It’s been a while, lol. I’m writing because I need some advice on a possible October trip. My family and I have visited UOR at different times of the year, but never in October. A bunch of friends and I are debating going on a short trip. If we decide to go, the only time that everyone would be able to go would be at the end of October. The dates we would be looking at are Saturday the 26, and leave the 29. We would be four adults, all who have visited before, and a child (not old enough to ride stuff, but we plan to child swap). We would be at CB, so we know we’d have early entry, but not have express passes. We know the HHN are on that weekend, but we will not be attending. We’d be arriving early afternoon (dropping our stuff at the front desk), and leaving Tuesday morning.
Here are my thoughts and questions, and I’m hoping some of you can offer your advice:
Since we’d be arriving early afternoon, we’d anticipate realistically arriving to a park 2:00. Is it better to buy 3 park days (not ptp), and go that day for a few hours, or 2 park days (not ptp) and have that day be a resort day? With the shorter hours, can we still go on rides, do meet and greets, etc whether we choose to 2 or 3 days?
On HHN, both those first two days, what park is it better to attend? And Monday, which park?
Is weather a problem at that time of year?
With child swap, do you go in the regular line, even with the child who’s not riding? I’ve never done it, Will the person waiting have to ride alone?
We’re aware with a baby, things are going to be much slower, but that isn’t an issue for us. We’ve all gone to UOR before. We’re looking for a good time hanging out together, going on rides, if we come upon a meet and greet, we’d stop, etc. We’ve visited other theme parks and trips, and the baby isn’t an issue.
Saturday will be the busiest day in the parks during your trip, so keep that in mind when making your decision. I will say though, that the predicted crowd levels look way too high compared to the same dates last year. If you decide to go into the parks on Saturday, I would just go to Islands and not have to worry about trying to get to the Studios with the 5pm closing time. Last year, Islands was only a CL4 on that date.
If it helps, here were the Crowd Levels from last year for your dates:
Not usually. October is the start of the less rainy season, low to mid 80’s for highs.
Someone who has done it would know the details better… @Jeff_AZ
Thank you so much for your response. Yeah, I assumed Saturday would be the busiest, that would have to be a discussion for sure. If we did that, maybe we’d be able to get a few rides in at Islands. Would it be good to do Islands at RD for Sunday because there’s a Horror Night that night, and Universal on Monday? In your experience, have non Horror nights hours been longer hours for Universal?
I would say there isn’t much difference with the lower CL’s. Just RD what you prefer on Sunday & Monday. I definitely recommend RD’ing Diagon Alley at the Studios, even though there is no EPA there limiting early crowds.
Whether it’s an HHN night or not, the Studios opens at 8:00am instead of the normal 9:00am most of the fall season.
In the evening of non-HHN days, the Studios does not stay open later and usually closes at the typical 7:00pm, possibly 8:00pm on some weekends.
Everyone enters the line and waits through the entire queue. As you get closer to the loading platform, a CM will help you arrange rider swap. They will give a pass to the attending adult and direct them and the non-rider to the nearby Rider Swap waiting room. There is usually a movie playing.
When the rest of your party finishes riding, the attending adult plus one re-rider take the pass back to the CM and are admitted at the front of the line for quick boarding. After riding, you return to the waiting room and all exit together.
Thank you SO much, this was extremely helpful! We will be discussing it today, and if we decide to go at that time, we’ll get the three days since it’s approximately something like $30 more a person. That day, we’ll see how we feel regarding going to IOA or just staying at the hotel. Do hotels tend to be busy in October, too, or is it more the parks because of Florida residence coming in for HHN?
My advice is to try to book a room on those same dates. If you see the rates becoming significantly more expensive, you’ll know if the hotel is busy. (The rate will go up somewhat as the date gets closer, but it only jumps up a lot if they are booked up)
That’s a good idea, thank you! I have one more question, I’m sorry, lol. This may be off topic, but can an annual passholder book more than one room per stay? We’re discussing a suite, but might switch to two rooms if one more person joins for the trip.
Yes. I’ve booked two rooms at the AP rate for the same nights. Anyone can stay in the room but technically the passholder has to be the one to book. Your name may appear on the reservation, but at check-in time you can enter anyone’s names to fill all occupancy spots.
We actually have been asked for our AP at check in - not always but it has happened. Don’t want someone to be unpleasantly surprised if it happens to them!
So, if I’m booking two rooms separately, should I have my name on both even if another person will be paying for one of the rooms with their credit card?
If only you will have an AP, that is the best route. You can use whatever method of payment you want, but I think your name has to be on the reservation. (If the other person has an AP, not as big a deal.)
But again, it doesn’t matter whose name is on the reservation as far as who has to sleep there. That is all determined during online check-in 1-2 days before you arrive (or during in-person check-in).
