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

Hi Cody!

Compared to bigger holidays such as Christmas or Thanksgiving, Presidents' Day weekend won't be as crowded. However, it can still draw significant crowds since kids are usually out of school and parents may have the day off so it's more concentrated on that particular day (and overall weekend) - relative to the rest of the month. Some other factors going on during that timeframe include Mardi Gras and the Disney Princess Half-Marathon Weekend (while the crowds will mostly stick to Disney World, some race participants may hop over to Universal to catch two flies in one trip, if you know what I mean!).

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Hi Ashley!

We don't know the official showtimes or park hours for that timeframe yet, but the show generally depends on the timing of dusk. If the park closes before dusk, then it won't run. But if the park hours are late enough after sunset, we would expect it to run shortly after dusk. At this time, we recommend that you keep checking the app for confirmation.

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Hi Erin!

They are both going to feel about the same in terms of crowds, so we'd pick whichever works best with your schedule!

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Hi Dolly!

We compared ticket and Express Pass prices and they were just about the same (with only a few dollars difference) during those two different time windows (Universal hotel rates were about $20 cheaper per night in June). As far as crowds go, March 27-April 1 falls during the middle of spring break season and June will be right at the start of summer vacations, so we'd expect elevated crowds for either one (though peak summer crowds usually don't start until later in June — for that reason, June may be slightly better crowds-wise). Other things you may want to consider are special events (Mardi Gras is taking place until April 16 in 2023) and weather (March/April would have nicer weather).

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Hi Ana!

Local schools will be back in session on Jan. 4, so that generally helps with crowd levels. The first week can be busy with leftover holiday crowds but it certainly won't be as busy as the previous week between Christmas and New Year's — higher crowds are also more likely at Disney because of the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend, though we point it out because some may decide to visit Universal too.

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Hi Juan!

The week between Christmas and New Year's is usually one of busiest (if not, the busiest) weeks of the year. But don't fret! We have some tips for going to Universal during a busy time, which you can find here. Let us know if you have any other questions!

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Hi Marie!

Thanks for hopping by! We encourage purchasing your tickets early once you've nailed down your dates, as prices are subject to change at anytime. We'd recommend visiting on a weekday versus over a weekend (with the exception of Oct. 9, which is a holiday — Columbus Day/Indigenous Peoples' Day).

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Hi T Max!

This year, the Pop Warner Super Bowl & Cheer and Dance National Championships will be taking place Dec. 2-10, 2022. It will affect the hotels the most, so we'd recommend booking your hotel as soon as you nail down the dates. On Dec. 6, there's a private celebration party that starts at 7 p.m., which will close both theme parks to the public early that night. While the events take place off-site at the Orange County Convention Center (Cheer and Dance) and Camping World Stadium (Football), the parks could still be impacted throughout the week (in the case that there are some who are not competing one day and go to the parks on a day off).

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Hi Wes!

There may be slightly elevated crowds, but for the most part, it won't be as busy as the prior week! We're taking into account the runDisney Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend which runs from Jan. 4-8, 2023. While the event will mainly affect Disney World crowds, some families may decide to hit both while they're in Orlando. Also, local schools go back in session on Jan. 4. so the first half of the week may remain busy.

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Hi May!

Universal Orlando hotel pools are heated, and daytime temps should be perfect for swimming - have a great time!

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Hi Kiran!

If you have the option for the week before, we'd go with that alternative. But if you're unable to, then we'd consider time-saving tools such as the Express Pass and Early Park Admission (if you're staying at a Universal hotel). We have a separate blog post about going to Universal during a busy time that may help!

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Hi Mish!

It doesn't look like the 2022 dates have been announced yet (the season starts in 4 days so we may learn more soon). However, based off the event's history, it took place Dec. 4-11, 2021 and Dec. 7-14, 2019 — the first Saturday through the second Saturday of the month — so we'd expect it to hoppen Dec. 3-10 this year.

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Hi Oliver!

Yes, that's a great time to visit Universal Orlando! :)

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Hi Ginger!

You definitely have options! We would recommend Express Passes if you can swing it - whether you purchase separately or stay at a premier hotel. If you purchase separately, we'd suggest buying those as early as possible to lock in the lowest price since the price will likely increase if you wait last minute or get them on the day of (also note: if you want to have Express Passes on both days, you would need to purchase each day separately, so it may be easier to go the hotel route, which includes it for the length of your stay). Similarly, if you choose to go with a premier hotel, book your reservation early. As far as considering an annual pass for yourself, it probably depends on how much you're going to use it. If you think you'll make repeat visits, then go for it (you'll also get discounts on food and merchandise). But if you're only planning on those two days, it could be less expensive to go with a 2-Park, 2-Day ticket (you'd have to compare the prices to see which would be cheaper). For your friends, we do offer discounted tickets, as well as hotel rates.

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Hi Oliver!

The only special event usually hoppening right around that time are the Gradventure nights for middle school graduates (so the two theme parks may close early on May 12 while you're there, as well as May 5 and May 19). Early May is generally a quieter time overall, as it's after the spring break season but a little too early for summer breaks, which can begin as early as Memorial Day weekend.

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Hi Isis!

Either week should be fine, because of exactly what you said! Kids have just gone back to school so crowds slow down around then (other than Labor Day). You can use our Crowd Calendar to compare, but the week before and the week after Labor Day are just about the same. Rides don't usually go down for maintenance or ride overlays for Halloween Horror Nights, so you don't need to worry about that! You can keep up to date with our Refurbishments post, which we update weekly.

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Hi Lisa!

In terms of benefits such as Early Park Admission, there aren't any differences between Dockside and Cabana Bay Beach (they both offer it!). The major differences would be amenities, location and prices. Dockside is considered one of the value resorts, so it would be the cheaper option, while Cabana Bay Beach is a prime value resort. Cabana Bay Beach is close enough to the theme parks that there is a walking path (in addition to shuttle buses), and shuttle buses are the only transportation option at Dockside. Lastly, Cabana Bay Beach has more amenities, including a lazy river and a bowling alley.

As far as which days to visit, you will be visiting during the HHN season. So even if you are not attending, you may want to visit Universal Studios on a non-HHN day for longer hours. We also generally recommend weekdays over weekends. To save money on Express, it is best to purchase in advance, as the price is subject to change (usually increases as the date gets closer). But if you're waffling on the decision, you may prefer to wait until you're able to scope out the crowds. You can use our Crowd Calendar to help you choose dates, as well!

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Hi Carmen!

Yay, we're super excited for you! While we can't promise that you won't encounter bad weather, we do have a blog post about tips for a rainy day at Universal that may ease some of the anxiousness.

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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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