Fall Pros ~Help me pick a week...

[Emagine]

First timer, family of 4.. 2 kids with Autism but massive thrill junkies. We can come any week we want due to flexibility of our schedule. We will be tying this in with our DVC at Disney but wish to spend more time here possibly, utilize resort stays for a night or two for the express pass but if they decide to come extra days we can make the ride over with ease.

Looking at Oct, Nov, Dec of 16 as we just got back from Florida. We are not wanting to do high peek times of course.

What do you wonderful pros of Fall recommend? My kids will not be interested in HHN so that is out. Looking for just the right time. I read M/Tu/W are the better days there so I am aiming to start on a Monday in Universal. We are thinking 10 days and park hop. Also, if I understand correctly one night = day of check in and day after sleep for Express Pass right? Is there a time limit or check in time on that?

Thank You Kindly~

 

[wookiebeck]

A stay at an on-site deluxe resort gets you the EP for the entire check-in day and entire check-out day.

One night gets you two days of EP. Two nights gets you three. etc.

We checked in at 7am the first day. You don't get you room yet, but you do get your ID, which then gets you the EP. After check out, your EP pass will still be valid if you want to head back in to the parks.

 

[Emagine]

TY Wookiebeck, I appreciate the scoop on EP and how the stays work

 

[kip0992]

The lightest crowds you'll see will be beginning to mid November or the first couple of weeks of December. I'd probably avoid October - HHN draws in a lot of people.

 

[HM]

Looking at the wait times that have been posted this week....this might be a good week choice for your family next year.

 

[Emagine]

Thank you so much. How can I see the wait times?

 

[nkereina]

If HHN is of no interest to you, avoid October. Universal will close early for HHN and crowds will be higher. We have been the week before Thanksgiving twice and found it to be good as far as crowds. However, we had bad luck with the weather both times and weren't able to use the pool at the resort much and avoided the water rides at IOA. So, weather can be more of a factor the later you go as well.

 

[kohlby]

We just returned today from a week plus at Universal. The crowds were super duper light Sunday, Tues, and Wed. (We went to Legoland on Monday instead). On Thursday, it picked up, meaning express pass actually saved us 5-10 minutes instead of 0 minutes. Friday was about the same. Saturday was moderate crowds.

This is the second time we've gone this week and it went really well. We drive down on Thanksgiving day. There are less big trucks on the road, no construction, and less cars even actually as people get to where they're going earlier. (Do note that places to stop to eat are limited if you do this though. We had to eat at McDonalds since our other choices were closed). Parents don't want to pull their kids from school after they've just had a break with another break coming up in a few weeks, so there were very few American school children.

We have also been the week before Thanksgiving - leaving by the Sunday before Thankgiving - and that went well. We've also done the first and second weeks of December and those were good weeks too.

And on the autism topic - I'm not sure if they'll have it then, but Blue Man Group does some sensory-friendly shows and give the proceeds to benefit autism research. Though my youngest does not have autism, he has sensory issues so we decided to go to one of those shows. (We went to one this past Saturday). They didn't use strobe lights and said it wasn't as loud as it normally is. (Though I thought it was a bit loud. However, we could hear kids in the audience at times so I suppose louder noise would have drowned that out. I preferred the kid noise myself to making it louder). For our family, it was actually a little cheaper due to how the ticket pricing worked and we were able to get better seats. There's a chance this isn't on the Universal website though. I can't remember how I found out about it. Do a search for autism and Blue Man Group and you'll likely be able to find it.

 

[Emagine]

We just returned today from a week plus at Universal. The crowds were super duper light Sunday, Tues, and Wed. (We went to Legoland on Monday instead). On Thursday, it picked up, meaning express pass actually saved us 5-10 minutes instead of 0 minutes. Friday was about the same. Saturday was moderate crowds.

This is the second time we've gone this week and it went really well. We drive down on Thanksgiving day. There are less big trucks on the road, no construction, and less cars even actually as people get to where they're going earlier. (Do note that places to stop to eat are limited if you do this though. We had to eat at McDonalds since our other choices were closed). Parents don't want to pull their kids from school after they've just had a break with another break coming up in a few weeks, so there were very few American school children.

We have also been the week before Thanksgiving - leaving by the Sunday before Thankgiving - and that went well. We've also done the first and second weeks of December and those were good weeks too.

And on the autism topic - I'm not sure if they'll have it then, but Blue Man Group does some sensory-friendly shows and give the proceeds to benefit autism research. Though my youngest does not have autism, he has sensory issues so we decided to go to one of those shows. (We went to one this past Saturday). They didn't use strobe lights and said it wasn't as loud as it normally is. (Though I thought it was a bit loud. However, we could hear kids in the audience at times so I suppose louder noise would have drowned that out. I preferred the kid noise myself to making it louder). For our family, it was actually a little cheaper due to how the ticket pricing worked and we were able to get better seats. There's a chance this isn't on the Universal website though. I can't remember how I found out about it. Do a search for autism and Blue Man Group and you'll likely be able to find it.

BIG BIG Thanks

I keep dancing around how to approach Universal. I know WDW like the back of my hand, which makes me nervous with 2 kids with the spectrum and other needs in a whole different world unknown. This does help. We keep toying with staying at DVC and driving, verses hopping rooms to get the Express Pass. We are for sure getting a Season Pass because I can see my thrill kids soaking the rides in and we go to FL yearly. Used to go 3-4 times will WDW jerked around a lot of changes. Can easily increase when I learn the ropes. You are a kind help.

I have heard bits and pieces of the Blue Man Group and their stage show. I personally would LOVE it hehe. I think my one son would, he is my dance kiddo. My husband prob would. My oldest, most antsy and ranges all over the spectrum and tons of sensory issues... he would bolt the minute they played I am afraid or if he was to get splattered. I know they came to Charlotte once. They advertised a similar show. But still a no go. Someday, right?!

I am hoping to narrow down a time. I do see us doing more at Universal I think but seeing both sides of the Mouse and this fun land. Now if only DVC had some hidden cult (hehe) where it shared with Universal.

 

[VacaPlanner2012]

Our very best Universal vacation was early December. I love the Christmas decorations and shows. We did Mickey's Christmas Party one evening and Sea World's Christmas shows one evening. Total, we did five nights at Hard Rock Hotel and everything was just perfect. Weather, crowds, breakfast with Grinch, Grinchmas, Holiday Parade - just absolutely fantastic.

My children are a bit older in school years and my wife now works in the schools (teaching autistic children Kindergarten thru Grade 2), so no more visits for us at this time of year...so sad!!!

 

[Emagine]

Our very best Universal vacation was early December. I love the Christmas decorations and shows. We did Mickey's Christmas Party one evening and Sea World's Christmas shows one evening. Total, we did five nights at Hard Rock Hotel and everything was just perfect. Weather, crowds, breakfast with Grinch, Grinchmas, Holiday Parade - just absolutely fantastic.

My children are a bit older in school years and my wife now works in the schools (teaching autistic children Kindergarten thru Grade 2), so no more visits for us at this time of year...so sad!!!

Bless her for her dedication. Hugs from a stranger in kindness please.

I am happy to hear the time of hear at those parks are great. We have done the same time at WDW many times but yet to venture out. Now that the rugrats are older, taller, and more dangerous on the rides (their words lol) they are bored at Disney. We literally talked about Universal while at WDW on our trip a couple of mths ago. We have just been a lot. We need to venture out past the Pixie and get out more.

We will be booking soon I suspect.