Best Times to Visit Universal Studios Hollywood in 2023 and 2024

Hi Vas!

We're not aware of any student discounts on Express passes.

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Hi Veronica!

December can be one of the coldest months (along with a few rainy days), but there can also be beautiful days in the mix. We'd definitely recommend bringing layers, scarves and gloves, in case you need them. It's possible that you could get by without a large jacket during the day, but would need those layers at night. The average high is about 65 degrees and the average low is about 52 degrees. For more info, you can check out our weather guide (it's focused on Disneyland but same applies for Universal Studios Hollywood).

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Hi Rebecca!

Check out our weather guide — it's focused on Disneyland but the same applies for SoCal weather in general. For the most part, the hotter months that you want to avoid are July through mid-October. Spring would probably be the best time (with the exception of spring break season from mid-March to mid-April). Also keep in mind that during slower periods, there may be shorter hours, more ride refurbishments and less entertainment.

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Hi Lindsey!

We'll start by saying that a lot could change by September (the virtual queue might not be in place or Universal might stop selling Early Access tickets), so it will depend on demand at that time. The Early Access ticket has been a great way to maximize time in Super Nintendo World, so if it is available as an option, we'd recommend looking into it. You could also consider a V.I.P. tour — this includes valet parking, meals and guaranteed access to Super Nintendo World (including skipping the line for Mario Kart, which, at this time, is not offered on Express). Another thing to keep in mind is that 9/21 will likely be an HHN night, so the park will close by 6 p.m. to switch over to HHN. Regardless, we always recommend starting in the Lower Lot, which is where Super Nintendo World is located.

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Hi Heather!

Generally, the Oscars do not affect crowds since it takes place in the evening. The park usually does not stay open too late, but on March 12, it will stay open until 10 p.m. However, that's more likely because it's the beginning of spring break season, not the Oscars.

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Hi David!

There isn't anything official scheduled for that day, but our best guess is that it's Harry Potter's birthday, which may bring in Harry Potter fans who want to celebrate in the Wizarding World. Generally, Mondays can be a busy day for theme parks in SoCal, too.

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Hi Josh!

You can check out our Crowd Calendar for expected crowd levels. In general though, we'd recommend considering Express during this time since it will be in the middle of spring break season, and Super Nintendo World recently opened so it could potentially attract more crowds than usual during this time.

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Hi Mike!

Normally, we'd say crowds aren't so bad during the week, but because Super Nintendo World is officially opening Feb. 17, it may be more crowded than usual. Note that if it is busy enough, you would need to join a Virtual Line (which has the potential to fill up quickly) to enter Super Nintendo World. However, if you have Universal Express, you would be able to access the land without a Virtual Line reservation after 3 p.m. The only ride in the land, Mario Kart: Bowser's Challenge, will not have an Express line upon opening and is only accessible through a traditional standby line (or a Single Riders line). So it may be worth getting a Universal Express pass if you are interested in accessing the new land.

As for Disney California Adventure, it likely won't be as busy during the week, but do keep in mind that the Magic Happens parade returns Feb. 24 to Disneyland Park (so while Disneyland Park may be busy that day, you could see elevated crowds spill into DCA that day and over the weekend).

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Hi Jessica!

Are you planning to buy a special event ticket for Halloween, or are you just wanting to go to a theme park? We went to Knott’s Scary Farm on Oct. 31, 2022, and it was not crowded. But if you want to avoid a Halloween special-ticketed event, then Disneyland Park is the only park with normal operating hours that night compared to the others.

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Hi Bec!

Halloween Horror Nights takes place Thursdays through Sundays in September, so it does affect park hours because the park closes early to the general public. Sometimes Yom Kippur can also affect crowds (but it's more noticeable when it falls on a weekday). The mornings aren't usually too crowded though!

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Hi Rae!

We generally say that weekdays are less crowded than weekends, but because it's in the middle of spring break season, there may not be too much of a difference in terms of crowds so we'd go with whichever day fits your schedule the best.

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Hi Tiffany!

Official hours have not been posted just yet, so you'll want to keep checking the schedule. A 9 a.m. opening is generally standard, though it can vary by an hour before or after.

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Hi Janice!

The park is open 365 days a year! Official hours just haven't been posted yet.

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Hi Andtiff!

Thanks for hopping by! Aside from scheduled refurbishments or unexpected closures, rides typically do not close because of the holiays. Park hours are usually shorter during the week, so there may be limited nighttime entertainment (compared to weekend holiday experiences).

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Hi Tom!

Since both options are weekdays in early November, it likely won't be a necessity (though you could always purchase at the park if you change your mind). Either day would be fine — crowds would be about the same — so feel free to choose whichever one works better with your schedule.

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Hi Russ!

You may not need it. However, you can purchase in the park if wait times are longer than you'd hoped for. Because the park closes early, Express can certainly help. But if you get there before park opening to rope drop and knock out the Lower Lot after park opening, then we think you'll be in pretty good shape without it.

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Hi Yuri!

It's a holiday week (Fall Break) for some schools, which could increase crowds for a school day. You can either take it slow and go for two days or hit it all in one day with Express. You could also opt to buy a regular ticket and then assess in the park whether you feel like you need to upgrade.

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Hi Penny!

It really depends on the local spring break calendars, which can vary. But most spring breaks fall in early April so you may be able to avoid the crowds by waiting.

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Hi Candice!

There aren't any rides that close to remove Halloween overlays, as Haunted Mansion Holiday stays open and the other Halloween rides in DCA only have changes to the songs and lighting so they don't need any time to close in between. Just keep in mind that other rides could undergo normal refurbishment (we keep our Refurbishment post updated weekly), and there are nights that the parks can close earlier and entertainment can be more limited.

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Hi Melody!

We don't have any details on 2023 tickets just yet, but stay tuned! We'll be sure to update as soon as we know more.

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Hi Rowenna!

Expect the crowds to be bigger, as the weekend between Christmas and New Year's is usually the busiest week of the year. But staying on-site and having Universal Express will be a huge benefit for you!

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Hi Leslie!

They are both pretty similar with kids back in school, but many people are surprised that Sundays can be lighter than Mondays at theme parks. Hours are not yet posted for August, but it’s possible Sunday could be open later than Monday so that's another factor to consider.

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Hi Lindsay!

If your schedule allows, we'd suggest two days at Disneyland Park, one day at Disney California Adventure Park and one day at Universal Studios Hollywood.

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Hi Carlyn!

Yes! It's toadally possible to upgrade one of your days to Express, though you would need to do so in the park at the Box Office (subject to availability).

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Hi Siobhan!

You are so welcome - thanks for stopping by! The park usually does open 30 minutes early, but each day could vary. Usually, just the Wizaring World is open 30 minutes early and the access to the Lower Lot would open more at park opening. We recommend hitting the Lower Lot once it opens. But if you want to make a quick visit to the Wizarding World, you can do that and then head to the Lower Lot once it opens. Don’t dwell too long in Wizarding World as you can easily hop back later.

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Hi Al!

Yes, it should be a fairly quiet time with the exception of the weekend of Veterans Day (Friday and Saturday, 11th and 12th).

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Hi Nerissa!

We've never regretted having Universal Express — that said, it's not a particularly busy week (but it is a weekend day) so it may not be necessary. If you do decide not to get the Express ticket and want to upgrade in the park, keep in mind that your discount may or may not work in the park. (If not, then you'd have to pay more or wait in standby lines.) We usually suggest Single Rider lines to skip long lines if you don't have Express, but most have closed so it is a bit harder to skip lines without Express. With all things considered, it's toadally up to you!

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Hi Krysta!

Since it's in the peak of summer, the crowd levels will likely be similar. We would definitely go with Saturday! The later hours will give you more time (and more chances to see the Nighttime Lights at Hogwarts Castle show at night). Even we frogs have yet to catch a celebrity sighting on the Backlot (in fact, you're more likely to get diverted away from some parts of the Studio Tour if they're actively filming during the week) — and the better tours tend to fall on the weekend. Hope this helps!

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Hi Rachel!

There could still be some leftover spring break crowds due to Easter being later this year. We've never regretted having Universal Express, but you can buy the regular tickets and upgrade in the park (subject to availability) if you want to see how it is before committing to the cost.

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Hi K!

Thank you for hopping by all these years! We think Saturday and Sunday crowds would be about the same (depending on if it's the April 30/May 1 or May 7/8 weekend — keep in mind that May 8 is Mother's Day, though usually crowds aren't affected by it too much). Parking structures open an hour early, so plan to be at the park gates at least 30 minutes early. The Front Gate parking is right there by security, while Preferred is in a nearby structure and Regular is about a 10-15 minute walk. Front Gate has the shortest walk possible, but it's pricey so we usually get Preferred. But, especially if anyone in your group has limited mobility, it may be worth the extra cost!

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Hi Melissa!

If you're on the fence, you can wait until you're in the park to assess the crowd level and upgrade then (subject to availability). If you decide to wait, we'd just suggest that you arrive early in case it looks like it may sell out. The Hilton and Sheraton are both very nice and offer a shuttle to Universal. If walking, the Hilton is closer.

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Hi Kelly!

We suggest to keep checking back to confirm (sometimes Universal can be slow to update the site), but we'd expect the hours to be similar to the last couple weeks of March.

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Hi LJMB!

It's hard to say, but the LA Unified School District has spring break from April 11-15 and some neighboring school districts are out of school the week after Easter. Thursdays are traditionally lower crowd days than Mondays. Having Universal Express should help though!

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Hi Martin!

We think either date would be fine, so go with whichever one works best with your schedule! Crowds will be moderate so Universal Express probably wouldn't be absolutely necessary, but it certainly wouldn't hurt to have if you are more averse to waiting in long lines and can swing the higher-priced ticket! Also, you could wait and see until you're there — if you change your mind, you may be able to upgrade at the park (as long as it isn't sold out).

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Hi Jeff!

We're not toadally sure when Universal will release the official hours, but based on patterns from the park hours in November, we'd anticipate that Friday, Dec. 3 would be open an hour later than Monday, Dec. 6.

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Hi Cassie!

Since that's right after a holiday weekend and at the start of the holiday entertainment, the park may be busier than a normal Tuesday. We have never regretted the Express Pass, which also could allow more time to sit and rest in addition to reducing ride wait times.

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Thanks Matt - you are so welcome! :)

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Hi Kay!

Weekends are generally busier, but with varied prices for tickets based on anticipated crowds, we do see ticket buyers opt for the least expensive days, which may fall during the week.

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Hi Mary!

Any holiday weekend has the potential for crowds. The platinum pass has no blackout dates and includes a free Halloween Horror ticket for select nights, but the policy for Universal Express recently changed. You now get Universal Express access to each ride, attraction and show but only after 3 p.m. If you plan to visit at least 5 times in the next 12 months, can take advantage of the Express access and plan to use your Horror Night ticket, then it’s toadally worth it!

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Hi Tina!

The dates have varied in the past. In 2019, the holiday festivities started on Thanksgiving Day. But in 2018, it started as early as Nov. 17. So, if you're visiting during Thanksgiving week (particularly toward the end of it), there may be a chance that you'll catch some of the holiday decor and festivities.

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Hi Christine!

Unfortunately no, Universal Studios Hollywood does not offer Early Entry or Express Unlimited with hotel stays like they do in Orlando. Unlimited Express is available for separate purchase though!

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Hi Angela!

The 26 or 27 should be the best in terms of crowds according to our Crowd Calendar. Enjoy!

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Hi Denis!

Crowds are projected to be an 8 out of 10 that day, so the Express is a great idea! Have fun!

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Hi Tracy!

That timeframe should be busy throughout, so we'd choose what works best for you! Weekdays should be slightly better than weekends. You can see a day-by-day forecast here.

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Hi Dori!

Wait times can vary based on the rides, but you can expect 20-40 minute waits for most rides. It should not be a busy time, but follow our touring plan to get the lowest wait times per ride! Be sure to knock out the Lower Lot in the morning for the shortest wait times there. Have fun!

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Hi Diego!

That timeframe should be pretty busy! You can see a full forecast day by day on our Crowd Calendar here.

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Hi Kelly!

Great question! We think so. If the rides are your priority ad you arrive at park opening, you should be able to get them in. If you qualify for Single Rider, that can help shave some time off longer lines. You probably will not be able to catch all the shows. Keep your eye on the last tram time of the day for the Studio Tour. Have fun!

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Hi Sandy!

That time looks to be low in terms of crowds (5/10) according to our Crowd Calendar! Both parks are super fun, so our first suggestion would be to pick a One Day Park-to-Park ticket so that you can take the Hogwarts Express between the two. If you aren't able to swing a park-to-park, we'd suggest Universal's Islands of Adventure. Have fun!

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Hi Emily!

You can check out our Crowd Calendar for projected crowd levels on specific days here. This whole week is a busy one, so we'd spring for either Express Passes at Universal or MaxPass at Disney if you can! Universal Studios Hollywood is a great fit for your Jurassic Park and Harry Potter lovers, while Disneyland and Disney California Adventure Park are good picks for Frozen and Mickey lovers. Have a great time!

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Hi Samantha!

The VIP experience can be worth it if you want access to experiences that are not shown to other park guests. But if rides and main show are your priority, you can save with an Express Pass. While this can be a slower time without long lines, if the park hours are short then it can be challenging to see it all on your own without Express.

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