Columbus Day -- to go or not to go

[Pesky]

We are planning on taking the kids' fall break in 2016 and surprising them with a trip to US and WDW. I figured for the US part, we'd stay at the HRH or likely another deluxe. For WDW, we are splitting between a Hilton (free!) and a WDW resort probably with renting DVC points. DD (okay, okay, and DH and myself -- DS is still not into it) is really into Harry Potter so US and all Harry Potter stuff is a must. DH and I have the Simpsons as a must also.

I'm trying to get an idea of how many Hilton points we will need and a rough schedule. I know this puts us square in Columbus Day weekend, which apparently stinks, but them's the breaks. Question is if we fly in late on the Wednesday before Columbus Day, are we better off doing some of WDW (with the Hilton) for the first few days and moving to the US resort on either Saturday night or Sunday and doing US Sunday and Monday and maybe Tuesday? We also have a non-park day in there, talking about perhaps a water park or DH's wannabe-nascar driving and mini golf and such.

In humoring me, as it looks like buying tickets ahead of time might be wise, do you think the Sunday and Monday of Columbus Day weekend would be okay if we are staying at a deluxe (with express pass) or maybe we take one of those days as a non-park day? Or should we start with US on Thursday and move to WDW on the weekend and hit the "lesser" parks like Animal Kingdom. Thanks in advance!

 

[macraven]

i have stayed on site at the darkside for the columbus day period every year since 2002.
it was a time of not bad crowds until about 3 years back.

the parks are busy during the day as they close early on the hhn nights.
saturday and sunday will have crowds but staying on site will help you with less waits for rides in the express lines.

i'm sure when you go in 2016 during the columbus day weekend, you'll be facing some crowds in the parks and at the onsite hotels.

if you plan to stay onsite, book early.
weekends fill up for the standard rooms.

if you plan to stay at disney for that weekend instead, you'll face crowds there also.
epcot will have the F & W and mk is always busy on a saturday.....especially for a 3 day weekend.

can't help you with the hilton points.
i don't have enough for a stay with mine yet.

if you buy park tickets now for the darkside and the price increases, the tickets you purchases a year out will be valid.
they don't expire until you first use them.

 

[JOCAmom]

I don't mean to hijack the thread but we will be going to Universal around Columbus Day this year. Macraven, would you go the week before Columbus Day and end your vacation on Columbus Day? Or would you start your vacation on Columbus Day? Which would have the lesser crowds?

 

[macraven]

I don't mean to hijack the thread but we will be going to Universal around Columbus Day this year. Macraven, would you go the week before Columbus Day and end your vacation on Columbus Day? Or would you start your vacation on Columbus Day? Which would have the lesser crowds?

last year i was there the week prior to columbus day and left the thursday night after CD. (12 nights stay)
crowds on tuesday and wednesday after columbus day just werent there in the parks.
it was light.

the monday, tuesday, wednesday before columbus day weekend (fri/mon) were light in the parks.
it picked up on thursday and then friday started the columbus day weekend.
halloween horror nights is a hard ticket event that is held at the studios on select dates in october.
this brings in crowds in late afternoons on hhn days.

i think 2015 will have the same pattern this october.
i'll be there the 3rd thru 16th this year.

i would lean to going the week before columbus day even with sat/sun being busy in the parks.

in mid october hell week begins.
a number of teens do the parks when they are off of school.

hell week is a term used for when the local high schools have their october/fall break in school.
not really a break but a time period when they have days off due to teacher institute days. (or something like that, but in northern illinois where i am, we refer to it as that)

i have not seen the school schedule for central orlando yet so don't know what dates it will happen this year for no school.
just aware that it is in the mid of the month.

depending on what part of the country you live in, fall breaks from schools usually happen in october.
some families take advantage of that and add to their vacation time around the columbus day weekend.

 

[JOCAmom]

Thank you so much. We only have to include Columbus Day because it will give the kids an extra day off without counting against their absence limit during the year. Gotta do what you gotta do to eek out some extra time down there.

We will all have AP's so popping in and out of the parks won't be a problem. Some want to do HHN. A Thursday or Sunday would be better crowd wise?

 

[macraven]

Thank you so much. We only have to include Columbus Day because it will give the kids an extra day off without counting against their absence limit during the year. Gotta do what you gotta do to eek out some extra time down there.

We will all have AP's so popping in and out of the parks won't be a problem. Some want to do HHN. A Thursday or Sunday would be better crowd wise?

last year the thursday hhn night before columbus day was lighter than the sunday night.
same with the year prior.

 

[JOCAmom]

last year the thursday hhn night before columbus day was lighter than the sunday night.
same with the year prior.

Thank you! That makes planning a lot easier.