rockbook2000 Posted February 17, 2010 Share Posted February 17, 2010 So, despite looking up ticket prices for Orlando (which are absolutely ridiculous), I'll suck up the money on "one park" since I really want to plan a trip to Islands of Adventure sometime in 2010 to visit the new Harry Potter attraction. When is the best time to do this if I'm trying to avoid long lines? Obviously it's going to always be somewhat crowded since it's Universal and Orlando, but was thinking maybe some point in the year would be better. My initial thought was a weekday in early-September right around Labor Day Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skycoastin Steve Posted February 17, 2010 Share Posted February 17, 2010 I went in early November last year and lines were practically non-existent at every ride except HRRR. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alpengeist04 Posted February 17, 2010 Share Posted February 17, 2010 With Harry Potter coming, I would definitely wait till late fall. ...after HHN and before Thanksgiving. Still, I'm sure the crowds will be a little heavier no matter what time of the year you go in 2010. Edit: If the first two weeks in November aren't good for you, then late September or early December may be your next best options. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wados Posted February 17, 2010 Share Posted February 17, 2010 we went May last year and the park was fairly empty i got big open pics with hardly anyone in them Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alpengeist04 Posted February 17, 2010 Share Posted February 17, 2010 ^Early May is also good, but we're not 100% sure when Harry Potter will open. While I think it will be open by then, I'm not so sure if everything will be a 100% operational at that time. ...But it's definitely another option. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoasterEricHP Posted February 17, 2010 Share Posted February 17, 2010 I know from working there for a few years (a few years ago) that the park would be absolutely crazy until Labor Day. Two or three days after Labor Day the parks would completely die and after a longggg summer season it was so nice to work and not have 60 minute or longer waits to deal with! So I would say because Harry Potter is opening hopefully in the Spring, I'd wait until the week after Labor Day to avoid the really nasty crowds and heat PLUS it gives Universal a few months to work all the bugs out of the new ride. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gforce532 Posted February 18, 2010 Share Posted February 18, 2010 September after Labor day should be really good beacause most "normal" people don't make plans to go to florida during hurricane season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gatorchomp83 Posted February 18, 2010 Share Posted February 18, 2010 You do realize hurricane season goes through November, right? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alpengeist04 Posted February 18, 2010 Share Posted February 18, 2010 ^...Not to mention August being a peak month too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghost Posted February 18, 2010 Share Posted February 18, 2010 October, always good. pick a weekday and go to HHN in US afterwards.... I did that once and could walk on most rides without queues and enjoy the horrors afterwards... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adeuce02 Posted February 19, 2010 Share Posted February 19, 2010 If i were you i would go on the weeks after labor day before hhn starts at the end of september. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FeelTheFORCE Posted February 19, 2010 Share Posted February 19, 2010 ^Early May is also good, but we're not 100% sure when Harry Potter will open. While I think it will be open by then, I'm not so sure if everything will be a 100% operational at that time. ...But it's definitely another option. That's when I went last year and everything was open, operational, and ran the entirety of the week just fine. So as far as that goes, you should be fine. I'd just monitor HP and when it is scheduled to open if you plan on going then, as the person I quoted said also. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alpengeist04 Posted February 19, 2010 Share Posted February 19, 2010 ^Actually, my 100% operational response was for Harry Potter, not the other rides in the park. I've always found early May to be a great time to go in regards to small crowds and open rides. But with no official date yet for Harry potter, the fall may just be a safer time to go. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisforsgren Posted February 19, 2010 Share Posted February 19, 2010 My family visited Orlando middle september two years ago, Universal was pretty much a ghost town (in comparison to Disney) I'm pretty sure it will be more crowded with harry potter and all, but a pretty safe time to go in my estimation Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shepp Posted February 19, 2010 Share Posted February 19, 2010 Early December is another good time to go: Between-the-holidays low crowds, and after hurricane season. (And this year, the kinks are likely to have been worked out of Potter.) I spent 2 1/2 days at Universal/IOA on weekdays in December, and except for HRRR, crowds were moderate to non-existent, and there were all the seasonal goodies at both parks. Only downside: cool weather made riding the Barges a bone-chilling experience. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Director_Guy Posted February 22, 2010 Share Posted February 22, 2010 Last time I went to Orlando was October 2007 and it was AWESOME. Everything was walk-on at both WDW and USF. Even on the day of Horror Nights it was empty (until the event, where it was incredibly crazy). Go in October. Now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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