Universal 1st timer - help me avoid Celebration of HP crowds!

[nervous1sttimer]

We are coming to Orlando January 23-30. We are a group of 7. My family of 4 are Disney vets, Universal noobs. Our friends are on a one-and-done trip to do both for the first time.

My original plan was Disney from the 23-27th and Universal the 28-30th. I just realized thanks to another thread that there is an HP convention the 29-31st. The #1 reason we are going to Universal is because our friends are major HP fans, but our priority is to avoid crowds wherever possible.

When would you recommend doing Universal vs Disney this week in order to avoid lines (at both parks - I was planning based on EasyWDW calendars) and also to maximize enjoyment of the entire trip. If I planned to do a full day on the 28th at Universal and leave by 2-3pm on the 29th and 30th, would that be okay? Or do I need to completely overhaul my plans (which probably means scrapping all our early week ADRs at Disney)?

 

[davper]

Just me, but if I had friends joining me for a one and done trip but I go all the time and they were huge Harry Potter fans, I would make the sacrifice and go during the convention.

 

[bumbershoot]

The convention doesn't cause in-park crowds, though. Seriously. The convention events are AWAY from the main park areas (if in the parks at all). And they pull people out of the lines and the normal areas of the parks.

It's very possible to go during that time and not notice it *at all*.

Unless you're lucky and are enjoying your coffee and rock cake back beyond 3 Broomsticks and suddenly see Evanna Lynch walking by. That's a difference in convention vs not-convention.

 

[nervous1sttimer]

Just me, but if I had friends joining me for a one and done trip but I go all the time and they were huge Harry Potter fans, I would make the sacrifice and go during the convention.

Thanks, I would agree, but our friends are the ones who specifically said they would rather skip it!

Do you think one full day on the 28th and two early days are enough to get it all done regardless? Thanks again.