First weekend in February and crowd levels?

[U2_rocks!]

Early February is usually a quiet-ish time, but Mardi Gras will be starting, so that may bring more people. I was thinking of staying onsite for early entry, but the 3 hotels that also include unlimited express are so much more expensive than the ones that don't. I am tempted to stay at one without and decide to buy the express for just one day if I truly feel the need to have it. I would be solo, so can use the single rider lines too. I would mostly be doing the HP attractions (especially the ones in Universal, which I haven't done yet) and the thrill rides. I don't mind waiting in line for 20 - 30 minutes as the morning goes on, but would like early mornings to be much shorter. I may do something else in the afternoons and go back in the evenings for the concerts and parade. It would probably be for only 2 days - Saturday and Sunday.

Those of you with experience going that first Mardi Gras weekend, what were the regular lines like at 11 a.m. (for example)? Can I get by without express and not have to stand in line for an hour closer to lunch time? A few years ago we were in Orlando for a gymnastics competition President's Day weekend and took a day to go to IOA and Universal, and early morning was OK but by 11 the lines were starting to get long. In the afternoon - forget it! Hoping that first weekend will be much quieter than that!

 

[macraven]

I stayed on site first week of feb this year and no long line waits for rides

Saturday had larger crowds as it was Mardi Gras opening weekend