Universal during the first week of October?

[Zomp]

My family and I are going to Disney and Universal October 2nd (Tuesday) through October 9th (Tuesday).

While 4 of us are seasoned veterans to all of the parks, I'm bringing 2 people who have never been to Universal, but have experienced Disney a few times. Because of this, I'd ideally like to go to IOA and Studios on the best 2 days during that week to let them experience a lot of both parks.

I know typically the best days to go would be Sunday, followed by Tuesday-Thursday but I am curious if anyone thinks Columbus Day Weekend would make that week different? For example, if many people have Monday off and are travelling home that day does that make Monday the best day? What about other days?

Any advice is appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[Metro West]

I know typically the best days to go would be Sunday, followed by Tuesday-Thursday but I am curious if anyone thinks Columbus Day Weekend would make that week different? For example, if many people have Monday off and are travelling home that day does that make Monday the best day? What about other days?

Any advice is appreciated.

Thanks.

By Tuesday anyone visiting for the Columbus Day holiday weekend should be gone. Crowds should settle back down for the rest of the week. That said...HHN is staged at the Studios October 4-7 during your stay which means the park will close an hour early at 5pm instead of 6pm. You would be better off visiting on either Tuesday or Wednesday so you can get that extra hour. IOA closes at 7pm each night so that park isn't affected.

 

[macraven]

My family and I are going to Disney and Universal October 2nd (Tuesday) through October 9th (Tuesday).

While 4 of us are seasoned veterans to all of the parks, I'm bringing 2 people who have never been to Universal, but have experienced Disney a few times. Because of this, I'd ideally like to go to IOA and Studios on the best 2 days during that week to let them experience a lot of both parks.

I know typically the best days to go would be Sunday, followed by Tuesday-Thursday but I am curious if anyone thinks Columbus Day Weekend would make that week different? For example, if many people have Monday off and are travelling home that day does that make Monday the best day? What about other days?

Any advice is appreciated.

Thanks.

i have been going for the time period you plan on, for the past 7 years.

stay away from the weekend for sure.

the past 3 years, i have seen the crowds grow in size on columbus day.
on the day after, it is light in the parks.

probably suggest you do ioa on the thursday and the studios on tue/wed the first week you are there.

any park for the 9th oct. would be fine.

 

[Zomp]

Nice one. Thanks guys.

We arrive on the 2nd at 2pm.

So I think we'll do IOA on Thursday and Studios the last day we are there, Tuesday the 9th. Our flight out isn't until 8pm.

 

[macraven]

Nice one. Thanks guys.

We arrive on the 2nd at 2pm.

So I think we'll do IOA on Thursday and Studios the last day we are there, Tuesday the 9th. Our flight out isn't until 8pm.

what a coincidence.................
i'll be at the darkside both of the dates you listed.


look me up.
i arrive the 2nd and leave on the 11th

 

[reelmom]

If we are staying onsite, will it be ok as far as the crowds go for Columbus Day Weekend? We are thinking of either October 5-9 or November 17-21. We would like to go during October because we love Halloween time but if the crowds are bad, we would go the week leading up to Thanksgiving. The crowds are probably heavy then too. I hope that staying onsite would be ok crowds either weekend.

 

[Metro West]

If we are staying onsite, will it be ok as far as the crowds go for Columbus Day Weekend? We are thinking of either October 5-9 or November 17-21. We would like to go during October because we love Halloween time but if the crowds are bad, we would go the week leading up to Thanksgiving. The crowds are probably heavy then too. I hope that staying onsite would be ok crowds either weekend.

If you are staying onsite, crowds should not be a concern...at least for the attractions.

 

[stich626]

This is my favorite time of year to go! I do remember Columbus Day 2011 being the busiest day of our trip. Taking a newbie Sept. 26-Oct 2!!!

 

[Metro West]

This is my favorite time of year to go! I do remember Columbus Day 2011 being the busiest day of our trip. Taking a newbie Sept. 26-Oct 2!!!

 

[macraven]

If we are staying onsite, will it be ok as far as the crowds go for Columbus Day Weekend? We are thinking of either October 5-9 or November 17-21. We would like to go during October because we love Halloween time but if the crowds are bad, we would go the week leading up to Thanksgiving. The crowds are probably heavy then too. I hope that staying onsite would be ok crowds either weekend.

your october dates are times that i am staying onsite.

not a problem with daytime crowds. start early and move to IOA by late afternoon to avoid crowds on the weekend.
use the express lines and breeze through.....

saturday is busy by noontime but most saturdays are especially if it is great weather.
the studios will start having crowds around 3ish on that sunday due to hhn.
i have found that monday, columbus day, has more peeps there in the parks.


book your hotel room before mid september.
a few of the hotels can book up in september due to HHN happening.
weekends especially will fill up so you don't have the available garden/no pool-water views if you book 3 weeks out.

if you have the AP, hotel rates are out for the october dates.

 

[badandy]

October is one of my favorite months to visit. You all will have a blast.