Hi Rita!

Tickets are date-based, so in a way, you'll still need to know the date of your first day at the parks at the very least, but otherwise, no — a separate theme park reservation is not required.

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Hi Jena!

If it's your only day in the parks and you are wanting to max your time and hit most of the attractions in both parks, we think Express is toadally worth it!

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Hi Hope!

If you're wanting to have Express for your entire trip, then we'd consider looking into staying in a suite (large enough to fit your party) at a Universal Premier hotel, which includes the free Unlimited Express benefit. Purchasing Express separately (note: the cost is per person, per day) can potentially turn out to be pricier, though since the prices are variable for both the hotel room rates and individual Express passes, you'd need to crunch the numbers to see which makes the most sense. If you only want to use Express for some days during your trip to save money (and are staying off-site or at a non-Premier hotel), then we'd look into purchasing separately. While we've never regretted having Express, we also know that six days gives you a lot of time to explore the parks (as opposed to a one or two day visit with more of a time crunch) so it may not be a necessity.

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Hi Amber!

The holiday festivities usually last through the first few days into January. (Last year, the holiday festivities ran from Nov. 13, 2021, through Jan. 2, 2022 — and it's even lasted for as long as Jan. 6 in the past.) So while we don't know the exact dates for the 2022 holiday season, you likely won't miss out entirely, at least for one day (though it's not 100-percent guaranteed until dates are officially announced). Since you'll be getting Universal Express passes no matter which week you decide, we think it ultimately just comes down to personal preference — would you rather have your entire week filled with holiday festivities and tough out the crowds, or would you be fine with one day (maybe more, or none at all) out of your trip being filled with holiday festivities with potentially more time to work with since it wouldn't be as crowded as the week before?

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Hi Michelle!

Since April 23 is the last Saturday of the (unofficial) spring break season, it will likely be busier compared to other days during the week. It's also the last weekend of Mardi Gras. The ticket prices can reflect what Universal predicts crowd levels will be like. According to our Crowd Calendar, April 23 is a crowd level 7.

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Hi Cinda!

It's definitely possible to see most of both parks during a VIP tour. So if you're leaning toward it and can swing it, we'd recommend the VIP tour to maximize your time!

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Hi Heather!

Since it's in the middle of the unofficial spring break season, we'd suggest that you prepare for higher crowds. We have a post all about going to Universal during a busy time, plus specific spring break guides for both Universal and Disney World (they have similar tips).

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Hi Anne!

We think two days in each park during that timeframe would allow enough time to ride everything that you want. If you get there and decide you want Express passes after all, you would be able to purchase Express passes inside the parks (subject to availability).

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Hi Craig!

We frogs also offer Universal Express tickets! However, most of the dates are also sold out (there are a few dates such as the 12th, 18th, 19th and 20th available). If Universal Express passes are sold out, they would not be sold in the parks (that is only an option when there is availability).

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Hi Shane!

Generally, any weekday is better than the weekend. If you're interested in getting an Express Pass, we'd choose Tuesday the 8th over Monday the 7th, as it's slightly cheaper since the price varies by day (and it can be a good indicator when Universal expects crowds). Tuesday's price is also the same for Wednesday, Thursday and Friday of next week. While the decision is ultimately up to each frog, we think Express passes can be well worth it!

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No worries, Carole!

Since schools around the country have varying spring breaks, we anticipate that it will be busy since it’s the week leading up to Easter and still falls during the unofficial “spring break season” (which typically ends the week following Easter Sunday). But you are correct that the local public schools will have already been on spring break so it likely won’t be peak spring break crowds. We should also note that it’s been harder to predict crowds based on past trends in general, now that people are becoming more comfortable with traveling and the pent-up demand is high. Staying at the Hard Rock Hotel and having the Universal Express Unlimited benefit will certainly be beneficial!

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Hi D!

Late April would be best since Easter is later this year (April 17), which prolongs the spring break season as some families may choose to visit the week following Easter. But by April 24, the "spring break season" should be starting to come to an end. That said, crowds have been unpredictable lately, due to pent-up demand and more and more families becoming comfortable with traveling.

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Hi Samantha!

Thanks for hopping by! For crowds, we'd expect the parks to be busy (Crowd Level 8), but it won't be peak holiday crowds (the busiest time is usually the week between Christmas and New Year's). As for the weather, it really mostly depends on if a cold front comes through. It has the potential to reach low temps around 50 degrees F, but it can be very pleasant (or even hot) too! This past December, the high temperatures stayed between 66 and 86 degrees F, while the low temps stayed between 49 and 67 degrees F. We'd plan for warm days and cool nights.

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Hi Mark!

You're toadally right — in past years, Super Bowl Sunday hasn’t greatly affected crowds at Universal over the weekend. That said, past trends have been a bit more unreliable these days due to pent-up demand for traveling, so it’s harder to say for sure what crowds will be like. It will also be the second week of Mardi Gras (however, there isn't a concert scheduled for Feb. 13). Overall, we'd recommend preparing for the possibility of elevated crowds if you decide to go.

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Hi Michelle!

In the past, early February has been one of the best times to visit. However, with travel picking up more and more, crowds have been harder to predict this year due to pent-up demand so we'd expect it to be busier than it typically is.

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Hi Kristi!

We'd expect moderate to high crowds since that falls right as the "spring break season" starts. Generally, it's just elevated crowds during the first week or two of March, but the peak spring break crowds start mid-March (this year, we'd expect the peak period to start with the week of March 12-20). That said, crowd levels have been harder to predict as travel continues to open up and we see the effects of pent-up demand, which we've already seen has increased crowds in slower periods than what off-peak crowds have been like in the past.

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Hi Nicold!

Generally, weekdays are less crowded than weekends. Early April does fall within the spring break season this year, so higher crowds are expected as well.

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Hi Cherry!

Those dates will fall during spring break season (and more specifically, that week is when local public schools will be out for break) so we'd expect Level 8 crowds, according to our Crowd Calendar.

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Hi Troy!

Universal Orlando does not typically close the parks ahead of time for average rainy or stormy weather (only for extreme inclement weather, which is rare). If it's lightly raining without the threat of lightning, then rides should continue to operate. However, if there is lightning & thunder within 10 miles of property (even when it's not raining at the park), all outdoor rides will temporarily close, but indoor rides stay open. The general pattern during the wet season is that storms usually pass through quickly in the afternoons/early evenings, so we'd recommend riding the outdoor attractions earlier in the day, if possible. Let us know if you have any more questions (you can also check out our post about rainy days at Universal)!

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Hi Krista!

Overall, summer will be busy with high wait times - though if you aim for the first week of June or mid-August, you may have luck with slightly lower crowds as it's right at the beginning and end of the summer season. Peak summer crowds will be from late June to early August, though note that it has become harder to predict crowds and wait times based on past trends because of the pandemic. As people feel more comfortable with traveling, we'd expect that the pent-up demand could certainly play a factor with crowd levels as well.

If you decide to stay at one of Universal's premier hotels, keep in mind that you would get the Universal Express Unlimited benefit included with your stay. Also, you would be able to pool hop to other resorts (not including Universal's Endless Summer Resorts - Dockside and Surfside — and vice versa if you stay at either of those resorts). If you stay for four days and stick with the two Universal parks, then we think you'll get enough time to explore (especially if you end up with the Universal Express benefit). And if you add in SeaWorld, then we think a one-day trip would be fine, and you could do one full day at each Universal park and use the third to park hop and do anything you missed.

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Hi Daniel!

In past years, Super Bowl Sunday hasn't greatly affected crowds at Universal over the weekend. Since you'll have Universal Express passes, we think you should be fine for the day (and we'd also recommend arriving before the park opens so you can enter when the park opens and get a hop ahead of the crowds). That said, keep in mind that past trends have been a bit more unreliable these days due to pent-up demand for traveling, so it's harder to say for sure what crowds will be like. Take your touring style into consideration — if you don't want to feel rushed and would prefer to have more time to get everything you want to get done, then it may be nice to splurge for a second day. But if you plan ahead, maximize your time and wouldn't mind the possibility of missing out on some attractions, then stick to one day so you can have a restful pool day :)

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Hi Colleen!

We'd expect about average crowds, with the possibility of slightly elevated crowds. Some people may arrive early for the three-day weekend, but the bigger crowds will be on Saturday, Sunday and Monday (19-21). Arriving early should give you a good head start!

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Hi Sharon!

Presidents Day weekend can bring in crowds like any other holiday weekend, so we'd expect high crowds on that Sunday and Monday. Tuesday might see some leftover crowds but should start to lessen from the weekend, and we'd expect average crowds Wednesday and Thursday.

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Hi Ashley!

Since you'll be visiting on weekdays during a typical non-peak time, you really can't go wrong with whatever you choose! For traveling between resorts, it may be easier to go to Universal either Monday or Thursday, but it likely depends on where you're staying. For instance, if you're staying somewhere right in between Universal and Disney, it may not make much of a difference if you stick to one resort at a time. Neither resort does a whole lot for Valentine's Day, but if you're looking for anything special on that day, we'd probably suggest Magic Kingdom (usually Cinderella's carriage is out for a special photo-op). Hope this helps!

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Hi Liane!

Generally, most weekdays in October have average crowd levels (for those dates specifically, they're expected to be around levels 4 and 5, according to our Crowd Calendar).

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Hi Dan!

Things tend to quiet down for the last week of November/first week of December (minus weekends). Hope this helps!

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Hi Aly!

Crowds should still be relatively low mid-week. We think Thursday will be fine (it gets a little more crowded on Friday but it's mainly the weekend that draws in the crowds).

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Hi Rebecca!

Both days will be busy, but we'd go with Thanksgiving Day if we had to choose!

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Hi Kerri!

Generally, the second half of August/beginning of September is a good time to go because the summer breaks for local schools are over by then. You may run into crowds during the Labor Day Weekend, but otherwise, that time period is when the summer crowds start to die down as more kids are going back to school.

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Hi Oliver!

Crowds have been harder to predict because of COVID, but this past October was busier (likely because of many people going to Disney World's 50th anniversary celebration as well). As things return even closer to "back to normal," we'd expect 2022 to be a busy year in general as more travel restrictions are lifted and comfort levels change. Historically though, most weekdays in October have seen low to average crowds, but the weekends can be busy, particularly Columbus Day Weekend (any holiday weekend can bring in crowds). Hope this helps!

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Hi Oliver!

Congratulations! That should be a great time to visit - enjoy your honeymoon!

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Hi Lori!

We usually don't expect Super Bowl Sunday to have a large impact on crowds. Weekends in general are busy, and next year in particular, it will fall on the second weekend of Mardi Gras. Also keep in mind that weekend Mardi Gras concerts are returning, so depending on the performing act, the concert could draw in more crowds as well.

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Hi Lexi!

Any holiday weekend can bring in crowds — specifically, we'd expect the Martin Luther King Jr. Day weekend to bring in level 7 crowds.

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Hi Amber!

We'd expect about average to medium high crowds this year — the parks have not been very busy this past week but could pick up over the weekend. Last year, Universal Studios was unusually crowded, but the Beetlejuice house was only open during the day for that one weekend, so it's hard to compare the crowds from last year. In other previous years, Halloween day has had moderate crowds.

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Hi Miha!

We'd suggest visiting before Presidents Day Weekend if you have the flexibility, as some families decide to linger for the remainder of the week after the long weekend. If she would be fine with motion simulator rides, then there are several options at Universal Studios Florida, including Despicable Me, Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon, The Simpsons Ride and Fast & Furious. We also suggest checking out some of the shows, especially Horror Make-Up Show and The Bourne Stuntacular! Plus, Mardi Gras festivities will be going on during that time. Hope this helps!

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Hi Lisa!

Since summer is busy overall, there really isn't too much of a difference between certain days of the week, other than generally weekdays are less busier than weekends. But we'd suggest mid-week as most families plan and travel around weekends.

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Hi Devin!

We recommend booking in advance the earlier, the better for the best availability! While all of Universal's hotels are family-friendly, we'd suggest Portofino Bay, which has a more relaxed and romantic atmosphere (and includes the Unlimited Universal Express benefit!). Aventura is another great option — it's modern and sleek, with floor-to-ceiling windows in the guest rooms and a rooftop bar, at a lower rate.

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Hi Savannah!

We have some brand-new Universal Orlando hotel and ticket bundles available, which you can see here: https://www.undercovertourist.com/orlando/universal-orlando-resort/#category_147 Let us know if we can help with any questions!

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Hi Jennifer!

You can take a peek at our Crowd Calendar to see expected crowd levels during your visit. It depends on your interests, but we usually recommend hitting the Wizarding World of Harry Potter (at either park wherever you start) before it gets too crowded. If you like roller coasters and you arrive early, then hop in line to be one of the first to ride VelociCoaster or Hagrid's.

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Hi Conner,

If you're visiting at the end of June, then you will run into the summer crowds. Average wait times can be as low as one hour and as high as three hours, depending on the ride. It may be difficult to hit all of the major rides in one day, so we'd recommend looking into Universal Express passes or staying at a premier Universal hotel (which gives you the free Universal Express Unlimited benefit), if you can swing it! July is just as busy; however, the first week of May will be less busy, particularly during the week.

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Hi Matt,

In winter, the sun can set as early as 5:30 p.m., and in the summer, the sun can set as late as 8:30 p.m. As far as park hours go, it varies month-to-month, but generally Universal has extended hours during peak periods (such as summer and any holiday) and can close as late as 10 p.m., while it has shorter hours during the off-season and can close as early as 5 or 6 p.m. We'd also recommend weekends over weeknights, as hours may be longer on weekends in any given month.

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Hi Jenn,

If you can swing it, we'd recommend Express passes as crowds are generally high in July (take a look at our Crowd Calendar for our expected crowd levels). However, we do have some tips for going to Universal Orlando during a busy time if you choose not to get Express passes.

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Hi Natalia,

Weekends are generally bring in more crowds, so if you can spring for Express passes, it certainly wouldn't hurt to have them! One thing you can do before your trip is to download the Universal Orlando app and check out the wait times (particularly this upcoming weekend for a better comparison). If they seem too high to you, then go ahead and purchase the Express passes. If not, you can also wait until you're inside the parks and can scope out the crowds yourself (though you do run the risk of the passes not being available).

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Hi Christina,

We'd recommend starting at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter sections of both parks. Since both are located at the back of the parks, they're generally a little less crowded in the early mornings before those who start in the front of the park are able to make their way around to them. At Islands of Adventure, we'd get in Hagrid's line first (especially if you're planning to arrive before (or right at) park opening, and then hit Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey. At Universal Studios Florida, it's Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts. As far as the best time to arrive, if you're planning to visit during a busy period, then we'd suggest an hour before park opening, if possible, which will allow plenty of time to park, get through security and wait in line at the gates. (If you're staying at a Universal Orlando hotel, then we'd recommend taking advantage of Early Park Admission which gives you access to the parks an hour early!). The absolute latest we'd arrive would be 10 a.m., as lately the parks have been usually reaching capacity around 11 a.m. (though it does vary, so the earlier, the better!), and you need enough time to make it through the lines at parking, security and park entrances.

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Hi there!

The love bugs have not arrived quite yet, but we're expecting them soon, as they usually emerge in late April/May (and late August/September).

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Hi Chantel,

Since it's the week leading up to Memorial Day weekend, there may be elevated crowds (according to our Crowd Calendar, we're expecting a crowd level 6), but the bulk of the crowds will likely arrive closer to the weekend.

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Hi Laurel,

Yes, early May is generally a good time to go, especially during the weekdays, as most spring breaks have passed but it's still before summer vacations start.

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Hi Tara!

We think level 6 for weekdays and more like a 7 on the weekend for that timeframe is accurate - just after that, we think things will pick up for summer break. Hope this helps!

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Hi April!

If you can swing it, especially if you'll be visiting in the last two weeks of the month or on a weekend, we'd swing for Express. Have a great time!

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Hi there!

Crowds should be manageable for most of your trip, especially on weekdays, which are at 4s and 5s mostly. If possible, we'd plan your downtime days on the weekends, when things will be at their busiest. You can see a day by day projection on our Crowd Calendar here (including our recommended parks and park hours!). Hope this helps - enjoy your vacation! :)

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