Halloween Day in the park, crowds (first time)

[nevergrowup826]

This will be my first time going as an adult, I barely remember any of universal as we were a big disney fan. I love harry potter and am looking to go only 1 day. I only plan on doing Harry Potter rides/activities, (maybe ET for memory lane sake). I really have no interest in anything else.

I know the park closes at 5, how bad are the crowds in October/November. How long are waits usually for HP rides? Does it get like the major disney rides?
Based on my disney schedule we will be going in on Halloween.

Thanks so much!

 

[macraven]

Don't think Monday October 31 will be that crowded until maybe 3 that afternoon

Sunday night there will be Hhn and many don't get to the parks early as they tend to sleep in

You can get a lot done on Monday for potter and the other rides

 

[nevergrowup826]

Don't think Monday October 31 will be that crowded until maybe 3 that afternoon

Sunday night there will be Hhn and many don't get to the parks early as they tend to sleep in

You can get a lot done on Monday for potter and the other rides

Thanks! Is an express pass necessary?

Also how far away is universal from disney property (staying at animal kingdom lodge)? We plan on taking an uber but don't know how long to estimate for the trip there, since i hope to be there at rope drop

 

[macraven]

That Monday could be slow UO to noon
Use the single rider lines as they move fast

I go solo and stay at the deluxe and get the free ep
Most of the time I use SRL

 

[macraven]

Missed the other question

Be at the entrance line by 8:30 at the latest at UO

I start my trip at Disney then move to UO hotels but use car service
Think it is not over a 22 minute drive
But I do the transfer early when there is not much traffic out

 

[nevergrowup826]

Missed the other question

Be at the entrance line by 8:30 at the latest at UO

I start my trip at Disney then move to UO hotels but use car service
Think it is not over a 22 minute drive
But I do the transfer early when there is not much traffic out

Thanks so much for all of your help!

 

[macraven]

also, check which park has EE on the first page of the UO website.
or check the park hours calendar

you can find that info in the Quick Access Sticky i have in the main forum.
i put links in there so it makes it easier to find info.

the people that did EE for a park usually tend to take HE over to the other park when it opens.

maybe you would want to do the park that opens at 9 as peeps won't be in it until they go thru the gates.
by the time you get to parry hotter section, those arriving by HE will be there about the same time as you do.

EE is early entry.
onsite hotels guests are allowed to be in the EE park of the day one hour prior to official opening.

sometimes i assume readers know that info but if you don't, this might help you to decide which park you want to start at.
i feel starting at DA is the best but that is my opinion.

 

[nevergrowup826]

also, check which park has EE on the first page of the UO website.
or check the park hours calendar

you can find that info in the Quick Access Sticky i have in the main forum.
i put links in there so it makes it easier to find info.

the people that did EE for a park usually tend to take HE over to the other park when it opens.

maybe you would want to do the park that opens at 9 as peeps won't be in it until they go thru the gates.
by the time you get to parry hotter section, those arriving by HE will be there about the same time as you do.

EE is early entry.
onsite hotels guests are allowed to be in the EE park of the day one hour prior to official opening.

sometimes i assume readers know that info but if you don't, this might help you to decide which park you want to start at.
i feel starting at DA is the best but that is my opinion.

So if they did EE for a IOA and then take HE to the other park at 9 when it opens, wouldn't it be better to go to the park with EE first because they'll be mostly done with the rides there and on their way to universal?

 

[nevergrowup826]

It looks like all of October does not have EE and IOA opens at 9 while US opens at 8. Am I reading it wrong? https://www.universalorlando.com/Resort-Information/Early-Park-Admission.aspx

Also I see that US closes at 5 (for HHN i expect) but IOA is open until 8, is that right? Does IOA not close for HHN?

 

[jenhelgren]

Does Universal only use EE for busier times of the year? I hadn't looked into yet and was surprised that its not offered at all for October?

 

[macraven]

So if they did EE for a IOA and then take HE to the other park at 9 when it opens, wouldn't it be better to go to the park with EE first because they'll be mostly done with the rides there and on their way to universal?

It can be done that way
But if you are waiting by the bridge for the entrance line, those in the EE park would have moved to that second park by the time you got in

Or you go early and in front for the line, you could hit the rides in the front of the park with little or no waits

 

[macraven]

Does Universal only use EE for busier times of the year? I hadn't looked into yet and was surprised that its not offered at all for October?

EE is offered year round
The site updates throughout the year
Usually a few months out you will find the calendar updated

I have been in October before where day before UO allows we for both parks
When hotels are totally full up. This can happen

You would see the change of park hours on UO front page of the website

 

[macraven]

It looks like all of October does not have EE and IOA opens at 9 while US opens at 8. Am I reading it wrong? https://www.universalorlando.com/Resort-Information/Early-Park-Admission.aspx

Also I see that US closes at 5 (for HHN i expect) but IOA is open until 8, is that right? Does IOA not close for HHN?

8:00 opening is the EE for that park
Regular park hours begin at 9:00

Ioa will not have Hhn in that park
Therefore it closes at regular time of 8:00 those dates

 

[nevergrowup826]

Thanks for your help! When dropped off by an uber, do they drop you by city walk and you walk thorugh that to get to the parks? It really has been a long time, i don't recall going to Universal after i was 10 (almost 20 years ago!)

 

[johde]

With HHN, USF will open at 8:00-5:00 and IOA 9:00-8:00. To Maximize your time in the parks, you'll probably want to start in USF at Rope Drop than hop over to IOA. Universal has announced Early Entry for October yet. The only down side is possibly only riding the Hogwarts Express once. I would definitely take some time to look around the rest of the parks. Both are very well done. As far as getting Express Passes, they are not valid on the headliner HP attractions, Forbidden Journey, Escape from Gringotts, and Hogwarts Express, so they will probably be of limited benefit to you.

 

[macraven]

Thanks for your help! When dropped off by an uber, do they drop you by city walk and you walk thorugh that to get to the parks? It really has been a long time, i don't recall going to Universal after i was 10 (almost 20 years ago!)

Yes drop off area near city walk
Security check at entrance of city walk

 

[HappyGrape]

we were at the parks Halloween 2014 and they most of the rides were walk on, Harry Potter rides about 30 minutes.