How busy is Sept at US?

[newestkg06]

We're just starting to look into a trip for next summer or fall and want to do 2 days at Universal and IoA (1 each). I know that Hogwart's Express won't be included if we don't do park to park tickets. I have 1 huge Harry Potter fan (9yo), and another budding one (7yo). We are planning to stay off site (probably Bonnet Creek) and spend 3-4 days at Disney, 1 waterpark day, and maybe Seaworld, in addition to US.

My question: if we go in the summer, I'm sure we would seriously consider (and I'm leaning toward) staying at RPR or Hard Rock 1-2 nights to get the early admission and express pass. But, in Sept, particularly if we go on a weekday, do you think those two perks are necessary to have an enjoyable experience? We are not fans of crowds at all, so I still think it might be worth it even if crowds aren't crazy and it would be more relaxing in the parks to just do what we want when we want and not worry about lines.

BUT...the idea of a split stay sounds absolutely horrible to me. Having to pack and repack, drive over very early to check in, wait for a room, haul in bags, blah blah...

I'm also worried about HHN in Sept and working around them, so we would likely try to go on a weekday.
Any thoughts and help very much appreciated!

 

[damo]

If you go on an non HHN weekday, you won't need express. It is lovely. Still very hot, but lovely crowd-wise.

 

[macraven]

Op if you go to the darkside the first week of sept or the Tuesday after Labor Day, it will still have hot weather but much smaller crowds
A lot less peeps in the parks during those time periods

Hhn this year starts sept 16
You will see crowds after opening weekend for Hhn

One of my sweetest trips there was just after Labor Day period
No crowds that time

 

[newestkg06]

I wish we could go the first week of Sept! We went the 3rd week of Sept last year and that worked well with school schedules, so if we can't do summer, I think we'd go either the 3rd or 4th week of Sept.
With HHN starting mid-Sept, and crowds starting to grow as fall goes on, what's your opinion then?
We went to Seaworld on a Monday and legoland on a friday in Sept and it was so wonderful, I think partly because of the low crowds. We also just loved both parks. I know Universal has more attendance than either of those, and Disney on certain days was still crowded (though I'm sure nothing like during very crowded times). If it's going to be like Seaworld, than we'll just stay offsite. But, if it's going to be more like Disney, then...I'll bite the bullet and deal with packing it up for RPR!

 

[kohlby]

I've been looking at crowd calendars for the last week of Sept and first two weeks of Oct in the process of planning our next trip. (Which is supposed to be a Disney trip but we will do Universal a couple days. It's so hard to stay away!) The crowd calendars have it down as low or moderate, depending on the day. We usually go during low but went during moderate for our last trip in April and it was quite different crowd-wise. However, it was still quite manageable without express. We did stay onsite at CB though and used our early extra hour so that was quite helpful. The HP areas got so mobbed that it wasn't easy to walk around in them mid-day. The issue was never wait times, as we could work with those, it was how unpleasant it was to walk through the HP areas trying not to lose a child. We didn't lose anyone and did have fun so it was a success! For our next trip, we won't have express or the early hour.

 

[macraven]

Since you are planning for 2017 a lot can change in the darkside parks

The hulk and Kong rides will no longer be new which will even out crowds

Potterville will always have plenty of people visiting those sections
Don't think it will ever be empty

Late September has decent weather which is great for visiting any park
Third week also a good time to go

Hhn has not always been in mid sept
Only a couple of years or 3 for that early start
Opening weekend of Hhn is only on Friday and Saturday
The following weeks add Thursday and Sunday's so if you do Monday - thur
You should be fine for all the parks you mentioned you wanted to do

For UO you could do fine offsite for parts of sept
But not knowing 18 months out crowd pattern, don't know what will be new in all the different parks

 

[newestkg06]

So many good points here, macraven! Thanks so much for your insight. I'll just keep an eye on things. I know they are opening a new waterpark next year, so maybe that will mean fewer new things in US and IoA? Who knows? Universal seems to get things built so quickly that it is hard to plan this far out. Really appreciate it!

 

[macraven]

Almost forgot volcano water park will be a draw next year

Well that will take some crowds out of the parks
So many families enjoy spending an entire day at them

There are rumors for changes with some rides in both parks
Those have already been posted about this past year in the forums

I don't get excited about the rumors until they break ground or fit an existing ride

 

[georgina]

Hhn has not always been in mid sept
Only a couple of years or 3 for that early start
Opening weekend of Hhn is only on Friday and Saturday
The following weeks add Thursday and Sunday's so if you do Monday - thur
You should be fine for all the parks you mentioned you wanted to do

I was confused about Sept 18th this year. Park hours has regular closing time listed, but the HHN website lists Sunday the 18th as one of the dates. We will be there this weekend but not planning to do HHN, it just worked out that this was the best time for us to be there. I am happy to hear we can stay later at US that evening, I love Diagon Alley at night.

 

[macraven]

Looks like dates have been added.
I wrote down dates the first time they released them
Have seen one of the Wednesday's added and removed a few times which has been confusing
When it goes live and ticket sales are released to the public it will be easier for information
Sometimes hours are extended after Hhn is in process
Talking about Sunday here