Epcot F&W or Universal 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!

 

[itchin2go]

How long would you be staying at Epcot on Saturday? I think crowds are manageable early on, and get more ... hairy as the night goes on. This from easywdw : "Expect incredibly heavy crowds from 1pm through IllumiNations. If you can’t visit Epcot any other day, make sure you arrive prior to Park opening and visit Test Track, Sum of All Thrills, Mission Space, and Soarin’ immediately in the morning or follow a touring plan. Use FastPass+ in the late morning and afternoon when crowds and waits peak. Move up through the Mexico and Norway Pavilions in the World Showcase at 11am if you can’t get to the World Showcase on another day. The World Showcase will be buzzing from 1pm through close and it will be very difficult to move around with the heavier crowds, even if the attractions won’t necessarily be that much busier than usual. Try to move through World Showcase as quickly as possible and then return to Future World. If you’re trying to decide between visiting Epcot on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday, I would recommend Friday and then Sunday over Saturday."

Link for further reference: http://www.easywdw.com/calendar/october-2014-walt-disney-world-crowd-calendar/#more-13188

As far as Universal, I don't know how big of a Harry Potter fanatic you are, but it didn't take us long to tour (mainly) just those areas. Granted we were there for early entry (which was 7 am due to Thanksgiving), but it didn't buy us much since Gringott's broke down after our party was in line for 45 minutes. So we hopped over to Hogsmeade, experienced that, along with Spiderman and River Adventure, then hopped back to Universal to re-try (this time successfully) Gringotts, and finish up at the Simpson's. We were out by 1:30. We had express pass, but really didn't need it anywhere (except for the one we got to cut to the front of the line at Gringott's due to the fiasco that morning).

 

[MakiraMarlena]

I won't even stay at Epcot past noon or so on a Saturday during food & wine.

Universal will be crowded too. However if your plan is to see ONLY the HP areas you will be able to see it all, even if you are waiting in some pretty long lines. Express Pass isn't good on Gringotts, Hogwarts Express or Forbidden Journey so it probably won't help you to buy one. You probably know it but you need a 2 park ticket to ride the Hogwarts Express.

 

[V2000]

How long would you be staying at Epcot on Saturday? I think crowds are manageable early on, and get more ... hairy as the night goes on.

All day. We mainly want to experience the world showcase and stay until close.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

then don't go on Saturday unless you like the crowds.

 

[V2000]

I won't even stay at Epcot past noon or so on a Saturday during food & wine.

Universal will be crowded too. However if your plan is to see ONLY the HP areas you will be able to see it all, even if you are waiting in some pretty long lines. Express Pass isn't good on Gringotts or Forbidden Journey so it probably won't help you to buy one. You probably know it but you need a 2 park ticket to ride the Hogwarts Express.

I know

I'm screwed. I was even going to extend my trip a day but I am unable to make any changes to my flights. They charge a ridiculous amount.

 

[Brocktoon]

All day. We mainly want to experience the world showcase and stay until close.

I've been going to F&W for years and can't stress enough the crowd level INSANITY that is World Showcase on a Saturday during F&W! The only way I would recommend even venturing over to World Showcase on a Sat is if you have tickets for a reserved F&W event. And even with hard tickets, make sure to plan plenty of time navigating the crowds to get to the event.

 

[robndani]

Who will be going on the trip with you?

 

[V2000]

Who will be going on the trip with you?

My 16 year old daughter and my husband. My daughter loves the world showcase and F&W. She has been before.

 

[V2000]

I really don't want to ruin my Food & Wine experience at Epcot. This is my husbands first time to DW.

 

[V2000]

I've been going to F&W for years and can't stress enough the crowd level INSANITY that is World Showcase on a Saturday during F&W! The only way I would recommend even venturing over to World Showcase on a Sat is if you have tickets for a reserved F&W event. And even with hard tickets, make sure to plan plenty of time navigating the crowds to get to the event.

Which month did you go in?

 

[MakiraMarlena]

Doesn't matter what month you go. Every Saturday is like that now.

 

[robndani]

I agree that Saturdays are crazy busy. However, that being said, if you don't have little kids and have the mindset that it's okay to wait in lines, then you can still have fun. We go to F&W at least 3 nights every year. When we go on a weekend night, we leave our little ones behind. We know it's crowded, but we have fun anyway. We meet people in line, eat one food in another line, split up to get foods from 2 neighboring booths and then find a little spot to sit for a while.

We stop to listen to whatever band is playing and just relax, even with the insanity! Have fun!

 

[nilla]

Even asking such a question should be grounds for a banning from the DISboards.

EPCOT, silly!

 

[V2000]

I agree that Saturdays are crazy busy. However, that being said, if you don't have little kids and have the mindset that it's okay to wait in lines, then you can still have fun. We go to F&W at least 3 nights every year. When we go on a weekend night, we leave our little ones behind. We know it's crowded, but we have fun anyway. We meet people in line, eat one food in another line, split up to get foods from 2 neighboring booths and then find a little spot to sit for a while.

We stop to listen to whatever band is playing and just relax, even with the insanity! Have fun!

You are so sweet

Thank you! I am going to try to avoid Saturday for Epcot if I can.
That only means I will have to endure Uni on Saturday.

 

[itchin2go]

I am like you, in that I love Epcot. F&W is overwhelming even without big crowds. It's a LOT of booths. We went several days and never made it through all the booths. If you LOVE Epcot, I would choose another day (not a Saturday) to do that.

I would guess that Universal would be less crowded since they're closed in the evening. Regardless, the lines for HP rides will probably be the longest in the parks. I would recommend being there at rope drop for sure. If you can (budget and availability willing), I would book a one night room at a Universal hotel. I believe you get early entry privileges even with Cabana Bay (the new, less expensive resort). You don't get express passes with that hotel, but you don't need them because they wouldn't even work with the HP headliners. And as I said, we went Thanksgiving week, leaving at 1:30 or so, and didn't need to use our express passes. Granted, we only rode a handful of rides, but they were popular rides.

I don't know if the Universal "throwaway room" is a possibility for you, but it would help if you can swing it.

 

[V2000]

Even asking such a question should be grounds for a banning from the DISboards.

EPCOT, silly!

Oh no! I am going to BOTH regardless. I am just trying to map out which days for which parks!

I love EPCOT over every park! It's my fav.

 

[Brocktoon]

Just to add for folks visiting in October, crowds at Uni and WDW may be higher than normal the weekends:

- 10/9 - 10/12 (Columbus Day weekend)
- 10/23 - 10/26 (local FL schools are off for 10/23 and 10/26)

 

[V2000]

Just to add for folks visiting in October, crowds at Uni and WDW may be higher than normal the weekends:

- 10/9 - 10/12 (Columbus Day weekend)
- 10/23 - 10/26 (local FL schools are off for 10/23 and 10/26)

Yikes, thanks for the info.