October FOTL help for a Universal fanatic!

[Dollyrar]

Hi Folks, My missus, her folks and I are heading to Florida this coming October for just over two weeks. I am SO psyched to be experiencing my first ever HHN, after reading all about them for 16 years!
Now here is my query to you Universal experts...
I am wanting this trip to be really special for my partners folks, and to really show off Universal as much as I can to them. Universal has always been my favourite park since my first visit in 94 (My xbox live and psn names are both amityboattours if that gives you a clue as to my favourite ride in the world!! ) To do this, I am planning on doing HHN on the first thursday that we are in Florida, and using express passes so we can hopefully get around all of the houses, as well as save them time stood on their feet queueing.
For the parks themselves, I am wanting to book 1 night at the HRH in order to get FOTL for both days either side, so as to minimise the queues we encounter. This is where I need help from you guys. Obviously I know that the parks are on average quieter Monday to Friday, but this is also true for WDW and Seaworld etc which we are also planning on visiting. My plan is to do WDW etc during the midweek periods, and to spend the weekend in the middle of our vacation at Universal by booking the HRH for Saturday 10/09 (This is also Columbus Day weekend!). We already have the $99 7 day tickets
Can anyone give me an idea of what our waits would likely be like with FOTL during a weekend in October? The thing thats bothering me is that if the FOTL is still going to be 30+ minutes, then I might try and change the HRH stay to midweek sometime instead in order to try and get 10-15 minute max waits. I know that this will obviously be quieter straight away, but it would be cool to spend the already quiet days at 'Those other parks' who do not do FOTL to save my partners parents from getting too tired and sore from standing all day
What do you guys think?
Thanks in advance for any advice you may have!

 

[Metro West]

Can anyone give me an idea of what our waits would likely be like with FOTL during a weekend in October? The thing thats bothering me is that if the FOTL is still going to be 30+ minutes, then I might try and change the HRH stay to midweek sometime instead in order to try and get 10-15 minute max waits. I know that this will obviously be quieter straight away, but it would be cool to spend the already quiet days at 'Those other parks' who do not do FOTL to save my partners parents from getting too tired and sore from standing all day
What do you guys think?
Thanks in advance for any advice you may have!

Historically the parks have been quiet in October but with Harry Potter open by then the crowds will increase...how much is anyone's guess. I can't imagine the wait times would be more than 15-20 mins except for Harry Potter which might still be 30 + minutes. But again..no one knows at this point.

 

[loperella]

We went the 1st week of October and pretty much walked on everything or had a very minimal wait, other than The Simpson's. It was still fairly new though, as it had only been opened for about 4+ months.

 

[cieslack]

I am not the veteran that some of the posters are, but I have never waited anything close to 30 minutes with Express. It is more like walk right on and maybe 5 or 10 minutes for the slower loading rides. Express is a separate line, so it is more affected by how many are using Express at the time.