Should I stay away on Labor Day???

[BamaTigger]

Is Monday (Labor Day) gonna be packed at the parks??????

Should I go Sunday instead???

 

[BarryHom]

I would assume the entire Labor Day weekend will be busy.

 

[MIB999999]

busy or not it is IOA and USF, who could stay away!!!!!

 

[robvia]

Go the next week, place will be empty because of Sept 11th.

You're only going 1 day?
If so, then I'd say Monday, because most will be sleeping in for the Holiday.
Arrive 30 minutes before the park opens. For big holidays, they open early, but don't announce it. That will give you 1 lap around the park with walkon rides, then the crowd hits.

 

[BamaTigger]

Originally posted by robvia
Go the next week, place will be empty because of Sept 11th.

You're only going 1 day?
If so, then I'd say Monday, because most will be sleeping in for the Holiday.
Arrive 30 minutes before the park opens. For big holidays, they open early, but don't announce it. That will give you 1 lap around the park with walkon rides, then the crowd hits.

Thanks for the info...I cant go that week...we will be at WDW from the 30th to the 4th, so we have to squeeze one day at US/IOA. We have been to US a dozen times, so no need to really stay in that park for a long time, just IOA we wanna see alot of.

Thanks for the info!!!

 

[Carol Ann UK]

So am I right in thinking all the crowds will magically disappear after 2nd September, and after that it will be just me (with maybe a few others) at US and IOA?

I do hope so! Although not too empty that there is no atmsosphere!

Counting down the days now!!

Carol

 

[ksdave]

Carol Ann;
Historically, that is what usually happens in September.
This year, it may be even more pronounced because of peoples' irrational fear of flying around 9/11. Personally, I'll be flying to Arizona on business around that time. Flying will probably be the safest place to be.

 

[robvia]

It won't be completely empty.
In the afternoon, people show up, so there will be atmosphere.
It just means the place won't be jam packed, and that the afternoon waits are bearable.
Let's put it this way. I'm going Friday Sept 13th and I'll still be at the gate 30 minutes before they open. I love taking a lap around the park with every ride being a walkon. Walk thru each queue and think to yourself that it was full a few weeks ago.

 

[ucfdude01]

even though the gates might open a little early, i don't know about IOA but the entire westside of USF (Jaws, Quake, etc..) will not open till 10 am.

 

[BarryHom]

If the parks have a staggered opening, you can check the park maps on when the various areas will open. Usually during slow periods at USF, MIB, BTTF, ET, Hanna Barbera, and Twister will be open. T2 usually starts at 9:30 and the rest of the park opens at 10 am. The play areas in Woody Woodpecker's Kidzone usually stay closed until around noon. The Nuthouse Coaster can open at around 10 am. Shows start around 11 am.

At IOA during slow periods, the Port of Entry, all of Marvel Super Hero Island, and all of Seuss Landing are open. The Lost Continent opens at 9:30-10 am. The rest of the park is usually open by 10 am. The first Sinbad show is at 1 or 2 pm.

Get a park map to get the specific times when you arrive.

 

[Carol Ann UK]

Thanks for all the useful info.

This site seems to give visitors an advantage over those not in the know. Glad I found this site. Had Simon Veness to thank for that (Author of Bris Guide to Orlando and WDW)

Carol

 

[ksdave]

Carol said:

This site seems to give visitors an advantage over those not in the know.

That's because people like Barry, robvia and MIB999999 probably know more about the park than alot of UO's employees. And they don't filter the info. You find the same thing about the Disney parks on the other threads.
If you read alot of the books about these parks that are available, you will find a slant toward the positives, and many of the negatives are either glossed over or omitted completely. I have found most of the people on the DIS boards to be very honest about their feelings and opinions on the parks. It gives you a much better learning experience.