IOA in October?

[DisneyStarWisher]

My family and I will be taking a WDW trip in October 2010. We are DVC members and will be staying at AKV. We would like to make our way over to IOA to see the new Harry Potter World. I have a few questions--

1. Will it be so busy in October that we would need the Express Pass? If we do and stay on-site at Universal, we would have to go on a Friday (at the end of our trip). Would it be worth it to pay the extra $19.99 if we don't stay on-site?

2. Do the Halloween Nights at US affect the crowd level at IOA which I have heard stays open later? I'm afraid anyone not going to the Halloween night would end up over at IOA.

3. How long does it take to do the major attractions? Can we do them in half a day if we get there when it opens? What if we don't have Express Pass? We are interested in--
Hulk
Spiderman
Jurassic Park
Bilge Barges
Dueling Dragons (Will this be part of HP World?)
Harry Potter World

Thanks for your help. I know very little about Universal, so I appreciate any info!

 

[Metro West]

My family and I will be taking a WDW trip in October 2010. We are DVC members and will be staying at AKV. We would like to make our way over to IOA to see the new Harry Potter World. I have a few questions--

1. Will it be so busy in October that we would need the Express Pass? If we do and stay on-site at Universal, we would have to go on a Friday (at the end of our trip). Would it be worth it to pay the extra $19.99 if we don't stay on-site?

2. Do the Halloween Nights at US affect the crowd level at IOA which I have heard stays open later? I'm afraid anyone not going to the Halloween night would end up over at IOA.

3. How long does it take to do the major attractions? Can we do them in half a day if we get there when it opens? What if we don't have Express Pass? We are interested in--
Hulk
Spiderman
Jurassic Park
Bilge Barges
Dueling Dragons (Will this be part of HP World?)
Harry Potter World

Thanks for your help. I know very little about Universal, so I appreciate any info!

1. October is not usually busy so I doubt you would need Express Plus passes. If you stay onsite, you could go whenever you wanted due to the unlimited Express access.

2. HHN only affects crowds in the afternoons...not during the mornings. On the nights HHN is staged, the Studios closes at 5pm and IOA closes at 7pm. No one knows how HP will affect the crowds yet.

3. It shouldn't take too long in October to do the attractions you have listed. Dueling Dragons will be part of HP once everything is completed. There is no way to indicate how long HP will take to do since it's not completed yet. I would imagine the crowds will be pretty heavy though.

 

[macraven]

With your trip over 21 months away, the cost of the express pass plus is not known at this point.

those passes vary in price based on the date.

The rides you listed that you want to do are all in IOA.
If you are staying off site, I'm sure if you start early before the park opens, you can accomplish those rides. Can't say anything about parry hotter as no one knows what all will be included for it as in rides, shows, attractions.

More than likely the Flying Unicorn and Dueling Dragons will have some make over for the new island section theme.

 

[elorapet]

Has it been crowded in Universal parks during the Columbus day weekend and during the week after the Columbus day?

really appreciate you help. thanks.

 

[Metro West]

Has it been crowded in Universal parks during the Columbus day weekend and during the week after the Columbus day?

really appreciate you help. thanks.

Yeah...it's pretty busy on any holiday weekend and Columbus Day is no exception. After the weekend, the crowds really calm down.

 

[lacy1101]

Yeah...it's pretty busy on any holiday weekend and Columbus Day is no exception. After the weekend, the crowds really calm down.

Would you consider Friday, October 9, part of Columbus Day weekend? We had originally planned on visiting US/IOA on Tuesday and Wednesday of our upcoming Disney trip to avoid the weekends, but may now be looking at Wednesday and Friday. I may have to rethink this if that Friday is expected to be really busy.

 

[Metro West]

Would you consider Friday, October 9, part of Columbus Day weekend? We had originally planned on visiting US/IOA on Tuesday and Wednesday of our upcoming Disney trip to avoid the weekends, but may now be looking at Wednesday and Friday. I may have to rethink this if that Friday is expected to be really busy.

I doubt Friday would see a huge jump in the crowd level. Most people have to work on Friday and I think the schools are in session. You should be OK.

 

[lacy1101]

I doubt Friday would see a huge jump in the crowd level. Most people have to work on Friday and I think the schools are in session. You should be OK.

Thanks! I forgot to add the if we go on that Friday, we'll be leaving by 2:00 p.m. (not attending HHN). Sounds like it might work.

 

[Metro West]

Thanks! I forgot to add the if we go on that Friday, we'll be leaving by 2:00 p.m. (not attending HHN). Sounds like it might work.

If you're leaving at 2pm, you should definately be OK. The HHN crowd won't usually start showing up until 3pm or so.