Questions for Universal experts ....

[DisneyWalle]

We have never been to the Universal parks before and want to this year. My question involves crowd levels during the times we are looking at going.
Option 1: September 14th - 18th
In this option, Horror nights won't begin until the day we check out. In your opinion and past experience, would this week be slow, moderate or busy?
Option 2: November 2 - 6
Is the first week in November typically crowded, since its after Horror nights and before Thanksgiving holidays?

If you could travel during one of these two times, when would you go and why?

(We will be staying onsite. My son and I love Cabana Bay but hubby wants to put us at Hard Rock for the location and express passes)

Thank you for the help!!

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Both weeks are listed as "slow", so for crowds, I think you're okay crowd-wise either way.

Me personally, I'd go for the first week of November for the weather alone. Less heat/humidity than mid September and less chance of hurricanes.

 

[nkereina]

Me personally, I'd go for the first week of November for the weather alone. Less heat/humidity than mid September and less chance of hurricanes.

Agreed. If this is Universal only, no Disney, I'd go with the November dates as well. You do run the risk of cooler temps in November which can be touch and go for swimming/water rides - we were there last year in mid-November with highs in the 50s/low 60s. But I don't think that's the norm that time of year.

 

[CTDisneyfan816]

We have never been to the Universal parks before and want to this year. My question involves crowd levels during the times we are looking at going.
Option 1: September 14th - 18th
In this option, Horror nights won't begin until the day we check out. In your opinion and past experience, would this week be slow, moderate or busy?
Option 2: November 2 - 6
Is the first week in November typically crowded, since its after Horror nights and before Thanksgiving holidays?

If you could travel during one of these two times, when would you go and why?

(We will be staying onsite. My son and I love Cabana Bay but hubby wants to put us at Hard Rock for the location and express passes)

Thank you for the help!!

I don't think either period will be much different crowd wise. It will be a bit warmer in October which may make the water rides more enjoyable then. Holidays are generally crowded the few days prior and after depending on teh holiday, I don't think Thanksgiving will have any effect on early November.

 

[wookiebeck]

I vote September because well, Florida is supposed to be a hot humid vacation. No really. There are plenty of rides that get you (more than) a little wet. They are big fun and I would not think that doing them in 60 degrees is any fun.

Pool hopping and lounging is more fun when it is 90 degrees out, too.

Just my two cents, not being sarc either.

 

[AtlantaDisneyDreamer]

I vote September because well, Florida is supposed to be a hot humid vacation. No really. There are plenty of rides that get you (more than) a little wet. They are big fun and I would not think that doing them in 60 degrees is any fun.

Pool hopping and lounging is more fun when it is 90 degrees out, too.

Just my two cents, not being sarc either.

I would have to agree with this. Although you do risk more rain and storms by going in September, it is more likely you could use the pools and the water rides in September. My DD (8) loved the water rides and the pool. We stayed at RP and that resort has a wonderful pool area, but so does Hard Rock, and you can pool hop. It would be a shame to miss one of the best parts of the resort due to cooler weather.

You probably would not need Express passes in September, but the proximity of HR to the parks might itself be worth the extra cost.

 

[nkereina]

I vote September because well, Florida is supposed to be a hot humid vacation. No really. There are plenty of rides that get you (more than) a little wet. They are big fun and I would not think that doing them in 60 degrees is any fun.

Pool hopping and lounging is more fun when it is 90 degrees out, too.

Just my two cents, not being sarc either.

I totally see your point on this. But from our perspective, perhaps because we're Northerners, we find September weather to be stifling and uncomfortable for us. It makes us tire faster, we get crabby faster, we feel the need to go back to the hotel early on to rest and change out of our sweaty clothes. We always opt to go during "cooler" months for overall comfort of touring and being outside. I'd also rather deal with cool temps than downpours as well. Even if it means foregoing a lot of pool time. Last November was record cold while we were there, but even so, there were 2-3 days when temps reached 70s which was fine for water rides and even laying out one day.

Two different perspectives on weather - just to make it harder for OP to decide

 

[wookiebeck]

Two different perspectives on weather - just to make it harder for OP to decide

LOL. Yep, even when we are all having fun on the DIS one little question gets the OP two opposing replies.