Does no reservations available mean parks will be super crowded?

[planning42012]

We will be at Universal Studios the last week of September, this is our first visit. I went in today to look at making reservations and saw that both Finnegan's and Lombard's have no availability at all during that week. Is this normal or should we expect the parks to be super busy when we are there? Mythos on the other hand was wide open, so I'm not sure what to think. I do know that the HHN is going on each of the days we are there if that makes a difference for day time crowds. I'd appreciate any input! Thanks!

 

[macraven]

Finnegans is extreme popular once it is 3:00 on the Hhn dates

It is easier to eat at that place around 8:30 on those nights of Hhn

 

[JustCallMeMommy]

It will be fine during the day. The restaurants are busy because of HHN.

 

[keishashadow]

It appears they've blocked out reservations entirely for my dates over first 2 weeks of October

Seeing large gaping hole from sept 22 to nov 1 via online booking took

Imo they're just trying to level the playing field by not taking res.

If you want to dine at finnegans go for lunch to escape the inevitable hhn goers

 

[georgina]

We will be at Universal Studios the last week of September, this is our first visit. I went in today to look at making reservations and saw that both Finnegan's and Lombard's have no availability at all during that week. Is this normal or should we expect the parks to be super busy when we are there? Mythos on the other hand was wide open, so I'm not sure what to think. I do know that the HHN is going on each of the days we are there if that makes a difference for day time crowds. I'd appreciate any input! Thanks!

That does look strange! There are no dates available from Sept 23-Nov 1 for Finnegan's. Perhaps they will open up later?

I made a Finnegan's reservation a few days ago for my date in mid-September, and the latest time available was 1:45.

 

[macraven]

There is one friend I know that was able to book at finnegans for 3:00 on a Hhn date

Believe she said it was the latest time for a reservation for that date

Think it was a week ago when she made it

 

[slford00]

Both this year and last year (and possibly previous years) they blocked out reservations for dinner at Finnegan's during HHN.

 

[macraven]

As of now, they are not taking reservations after 3 on Hhn nights

But we never know if this will change

Very easy to eat at finnegans once it is 8 or 8:30

I did that last year on one of my nights there

 

[macraven]

Last year I did the reservation in person for a 4:15 seating

Dont remember the time but they did a system where you could go after they opened and make reservations for that day

That is how I made mine

Have no idea if this will be available for this Hhn season but just wanted to say some peeps were able to get reservations last year

 

[GaryDis]

I'm confused.

Lombard's is totally blocked out from Sep 16 through Oct. 2. Not even lunch. Does that mean no availability? Day-of reservations only?

Finnegan's is showing lunch only availability next week, even on non-HHN days (e.g. 9/19). Does that mean they're booked, or they extended the "nothing after 3" policy to non-HHN days.

Confisco is showing up to 4:45, on both HHN and non-HHN days that I checked. No availability for dinner? Or day-of only?

Mythos is the only one showing anything into dinner time (5:30), on an HHN day (meaning IOA is open late). Why not Confisco?

I keep reading that it's not necessary to make reservations at USO, but I'm going to be upset if dinner time roles around and we're stuck prowling Citywalk or the hotels for something with less than a 30 minute wait.

 

[muffyn]

there is someplace online to make reservations?

 

[GaryDis]

there is someplace online to make reservations?

Yes, at https://www.universalorlando.com/Restaurants/Dining-Reservations.aspx.

 

[wookiebeck]

Last month the online system had blocked out dates for Mythos a week ahead. It must have been a glitch in the online IT system. I called and made reservation on the phone without problem.