FOTL worth it in Sept???

[3 Mouseketeers]

We will be going to Universal from Sun Sept 25 to Thurs Sept 29 and were just wondering if its worth it to stay on site for the FOTL access. If the parks will be empty then there really is no point to stay onsite. Just wondering how the crowds are at the end of Sept. Thanks

 

[2coolgrls]

We will be going to Universal from Sun Sept 25 to Thurs Sept 29 and were just wondering if its worth it to stay on site for the FOTL access. If the parks will be empty then there really is no point to stay onsite. Just wondering how the crowds are at the end of Sept. Thanks

Sorry I can't answer this question.....I had the exact same question myself!! We've always stayed on-site, but we have always been there at busy times of the year. Next time we would like to go in Sept., but I hate to spend the $$ for rooms if the parks are empty. Somebody HELP!!

 

[jennat]

We were there "the" Sept 11th week, so it was a little out of normal (ya think?). We still had to wait in lines and get fast passes. That being said, they lines weren't terribly long (maybe 30 min vs 2 hours). We also had a tropical storm blow through that week so lots of rain for lots of days. We are going in Sept and staying at the Hard Rock. FOTL will be great but also for the extreme convenience to the parks and restraunts. I know this isn't tooooooo helpful but maybe a little.

 

[robvia]

September is a very quiet month. You can save your money and stay off site. Try some of these close to the park.
http://www.nogodforme.com/offsite.htm
http://www.nogodforme.com/hiltongardeninn.htm
http://www.nogodforme.com/Amerisuites.htm

You'll wait in some lines in the afternoon. But if you show up at 8am, and get to the gate first, you can go on everything before the crowd shows up at 11am.

 

[gopack]

I think the crowds can be unpredictable. I just returned from a 4 day stay and the parks were very crowded. I would have thought that this would have been a quiet time. I think it is well worth the extra money to stay onsite. Being able to walk to the parks is great!! Have you checked the rates with AAA or Annual Pass discount? We have done Universal as onsite guests and going there while staying offsite. It is well worth it to us to stay onsite for the convenience and we love RPR and HR. They are both wonderful hotels.

 

[jonemick]

FOTL is worth it! We have been to Universal three times in the last three years, all in early November. We stay at HRH and crowds have been mostly moderate, but in the afternoon wait times for the main attractions can be as long as 75 minutes. I think the days of completley dead parks is over.

I can say most mornings I have been to Universal/IOA have been fairly quite with low crowds. But by 10-11am crowds are our in full force.

 

[3 Mouseketeers]

Thanks everyone for your input. I think we are going to stay onsite @ RPR. Like some of you said, just the convenience of being on property, you can come and go as you please. Also, like stated in the previous post, the days of "empty" parks are almost gone, its to hard to predict crowd levels now.
Better to be safe than sorry, I'd rather wait 5-10min in an express line than wait 45-60min.
Thanks again

 

[jennat]

Also, like someone posted, check into AAA if you don't have it. The savings way more than pay for the cost of a membership. Way more!