We're taking our kids and grandchildren (ages 5 & 7) to Disney World 1/17-1/25/20. We're kind of looking at this as a once-in-a-lifetime trip and want to see and do as much as possible. I'm thinking we'll get the Hopper Pass so that we can go to some parks in the mornings, rest/veg/play in the afternoons, and see shows in the evening. Do you have any recommendations on must-sees?

Thank you!

The Crowd Calendar is crucial for those of us who aren't familiar with the crowd flow of these popular theme parks. I love the look, feel and user-friendliness of this valuable tool!

Disney Springs is the most amazing place outside of the parks.

I’m arriving the weekend of December 28-January 4. I know in general it’s a bad time for crowds because of the holiday but is there one day during that week that it won’t be quite as bad at universal?

I notice you mentioned the benefit of staying at The Universal hotels that offer Universal Express Unlimited Passes (Loews Portofino Bay Hotel, Universal's Hard Rock Hotel and Loews Royal Pacific Resort). We are planning a trip in March and are planning to stay at a Universal Hotel. Have you found there is more benefit of staying at the hotels you list to get these passes versus stay at a different Universal hotel and buying the passes separately? Also, in your experiences with rides at Universal Orlando and Islands of Adventure, are these rides fairly smooth or are they jerky/rough?

Hi

Traveling from Europe this is our second stay in Florida and Orlando, but havent visited any of The parks yet besides Discovery Cove.

Both my daughter and I are huge Harry fans, so Im trying to research how to go about it, if we should visit Harry Potter World...it Can be quite tricky to find out just by google :)

We have been to Disney in Paris but it still seems there are Way more different tickets and options here..

As I understand it at this point.. Harrys place is not a park in it self but are areas within The two Universal Studios parks, which you have to buy atleast a 2 Day 2 park ticket to get The full expirience with The Hogwats Express ?

We have The option to visit on weekdays in mid october, is Express pass needed ?

Thx in advance!

Hello, My family and I are planning a vaction Oct 3 - Oct 6 2019. Would you reccommend going to Universal Studios and IOA in 1 day. No wel will not do the Harry Potter train ride.

We want to do all Harry Potter. They are in 2 different parks, correct? We are going with our 21 & 24 year old - thinking of getting them 3 day park to park pass and my husband and I 2 day park to park. Can ride Hogwart's Express with both, correct? Any need for us to do 3 day park? We won't ride rides. Mainly to look around and see it all. Thanks.

We are looking at going to Universal Jan 27 and 28. We are staying in Disney Vacation Club. Is it possible to do Harry Potter and Jurassic World in two days? We have never been to universal. How are they with a child with disabilities. Thank you.

We will be in Orlando from Jan 13-17, 2020. We purposely chose a time when kids are back in school. Looks like it's a good slow time per your lists. Should it be slow enough that we don't need to spend on the express passes? I am HOPING that we can do one full long day and do all of the wizarding world in both parks. we don't really care to do anything outside of the potter stuff. shouldn't be bad if it's slow right?

We are thinking about bringing our son for his golden birthday on June 13, 2020-June 17, 2020. Do you have recommendations on where to stay and if express passes are recommended? We’ve been to Disney many times, but this would be our first family trip to Universal. Thank you so much!

Hi, we are travelling in November 2019 & wondering if I should book a Universal hotel for 1 night? Arriving 12 Nov - 20 Nov & staying at Wyndham Grand Orlando Resort Bonnet Creek for the trip. Was thinking of booking a Universal hotel (Cabana Bay) for first night (12 Nov) to get the hour early pass for Harry Potter. Do you think this is worthwhile OR is the express pass a better option OR am I ok for not worrying about it & do the whole stay at Wyndham? Thanks Denise

Would like to visit middle of April 2020. I visited Universal about ten yrs ago around that time frame. While we were there on two different days we were told to leave the park early because there was a private party reserving the park. Do you have a schedule letting people know when parks are closing early for private parties? I would be upset if I paid for tickets and have to leave early

I'm planning to go to Universal Studio in March 2020 and I'm wondering if the PROMO (extra days) happens every year? Starting that month?

Thanks!

We are planning on coming the Sunday after Thanksgiving, December 1st. We are solely interested in Harry Potter rides and experiences. We plan to get the Express Pass and the pass that allows you to ride the Hogwarts Express from one park to the other.

Here are my two questions:

1. How critical is a Smart Phone for Express passes? I feel like we needed one at Disney (we do not have Smart phones but traveled with someone who did). If we do need one, would a tablet work/ is there a Wifi to dial into at the park?

2. Which park would be best to start at that day? We would like to start at the less crowded of the two and finish with the other (my thinking is crowds may die down as people return from Thanksgiving holidays)?

Hello, thank you for all the information, it is very useful. We plan to go to Orlando during the second week of January 2020 (12 to 19). We are going to buy the 2 park 1 day to be able to use the Hogwarts Express; since we are going to be a single day in both parks, we thought to go on Saturday as I understand that the schedule is until 8, but as I saw that weekend is not so recommended, I do not know if it is better to go on a weekday, even if we do not have that extra hour. Thanks!

We can't wait to visit in October!

Can't wait to take the grandkids!!!!

What a beautiful theme park. I hope that I can visit it in the future. When is the best time to plan a trip to Universal?

Interesting...Thanks for the information

We want to take our daughter to magic kingdom as well as universal she is a huge harry potter fan. We have a fall break from school buy I was wondering if it's better to book a package deal or will it be cheaper for me to find my own hotels. Also where is the best place to go to find the best deal on park tickets? Love your website very informative

When will 2020 park tickets be offered?

Wonderful breakdown of what to do and when. Looking on Groupon at a buy two days get three free (park to park). Would that be the best bang for our buck? Arriving in Orlando Sunday morning and staying for six nights. Will have a not yet two year and four adults that are crazy about Harry Potter. Any recommendations??

Hi!! First trip super excited planning for late February 2020 or first of March. Any advice

Hi! Super helpful post and site -- thanks! We are going to try to go Sept 26-Oct 1 and do 2 days at orlando and 2 days at disney. Is this a busy time or less busy because of the rainy season? Also do you recommend doing disney before or after? Our kids are most excited for everything harry potter so not sure if we want to do it first or end with it. Would love any input. THANK YOU!!

Hi, this was really helpful thank you. I'm trying to do universal studios and islands of adventure in one day which I know will be a struggle but I can only afford a one day park to park ticket without express pass. We're just going to pick our favourite rides and plan a military style operation to get around as many of them as we can. I'd like advice whether to go on Saturday 2nd November when we'll get 2 more hours in the parks or either Monday 4th or Tuesday 5th when we'll get 2 hours less but I presume the parks will be quieter so lines will be shorter? Thanks

You wrote that Easter Sunday 2019 was one of the worse days to visit Universal Studios. I can attest that this was/is wrong as we were there yesterday and the longest we waited in line was 75 minutes. The park seemed crowded but the lines for all the rides were averaging 45 minutes. Just thought I would let you know.

What about easter monday? Are schools closed? It is nit a publuc holiday, so why should ut be so crowded? Thanks.

My proposed dates are Sunday, May 17, 2020 until Friday, May 22, 2020. A good week before Memorial Day and the start of most summer vacays and avoiding weekends. I am not too terribly concerned about crowds at this time, but am still wondering if it is worth our money to stay at the Royal Pacific and get express passes. My goal on this trip (as opposed to a not so relaxing Disney trip) is to do NO planning whatsoever, no arrival times, order of rides, restaurants picked in advance, NOTHING. What do you think?

Our family is going to be visiting Orlando and we are considering doing a few days at Universal. The problem is we are limited to visiting in July. Any suggestions on the best days to visit to avoid crowds or anything we can do to make it more "doable"? We know it will be crowded, but its the only time we can go.

1st timer to Universal and my 12yr old daughter is HP obsessed! Looking to go Nov 3-8 nervous about ride closures, can I find out ahead of time? I will change if need to. Also we were going to stay at Loews Pacific, anyway to save? better time for discounted rate? I am getting a great ticket price from Sams Club B2G3 Free :) Any other tips or suggestions for 1st timer appreciated.

Hi,

We are planning to go to Disney and Universal Orlando between May 1 to May 9th, 2019. We are going to Magic Kingdom on one day, EPCOT on one day and planning to cover Universal Studios and Universal Island of Adventure in 2 to 3 days. Do you need to purchase Express pass at Universal Orlando?

We are planning a trip to Universal in September, but I don't see tickets or park hours available past June. When do fall tickets / hours usually become available?

Hi there,

We would like to take our kids to Volcano Bay between the end of March and the end of May. What weekends or weekdays are best, in terms of crowds? We would like to get out there before school gets out, but wondered if it's already busy with tourists. Thank you in advance!

Hello! I was wondering if there was a specific event/reason that IOA is listed as busy the last 2 Tuesdays in August? Thanks!

We are planning a trip Oct 22-25 to go to the Universal parks. According to your calendar, it looks like crowds will be moderate those days. I am trying to decide if it is worth staying in one of the hotels that issues Express passes to their guests, or if the lines will be manageable enough that we can stay at a less expensive hotel. Would love to hear you opinion. Thanks!

My Husband and I are taking our Kids to Universal for the first time Sept 21-25th and staying at the new Endless Summer Resort. Any information on the accessibility for that Universal hotel and how the crowds will be for that time ? Still warm? Think we should need fast passes? My husband and I have been but this is the first for the kids ( 10 & 5)

Now that the opening date for Hagrids ride has been announced how much will crowds at Universal generally, and the Wizarding World specifically, before and after the opening, be affected?

Looking to plan a Florida trip March 27-April 1 2021. Easter falls on Sunday, April 4, 2021. We were planning on spending one day at a Disney park, two days at Universal, one day at Sea World and one day at Discovery Cove. Everything I read says to stay away from Disney around Easter. Is this a bad choice? We went to DIsney in 2015 in the summer and had crowds and we don't want to have that same experience again. Thank you.

Hi! We are coming to see the Harry Potter worlds and can either be there Wed - Sat March 13-16 or Sun-Wed March 17-20. I would have thought the 13-16 would be less crowded but it's slightly more expensive then so maybe I am wrong?

Thanks in advance for any advice!

Coming June 2019. Is there any advantage to 10-14 as opposed to 17-21

Thanks

what time do people have to leave universal if they are not attending halloween horror

Thinking of going midweek from June 3rd to June 7th. Would it be really crowded and warrant an express pass even if it's midweek?

OHH man we are going February 16th- to the 20th. Mostly for just Universal and one day at Magic Kingdom. After reading this im wondering if we should spend extra money and do the hopper between the 2 parks and add the fast lane too. so we can do both park in one day. Is this doable in your opinion? Unless you think both parks with just the hopper ticket is enough? it looks like we are going during a busy time. AHHHH!!!

We are visiting in late May of this year. Do you know when the publish the special graduation dates the park closes early for middle schoolers?

Planning a visit March 31st to April 4th. What are the expected crowds? Thank you!

When will the Holiday Schedule be available? I'm going the 1st week of December and trying to plan for the parades and Christmas events.

Planning on a trip April 13-17 2019. How long will waits potentially be if we have unlimited pass?

Thanks LaRod

Hi, Thinking of going to Universal March 7-11, 2019. How will the crowds be and do you recommend the unlimited express pass? Thanks

Planning on visiting Universal on Saturday April 13, 2019 thru Wednesday April 17, 2019 with the unlimited express pass. Will this be ok with Spring Break crowds? Not sure exactly when it the most crowded.