Islands of Adventure October 22nd

[jeremiahsmom]

I am looking at going to Universal on Saturday, October 22nd and was checking the hotels on site for pricing and they all three came up as unavailable for Oct 21-October 23. So I am wondering why, and if that means the crowds will be larger than usual that weekend. I can't seem to find any info on crowd conditions at Universal in October. Also - does anyone know how the halloween party impacts the daytime crowd levels? Just want to be prepared!!

 

[DOOM1001]

Well you're talking about a Saturday at Universal towards the end of October on a night which it has the most popular Halloween event in the country.The place literally becomes a mob scene for the event,there you have the reason for the no rooms available.It's a Saturday which has big crowds most of the year,probably a slight uptick in attendance but it won't be insane during the day like it is at night.I've gone to like 17 of the 20 HHN's but in the last 7-8 years just stopped going on peak nights,I'll go on a Thursday or Sunday early in the month.

 

[jeremiahsmom]

Thanks for the reply. So IoA will have normal Saturday crowds that day? I'm hoping that the halloween party at the other park will cause IoA to die down in the evening. If that is the case I would do the Harry Potter stuff later rather than earlier.

We are going to Disney for the rest of the week a-la the free dining plan which won't start until the 23rd, but we will also be there on the 22nd. I've been reading on another board that you may not be able (doesn't look like there is a clear answer) to pick up park tickets early if you are on a package, so I thought we'd check out Universal on the 22nd instead of stressing.

My ds will be turning 8 that day and loves Harry Potter and he has adhd so naturally I am trying to figure out the best plan of attack for WWoHP. Waiting in long lines is actually more painful and annoying for me...as long as ds is not melting down he is either oblivious that he is acting nuts and driving me crazy or doing it intentionally which drives me even crazier. I am sure he will be completely thrilled regardless of the crowd situation. I, on the other hand, may need to self-medicate that day.

 

[Metro West]

Thanks for the reply. So IoA will have normal Saturday crowds that day? I'm hoping that the halloween party at the other park will cause IoA to die down in the evening. If that is the case I would do the Harry Potter stuff later rather than earlier.

I don't think you'll have any crowd issues at IOA during the day. I would wait and do HP later in the day.

 

[jeremiahsmom]

Ok- Thanks!

 

[macraven]

I am looking at going to Universal on Saturday, October 22nd and was checking the hotels on site for pricing and they all three came up as unavailable for Oct 21-October 23. So I am wondering why, and if that means the crowds will be larger than usual that weekend. I can't seem to find any info on crowd conditions at Universal in October. Also - does anyone know how the halloween party impacts the daytime crowd levels? Just want to be prepared!!

at that time period the hotels usually, based on the past years, require more than a saturday night stay.

you would have to book a multi night stay in order to get that saturday night.


in the past, the hotels do not book a saturday night only.

many try to book that one night only and it will show up on the hotel booking site as not available.

play with the dates and add nights so you can stay onsite.
if you start with the thursday, you might see openings that would cover the 22nd.


one more thought, travel agencies book blocks of rooms at all the hotels so they can use them in their packages.

when they, the travel agencies, do not sell out, they release those blocks of rooms back to the hotel.

sometimes this is done about two weeks out.

 

[jeremiahsmom]

Thanks! I think we are just going to book a hotel off site after looking at the prices though.