Epcot F&W or Universal/IOA on a Saturday? Which would you choose?

[V2000]

Well I have to pick my poison

I am expecting both Epcot Food & Wine Festival and Universal/IOA to be busy on a Saturday.
Help me choose a park for Saturday October 24th.

Universal is closing early for Horror Nights (but regardless what day we choose on our trip they close early)
We are planning on getting there gates open at 8am then moving over to IOA at about 1 or 2pm.
We are only planning on seeing the Harry Potter areas only (never visited before).
Do you think Uni/IOA is less crowded during the day when they close early for HN?

I could move Uni/IOA to Thursday but that means I would have to attempt Epcot F&W on Saturday (which is my favorite park)

Please help with advice on your choices!

Thank you in advance!

 

[macraven]

studios would start to have crowds during the afternoon on that saturday.
those that plan to do hhn that night, will want to go prior in order to do the rides and then concentrate on the houses for the hard ticket event.

 

[V2000]

studios would start to have crowds during the afternoon on that saturday.
those that plan to do hhn that night, will want to go prior in order to do the rides and then concentrate on the houses for the hard ticket event.

what time are you allowed to enter the park with a HN ticket?

 

[macraven]

what time are you allowed to enter the park with a HN ticket?

if you have a regular park ticket and in the park, you don't have to leave the park at 5:00 when it closes.
the hhn ticket will be scanned when you enter the holding area aka Stay and Scream section.

if you don't have a park ticket for that day, you get in line outside the main gate at the studios and wait until the park officially opens at 6:30 pm.
there have been times that the park opens to the general public earlier.

you go thru metal detectors to enter the park when in the main outside line.


i have seen peeps start to line up right before 5:00 for the outside line on some nights for hhn,

 

[macraven]

in response to your other question, Saturdays are awful for epcot during food and wine event

been to them many times and the crowds grow greater each year.