Itinerary help - what to do before HHN

Question

Hello everyone!

It seems like I only resurrect when I’m planning an American trip. I’m currently sketching out my itinerary for an upcoming 10 day trip to Orlando and I just need some advice.

For context. I am going during the October half term, so 24th October - 2nd November. Staying onsite at Disney (port orleans French quarter) and going with my sister.

We are doing 4 Disney parks and have a 3-park universal ticket too. On Halloween, we are doing Halloween Horror Nights so I wanted some advice and expertise. Which park would you suggest doing that day please? Would you suggest making it a main universal day or revisiting a Disney park?

Alsooooo. Am I correct in assuming Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure should still have their own separate days? Thank you so much in advance!

Answer

Planning your Orlando trip during the October half term with Disney and Universal is exciting, and having a clear itinerary can make the experience much smoother. Since you’re staying onsite at Disney’s Port Orleans French Quarter, you have good access to Disney parks, and combining this with Universal’s 3-park ticket requires some strategic planning, especially on Halloween.

Halloween Day – HHN Strategy:

Halloween Horror Nights (HHN) typically starts in the evening around 6:30–7:00pm and goes until midnight or later. Since HHN is an evening event, your day can still include some park time, but consider the following:

If you want to maximize Universal, do a full Universal day before HHN starts. Arrive early and enjoy rides at Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure in the afternoon, leaving some time to rest and prepare for HHN in the evening.
Alternatively, if you prefer Disney, pick a less intense Disney park for the morning/afternoon (Epcot or Magic Kingdom might work well). This allows you to experience some Disney attractions without exhausting yourselves before a long HHN night.
Keep in mind travel time: It takes around 30–45 minutes from Disney to Universal by car or shuttle, so factor in transit when planning a morning Disney park and evening HHN.

Universal Studios vs. Islands of Adventure:

Yes, it is highly recommended to dedicate separate days to Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure, especially if you want to experience all rides and attractions without rushing. Some key points:

Each park has unique rides and experiences; for example, Wizarding World of Harry Potter is split across both parks, so visiting both is necessary if you want to do everything.
Using the park-to-park option (included in your 3-park ticket) allows flexibility, but if your time is limited, separate days prevent you from feeling rushed.
Consider starting with Islands of Adventure if you enjoy thrill rides, then Universal Studios Florida for more shows and immersive attractions.

Suggested Itinerary Tips:

Plan a Disney park day before HHN on Halloween only if it’s a shorter visit or a park you can leave mid-afternoon to head to Universal.
Allocate one full day for Islands of Adventure and one for Universal Studios Florida, with the flexibility to hop if your ticket allows.
Use Disney Genie+ and Universal Express (if purchased) to minimize waits, especially during October half term, which is a busy season.
Keep some “rest or flexible” mornings to recover from late HHN nights or to fit in favorite attractions you may have missed.

Overall, for HHN night, a main Universal day works best so you can enjoy rides in the afternoon and be ready for the evening event. Separate Universal parks into different days for a more relaxed experience, and try to schedule Disney parks on non-HHN days to avoid exhaustion.

Itinerary help - what to do before HHN

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