July ... Or October and HHN?

[Husker Mike]

We just had our third cruise cancelled due to COVID, and so now we're trying to figure out what we do with our expiring Universal and airline tickets. Our next opportunity for a cruise is April 2022, but the Universal tickets we bought back in early 2020 are going to expire in December. (The airline credits apparently expire before our Spring Break trip as well...) So we're thinking about a "use it because we're gonna lose it" trip.

The original plan was to use our Universal tickets in July before the (now-cancelled) cruise...but without the cruise, we're thinking Orlando and theme parks are a really bad idea in July. (Heat and massive crowds.) October sounds like the weather will be more pleasant, and I'd think that our fall break would have lighter crowds. Or would they, because of HHN? We have absolutely no interest in HHN, to be honest. (I'm not sure we'd even go if they gave us free tickets.)

We're thinking that we'd do Universal, and if we enjoyed it, we'd turn around and upgrade those Universal tickets to annual passes while we're there, so that we can use them again around our spring break trip.

But will the crowds be more managable in October than in late July?

 

[mamapenguin]

We are doing both. Late July and October. I am expecting crowds to be worse in October based on on-site hotel availability and price.

 

[macraven]

Usually there are crowds late October for hhn also during Columbus Day weekend

Weekends would be a time many go for hhn
But it is usually a very busy time due to crowds

Past years hhn was held Wednesday thru Sunday
Friday and Saturday would be very crowded

Monday and Tuesday are not as active during the day times as only the regular parks open them and no hhn


I attend HHN but avoid the parks on Saturday once it is about 2 in the afternoon
I stay on site and use the ep during the day for rides

the die hard hhn fans, many don’t hit the parks until after 3
They like to use the regular lines without long waits
Saturday will be crowded
Going Wednesday and Thursday during the day has lower numbers for the houses

I enjoy hhn but I never go on Saturday due to possible large crowds

no hhn on Monday and Tuesday

 

[AJA]

October was getting crowded before Covid. With HHN 30th anniversary being pushed to this year along with the pent up demand I think October will be very crowded. That said the later you can go in October the better the humidity and heat get.
as long as you avoid Columbus weekend, Monday-Wednesday are historically better as far as crowd level because (in the past) HHN is not run on Monday or Tuesday evenings.
Weekends in October are very crowded both at the parks and Universal resorts.

 

[Husker Mike]

Well, we'd arrive very late Tuesday night (on the 12th, the day after Columbus Day) as we're tying it to a school break. We'd probably be heading home on Saturday, but that's unclear at this time.

 

[AJA]

Well, we'd arrive very late Tuesday night (on the 12th, the day after Columbus Day) as we're tying it to a school break. We'd probably be heading home on Saturday, but that's unclear at this time.

Wednesday-Friday the week of Columbus day will be crowded but certainly doable. Just have a plan exactly like you would for the crowded summer months. I think it will be very comparable to anytime this summer. The weather should be better though.

If you would have more days in the summer, especially if your family is willing to do early entry in the mornings, I would choose July.

October is very charming though even if you aren’t doing HHN. Does your family like the Halloween vibe? Parts of the Studios will have visible decorations up in the scare zones (though not active) during the day.

But if you are picking that week just hoping for a lower crowd level I don’t think its worth it. Judging by the October hotel prices and availability Universal seems to expect a huge demand. We had to cancel our HHN plans last year and just rebooked for the same week in 2021 and I am so glad we did our booking last fall, the exact same room is now approx 30% higher.

 

[macraven]

Totally agree with you!
I booked last year at a decent price and locked it in for it carries over to hhn 2021

Rates for my same dates now are up there in price

I assume most hhn nights will have a large attendance.
After having limitations the past year, many are looking forwards to hhn with less restrictions

 

[jpkkld]

I’m not sure where you’re from, but we’re in New England and we have found both July and October to be incredibly hot, humid, and crowded. We have had great trips in both months, mostly because we set our expectations low. We also dressed for the weather, took lots of cooling breaks both in and out of the parks, and took advantage of early and late hours.

One advantage in October is earlier sunset - sweet relief. One disadvantage in October is a high likelihood of afternoon showers interfering with pool time. Probably the biggest frustration was thunderstorms shutting down the water taxis, but that could happen in either month.

 

[macraven]

If you were referring to me, I’m in Georgia

 

[AJA]

If you were referring to me, I’m in Georgia

And I’m from Chattanooga

yeah, we were st Uni 2 weeks ago and i got out of the pool as the sun was setting because it was too cold

we may not be the best people to ask about when the weather finally breaks in Florida.

 

[macraven]

I bet we are neighbors......

 

[Husker Mike]

We're from Nebraska, and while we're used to heat and humidity... Florida likely takes that to a whole other level.

 

[macraven]

 

[AJA]

I think the biggest difference between July and October might be the expectation.

If in July you would have more time, the family would go in with the expectation of it being crowded and hot, and needing a touring plan to make sure you get in everything you want, that might be better than taking a shorter trip in October thinking it won’t be crowded and then being disappointed.

 

[macraven]

The studios park will be closed to the public at 5 for dates hhn is happening in October
IOA would have regular closing time

 

[CAPSLOCK]

You'll have longer hours in July. Is that worth the heat? And possibly different Covid regulations? Only you can decide...

 

[Welsh_Dragon]

October and HHNs. Great atmosphere.

 

[J'aime Paris]

I would go for July. If possible, book and EP hotel and your park touring will be considerably easier/quicker.
You know it's gonna be surface of the sun hot...so hydrate, take breaks, have pool time and seek shade when possible.

HHN 30 year anniversary "do over" this year will bring very large crowds, I predict.
And that coincides with hurricane season...which has unfortunately affected trips for us in previous years.

 

[MomOTwins]

I’d go in July. October 2021 will also see families going to do Disney who split with Universal, and we all know what a crowd-pocalypse Disney will will be in October...

 

[keishashadow]

OP - you ‘win’, we’ve only had to cancel two cruises. Really miss cruising.
We do 4th of July & late September/early October in the parks. Over the last 10 years, October has been H-O-T & wet. Not too far off July many days.

Is June an option for you? Early in the month has lower crowds & more moderate weather (at times).

As a reference point, was there a week or so ago and experienced several days with a real feel temp of over 100 degrees. More of a dry heat vs the months you are considering but, still, hot is hot...especially, if you are not acclimated to that sort of weather.

October sounds like the weather will be more pleasant, and I'd think that our fall break would have lighter crowds. Or would they, because of HHN? We have absolutely no interest in HHN, to be honest. (I'm not sure we'd even go if they gave us free tickets.)

That is scary to read lol. In all seriousness, if HHN isn’t your thing, I’d skip October. The vibe spills over into citiwalk in the evenings.

You should consider that it is storm season, many of us here experienced being ‘locked down’ in our resorts several years back, riding out storm. July, historically, has a lesser chance of that but, it’s been predicted to be an active storm season.

Consider pulling up the weather history for the time periods you are considering.

Judging by the October hotel prices and availability Universal seems to expect a huge demand.

Absolutely!

and we all know what a crowd-pocalypse Disney will will be in October...

Yep, several dates around the 50th have been ‘sold out’ of park reservations for some time. Who knows if anticipated increased park attendance will also get gobbled up? I can see people being shut out while staying there onsite & deciding it’s a great time to venture up to visit Universal as day guests.