Planning a Nov Trip - Need Advice

[bethnburke]

My family (DD11 & DS13) is going on a 4 day disney cruise (10/10-10/15) and then planning on going to Universal all day friday 10/15 and sat 10/16. We will be flying out on 10/17 but I dont know the times yet so we might be able to spend a few hours in the parks in the morning. We could also spend the day in Universal on 10/9 if it makes sense.

So is friday/saturday enough time? We are primarily interested in seeing the WWoHP - especially Diagon Alley and riding the Hogwarts express but we also want to see the rest of the parks (but probably not the shows). We were there in 2011 and 2 days was enough.

We were thinking of staying at the new Cabana Bay hotel but it doesnt include FOTL. Will we need FOTL for these days? Especially since it probably wont impact the WWoHP. Will these days be busy?

Thanks for your help

 

[macraven]

My family (DD11 & DS13) is going on a 4 day disney cruise (10/10-10/15) and then planning on going to Universal all day friday 10/15 and sat 10/16. We will be flying out on 10/17 but I dont know the times yet so we might be able to spend a few hours in the parks in the morning. We could also spend the day in Universal on 10/9 if it makes sense.

So is friday/saturday enough time? We are primarily interested in seeing the WWoHP - especially Diagon Alley and riding the Hogwarts express but we also want to see the rest of the parks (but probably not the shows). We were there in 2011 and 2 days was enough.

We were thinking of staying at the new Cabana Bay hotel but it doesnt include FOTL. Will we need FOTL for these days? Especially since it probably wont impact the WWoHP. Will these days be busy?

Thanks for your help

the Studios will close early at 5:00 on friday and saturday.
the hard ticket event of hhn is the reason.
ioa should close around 7:00 pm those 2 days.
you shouldn't have any problems in doing ioa and seeing it all.
within the 2 days you plan to be there, you will be good to go.

if you also want to hit the studios, i think you could see a lot in the morning up to early afternoon.

i'm guessing that the saturday will have crowds in the studios by the afternoon. peeps will be wanting to hit rides before park closing and then hit the hhn highlights in the evening.

looking at the 2014 calendar, i don't know if your dates are off.
october 15 and 16 are a wednesday and thursday.

the 9th is a thursday and studios closes at 5:00 for hhn.

hhn will operate on thur, fri, sat, and sundays.
wednesdays will be added in mid october.

 

[bethnburke]

Oops. Those 10s should all be 11s. Dates are nov 9. - 15

 

[macraven]

Oops. Those 10s should all be 11s. Dates are nov 9. - 15

ok, scratch what i said about october.


november should be fine with your dates, especially sunday nov 9th.

 

[bethnburke]

Thanks for your help!

Is there any benefit to having FOTL for these days?

 

[macraven]

in the past, early november has been a great time for low crowds.


with the parry hotter 2 opening this summer, don't know if early november low crowds will change.

not many schools are off for veterans day so don't think you will be seeing an abundant of families with school age kids for that week.

saturdays can have more crowds if the weather is good.
locals love going to the darkside parks too.

you said you might stay at Cbay.
you would receive early entry then.

wait and see if you would even need the express pass.
(they might not be a necessity.)

if you do, you can buy them at some of the stores in the parks or at guest services the day you are there.

 

[abismommy]

We'll be at WDW the same time, going 11/7-11/16. I am toying with the idea of getting a 1 day pass to Universal also. Happy planning!

 

[mggeary]

Disney Vet but Universal Rookie. Why does the weekend before Vet day in 2014 (Nov 7-9) seem to priced at peak season rates? Is it just the "Jersey week effect" or something else. Or do prices fluctuate more than Disney resorts so these "price seasons" don't matter as much?