when to go to Universal/IOA from Disney

[pixi]

Hi!
My DH & DS will be taking 2 days to visit Universal/IOA & I would like to know what days (of the week) are better to visit than others. I think we will be buying the annual passes which give them the express pass function (like fastpass, I guess), so that will help, but we are a family who does not function well with lines, having visited during slow times to Disney.
So,... anything that will help-
are weekends horrendous? I need to plan DD & my EPCOT/MK days so I'm hoping to have EE days during their visits there.
Also, what type of transportation options do they have to visit Universal? I thought there was a shuttle- but not sure of the details. So someone please fill me in on what is available!
Thanks!
Rhonda

[WillCAD]

I have found that the best days of the week to visit Universal tend to be Monday and Tuesday. I went on a Tuesday once in late October and did EVERY major attraction in BOTH universal parks before 6pm, without rushing. Of course, that was in the off-season; it's not possible to do that all year, but Monday and Tuesday are generally the best days for the Uni parks.

I can't help much with transportation; I always have a rental car. But I do know that all of the major towncar companies offer service from WDW resorts to Universal. Why not send a note to Gregory at Quicksilver and ask him for a rate quote?

[pixi]

Thanks Will-
we will be arriving on Halloween, so early Nov- sounds like approx the same time, maybe the same crowds.
Good Tip about towncar service- never thought of that.

[Bev]

Sundays are seldom busy in the parks.

[Esmerelda]

Bev, I'm glad to hear that. We will be there on Sunday in just a few weeks. I don't think there will be a problem as we are staying onsite-but besides the lines it is still nice to not have huge crowds in the parks.

[LisaS]

I have also found Monday and Tuesday to be the quietest - sometimes on the weekends you get the locals as well as the rest of us!!

[Bev]

I go to Universal several times a week as my son works there at the Mummy and doesn't have his drivers license yet so I have to take him to work and pick him up. Many times I just stay at the parks if he is working 4 hours or less to save on driving time. In fact, he works today (Sunday) from 3-7:00 so I'm just going to hang around the park waiting for him to get off work. Luckily I love riding Men in Black several times so I stay entertained.

It would seem that weekends would be the busiests because of locals but really Sunday seems to be the least busy of any of the days. The busiest time of day is between 11:00 AM and 4:00 PM. The parks are almost empty before 11:00 AM and after 4:00 PM on Sunday.

This may change in the summer when the local teenagers are out of school. I haven't been to Universal during the summer yet. This is our first year living in Orlando.

Bev

[Tagrel]

Wow Bev, I'd be HAPPY to drive my kids to work if I could spend their work hours enjoying the parks! :) I have a few years to wait, so we'll see if we are relocated to Orlando by then! :winking:

Thanks for the park insight!

[pixi]

Well Sunday is our arrival day, and also MNSSHP for us, so I think we will shoot for Monday or Tuesday!
Thanks so much for all your input!
Rhonda

[Bev]

This is my son's first job. He feels really fortunate to be working at the Mummy rather than bagging groceries or selling french fries. I just hang out and enjoy the rides and people watch. It's fun for me. His brother (my youngest child) is counting the days until his 16th birthday so he can work there also.

[sandar]

hi Bev,

That's really cool about your son's job! Nice bonus that you get to hang out at the parks a little extra on his shorter days.

Sandi

[DisneyPam]

Hey Bev....
My friends love the Mummy ride so they probably "know" your son, lol. I know one friend who rode it over 20 times during tech rehearsals.

When I buy my new Universal AP I'll have to look for your son. Or for you...I didn't realize we were neighbors. :)

[Bev]

My youngest son rode the ride 100 times during technical rehearsals. What can I say? He is easily amused.

I think the Mummy will be amazing when it reopens. During the TR, they were missing 3 major animatronics and also the launch was toned down. The launch will be much more intense. I can't wait to ride it after all the improvements.

[Brer]

Wow, didn't realize that Sunday was a slow day but I guess that all the tourists head out of town on Sunday, so that leaves the parks less crowded.