The Very Best Times to Visit Universal Orlando in 2023 and 2024

Best tips for enjoying the park during Oct. 27 thru Nov. 1 Is it still worth visiting at this time with covid restrictions?

Hello! Great post, thanks! We'll be passing through on Wed. Dec. 30, 2020. We will only have 1 day and would focus on the Harry Potter parts of the park. Will it be worth it?

I am going to Universal in the weekend before Labour day next year. Ik you said it should be not that bad on Labour day but will the weekend before be busy? Because it’s Labour Weekend today and the parks hit capacity

My in-laws are Florida residents and want to take our kids to Universal Studios. Do you know if they can purchase tickets for the grandchildren at Florida resident rates also? It’s my understanding that Disney World allows this for children under 18 but I couldn’t find any specifics about Universal.

Since the FL resident deal ends on the 24th of December, is there any chance the Christmas to New Years week will be less crowded?

What is the cost of a wand at Olivander's?

Will the theme park open by may or June when the virus is over

Hi Leap,

why it's no good time to visit Universal Orlando between Feb. 13-21 in 2021? We want to travel to Florida for 3 weeks in February 2021, before Spring Break and without any school holidays. Wich 3 weeks are the best in this period?

Thanks,

Samantha

When will Universal open up packages for 2021?

Hi! When is the best time to book for Feb 2021? We just got back and are already ready to return!

My sons birthday is April 19th. The crowd calendar is showing busy that weekend. I was thinking maybe going on the 25th. What do you recommend. Also I heard you can get a birthday pin like at Disney. Where would I pick that up at? Thanks

We are limited on our ability to visit, so we will be going to Universal the last week in June leading up to July 4. Granted, I know this is going to be a busy and hot time of year. We will have the Express Unlimited passes. In general, during that time of year, what can we expect with wait times in the Express Pass line?

Also, can you do a blog (or if you have point me in the direction) regarding tips for best times to try for Hagrid's?

Thank you!

The crowd calendar says that Univ Studios and Islands of Adventure are the best parks to visit on Easter 2020, but the article says Easter has one of the biggest crowds at universal. Does that make sense or am I misunderstanding the crowd calendar? Thx!

Hello! Thanks for your helpful page. My husband and I are going to universal for the first time for 7-8 days in the fall. We definitely want to take advantage of the water parks and pools but of course also want to enjoy the amusement parks. What would you suggest weather-wise: September (I've heard it can be too hot), October or early November?

Also, do you think we are missing out on time in the parks with the HHN? We wouldn't mind seeing it one night but it's 5 nights a week that the park closes early. Do you know when Christmas activities start in November?

Thanks so much!!

We are planning 8 days at Disney and 4 days at Universal over Thanksgiving. We plan on being in Universal on Thxgvg Day and considering buying a throw away night at Loews to get Fast Pass Unlimited. We will be buying annual passes for everyone, but would it be worth buying one of them way in advance on the chance that they offer a special rate for AP holders? Are the chances slim since it's a peak week? Do they often email special hotel deals to AP holders, and if so, is there any way to keep informed of them without buying the AP way in advance? (buying up front, not on payment plan, so maybe the start date can still be held off until actual arrival while still getting email promos?)

Hi! Looking to book a vacation to Universal with 2 older kids and hubby. Of course we are looking at crowded times but not sure which be better, do you have any suggestions? We will not be doing the Express Passes, too expensive in my mind. We are looking at 4/11/20 to 4/16/20 or 4/15/20 to 4/20/20 or 5/21/20 to 5/26/20. Any input would be appreciated! Thanks!

First time traveller to Orlando!! travelling with 4 tweens/teens ( 15,13 & 2 x11 ) from Ireland . We are there for 8 days and we know the kids want to spend some time in Universal (Harry potter fans) and a water park . So we are thinking 3-4 days in Universal because this is something very different to what we have in Europe. We are struggling what to do with Disney - we have been to Disney in Paris pretty much every year which I know is smaller but there is a lot of overlap in terms of big rides, which is what the kids are interested in. The big difference is obviously Star wars - which is not in Europe - but it sounds like its highly unlikely we will get to ride the major rides cos of the queues.

I feel like its not obvious which park to do - which park will interest the kids but also pack the biggest punch in terms of what we have done previously in Europe. It likely that we will only do 1 day.

Any thoughts

Hi! Love your website so so much! I am planning two upcoming trips. I wanted to see how the wait times would be for March 3-5th and April 20th to 23rd! Thank you!

Hello!

My best friend, my mother, and I are planning on having some fun at the parks on April 22nd, 23rd, and 24th. It’s in celebration of my mine and my mother’s birthdays. Universal is my happy place so I’m happy to go.

Just curious, I saw an event calendar where it said all those days will be intense with crowds. Why?! Just curious. I don’t want to purchase Express tickets at this moment until I’m certain of the crowds. Hopefully it won’t be too crowded. I also hear the weather is quite nice around this time.

Hi again, I have one more question!

Do I have to stay in a Orlando hotel to have access to Express tickets? Or is there a way to buy them?

We are staying in a Walt Disney Resort, and not planning to go to a Orlando resort .

Thank you very much!!!

Hi, I love your site, is amazing and very useful!

We are planning to visit Disney World Orlando and Universal Studios next May (19th-22nd) and we well devote one day to Universal Studios.

I would like to ask you if you recommend to go both to Universal Studios and Islands Adventure, and if it is managable to do so in one day.

In this sense I've seen the One-Day-Park to Park ticket, is this the best ticket to purchase? Do you recommend the Express option?

Many thanks and regards from Spain!

Son and I are heading to FL for spring break 2020 - plan on hitting up Universal Studios sometime between April 6-9. We know it'll be packed because it's spring break, but is there are particular day in that range that might not be completely miserable compared to the others?

Hi great site but I'm panicking now. I checked spring break times and Easter so booked to arrive in between. 18th March to 2nd april. Is it going to be huge lines at all the parks ? Thank you for any help

Hi! Love your site. We are planning on visiting universal the week of Thanksgiving 2020, and yes, i see it's the worst time to visit :) but I am purchasing 3 day park to park tickets, do you think it's necessary to purchase the express passes? And if so, do the passes work for both parks or do I need to purchase a pass for each of the parks as well for each day that I have park tickets? We are considering staying at one of the hotels that offer the unlimited express pass, just not sure if it's worth it? Thank you in advance!!

Planning on going Dec 7th-Dec 12th 2020. We are hoping to purchase a Harry Potter package deal. Do the prices vary with different seasons, or will it pretty much be the same price if I buy it today or wait?

Thanks for all the info! A bit confused as to why saturday 25th January is expected to have such large crowds considering it's the weekend after the holiday? I thought it would have been a good time to go...

Hi, when are the Orlando Premium Labour say sales this year?

Thanks,

Hi,

I would have thought January, post-winter break would be less crowds than usual. Why would the Universal Studios calendar show high crowds January 18-20? Something event/holiday I'm missing?

Thanks!

Hello! We will be visiting Disney World on April 2 and 3 and then we will go to Universal Studios-Island of Adv-Volcano Bay, on days 6.7 and 8. Will they be busy days? Is it convenient for those days to buy the express pass? thanks!

Visiting from 2/14-2/16, is the express pass going to highly recommended that weekend? It doesn't have that holiday weekend listed as good or bad. Also can we do the two parks in two days?

Hi,

I’m bringing my daughters to Hollywood Studios on Jan. 16th and then to Universal on Jan. 17th.

We’re just doing those two days and we want to make the most of our short trip. What are crowds predicted to be during those dates and is it better to purchase tickets on line or at the gate with a 20% off code I was given from Universal Guest Services?

Hi there,

Well done on your amazing website. We are on a royal caribbean cruise and hoping to visit universal on Monday, July 27th. The ship doesn't dock until 1.00 p.m. and we will beheading to the park for aprox 7 hours. We intend on buying the express passes, may I ask,

Is there much of a waiting time for the rides with the passes, given that our time will be limited?

What time does the park remain open until in late July?

When and where are the best sites and times to purchase these tickets?

Thank you for your help with this.

Shane

Would a fast pass be needed for universal studios from 15th September to 25th will be visiting on a weekday

We are planning a trip for both Universal parks Feb 15-22, 2020. It appears from your site that this is a busy time do to Presidents Day. Do you recommend doing the parks later in week like Wed - Thursday to avoid biggest crowds instead of Sun-Mon? And should we get the express pass? We may just go to the beach for a day and enjoy our hotel pool another until mid week if you feel the crowds would be less. Thank You.

Visiting over the weekend (Fri and Sat) Feb 6/7 2020. Hoping to avoid major crowds by coming the weekend before Presidents Day weekend! Is it crazy not to get express passes for weekend days during that time or should we be ok? Thanks!

Awesome!

This is an amazing site. I'm considering a surprise trip for 1/9/20-1/12/20 for our family of 4. One of our daughters has some mobility challenges so we're not the most intense theme park visitors but they sooooooooo love Harry Potter. What is the difference between the 2Day Park to Park with Extra Day and the 3Day Park to Park? We'd stay on site but would welcome any advice on which location has easiest access (not a wheelchair need, just tires sooner). Would expect to come back for break mid-day. Access to swimming would be a plus. We've done Disney years ago, but not Universal. Food plans? Sorry for so many questions, but I know nothing about Universal. Thank you for anything you can offer!

Hey, thank you for all the info on your website, it’s been extremely helpful in our trip planning. Do you have an idea of what kind of wait times & crowds we would be looking at April 20/21/22/23?

Why is Feb 21-23 one of the worst weeks in 2020 to visit Universal? It shows fair crowds on your calender.

I see that the week of Christmas is not a good time for Universal but does that include the weekend before (December 21st and 22nd)? We have just a couple of days that we could fit that in our schedule but don't want to go if it's going to be terribly crowded then. Thank you!

My family and I are going to Universal for the first time next week (Nov 6-8). It looks like it shouldn't be too crowded, but we have been considering getting the express passes bc we really don't want to spend our time there waiting in lines! However, the passes are so expensive, we don't want to buy them unnecessarily - do you think we would be fine without them? Are we able to buy them there if needed or do they have to be purchased in advance? Thanks so much for your help, have a blessed day! :)

Just got back from Disney and Universal and we had a fantastic time. Busy but a great time was had by the family. Enjoyed Universal Halloween Horry Nights.

can't wait to visit

I'm planning on going to Universal Studios and Island of Adventure in October (9th - 23rd 2020) plus with a horror night experience (looks cool) should I expect alot of crowds or during the week it shouldn't be that bad. FIrst time going. Thanks :-)

would love to go to Universal!!!!!

Oh my god, I just realised that we have booked our trip to Florida in the Thanksgiving vacation. Our only choice for visiting Universal Studios parks is on the 22nd of November. I now realise that it's a busy day. So what can I expect???? DO we talk hours of waiting in lines even with the Express pass.

Best Greetings from Denmark

Hello

My family is traveling to Universal for the first time for Thanksgiving. I see this is the most busy time at Universal. We are staying at Portofino so will have the Unlimited Express Passes. With that in mind, can you tell me on average what this will mean for wait times? I see that avg times during those periods are 45-120 minutes depending on the ride so I'm wondering what kind of time savings we are looking at being it is peak time.

Thanks

Hi. Coming to Universal soon and it is during a slower crowd time. How have the crowds been during the slower crowd times currently with Star Wars at Disney? Can we do just Universal in one day? Not doing Island of Adventure. Thanks.

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!