Early Oct Trip without planning on doing HHN - worth it?

[soccerdad72]

We're regular WDW visitors (e.g. every year or so), but with our boys getting older (they're 13 and 9), they've been wanting to go to Universal instead. My wife and I went once years ago (pre-kids) and loved it, especially staying onsite and having the Universal Express.

I booked our flights and have a reservation at RPH for Oct. 2nd through the 6th, but now that I've started reading here, it sounds like with HHN going on, there's going to be limited evening hours at the parks. Since we're used to doing a late night or two in the Disney parks, we're wondering if it would make sense to go to Universal this time of the year, especially if everything is closed by 6pm or so. I think HHN might be a little too intense for our 9-year old (even though he's never admit it ) and I'm pretty sure my wife would hate it.

Just wondering what everyone's thoughts were - along with any suggestions on how to spend nights during that time of the year around Universal. We weren't originally planning on renting a car, but might consider it now if it means leaving the resort area to do stuff at night.

Thanks!

 

[tricky1]

Only Universal closes early during HHN,Islands of adventure has been open
till 7:00 in the past.(Hours are not up yet for Oct.) City walk has putt putt
and a movie complex. Nascar cafe has a nice game room upstairs.
And don't forget the hotels pools(pool hopping allowed). You might just want
to try HHN, It can be quite a HOOT!!!

 

[macraven]

with the exception of the hard ticket event, the darkside does not have late park hours.

parks usually close up around 6 for the studios and 7 for ioa.
if you look up last years september park hours for closing, it's close to the same for october.


with hp2 opening, who knows if that pattern will change in the fall for park hours.

with your dates, hhn will be happening on 2,3,4,5th.
saturday and sunday will have crowds in the afernoon, especially if the weather is great.

many come to the park before the studio closes in order to catch the rides.

on the weekend, go early with EE and use your express passes to avoid additional wait times.
you should be able to get a lot done before the mid afternoon time.

 

[Krista in MA]

My sister and I are heading to universal Oct. 2nd - 5th and we're NOT going to HHN. We went last year at the beginning of Nov. and just missed the HHN's crowds. We're expecting it to be more crowded with the new resort + DA open + HHN. I think all of us will be fine - especially with the express pass perk for staying onsite. I think you'll be fine.....get to the parks early for early entry, stay and play or go back to the hotel / head back to IoA in the late afternoon / end of day, etc. We're also renting a car so that we can go offsite in the evenings (eating & outlet shopping haha) and one night we're getting tickets for MNSSHP.

I will say that we could have completely different perspectives going in......my sister and I have been to the universal parks about 10 times each, we go on most rides, only some of the shows, use the single rider lines to our advantage, etc., that might not work for your family I think a lot will have to do with your general touring style, ie are you a rope drop - stay till you pass out at closing vs. go with the flow and soak it all in family Hopefully that makes sense!

Edited to add that I just reread your OP and didn't really answer your question, but I'll leave my blubbering up there
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While US will close early for HHN - it's only an hour or two earlier so in the grand scheme of things, I don't think you'll be missing out on too much time in the parks.

As tricky1 stated, there are movies, mini golf, a game room, etc. at CW. Plus all of the resort pools! If you do rent a car, you can check out Downtown Disney, explore International Drive (more mini golf, is the water park open in October?!, I think there's a Ripley's that can be cheesy fun, etc.).

 

[soccerdad72]

Thanks for all your thoughts.

I didn't realize that regular park hours are not as late as what I would have thought they were (thinking of Disney and/or other amusement parks we go to, like Cedar Point).

I'll have to price out rental cars (and make sure I factor in parking cost) and see if it makes sense to have a car instead of taking other transportation.

 

[heidijanesmith]

We're regular WDW visitors (e.g. every year or so), but with our boys getting older (they're 13 and 9), they've been wanting to go to Universal instead. My wife and I went once years ago (pre-kids) and loved it, especially staying onsite and having the Universal Express.
Universal is super fun for teens and pre-teens, especially if they like Harry Potter.

I booked our flights and have a reservation at RPH for Oct. 2nd through the 6th, but now that I've started reading here, it sounds like with HHN going on, there's going to be limited evening hours at the parks. Since we're used to doing a late night or two in the Disney parks, we're wondering if it would make sense to go to Universal this time of the year, especially if everything is closed by 6pm or so. I think HHN might be a little too intense for our 9-year old (even though he's never admit it ) and I'm pretty sure my wife would hate it. We did HHN for one night last trip and found plenty to do during the other evenings. We watched the movie at the pool, ate at City Walk and relaxed at the resort. I was very nervous at HHN as I do not like all haunted houses, but love Halloween. I loved HHN! We did the VIP tour and I was able to ask our tour guide about each house prior to entering and skipped one that I knew that I would not like. I saw lots of kids there and think that each parent/kid tolerance for gore and language is individual. I personally thought it was very fun and not that scary. There was lots of gore and I did get jumped at by some zombies, but overall it was very fun. We did Bill and Ted's show and it had some language and adult content for sure.

Just wondering what everyone's thoughts were - along with any suggestions on how to spend nights during that time of the year around Universal. We weren't originally planning on renting a car, but might consider it now if it means leaving the resort area to do stuff at night.

Thanks!

HP2 and WWoHP would be enough for our family with out HHN, so I would go at that time for sure. That is the same dates we were there last year and the weather was spectacular.