Going for first time mid Oct - what is "hell week"?

[Travel Mum]

Just read something about a time called "hell week" that has got me worried! OMG, actually feeling sick, cause I have never heard of "hell week" and still don't know what it is except that it sounds like I might have planned our once in lifetime visit to Universal/IOA to be at the same time Gosh, it had never occured to me that Universal/IOA might be crowded mid-week 11-14 October!!! We will be doing Universal one day and IOA the next day (as we will stay onsite for one night to get Express passes to both parks) and it will either be Tues 11 and Wed 12 Oct or Wed 12 and Thu 13 Oct. We could instead go on Sunday 9 October or Monday 10th October but I thought I'd better steer clear of those days considering they are on a holiday weekend and presumed THEY would be busy. What should I do? Please advise

 

[Metro West]

Just read something about a time called "hell week" that has got me worried! OMG, actually feeling sick, cause I have never heard of "hell week" and still don't know what it is except that it sounds like I might have planned our once in lifetime visit to Universal/IOA to be at the same time Gosh, it had never occured to me that Universal/IOA might be crowded mid-week 11-14 October!!! We will be doing Universal one day and IOA the next day (as we will stay onsite for one night to get Express passes to both parks) and it will either be Tues 11 and Wed 12 Oct or Wed 12 and Thu 13 Oct. We could instead go on Sunday 9 October or Monday 10th October but I thought I'd better steer clear of those days considering they are on a holiday weekend and presumed THEY would be busy. What should I do? Please advise

Hell Week is when the local area schools are out but the parks aren't usually jammed. It normally affects Halloween Horror Nights significantly...not the parks during the day.

 

[macraven]

i sent you a pm which explains it.

we don't know exactly which dates will be in effect for the school fall break.
when it is known, i'm sure someone on here will list it.

i have been there during hell week before and i now always avoid it.

the studios were packed from the afternoon the day i was there.

i found the issue with trying to walk pass a group of 5 kids walking across arm in arm and unable to get around them. found the restrooms more crowded, food places the same.

if you are staying onsite, you won't have issues with line waits.
you can use the express lines for the time period you are a hotel guest and the day you check out.
on check out day, the hotel card is valid up until the time the park closes for useage.

go and have a grand time!!

 

[Travel Mum]

Many thanks for your help

 

[Princess Sleepy]

We have one day only at IOA on Saturday, October 29th. Is it going to be wall-to-wall people because it is Halloween weekend? Any tips?

 

[tinydancer09]

We went fall break last year and had a great time! Granted it was college fall break for the long weekend of Oct 15-19.

Our high school fall breaks were always the first full week of October. I have had lots of inquiries for beach rentals the week of Oct 1st. I'm not sure if this is just GA or FL too

 

[Metro West]

We have one day only at IOA on Saturday, October 29th. Is it going to be wall-to-wall people because it is Halloween weekend? Any tips?

It will be crowded but shouldn't be packed since HHN activities are at the Studios. By the time you leave that evening, CityWalk will be jammed though...just keep that in mind in case you were thinking of having dinner over there.

 

[Princess Sleepy]

I think we are going to try and eat at the Portofina. My kids love Italian. Will the resorts be crowded too? Should we make a reservation?

 

[Metro West]

I think we are going to try and eat at the Portofina. My kids love Italian. Will the resorts be crowded too? Should we make a reservation?

Probably not but you could still make a reservation if you wanted.