When to go??

[Cozzoli864]

Hey everyone! Long time lurker, first post! Just recently decided to squeeze in a trip this fall and now trying to nail down our dates. I've been reviewing crowd calendars and have narrowed it down to 10/15-10/21 or 11/12-11/18. The crowd calendars show about the same levels for both weeks. However HRH and several other offsite hotels are booked up for the October week which makes me think there will be some large crowds that week. The only two things that matter to me as far as dates are considered, I really want minimal crowds and I want it to still be hot enough to comfortably ride water rides and visit Volcano Bay for a day or two. I need smaller crowds with 2 LOs (Strollers, whining in long lines, etc.) plus I get really stressed when theres a buttload of ppl. So considering crowds and weather which do yall suggest? Will October be pretty busy? And if we chose November how will those crowds be? For those who have been in November, how warm was it during your trip? Even though only a month apart, I feel like November is more of a gamble with the temperature. TIA for your suggestions!

 

[macraven]

My opinion is your november dates would be better for lower crowds.
think since you have littles, could be better in many ways going in november

hhn will be open for the sunday you arrive and also include wed, thur, fri, sat of that week.

the studios will close at 5 on days hhn is open.
ioa will be open a few hours longer than 5

november weather is unknown.
do not know if you will have swimming weather.
that is one month i have never been to any orlando parks.

 

[mjhtvchick]

Personally, I would wait and go in November...unless you are really into Halloween. Universal Studios will be decorated for Halloween Horror Nights during October and that is not for everybody...some of it could be scary for little kids depending on their tolerance level.

As mac said, Universal Studios will also be closing earlier during those dates but this might not be an issue for you, depending on your kids ages...you can go to Islands of Adventure for those hours, or hang out in Citywalk or your resort.

 

[Cozzoli864]

Good point about the hours.. I should add that my "LOs" are not necessarily babies anymore even though thats how I made it seem lol. They are 6 and 4 so Im sure the decorations would be fine... I'm not super into Halloween and wouldn't visit HHN anyway so that's another good reason to choose November I suppose. One more question, in October on the nights HHN is happening, how are the crowds during the day? Avg wait times?

 

[macraven]

Weekends tend to have larger crowds as many come in the afternoon to do rides before park closes

Then they do the holding area until the park reopens for hhn

 

[Seeker615]

We went in November a few years ago and loved it. Weather was perfect as was the crowd levels. We only had one cooler day. It was only around 65 degrees. The other days were low 80's.

 

[saskdw]

I agree with the people saying November.

 

[GoldmanTrust]

November:
Closer to Christmas and Universal never closes early as in October.

 

[Cozzoli864]

Thank you everyone! Looks like we're gonna go with November! Fingers crossed for warmth and sunshine

 

[macraven]

Thank you everyone! Looks like we're gonna go with November! Fingers crossed for warmth and sunshine

I do believe this is a great choice to make

Weather is the only thing we can't foresee if good or bad

 

[GoldmanTrust]

Keep us posted on how you liked it! Have a nice vacation.

 

[Cinderella822]

We always go in November, going 11/11 - 11/16 this year. The crowds are so minimal. We stay onsite and get the express pass with the hotel stay, but don't need it most of the time. The weather is usually dry that time of year, and can range from hot, swimming weather to chilly 60s weather. One year, we were buying sweat shirts the first half of the trip and were swimming by the last half. We just love November there!