When would you go

[HHMcG]

Our next Florida trip is Spring 2017. It was suppose to be a Star Wars Weekend / Disney trip. But the kids haven't been as 'in love' with Disney so we are thinking Universal & Legoland for our next trip. Since we are not limited to SWW now are choice of dates opens up. I'd like to go sometime when the kids have a few days off from school.

First I was considering the week after Easter. I am concerned about crowds. But we will stay onsite-deluxe for FOTL passes. Plus from what I read it seems like crowded Universal is still less crowded than Disney.

Then I thought we could go NJ week (first week of Nov 2016) - avoid crowds and probably go cheaper. Plus this would move our trip up a few months. (Yeah!) Downside Legoland's water park will be closed. May even consider staying Cabana Bay to save more $.

Which would you choose?

 

[damo]

People were saying that this past Jersey week has been really, really busy at the parks and that it was hot. Use that as a guide.

 

[pcstang]

How old are your kids?

 

[Robo56]

A thought to share. Have you thought of the 3rd week of May. The kids ar not out of school yet in Florida and the prices don't usually go up until first week of June.

 

[amy1994]

We were there during Jersey week this year and I felt the crowds were very manageable. We did a split stay between Cabana Bay for Wed thru Sat and then RPR for Sat and Sun nights. There were a few rides we postponed til the weekend when we knew we woukd have EPs but there were lots of attractions with low wait times.

We also did a Magic Kingdom day on Friday of that week and that was mobbed (at least by my standards; I don't think it was actually a 9 or 10 crowd day). We had a great day due to my obsessive planning with FP, an ADR and getting there 45 min before RD but it was a relief to be at Universal the other days.

 

[kohlby]

We've been at the end of Jersey week before - not this year - and crowds were quite manageable. Last I checked, NJ's "week" wasn't a week but just a couple days. (I didn't check this year).

I haven't checked a calendar to see when Easter is in 2017. Which week is it? Though many schools plan their spring break around Easter, some do not. If Easter is later in April than usual, then I'd pick Easter week. But if Easter is at the start of April or in March, then I'd pick Jersey week.

As for the 3rd week in May, the GA schools near me are out by then, but the SC schools are not. (And looking at the FL calendar, they aren't out yet either). The northeast kids are all still in school. The other side of things is the end of August - when all the southeast kids are back in school, but then you have to consider if you can handle the warmth.

 

[HM]

It's good you aren't planning on SWW now, since it's been discontinued.

Are your kids a good age for Legoland?

I'd probably choose the week after Easter staying onsite in one of the Deluxe resorts.

 

[HHMcG]

Thanks for all the feedback. It seems like Easter 2017 may be the way to go. Though I am disappointed that means a few months longer wait for our trip.

How old are your kids?

By Spring 2017 they will be 11, 9 & almost 6

A thought to share. Have you thought of the 3rd week of May. The kids ar not out of school yet in Florida and the prices don't usually go up until first week of June.

We are still very much in school at that time. I want to make this a longer trip and therefore work it around a school break.

We were there during Jersey week this year and I felt the crowds were very manageable. We did a split stay between Cabana Bay for Wed thru Sat and then RPR for Sat and Sun nights. There were a few rides we postponed til the weekend when we knew we woukd have EPs but there were lots of attractions with low wait times.

We also did a Magic Kingdom day on Friday of that week and that was mobbed (at least by my standards; I don't think it was actually a 9 or 10 crowd day). We had a great day due to my obsessive planning with FP, an ADR and getting there 45 min before RD but it was a relief to be at Universal the other days.

A"relief to be back at Universal" is what I was hoping to hear.
And I like the split stay idea!!

We've been at the end of Jersey week before - not this year - and crowds were quite manageable. Last I checked, NJ's "week" wasn't a week but just a couple days. (I didn't check this year).

I haven't checked a calendar to see when Easter is in 2017. Which week is it? Though many schools plan their spring break around Easter, some do not. If Easter is later in April than usual, then I'd pick Easter week. But if Easter is at the start of April or in March, then I'd pick Jersey week.

Easter is April 16, so I guess late-ish. Our school alternates between having the week before or after Easter off but I'm not sure what it will be in 2017. I think I will hope for the week after Easter.

 

[kohlby]

Knowing when Easter is, I'd pick Easter week if your break is the week after. Southern schools get out so early that they wouldn't want to have their spring break the week after Easter. (The counties near me all do the first week of April but that's due to a tourism event). If you get the week before Easter off, then I'd go with Jersey week.

If you really want the lowest crowds, then going before school starts would work too if school starts in Sept. It is very hot then though! SC kids go back to school the 3rd Monday of August. The GA counties near me went back the first and second weeks of August this year. When I looked up the county Disney is in, their date back was close to SC. Parent don't want to pull their kids from school at the very start of the school year normally so it makes up for the increase in kids coming from further distances.

 

[pcstang]

i think legoland will be pushing it for the 11 and 9 year old. Honestly, and apparently not a popular opinion from the reviews I read on the boards, we think legoland is one small step up from a fair. I grew up in Orlando and we still get down quite often so, we may be a little spoiled as far as expectations go. Just know going in that is definitely not anywhere near USO or WDW standards. Whatever you do, have a great time!

 

[kohlby]

My kids love Legoland. They went at ages 4, 7 and 10. Then at ages 5, 8, and 11. And are going in a couple weeks and are age 6, 9, and 12 now. (All these ages are 6 months or less away from their next birthdays, so not kids who just turned those ages). However, we are able to get drastically discounted tickets due to homeschooling. I don't think it's worth anywhere close to the regular rate. It is worth a lot more than we pay for. The park has been nearly empty on the days we went and we still easily filled in the day - from opening to them kicking us out at closing. There are a lot of rides that are for younger kids, but if you have kids who like Legos, then it can work for kids who aren't into kiddie rides. (There are more than kiddie rides, but it's not a place you go to just for the rides). I did read on some boards about how crowded Legoland was and that the rides weren't worth the waits. But we've never had a wait of even 5 minutes for when we go - so my perception is likely different.

 

[phillymummer]

People were saying that this past Jersey week has been really, really busy at the parks and that it was hot. Use that as a guide.

I was at US during the tail-end of Jersey week this year (the 7th and the 8th). People thought THAT was crowded?! Most wait times were under a half hour! Many were 10 minutes or less. The only rides that had huge wait times were the popular ones, and that was in the middle of the day. I don't know how many times my daughter said to me, as we were walking up to the EP entrance, "But Mommy- the stand-by wait is only 10 minutes!". On the morning of the 8th, Gringott's was a 20 minute wait until late morning. Disney was much more crowded earlier in the week (we were there first, Wed- Fri, then hopped to US).

But it was HOT and HUMID, but manageable. But, that is not the norm, right? Isn't November usually cooler?

I think Jersey week would be a good choice. It's when I would go again.

 

[phillymummer]

We've been at the end of Jersey week before - not this year - and crowds were quite manageable. Last I checked, NJ's "week" wasn't a week but just a couple days. (I didn't check this year).

The teacher's convention is always the first Thursday and Friday in November. Some districts have off only those days, while others also have off for Election Day. Some districts have started giving off the entire week. Some parents pull their kids out for the entire week since it is so short anyway. So, the heaviest "crowds" from Jersey would be at the middle-end of the week.

 

[damo]

I was at US during the tail-end of Jersey week this year (the 7th and the 8th). People thought THAT was crowded?! Most wait times were under a half hour! Many were 10 minutes or less. The only rides that had huge wait times were the popular ones, and that was in the middle of the day. I don't know how many times my daughter said to me, as we were walking up to the EP entrance, "But Mommy- the stand-by wait is only 10 minutes!". On the morning of the 8th, Gringott's was a 20 minute wait until late morning. Disney was much more crowded earlier in the week (we were there first, Wed- Fri, then hopped to US).

But it was HOT and HUMID, but manageable. But, that is not the norm, right? Isn't November usually cooler?

I think Jersey week would be a good choice. It's when I would go again.

This is what someone else wrote about the week ... http://www.disboards.com/threads/just-back-with-my-observations-any-questions.3463711/#post-54745409

 

[dixonsontour]

My 9 year old had aged out of legoland this trip.

Legoland is a good 1 hour drive from Universal.

She loves cabana bay and the lazy river, we've not felt need to do water parks when staying there (done aquatica waterpark and disney water parks on other trips)

Personally we find end of October crowds very manageable, first week of November looks similar without express. But we have multiple universal park days (6 this year) and use early entry.

 

[phillymummer]

This is what someone else wrote about the week ... http://www.disboards.com/threads/just-back-with-my-observations-any-questions.3463711/#post-54745409

I guess it is just a matter of experience and perspective. It may have been busier this year than in past years, but can 15 minute (or less!) waits for many rides be considered "crowded"? I was at Universal in Oct 2010 (the year Hogsmeade opened) and that area was CRAZY- much busier than what I experience a couple of weeks ago. I honestly think it would have been manageable without EP.

 

[damo]

I guess it is just a matter of experience and perspective. It may have been busier this year than in past years, but can 15 minute (or less!) waits for many rides be considered "crowded"? I was at Universal in Oct 2010 (the year Hogsmeade opened) and that area was CRAZY- much busier than what I experience a couple of weeks ago. I honestly think it would have been manageable without EP.

Or maybe it was busier during the earlier part of the week when you weren't there.

 

[phillymummer]

That's true too. I was there on the weekend. I just kind of figured it would be more crowded on a Saturday or Sunday. I have "tunnel vision" sometimes. My bad!

 

[HHMcG]

Thanks again for all the feedback. I think I'll come up with cost estimates for both time frames. Maybe with hard numbers an answer will be more obvious. I also have to wait for next year's school calendar, that could have a big impact.


I'm not concerned about my kids not loving Legoland. The (will be) 9 year old is a Lego freak and the other two are very into Lego's also. We are all not the biggest thrill seekers so I think the little ride may be ok for us. We plan to stay at the Legoland Resort which looks amazing to me. As first time visitor I know they will be excited for something new but maybe not a yearly thing..
All that said, we will visit Legoland first and 'build up' to Universal.

Yes, "Jersey Week" varies from school district to district. The whole state gets Thursday and Friday off. We sometimes get election day (Tuesday) off. And then Monday & Wednesday and the following Monday and Tuesday are half days in the elementary schools for teacher conferences. (I will be our last year with all elementary age kids next year.) They expect a percentage of kids to be absent that week.

From all the comments it is hard to get a feel if we could go without EP in Nov. I just hope that Universal feels alot less crowded then Disney. I really don't mind long-ish wait times. But I hate crowded walkways and feeling as if everyone is pressing in on us, as we have felt at Disney (specifically MK) the last visit.

 

[phillymummer]

The only place I felt it was really crowded was in the HP sections... especially Diagon Alley, but it was manageable. The rest of the park was a breeze.