crowd calendar and getting to UO from WDW?

[maddiebee]

Is the Undercover Tourist crowd prediction calendar pretty accurate? Is there a better way to try and decide what day to go? We'll be at Disney Aug 24-31 and want to do a day at Universal. I'm going for Harry Potter and my boyfriend for the Simpsons. I know arriving early is always going to be the best option, but at what kind of crowd level would not having front of the line passes be manageable? Is it worth the extra $$ for a short day?

I'm also wondering what the best way to get there from WDW is? I found a deal that included a 1 day park hopper and transport via Mears for like 139$. I thought I read somewhere that we would need to leave by 3. Is this a good option?

Thanks!

 

[Metro West]

Is the Undercover Tourist crowd prediction calendar pretty accurate? Is there a better way to try and decide what day to go? We'll be at Disney Aug 24-31 and want to do a day at Universal. I'm going for Harry Potter and my boyfriend for the Simpsons. I know arriving early is always going to be the best option, but at what kind of crowd level would not having front of the line passes be manageable? Is it worth the extra $$ for a short day?

I'm also wondering what the best way to get there from WDW is? I found a deal that included a 1 day park hopper and transport via Mears for like 139$. I thought I read somewhere that we would need to leave by 3. Is this a good option?

Thanks!

Crowds will be huge this year once Diagon Alley opens and even though the end of August is generally slower, I think all that is going to go out the window this year. You are not going to be able to do both parks...just too crowded and if you want to ride the Hogwarts Express, you will need park to park tickets. It sounds like you will be happy at the Studios but it's not going to be easy getting around.

On your transportation question...have a sticky that should help you:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2494908

 

[RMulieri]

Agree with PP...We went last year 8/21-8/26 and the crowds were BUSY..Alot busier than projected by the crowds calendars, and alot more busy than we expected and HP expansion wasnt even open yet ..EXPECT very large crowds thru the summer and probably larger crowds than normal for a long time after HP opens this summer.

 

[maddiebee]

Crowds will be huge this year once Diagon Alley opens and even though the end of August is generally slower, I think all that is going to go out the window this year. You are not going to be able to do both parks...just too crowded and if you want to ride the Hogwarts Express, you will need park to park tickets. It sounds like you will be happy at the Studios but it's not going to be easy getting around.

On your transportation question...have a sticky that should help you:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2494908

Ah thank you so much! We are planning on park to park tickets but I'm wondering if we would even need express passes since we'll probably only have time/energy for HP and Springfield which an FOTL pass wouldn't really be useful/available, right?

 

[Metro West]

Ah thank you so much! We are planning on park to park tickets but I'm wondering if we would even need express passes since we'll probably only have time/energy for HP and Springfield which an FOTL pass wouldn't really be useful/available, right?

The EP will help on most attractions that day but Forbidden Journey doesn't accept it and I'm sure Diagon Alley won't either so your best bet would be to arrive before opening and plan on hoofing it to either WWoHP or DA first thing.