We went during a busy week and it was absolutely fine. We stayed in one of the Endless Summer Universal-owned resorts because the price and setup for a family with younger kids couldn't be beat--$200ish a night for a suite with a kitchenette, lots of casual food options and a nice pool and game room. There was free bus service to the parks and you could enter an hour early. We paid for express passes to the two older parks and just hit the highlights of Epic Universe early (it has fewer rides). Spent the hottest day at Volcano Bay. We didn't even rent a car and the kids felt like they had an incredible trip for a pretty reasonable cost for us all-in. We probably would have gone for Royal Pacific had we splurged on hotel, but honestly it would have only been nicer for us parents; the kids loved Endless Summer.

I would personally not go at a busy time without express passes. And even then there are things that don’t benefit much from express like the shows, Olivanders, the spells, quick service dining. Just wall to wall people everywhere. You can do it of course, just go in eyes wide open. It will be PACKED.

Thanksgiving is one of the busiest periods of the entire year. If you stay on property at a hotel that gives Express Passes, it can help mitigate it for Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios. But even with those it will be super busy. Mario World is in Epic Universe which does have Express Passes but will not be covered by the hotel provided one. You would need to purchase that separately. Volcano Bay is fine in November as the heat the water.

I am thinking of taking my kids to universal at thanksgiving this year but I have never been there (my dad has lived in florida since I was a kid so we have done disney quite a few times over the course of my life and am very disney planning literate) and am wondering if anyone has advice on the following questions

1) Where to stay? Is it worth staying on property with US? I do usually do that at Disney just because of the ease of travelling to the parks.

2) Is Thanksgiving going to be totally awful? Our primary goals are Harry Potter world and Mario world. I have three kids in elementary/middle so going on a totally off season time would be hard. Summer in FL at the parks is a nonstarter for me personally

3) Any experience/tips on what to do in advance (reservation wise) or just experiences that you thought were particularly worthwhile

4) Would November be too cold for the water park?

TIA!