October 2021 - 2 day Universal visit / plannng help

[bigorangesteve]

It's been about 10 years since our last trip to Universal with our daughter and I'm a little out of planning practice...so I'd appreciate anyone's help.

Planning to visit Universal for two days (staying offsite /timeshare) along with another couple / no kids- couples trip - and they've never visited Universal. We are not planning to purchase park to park.

Our dates are 10/14 (Thursday) and 10/15 (Friday). Both IOA and US appear as 5/10 yellow in the Undercover Tourist Crowd calendar. US for Thursday is marked as a busy day for the park / with Friday for IOA as a recommended park.

Which park would you recommend for each day ( we are not purchasing park to park)

Would it be worth it to purchase Express Passes for a particular day, both, or not at all? We previously went in October many years ago without the EP and had no extended lines. I'm aware of the HHN early closure as well. We will not be attending HHN. Thanks for your help and pardon the lengthy post.

 

[bchbetha]

If there's any way you could be swayed to do park to park, that would be a really awesome idea. I know it adds to the cost but being able to extend your day to visit IOA once Universal closes both days will be so nice. And, simply to not have to choose. You might really want to re-ride something and it's right there but you can't do it. I can't go without Park to Parks.
Have you looked at splitting the cost of a throwaway room at the resorts (Hard Rock, Portofino or Royal Pacific) so you can all get Express Passes for both days? 1 room will cover 4 people and that 1 night gives EPs for both days. It's almost always much cheaper to get EPs than buying them a la carte.
If you are committed to a single park per day then you should look over the attraction list and start with the park that has the most you want to do. If you don't get through it all then you can upgrade to park to park the next day.

 

[nkereina]

We are also going those same dates! IMO, express pass will be a must. Between HHN crowds with the fact that its HHN's 30th anniversary and was canceled last year, post-covid/postponed trip crowds, and Disney's 50th anniversary crowds that will inevitably cause some spillover to Universal, I'm expecting it to be busy.

It appears that the three premier resorts (RPR, PBH, HRH) are sold out during that time period already, which is another indication of it being busy. I got RPR to show availability for the night of Wednesday 10/13 for $424. Unlimited EPs are pricing around $150 per person per day. So if you have 3 or more people, a premier resort would be worth the cost *if* you can snag a room. I didn't jump on the RPR room and it was no longer available by the time I went back for it.

 

[Lynne G]

Also considering that’s the week of Columbus Day, and many Northern schools have off that week, I can see crowds. On Thursday and Friday, the Studios will close early at 5 pm. But Islands will stay open for at least 3 or more hours.

I’d get early entry or be at the gate well before it opens and go to the rides that are most popular. The Studios get busier by later in the afternoon, as many like to be in the park to be ready for HHN, and local kids come after school. I think even more will try to be in the Studios with the even larger crowds that are expected for HHN this year, as in years past, you could stay in the park, in a holding areas, while Universal got ready for HHN. They did let those in those holding areas out before many could come from the gate, so was a great way to get a jump on a house or two’s lines before others.

I found the crowds were not too bad in Islands in the evenings when HHN, though Hagrids and now the raptor coaster, will still have longer lines until close.

But October is a great time to travel, as weather is usually nice, and not as hot as September can be.

 

[Lynne G]

Oh and since you are doing only one park a day, I don’t think there will be much difference in the crowds, particularly not nearly as crowded in the early mornings, though Friday will be by busier as more check in for a three day weekend trip or take Friday off. So choose the day you know you’ll be done the Studios at 5 pm, leaving the other day for Islands when it closes at 9 pm on Thursday or maybe even later, on Friday.

 

[macraven]

Chances are Thursday might be less crowded than your Friday

3 day weekends brings in crowds

 

[CAPSLOCK]

You may also want to see what weather is anticipated. One park per day means you want better weather on your IoA day, since there are more outdoor rides in that park.

 

[bigorangesteve]

We are also going those same dates! IMO, express pass will be a must. Between HHN crowds with the fact that its HHN's 30th anniversary and was canceled last year, post-covid/postponed trip crowds, and Disney's 50th anniversary crowds that will inevitably cause some spillover to Universal, I'm expecting it to be busy.

It appears that the three premier resorts (RPR, PBH, HRH) are sold out during that time period already, which is another indication of it being busy. I got RPR to show availability for the night of Wednesday 10/13 for $424. Unlimited EPs are pricing around $150 per person per day. So if you have 3 or more people, a premier resort would be worth the cost *if* you can snag a room. I didn't jump on the RPR room and it was no longer available by the time I went back for it.

Thank you for the info! I'm new to the "throw away " room strategy. I found HRH hotel availability for check in 10/14. , So that means for one night - I could check in early morning 10/14 , get the express passes good for that whole day and the next 10/15? Is there a thread that discusses this process in detail perhaps? Btw - I grabbed that room while it was available.

 

[macraven]

This subject has come up before
No specific thread as quite a few have posts of great ways to legitimately utilize staying in a premier hotel room

 

[bchbetha]

Thank you for the info! I'm new to the "throw away " room strategy. I found HRH hotel availability for check in 10/14. , So that means for one night - I could check in early morning 10/14 , get the express passes good for that whole day and the next 10/15? Is there a thread that discusses this process in detail perhaps? Btw - I grabbed that room while it was available.

You got it right! Your room on the 14th will give all of you listed on that room EPs for both days.

 

[Lynne G]

Yes, can check in as early as around 6:30am, your room keys are your express passes and yes, they are good the day you check in and through the day you checkout. 2 days of express. Whether you stay in that room or not, you are welcome to use the pool and room until you checkout by I think 11 am or noon, and you can checkout on the room’s tv or text you’ve checked out, or go to desk and checkout. It can be a good deal for a family, as all that are in the room each get their room key, that acts as the express for each person. They are cute room keys, characters on them. We always get a kick out of seeing what we get.

 

[nkereina]

I found HRH hotel availability for check in 10/14. , So that means for one night - I could check in early morning 10/14 , get the express passes good for that whole day and the next 10/15? Is there a thread that discusses this process in detail perhaps?

That's correct. You can check in as early as 6am and would also be eligible for early entry. The next day, EPs will be good until midnight (well, park close). There's no thread that I'm aware of because there's really not much more to discuss. You're booking a hotel room the same as any other guest or person would and you're entitled to all of the perks as a hotel guest. The hotel couldn't care less if you actually sleep there or not. If you don't plan to use the room at all, the only thing you'll need to do is stop at the hotel on check in day to obtain room keys which act as EPs. You don't have to return to the hotel property again after that if you don't want to.