Best Times to Visit Universal Studios Hollywood

by Leap on September 14, 2017 103 Los Angeles

As you know, Tad is the frog family videographer. While he enjoys making all our videos, he has set his sights on becoming the next Spielberg. Movie terms make their way into everyday conversations. Homework concludes with "That's a wrap people." He will "give me notes" on my driving. For our aspiring auteur, a visit to Universal Studios Hollywood is the best of both worlds. He gets to visit a theme park and a working Hollywood studio! It's a thrill for him to be on location where "Back to the Future" and "Psycho" were filmed. Because of his interest in Tinseltown, we're always looking for the best times to visit Universal Studios Hollywood.

Today, we’re outlining the best times to visit Universal Studios Hollywood in what's left of 2017. We have info for For those of you planning a visit in 2018 as well.

If your particular dates are not listed here, jump down to the comments below and ask. We frogs will be hoppy to answer. Our Los Angeles Crowd Calendar is a helpful tool to help you get a month-by-month idea of the expected crowds. If only we could predict travel times on those SoCal highways! Universal Studios Hollywood and Disneyland are only 35 miles apart geographically—yet it can take almost two hours to drive between them. That said, many tourists will spend time visiting both destinations. This can lead to some overlapping of crowds. If you're interested in hopping down the 5, we've got a full post on the best and worst times to visit Disneyland. Note: you could also take the 101 to the 134 to the 210 to the 57 to get to Anaheim. Freeway funway!

Universal Studios Hollywood began as a behind-the-scenes tour of the working Universal Studios lot. The narrated Studio Tour that gives fans a peek at film production is the park's marquee attraction. Transformers: The Ride 3-D, The Walking Dead Attraction and Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem provides unforgettable thrills and fun. Live shows such as Waterworld and the Special Effects Show are can't-miss crowd pleasers. The arrival of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter brought a new level of thrills, with Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey. Nearby at Universal CityWalk, you'll find shops, movies, entertainment and themed dining favorites such as Hard Rock Cafe and Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville. Sounds like a lot right? Don't worry. Even if you visit during the busy times, we have tips and park plans you can follow to reduce waits and make sure everyone— even the tadpoles — can have a blast.

How Locals Influence the Best Times to visit Universal Studios Hollywood in 2017 & 2018

If you’re used to visiting Universal Orlando rather than the Hollywood original, know that there are some differences. The best times to visit Universal Studios Hollywood in 2017 and 2018 isn't necessarily the same ones at Universal Orlando. The biggest difference is the locals. Universal Orlando has locals, but not nearly as many as those in the Los Angeles regional area. More and more of these locals are annual passholders who might spend the end of their week at The Three Broomsticks while sipping on Butterbeer.

Dropping in for a pint at Moe's sounds cool, but it's not always possible for local passholders. Depending on the passport, a passholder might find himself or herself blocked out of the park on certain days or weeks. Those block out times—namely summer, spring break and holidays—are popular travel times for tourists. Looking at Universal's Universal Black-Out Calendar — this one is for California locals — gives you a fairly good idea of the very busiest dates of the year. This is because these are the times when most of the passholders are not allowed to enter. For all of July through early August, the California Neighbor Pass holders are blocked from entering the park entirely. That's a sure sign that there will be tourists!

Harry Potter has unsurprisingly created a spike in interest and attendance at Universal Studios Hollywood. It has also fueled interest in of one of our most popular posts on when to use the Front of Line pass. His West Coast arrival draws Potter fans who can't make the trip to Orlando. Vacationers are extending their trips to visit the Wizarding World. Locals are renewing their passes. We're expecting this surge (or... lighting bolt?) of interest in Universal Studios Hollywood to continue over the next few years. We've been hearing whispers of Wizarding additions too. Aparecium!

Worst Times to Visit Universal Studios Hollywood in 2017 & 2018

Veteran's Day Weekend - Nov. 10-12, 2017
Thanksgiving week - Nov. 18-25, 2017
Around Christmas through the second week of the New Year - Dec. 21, 2017 - Jan. 7, 2018
MLK Jr. Day Weekend - Jan. 12-15, 2018
President's Day - Feb. 16-19, 2018
Spring Break and Easter - Mar. 10 - Apr. 15, 2018
Memorial Day Weekend - May 25-28
June 9-Aug. 11, 2018
Thanksgiving week - Nov. 17-25, 2018
Christmas week through the second week of the New Year - Dec. 21, 2018 - Jan. 6, 2019

Other Dates That Might See Higher Crowds

We've pulled together other days that see higher crowds, but not as high as the absolute worst days. Some of the dates listed are isolated, with the days around them generally fine. These dates do bring in more locals. Anyone out there in La-La-Land aware of other dates that are popular with locals? Share in comments below!

Labor Day - Sept. 4, 2017; Sept. 3, 2018
Columbus Day (elevated crowds that week) - Oct. 9, 2017; Oct. 8, 2018

Best Times to Visit Universal Studios Hollywood in 2017 & 2018:

Weekdays in January (minus the week of New Year's Day and the days around MLK Day )
Weekdays in February (minus the days around President's Day)
The first few days in March (until March 4, 2018)
The second half of April in 2018
Weekdays in May (Minus Memorial Day Weekend)
Mondays through Fridays the last two weeks of August
The first half of September (except Labor Day weekend); Mondays through Thursdays for the remainder of September and October (except nights with Halloween Horror Nights)
Mondays through Thursdays in November (minus the week of Thanksgiving)
Mondays through Thursdays during the first half of December

Holiday Crowds At Universal Studios Hollywood in 2017 & 2018

One of the best times to visit Universal Studios Hollywood is during the holidays. The park has holiday events for ones that enjoy merriment as well as hauntings. Halloween Horror Nights scares up large crowds during Halloween. Universal is kicking up their holiday offerings for 2017. Christmas in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter is sure to bring in droves of muggles and wizards. The popular Grichmas shows no signs of slowing down. If you're thinking of visiting during these times, be sure to check out our survival guides and tips for Halloween Horror Nights and Christmas.

Aaaand, cut! Great job everyone. We hope you've enjoyed our ideas on the best times to visit Universal Studios Hollywood in 2017 and 2018. Don't forget that a solid park plan can be almost as good as traveling on a low crowd day.

Keep hopping!

Tags: Universal Studios Wait Times, Universal Studios Hollywood, Wizarding World Universal Studios Hollywood

Comments

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Crispin Mapula Feb 5, 2017 at 10:38 p.m.

Hi! My family of four plan to tour Universal Studios Hollywood on Feb.27, 2017 during our Anaheim-Disneyland stay. We'll probably depart early morning from Anaheim and spend more or less 8 hours in the Studio and head back. Kindly give us a ticket cost estimate. Thanks

Please disregard the previous email, date was Feb. 2 instead of Feb. 27, 2017. Thanks again

FrogBlog Feb 6, 2017 at 8 a.m.

Hi Crispin,

All of our ticket options are available here. You would purchase the NON-PEAK General Admission ticket, or upgrade to Front of the Line if you want to "hop" the lines.

Keep Hopping!

Leap

Stephanie Feb 12, 2017 at 4:04 a.m.

Hi-

Our only two options are Sunday 4/9 or Monday 4/10. Sunday look slightly better on the crowd calendar even though it's a weekend day. I'm assuming we'd need peek tickets, but I couldn't find an explanation of peek vs non-peek. Harry Potter is our #1 priority and then the Studio Tour. I'm considering splurging on the VIP tickets. Given the crowd size and only having 1 day, do you think it would be worth the money? Thanks so much!

FrogBlog Feb 12, 2017 at 7:20 a.m.

Hi Stephanie,

Your visits would both fall on NON-Peak ( peek :) ) days. If you can afford the extra expense, we recommend the Front of the Line passes, but know they are not valid for any Wizarding World of Harry Potter experiences. We're expecting Spring Break crowds during that time, so be prepared!

Keep Hopping!

Leap

Stephanie Feb 13, 2017 at 2:23 a.m.

Thank you so much! I didn't know they weren't good for Harry Potter.

Jasmine Tran May 26, 2017 at 9:19 p.m.

We went to Disneyland 2016 memorial day weekend that saturday and found that it was great because it was not to crowded at all thanks to your website. We are planning to go to Universal Studios May 27, 2017 this Saturday for MDW. Do you think we will have the same luck?

Jennifer Feb 15, 2017 at 4:31 p.m.

Hello and thanks so much for your wonderfully informative resources! My family (2 adults, 2 boys 7, 10) will be visiting Disneyland in early Sept and my 10 year old is dying to visit Universal Hollywood for Harry Potter and the Minions. We'll spend 2-3 days at DL and 1 day at Universal. Given traffic/travel times would you recommend changing hotels for the visit to Universal? Thank you!

FrogBlog Feb 15, 2017 at 10:45 a.m.

Hi Jennifer,

Yes, it's always a good idea to stay off the Southern California freeways! There are convenient hotels around the Universal Studios area. It's well worth the stay in the area then try the 2+ morning rush hour from Anaheim to LA.

Keep Hopping!

Leap

Mark Feb 17, 2017 at 3:03 p.m.

Your best days include only weekdays. If I can only visit during a weekend, which would be the best weekends to attend?

FrogBlog Feb 17, 2017 at 9:11 a.m.

Hi Mark,

The best weekends usually fall near the best days, but weekends are generally better than weekends. Check out our Crowd Calendar to see the weekend crowd forecasts for the days you're considering visiting.

Keep Hopping!

Leap

Jen Feb 20, 2017 at 8:56 a.m.

we're visiting on april 17,2017 - will it be crowded? is there a shuttle from la brea station / sunset blvd to universal?

FrogBlog Feb 20, 2017 at 5:59 p.m.

Hi Jen,

We're forecasting heavy crowds on April 17th at Universal Studios.

You can take LA Metrorail to Universal Studios. Here's an article to help you plan.

Keep Hopping!

Leap

Cindy Mar 8, 2017 at 4:49 a.m.

Hi, my family and I are planning to visit this Friday, March 10, 2017. Do u think we will see big crowds? We will definitely not be buying the front of line pass. Wonder if its worth even going if the crowds are huge. Thanks

FrogBlog Mar 8, 2017 at 8:17 a.m.

Hi Cindy,

We're forecasting for average crowds this Friday at Universal.The crowds may be higher if families are starting their vacations early. Use our Universal Studios Park Plan to help with getting the most out of the day.

Keep Hopping!

Leap

Candace Mar 8, 2017 at 8:53 p.m.

Thanks for this post! We visited last September towards the end of the month on a Tuesday and it was fantastic. SUPER low crowds. We are now planning another trip this coming September and will be there on September 11. In looking for hotels, it looms like the Hilton is completely booked already from September 8-11. Do you think this is cause for concern? I can't find any events specifically that would already have an entire hotel booked and I'd hate to accidentally plan a trip for a terribly busy day!

FrogBlog Mar 9, 2017 at 8:29 a.m.

Hi Candace,

It's possible there is a convention/meeting or other event taking place at the Hilton, or we don't have an allotment of rooms available. Crowd-wise we're forecasting low to average crowds. There are plenty of other great hotels in the Universal area!

Keep Hopping!

Leap

RavenclawMama Mar 13, 2017 at 10:38 p.m.

My oldest turns 11 on Oct 14 and we want to surprise her with a Hogwarts letter. :) I see that her actual birthday falls on a Saturday, so we'll avoid that. We plan to go two days, but see on your crowd calendar that the 12th has high crowds. We'd like to go on a Wed and Thurs - why is that Thurs so high? Should we be ok if we go the 11th and 13th, or would it be better to wait until the following week on the 18th and 19th instead? And do you know when they'll post the dates for Halloween Horror Hollywood, because we absolutely want to avoid that.

FrogBlog Mar 13, 2017 at 6:58 p.m.

Hi,

Last year, Halloween Horror Nights ran Thurs-Sun. That would make Mon-Wed your best bet to avoid HHN. We're expecting to know the dates before the end of April, so you might want to wait until then to get the trip booked.

Keep Hopping!

Leap

Etav Mar 15, 2017 at midnight

Hi,

I am planning to visit universal studios hollywood on Mar 18 2017. Should I expect high crowds on this day?

FrogBlog Mar 15, 2017 at 7:14 a.m.

Hi Etav,

We're forecasting high crowds at Universal Studios Hollywood on Mar 18 due to Spring Break.

Keep Hopping!

Leap

marc Mar 15, 2017 at 7:45 p.m.

We are coming April 21st, should we expect large crowds? Front of line pass doesnt work on harry potter? So we should do that first? How many shows are there?

FrogBlog Mar 15, 2017 at 2:53 p.m.

Hi Marc,

April 21st will be crowded, so consider riding Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey first. There are great shows like Waterworld, Universal's Animal Actors and the Special Effects show. Don't forget about the Studio Tour!

Keep Hopping!

Leap

Birgit Mar 19, 2017 at 12:46 p.m.

Hi, Does the Front of line tickets also include admission 1 hour prior to opening hours?

Plan to visit April 10th or 11th and I assume we should get the "non-peak front of the line" ticket? We do not need a date specific ticket?

Thank you in advance for reply :)

FrogBlog Mar 20, 2017 at 8:16 a.m.

Hi Birgit,

Our Front of Line tickets do not include the early admission. The Non-Peak FOL is valid during those days, and you don't need a date-specific ticket.

Keep Hopping!

Leap

Jade Mar 21, 2017 at 9:59 p.m.

Hello, we are planning to go to universal studios Hollywood Thursday, 10/5/17 and being that it's the week leading up to Columbus Day would you recommend us getting front of the line passes instead of the regular admission tickets? In our group we have 4 adults and 4 children ages 15, 8, 6 and 1. Appreciate your help!

FrogBlog Mar 22, 2017 at 8:26 a.m.

Hi Jade,

We're forecasting Oct 5th to see Average crowds at Universal Studios Hollywood, so you should be fine without FOL. If you get there and it's busy, you can purchase FOL at the park!

Keep Hopping!

Leap

Dharti Patel Mar 24, 2017 at 12:10 p.m.

Hello,

we are planning to visit either Friday 12th may or Saturday 13th may. Please recommend which is better?

and which areas to cover first? IS front line needed for Friday?

FrogBlog Mar 24, 2017 at 8:09 a.m.

Hi Dharti,

We're forecasting average crowds on May 12, and heavy crowds on the 13th. If you can afford the expense, we recommend Front of Line. Consider visiting the Lower Lot or Wizarding World of Harry Potter first.

Keep Hopping!

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Desiree Mar 28, 2017 at 12:07 p.m.

We were thinking of visiting April 5 or April 6. We will purchase it online for one of those days. Which day do you predict being better as far as crowds?

FrogBlog Mar 28, 2017 at 8:24 a.m.

Hi Desiree,

On our Crowd Calendar, we're forecasting Heavy crowds on both days. Pick the day that's convenient for you!

Keep Hopping!

Leap

Anjie Apr 6, 2017 at 10:09 p.m.

Hi, we're planning on going to Universal Studios Hollywood on Sunday, June 11th. Front of the Line tickets are probably necessary for this day. I just want to make sure that I get the Off Peak tickets (instead of the Peak ones). The price difference between buying them from the Universal website and your site is quite substantial, and I want to make sure I don't end up with the wrong tickets (since they're non-refundable). Please advise.

FrogBlog Apr 6, 2017 at 7:42 p.m.

Hi Anjie,

Give Customer Service a call at 1-800-846-1302. They can walk you through purchasing the right tickets for your visit.

Keep Hopping!

Leap

Novi Apr 7, 2017 at 2:06 a.m.

Hi, my family and I are planning to visit universal studio on either June 29th or June 30th. Which date would have less crowd? Do I really need to buy front line tickets? How bad would the queue?

I am also planning to go to Disneyland Theme Park and Disneyland California Adventure, I have empty schedules between July 5th - 8th, Which dates do you recommend? Thanks in advance

FrogBlog Apr 7, 2017 at 8:08 a.m.

Hi Novi,

On our June Crowd Calendar, we are forecasting Heavy Crowds on both of your Universal Studios days. It's hard to forecast wait times, but purchasing the FOL would significantly reduce your wait times.

There will be High Crowds on your Disneyland Resort days as well. Pick the days at work for you.

Keep Hopping!

Leap

Mousa Apr 17, 2017 at 5:36 a.m.

Hello, we are planning to go to universal studios Hollywood Wednesday , 23/08/17 . would you recommend us getting front of the line passes instead of the regular admission tickets? In our group we have 2 adults and 2 children ages 8 and 11. Appreciate your help!

FrogBlog Apr 17, 2017 at 7:52 a.m.

Hi Mousa,

We're forecasting average crowds at Universal Studios Hollywood on August 23, so you should be fine without FOL.

Keep Hopping!

Leap

Dinesh May 1, 2017 at 4:15 p.m.

Hi.. We are planning to visit either 20/21 May.. Would you recommend the need for a FOL ticket if we visit on 20th ?

FrogBlog May 1, 2017 at 1:27 p.m.

Hi Dinesh,

Looking at our Crowd Calendar, we're forecasting average crowds on May 20th. You should be fine without FOL. You can always upgrade inside the park if it's busier than expected.

Hoppy Planning!

Leap

Debby Edelstein May 5, 2017 at 4:26 p.m.

Hi.

We are planning on going on may 11th, is it worth buying the FOL? How long are the average waiting times without ?

FrogBlog May 5, 2017 at 11:38 a.m.

Hi Debbie,

There are many factors that determine wait times—crowds, weather, time of day, breakdowns on attractions—to name a few. On our Crowd Calendar, we're forecasting average crowds on May 11, so you should be fine without FOL. Arrive before the gates open to make the most of a slow morning.

Keep Hopping!

Leap

Amir Saiban May 9, 2017 at 1:33 p.m.

planning on visiting may ,13,2017 should we purchase the fol pass?

FrogBlog May 9, 2017 at 8:44 a.m.

Hi Amir,

On our Crowd Calendar, we're forecasting heavy crowds. If you can afford the extra expense, we recommend FOL on this day.

Keep Hopping,

Leap

Hai Win May 13, 2017 at 8:08 a.m.

Which day is best to visit Universal Studios Hollywood between June 3-5? Should we get FOL tickets? Thanks.

FrogBlog May 13, 2017 at 7:13 a.m.

Hello Hai Win,

Looking at our crowd calendar, June 3 will have average crowds. You should be fine without FOL.

Keep Hopping!

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Tiffani May 14, 2017 at 12:17 a.m.

We have family coming out July 1-4 (Sat- Tues)How busy will the 4th of July be? I know its a family/beach/barbque holiday, so wondering if you think that would be a really busy day or if you have any idea which would be the least busy day to go?

FrogBlog May 14, 2017 at 5:35 p.m.

Hi Tiffani,

Fourth of July is a very busy day, as is every day in July. Check out our crowd calendar for more information.

Keep Hopping!

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Charlotte May 20, 2017 at 3:03 p.m.

Hi,

We are planning on visiting on either 9/8/17 or 10/8/17. Would you recommend getting a FOL pass?

Thanks

FrogBlog May 22, 2017 at 8:35 a.m.

Hi Charlotte,

Peeking at our Crowd Calendar, we'd recommend FOL on 10/8 but not on 9/8.

Keep Hopping!

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Jaime May 25, 2017 at 4:40 p.m.

My daughter and I are coming on 5/30 for her 16th birthday. Is it worth getting FOL tickets for that day? We really want to be able to see as much as possible. I don't want to spend the extra money if the lines aren't that bad during that time. Thanks!

FrogBlog May 25, 2017 at 12:05 p.m.

Hi Jamie,

On May 30th, we're forecasting average crowds. You should be okay without FOL. Be sure to arrive at the gates 30-minutes before the park opens to get a jump on the lines and crowds.

Keep Hopping!

Leap

FrogBlog May 25, 2017 at 12:05 p.m.

Hi Jamie,

On May 30th, we're forecasting average crowds. You should be okay without FOL. Be sure to arrive at the gates 30-minutes before the park opens to get a jump on the lines and crowds.

Keep Hopping!

Leap

Sarah May 30, 2017 at 1:23 p.m.

How does May 31st look for crowds?

FrogBlog May 30, 2017 at 10:06 a.m.

Hi Sarah,

We're forecasting average crowds at Univeral Studios Hollywood on May 31. Have fun!

Keep Hopping!

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Maureen McKenzie May 25, 2017 at 11:10 p.m.

In the June summer break, after the 9th, is there a weekday when crowds are smaller ? I assume weekdays are less crowded than the weekend

FrogBlog May 26, 2017 at 6:55 a.m.

Hi Maureen,

Once summer hits there's no weekday that is less crowded. Generally, weekends are busier than weekdays, but with so many people on vacation, the weekdays are still busy.

Keep Hopping!

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Rajat May 27, 2017 at 9:04 p.m.

Hi,

I am planning to visit between 22 to 25 Aug with 2 kids, aged 9 and 5. Will the park be busy during this period, will one day be sufficient to see majority of park or should we plan for 2 days? Thanks.

FrogBlog May 28, 2017 at 7:42 p.m.

Hi Rajat,

Looking at the August Crowd Calendar, we're forecasting average crowds that week. You should be fine with just one day.

Keep Hopping!

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Andrea Foskett May 29, 2017 at 4:32 a.m.

We are planning a trip to Disneyland December 4th to 8th. And now we are thinking about going to Universal on Sunday December 3rd. Are they open long enough in winter to do Harry Potter and Minions in one day?

FrogBlog May 29, 2017 at 8:16 p.m.

Hi Andrea,

Universal Studios isn't a large park to navigate. Seeing the Wizarding World and the Minions attractions in one day is easy.

Keep Hopping!

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Girlsrule Jun 1, 2017 at 8:39 a.m.

Hi just wondering thoughts on crowds during the week of Tuesday 10th April to Monday 16th April 2018 for visiting Disney Anaheim and universal studios Hollywood. We are traveling from Australia so time is set unfortunately . Avoid the parks T weekend? thanks ????

FrogBlog Jun 1, 2017 at 12:56 p.m.

Hi,

Looking at our April 2018 Crowd Calendar, you can expect high to average crowds during your visit.

FrogBlog Jun 1, 2017 at 12:56 p.m.

Hi,

Looking at our April 2018 Crowd Calendar, you can expect high to average crowds during your visit.

Keep Hopping!

Leap

Sam Jun 9, 2017 at 4:44 p.m.

Hello my wife and I are wanting to go to universal studios in Hollywood, ca today on June 9th 2017. We were wondering which tickets we needed to purchase? Basically wondering if we could purchase the "NON PEAK" tickets and them work today?

Thank you

FrogBlog Jun 9, 2017 at 12:01 p.m.

Hi Sam,

You would need to purchase ANYTIME tickets. NON PEAK tickets are not valid in June or July. Please know that while most E-Tickets are sent within minutes, please allow up to 4 hours for successful email delivery.

Keep Hopping!

Leap

Sabrina G Jun 9, 2017 at 6:29 p.m.

Love your crowd calendar!!! So helpful!!! Thank you!!!

FrogBlog Jun 9, 2017 at 2:07 p.m.

Thanks Sabrina. We're glad it's helpful.

Keep Hopping!

Leap

Jane Jun 12, 2017 at 4:53 p.m.

June seems like a busy time. if you had to pick any day in second part of june to visit, which day would it be. We have a season pass, so we a blocked some of the days.

FrogBlog Jun 12, 2017 at 1:23 p.m.

Hi Jane,

The best day to visit in June is the day you can go. We're forecasting heavy crowds every day through the month of June. Even weekdays are very busy during the summer months.

Keep Hopping!

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Stef Jun 24, 2017 at 6:44 p.m.

Is there any day in the first two weeks of July that is better than the others to visit Universal?

FrogBlog Jun 26, 2017 at 7:16 a.m.

Hi Stef,

During the summer months, there really is no better day over others for Universal Studios Hollywood.

Keep hopping,

Leap

Serafina Jul 10, 2017 at 7:38 a.m.

If your crowd calendar forecasts average crowds (8/22/17), do you still recommend considering front of line passes? How long is the average ride wait time when there are average crowds? Thanks so much!

FrogBlog Jul 10, 2017 at 11:26 a.m.

Hi Serafina,

You should be fine for visiting Universal Studios Hollywood on without FOL on that day. It's hard to predict wait times since they fluctuate due to the time of day, the size of crowds and status of attractions—temporarily closed or operating at less than normal capacity.

Keep hopping!

Leap

Krystal Jul 17, 2017 at 9:33 a.m.

Hi, we are coming to visit first 2 weeks in August (bad time I know). We are considering the VIP but have a 5 & 7 year old, wondering if its worth spending a bit more and getting VIP or just get Front of Line? HEELLLPPPP please!

FrogBlog Jul 17, 2017 at 4:58 p.m.

Hi Krystal,

With a 5- and 7-year-old, the VIP Experience might not be worth it. Since it includes a 7-hour tour with a guide, you don't have as much freedom to navigate through the park at your leisure. And if your kids are anything like Tad and Lily, they can be a bit unpredictable! We would recommend sticking with the Front of the Line passes if your concern is just beating the lines.

Keep hopping!

Leap

Dayton Jul 18, 2017 at 11:08 p.m.

Hi, we are planning to visit during the week of Sept. 25-29. What day of the week would you recommend considering we are trying to avoid Halloween Nights? And would you recommend a FOL Pass for that day? Thanks

FrogBlog Jul 19, 2017 at 1:30 p.m.

Hi Dayton,

According to our Los Angeles Crowd Calendar, the 26th-28th are all green days, so crowds and waits shouldn't be bad. Universal Studios Hollywood hasn't yet released the exact dates of Halloween Horror Nights; we just know it's select nights starting Sept. 15. As soon as we know the dates, we'll update the Halloween Horror Nights post.

Keep hopping!

Leap

matt harris Jul 18, 2017 at 11:51 p.m.

Hi there, my family and I are heading to LA in Sept/October, looking like universal studios on sunday 1st october. My question is with park hours closing at 6pm, will there be no light shows for hogwarts? With the halloween stuff kicking in I'm guessing the light show takes a break?

Mr. Martin Esmeralda Jul 23, 2017 at 2:01 a.m.

Hello,

Which day would be better Sunday or Monday July 30th or 31st for a family of 4?

FrogBlog Jul 25, 2017 at 11:12 a.m.

Hi there,

According to our Los Angeles Crowd Calendar, those are both heavily crowded days. However, Mondays tend to be less crowded than Sundays.

Keep hopping!

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Amy Jul 23, 2017 at 3:43 p.m.

Hello, we're already planning next year's vacations & we're looking at spending 2 days at Universal & at least 1 or 2 days at a beach. In your opinion, would the 1st week of June or mid September be our better choice? Thank you!

FrogBlog Jul 25, 2017 at 11:03 a.m.

Hi Amy,

In terms of crowds, September is definitely the better choice. Kids are back at school, and besides Labor Day, there are no major holidays. The weather is also still warm enough to enjoy the beach.

Keep hopping!

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Amy Aug 13, 2017 at 2:39 p.m.

Thanks!

Does Universal tend to use the slower months to close several rides for maintenance? Or will some tend to close to start decorating for holidays (in Sept)?

FrogBlog Aug 14, 2017 at 7:56 a.m.

Hi Amy,

Typically, the slower months are when Universal will refurbish attractions. The schedule of which ones is always subject to change.

Keep Hopping!

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Heather Jul 25, 2017 at 7:47 a.m.

My kids and I will be in Southern California July 26th to August 1st, what would be the best day to go to Universal Studios during that time.?

FrogBlog Jul 25, 2017 at 1:31 p.m.

Hi Heather,

According to our Los Angeles Crowd Calendar, all of those days are going to be red and at level 8. You can expect crowd levels to be pretty high, so choose what day works best for your schedule. Weekends tend to be even busier than weekdays.

Keep hopping!

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Athena Jul 26, 2017 at 8:05 p.m.

Hello! My husband and I will be visiting both Disneyland and Universal Hollywood this upcoming October (the 16th through the 20th). We will probably be at Universal on that Wednesday, and are trying to decide if we should get a front of the line pass. We are especially eager for the WWoHP, of course! Would it make sense to buy front of the line passes for that day? Or should we be okay without them? Do you perhaps have an estimate as to wait line times during the off-season?

Tevel Jul 27, 2017 at 9:47 p.m.

Hello,

I'm planning to be in Universal Studios in August 31st. Do you thing I should buy the fast line ticket or that it wouldn't be crowded?

Thank you in advance.

FrogBlog Aug 1, 2017 at 2:25 p.m.

Hi Tevel,

Our Los Angeles Crowd Calendar shows that day's crowd levels as 5/10. Crowds won't be super crazy, but the FOL pass will keep you from waiting at all.

Keep hopping!

Leap

Jul 28, 2017 at 3:03 p.m.

im planning a trip with the fam on Mon Aug 7 . would i need front of the line pass? would their be big crowds on monday?

FrogBlog Aug 1, 2017 at 2:26 p.m.

Hi there,

Yes, we recommend a FOL pass for that day. The park will still be crowded since it's still summer vacation time.

Keep hopping!

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Mary Jul 30, 2017 at 10:35 p.m.

Love your website! We are visiting Southern Cali for the first time in six years the last week of Jan/first week of Feb 2018 (week of Jan 28). We want to do one day of Universal and three days of Disney. Any recommendations on which days are best to visit each? We are tentatively thinking Monday Universal, Tuesday Disney, Wednesday break day, Thursday and Friday Disney. Thanks!

FrogBlog Aug 2, 2017 at 3:29 p.m.

Hi Mary,

Check out our Los Angeles Crowd Calendar! This can help you decide on which days are best based on crowd levels.

Keep hopping!

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Ginger L Aug 10, 2017 at 10:02 p.m.

Love Harry Potter area

Gabby Aug 17, 2017 at 11:33 p.m.

Im planning to vist universal studios this labor weekend 2017. crowded? busy?

FrogBlog Aug 18, 2017 at 8:10 a.m.

Hi Gabby,

Looking at our Crowd Calendar, we're forecasting heavy crowds on Sat and Sun, but average crowds on Mon.

Keep Hopping!

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Ruthi M Aug 25, 2017 at 9:45 p.m.

We are planning to go to Universal on either Sunday 29th October or Monday 30th which do you reccommend? We are thinking of the VIP tour or front of line tickets... is the VIP tour worth it. We are from Australia love movies and this is a once only trup to LA.

Thanks for your help.

FrogBlog Sep 1, 2017 at 9:20 a.m.

Hi Ruthi,

Looking at our Crowd Calendar, we're forecasting average crowds on both of those days in October. You should be fine without Front of Line tickets.

We have not experienced the VIP tour, but it may be a great way to see the studio if you are huge movie fans. Maybe one of our readers has taken the tour and can comment!

Keep hopping!

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Steven Sep 11, 2017 at 3:30 p.m.

Nice website, very informative...

Question about Thanksgiving week...I've seen some conflicting info about crowd size on various sites. Some say it is packed the entire week. Others say Mon & Tues are not crowded, but Thursday and Friday are very busy. Can you confirm about early-week crowds? Thanks

FrogBlog Sep 12, 2017 at 11:05 a.m.

Hi Steven,

Thanksgiving week is a busy time at any theme park. We were at Universal Studios Orlando last Thanksgiving week and it was very crowded Monday and Tuesday. We hopped away before the Thursday and Friday crowds. Perhaps there was someone that visited USH last Thanksgiving week and can chime in?

Keep hopping!

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Julian Sep 13, 2017 at 10:30 a.m.

Hi,

We plan to visit Universal Studios Hollywood on Thu-5-Oct or Fri-6-Oct. Average is expected for both (6/10). Seeing that park opens 1 hour later on Friday we think we are going on Fri-6-Oct. Does it seem a good call ?

FrogBlog Sep 13, 2017 at 1:06 p.m.

Hi Julian,

That's a great way to go. Have fun!

Keep hopping!

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Aubrey Sep 15, 2017 at 3:14 a.m.

My husband and I are planning to be in Anaheim and LA Oct. 7-12. We want to go to Universal Studios on Sunday the 8th. We aren't going to the haunted attractions so will the normal park be busy that day? The other days we are planning on hitting up Disneyland. How does this sound to you?

FrogBlog Sep 15, 2017 at 9:06 a.m.

Hi Aubrey,

Looking at our Crowd Calendar, we're forecasting heavy crowds at Southern California theme parks during Oct. 7-9. As for the 8th at Universal, you may see crowds since some people spend the day at Universal and stick around for Horror Nights.

Keep hopping!

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