Memorial Day Week @ IAH/WWoHP - Am I crazy?

[allicat1214]

I am planning a week in Orlando driving in the pm of Sun, 5/29 or Mon, 5/30 thru Sun 6/6. Want to combine 4-5 days at WDW with 1 at WWoHP. My kids are ONLY interested in HP @ universal....we are WDW peeps, but want to check out HP.

I get that it's important to stay onsite at Universal (or via partner hotel) to get the early morning entry to IAH/WWoHP.

Checking the AAA site, I can get a AAA discounted rate of $249 at RPR on Sun as well as Mon add to that 4-1 day base park tix from Undercover Tourist of $85 each. So for four of us to see HP for one day it would be $638 with tax doing room and tix separately....that's cheaper for us than even using a partner hotel because you have to book 2-3 nights & as a vacation so you can't cancel if need be.

We would check out in the pm and arrive at WDW Dolphin using SPG points & govt. rate. I don't want to move twice from hotel to hotel...so I'd want to go to RPR first then to Dolphin

Our 4 -5 park days at WDW would be Tues-Sat. We'd check out Sunday . Using TGM, there are enough green days at the parks that we can manage seeing what we want on those days and still avoid Star Wars/Gay Day crowds.

Should we push to drive in Sunday, do HP on Memorial Day and having Tues-Sat @ WDW? Will WWOHP be just nuts on Memorial Day even with early entry and express pass throughout IAH??

OR.....

Do we just stay at Dolphin all week, get up super early and just drive to WWoHP and take our chances that Tues/Wed of Memorial Day week won't be crowded and we could actually get in and do HP by early to mid-afternoon...We can handle lines, no babies, just two teenagers...

It just seems like a gamble to do it that way to me....

Any advice/expertise would be much appreciated as I have to figure out itinerary first then book rooms second, which is opposite of my normal method!

 

[WDWisTheBest]

You asked, "Will WWOHP be just nuts on Memorial Day even with early entry and express pass?"

Without doubt, YES.

 

[Metro West]

You asked, "Will WWOHP be just nuts on Memorial Day even with early entry and express pass?"

Without doubt, YES.

I will have to agree!

 

[allicat1214]

Okay,.. that's what I was thinking. Thanks for the prompt replies...

I know some have said historically crowds at WDW are moderate as most schools across the country are not out yet. Just watch for hundreds of kids from local schools doing field trips that week.

So, do you think Tues/Wed would be doable without early entry, just getting there in time for normal rope drop?

I'd still like to drive in Sunday and do a WDW park on Mon...based on TGM's green recs.

 

[Metro West]

So, do you think Tues/Wed would be doable without early entry, just getting there in time for normal rope drop?

That would probably be your best bet.

 

[ladylinda65]

I am going to tell you that FJ is always busy. No matter when you go I would suggest assuming there is an hour wait minimum. I would suggest that you stay one night at one of the hotels on property and take advantage of the park opening an hour early to hotel guests.

Otherwise, I loved the ride. I think it is one of the most inovative rides out there right now...The castle is gorgeous and definitely look for the unexpected things around you....

Have a blast and good luck!

 

[smangan10`]

We went on Memorial Day to Universal a few years ago and hadn't gotten our tickets in advance. There were a lot of large groups at the gate and we waited over an hour just to buy tickets to get into the park. Universal doesn't have some processes nailed down like Disney doews. However, once we got in it was great. I enjoyed the Mummy ride. It was wicked awesome.

 

[nyck]

The express pass doesn't help at the Harry Potter Forbidden Journey ride anyway since it isn't accepted there. I think you can use it at Dragon's Challenge though