hhn in the park.



where did you see it posted for the park openings for the columbus day weekend?

what has happened in past years doesn't mean it will be the same for this years time period until it is announced.
 
where did you see it posted for the park openings for the columbus day weekend?

what has happened in past years doesn't mean it will be the same for this years time period until it is announced.

I was going by the hours listed on the calendar in the Universal app. Is there another, more official source? Do they tend to change the hours like Disney does?
 
i have been surprised before and found the parks switched for the ee.

i don't use the app so not aware it was listed on it 3.5 months out.
 
















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