July 4th at US/IOA...is this crazy?

[FiveofusNL]

Hi! We have a one day park to park ticket purchased for our trip in early July. We do not have a lot of time in the area and will be visiting Disney as well. Based on our schedule, we can visit US/IOA on the 4th or the 8th. Based on crowd calendars, it seems that the crowds are pretty similar on both days at US/IOA whereas they are at peak levels at Disney on the 4th. So it looks like we are better off visting US on the 4th and Disney on the 8th. However, rather than rely just on crowd calendars, I would love input on the matter. Has anyone been there on the 4th of July? Will it be crazy there? Should we avoid all the "major" parks and just go to a Disney water park that morning instead? It is worth noting that we would be at the park for 8am opening whichever day we go.

 

[Bluer101]

It is very busy at that time. We visit for 4th too but we stay onsite for EP.

 

[FiveofusNL]

Unfortunately we wont be staying on site, and the cost of EP for the 5 of us is just not in the budget. Do you arrive first thing in the morning? Wondering if we will be able to get most of the things we want done before the big crowds hit. Most of us are not big roller coaster people which seemed to have the bigger lines early in the morning when we we were there in 2013. The main things we want to do include: Despicable Me, Transformers, Men In Black, Hogwarts Express, The new Gringotts Ride (if possible), Flight of the Hippogriff, Spiderman and the Simpsons Ride. Even if we can get a number of these done without massive line ups, it would be worth it.

 

[macraven]

almost all of the rides you listed, will be long by the time you get there.

the 3 onsite hotels and Cbay will have early entry.
most of the hotel rooms will be filled.

if 3/4 of the hotel guests go for ee, they will move on to the other main rides when the official opening time comes along.

you'll be looking at line waits for DE, TF, Spidey besides those in the parry hotter sections.

just be prepared to know that those rides won't be walk ons if you go july 4th.

if the 4th is the day you do decide to go, use the single rider lines to cut back on line waits.
spiderman, MIB, FJ, TF have them.
i think Gringott's has srl.

do what you can at the first park you visit.
use HE to ride to the other park and spend the rest of your day there for the highlighted rides you mentioned that were on your list.

good luck and have fun.

 

[FiveofusNL]

Thanks macraven. The Undercover Tourist and Touring Plans crowd calendars make it look like the 4th will be a better choice of the two, but it really does not sound like it. I think I am better off visting US/IOA on the 8th. I know it will be busy in the parks the whole time I am there, but am hoping to avoid the biggest crowds if possible. Looks like I will be battling the crowds at a Disney Water park on the 4th instead.

 

[ElenaJane]

To throw in my 2 cents.... We were at Universal last year on July 3rd. It was very hot and crowded, but fun! One thing I was disappointed in was the lack of fireworks or anything "extra" for the 4th. So we booked dinner at California Grill (Contemporary Resort rooftop) though on the 4th at 5pm. As long as you keep your receipt, you can go back to the observation deck that night for the fireworks. It was amazing to see them from that vantage point and not be shoulder to shoulder in the Magic Kingdom!

 

[FiveofusNL]

So we booked dinner at California Grill (Contemporary Resort rooftop) though on the 4th at 5pm. As long as you keep your receipt, you can go back to the observation deck that night for the fireworks. It was amazing to see them from that vantage point and not be shoulder to shoulder in the Magic Kingdom!

Thanks for the great idea ElenaJane!

 

[FiveofusNL]

Hi again everyone! I have read elsewhere that the daily rate Universal Studios charges for their express passes reflects how busy they anticpate the parks to be that day. According to their website, a "both parks" express pass on the 4th of July is $69.99, whereas it is $109.99 on the 8th of July! WOW! I can only visit the parks on July 4th or the 8th and had planned on going on the 8th but this makes me wonder if I should switch to the 4th. Would it change your mind? Thoughts?

 

[macraven]

Hi again everyone! I have read elsewhere that the daily rate Universal Studios charges for their express passes reflects how busy they anticpate the parks to be that day. According to their website, a "both parks" express pass on the 4th of July is $69.99, whereas it is $109.99 on the 8th of July! WOW! I can only visit the parks on July 4th or the 8th and had planned on going on the 8th but this makes me wonder if I should switch to the 4th. Would it change your mind? Thoughts?

that is the same way many of us gauge the crowd level in the parks.
look at the cost of the ep's.

from what you posted, the 4th looks better than the 8th.

only glitch is, if the ep rates increase from the time you buy them (4th), you do save money but could be facing larger crowds on the 4th.

 

[FiveofusNL]

I think I will plan for arriving at rope drop on the 4th but keep an eye on the ep rates over the next couple of months. If the 4th ep rates become more expensive than the 8th, I will take that as a sign that they are expecting bigger crowds and will switch days. At these rates, I cannot buy the ep passes for 5 of us so that gives me flexibility to change days if need be.