Disney versus Universal crowd planning

[cdurham1]

I have an 8 day trip planned at the end of July, beginning of August. We have 6 day Park Hopper plusses. Normally, I would plan on 6 days in the parks and 2 in the water parks. But we haven't been to Universal in 20 years, so thinking about doing 2 days there.

Is it best to spend Saturday and Sunday at Universal to avoid the Disney weekend crowds? Or opposite? Or does it matter?

There are 3 of us total and I am willing to spend money on the Universal Express pass if that makes a difference in the recommendation.

 

[fabfemmeboy]

I have an 8 day trip planned at the end of July, beginning of August. We have 6 day Park Hopper plusses. Normally, I would plan on 6 days in the parks and 2 in the water parks. But we haven't been to Universal in 20 years, so thinking about doing 2 days there.

Is it best to spend Saturday and Sunday at Universal to avoid the Disney weekend crowds? Or opposite? Or does it matter?

There are 3 of us total and I am willing to spend money on the Universal Express pass if that makes a difference in the recommendation.

For me, it depends on what your priorities are at Universal. They certainly get as crowded - if not moreso - than Disney on the weekends, in part because Disney has at least been capping attendance and requiring park reservations, whereas Universal just lets people in until they decide they're full. Keep in mind two things:
1) The Express Pass doesn't cover all rides. At the very least it doesn't cover Hagrid's, and I want to say one other thing but I could be wrong there.
2) The stores, restaurants, and other areas at Universal feel much tinier than the ones at Disney in part because of the immersive theming. Particularly if you/your group are into Harry Potter stuff at all and plan on spending any time in those shops, those are tiny. Like, make Batuu look spacious kind of tiny. I would not want to try those on a busy day, plus it makes it harder to do the spell-casting and such.

However, if you just want to use Express Pass to hit the headliners and not worry about any particular experiences/shops/themed restaurants, then it's less of a problem to hit those parks on the weekend.

 

[CarolynFH]

Look at the prices for UOR’s Express Passes for your dates. The more expensive they are for a given date, the more crowded they expect it to be.

 

[cdurham1]

Look at the prices for UOR’s Express Passes for your dates. The more expensive they are for a given date, the more crowded they expect it to be.

Yeah, I started pricing it and I thought something was wrong with my computer. We may skip Universal altogether. .

 

[cdurham1]

Look at the prices for UOR’s Express Passes for your dates. The more expensive they are for a given date, the more crowded they expect it to be.

The website shows they are $249/day per person. How many of the passes do you get with their expensive hotel rooms? One of the rooms was $520. And those are good for check in date and next day, right? So, I could be better off getting a room and not even using the room? Just to get the passes?

 

[CarolynFH]

Yeah, I started pricing it and I thought something was wrong with my computer. We may skip Universal altogether. .

Well, twice now we have booked a night at one of us UOR’s deluxe hotels to get 2 days of EPs included. Both times we were sleeping elsewhere, but the hotel rooms for our parties of 4 or 5 were cheaper than the cost of EPs for all of us. Do the math - it’s a very common thing to do. (Looks like we were posting simultaneously!)

 

[TreeFalls]

Yeah, I started pricing it and I thought something was wrong with my computer. We may skip Universal altogether. .

One night in one of Universal's three best hotels gives you two days of included express pass. Even if you don't stay there, it might be cheaper than buying the passes outright..

 

[Tom_E_D]

The website shows they are $249/day per person. How many of the passes do you get with their expensive hotel rooms? One of the rooms was $520. And those are good for check in date and next day, right? So, I could be better off getting a room and not even using the room? Just to get the passes?

Everyone booked in the room gets the express passes. I believe the rooms with two queen beds can sleep 5 with a rollaway bed. You'll pay extra for the rollaway bed, and for more than two adults in the room (if applicable), but it's obviously worth the cost vis-a-vis buying the express passes separately. Feel free to use the room if you want to take a break. You've paid for it!