When should I go?

[FSU Girl]

I want to ride the new roller coaster that's opening in a few days. I don't really want to wait in a crazy long line though to do it. I get a free ticket from work to go for one day only that I have to use sometime this year. I had thought about going sometime in July, but I saw they don't have the express pass and it's going to be hot and crowded. It also doesn't seem like waiting for an express pass option will be feasible since it could take a really long time to come along. Do you think the crowds will be more manageable before Star Wars land opens at Disney? I'd be okay waiting until October/November for some nicer weather, but Star Wars will be open then and I'm worried those crowds could spill over.

 

[Disxuni]

GE is opening at the end of August, so it'll be busier probably in August, into September. October might be a little busier than usual, but I have a feeling the hype of GE will only really heavily affect Universal around the peak time of the opening (end of Aug/most of Sept).

Honestly, I am planning on going to get an AP and beyond exited and wanting to go, but I am going to wait too. More than likely I'm going to wait until November when it's cooler and before the holiday season picks up, or if it's not cooler by then to my taste, probably right after Thanksgiving and before the Christmas hype.

Also, my typical advice for people who pick a day to go and have the ability to take the day off is going either Sunday, or Monday. Most people who are vacationing are leaving Sunday, by Monday, a lot of people are not only back to their lives, but if they're local they're at work, or school. While there is obviously always someone vacationing at the park, it's just those days are a little less crowded, as most people who vacation for only a few days (not a week, or two) aim towards starting their vaca at the end of the work week, if they decide they can afford to take a few days off.

 

[FSU Girl]

GE is opening at the end of August, so it'll be busier probably in August, into September. October might be a little busier than usual, but I have a feeling the hype of GE will only really heavily affect Universal around the peak time of the opening (end of Aug/most of Sept).

Honestly, I am planning on going to get an AP and beyond exited and wanting to go, but I am going to wait too. More than likely I'm going to wait until November when it's cooler and before the holiday season picks up, or if it's not cooler by then to my taste, probably right after Thanksgiving and before the Christmas hype.

Also, my typical advice for people who pick a day to go and have the ability to take the day off is going either Sunday, or Monday. Most people who are vacationing are leaving Sunday, by Monday, a lot of people are not only back to their lives, but if they're local they're at work, or school. While there is obviously always someone vacationing at the park, it's just those days are a little less crowded, as most people who vacation for only a few days (not a week, or two) aim towards starting their vaca at the end of the work week, if they decide they can afford to take a few days off.

We are probably going to go on a Saturday, so will be busy no matter what. We don't get much vacation time so this allows us to drive up the night before after work go to the park all day on Saturday and then drive home on Sunday. I'm wondering if I should go in August just before Star Wars opens since most people will be waiting for that to open to make their trip. I just hate how hot it is in the summer. I have a trip planned to Disney for Thanksgiving so it wouldn't make much sense going around then driving up and down so close together.

 

[Disxuni]

I personally suggest doing it around your Disney trip in Nov. Stay a day here, then stay a day here, drive back and forth, whatever you wish, but either way, my personal opinion is it will be best to go during Nov.

If you go Aug you have the heat (which is only getting worse and it's only May) and while GE wouldn't be out, Hagrid's coaster will only be out for about a month, which means the lines will still be ridiculous, because it's a brand new ride and not all the kids will be back in school. Also most of the wait will probably be without air conditioning since the queue is going to be backed up. It's a typical 100 degree heat index and it's just the beginning. I'm sure you know. You sound fairly local.

It's one thing to wait, but to wait in the heat, there is no way for me. Heat makes me sick. I give props to the people who are going to. I waited two and half hours for FJ, but if I had to wait in the sun, I never would have done it.

 

[macraven]

We are probably going to go on a Saturday, so will be busy no matter what. We don't get much vacation time so this allows us to drive up the night before after work go to the park all day on Saturday and then drive home on Sunday. I'm wondering if I should go in August just before Star Wars opens since most people will be waiting for that to open to make their trip. I just hate how hot it is in the summer. I have a trip planned to Disney for Thanksgiving so it wouldn't make much sense going around then driving up and down so close together.

Last two weeks in August have lower crowds
Last week of August has shorter park hours which means, crowds are gone for the most part

 

[FSU Girl]

I personally suggest doing it around your Disney trip in Nov. Stay a day here, then stay a day here, drive back and forth, whatever you wish, but either way, my personal opinion is it will be best to go during Nov.

If you go Aug you have the heat (which is only getting worse and it's only May) and while GE wouldn't be out, Hagrid's coaster will only be out for about a month, which means the lines will still be ridiculous, because it's a brand new ride and not all the kids will be back in school. Also most of the wait will probably be without air conditioning since the queue is going to be backed up. It's a typical 100 degree heat index and it's just the beginning. I'm sure you know. You sound fairly local.

It's one thing to wait, but to wait in the heat, there is no way for me. Heat makes me sick. I give props to the people who are going to. I waited two and half hours for FJ, but if I had to wait in the sun, I never would have done it.

I would like to combine it with my Disney trip, but that trip is still tentative. I'm waiting to see how crowds are with Star Wars and I'm not sure yet if I can have the Friday after Thanksgiving off. When I pick a day for my Universal tickets I'm locked into it so I'm hesitant to combine them in case we cancel that trip. I am local-ish, we live 3 hours south. I was at Universal last year over 4th of July and it was really hot, but we managed. The express pass helped a lot though.

Last two weeks in August have lower crowds
Last week of August has shorter park hours which means, crowds are gone for the most part

That's good to know! Maybe I'll plan my trip then.