Universal Orlando… But in the Summer

We visited Universal Orlando Resort this June -our first time going in the summer- and it definitely cemented the theory that a theme park during it’s peak season and a theme park during it’s off season are very different experiences. This leaves one to wonder… When should you visit Universal Orlando?

Positives of visiting during busy season are that everything is open, and that park hours are extended. Drawbacks are long lines, thick crowds, an especially scorching sun, and elevated Uber rates.

It’s very valid that people don’t want to pull their kids out of school when it’s in session, or even that they just traditionally vacation in the summer. However, this is the reason it’s so busy. For comparisson, rides that usually have 15-minute waits when we visit were up to 45-minute waits, and rides that usually have one hour waits were soaring over 3+ hours. Lines for food are longer, too, so mobile ordering is even more of a must than usual.

I can’t say I didn’t enjoy the experience, because Universal is awesome, but I definitely have to recommend visiting during the off-season if you haven’t! If there’s a best time of year to visit Universal, it does feel like more bang for your buck when you’re able to spend less time waiting in lines and more time enjoying experiences. For specifics, you can look up a Universal crowd calendar to see up-to-date predictions for crowd levels on the day you want to visit. As a general rule, the slowest weeks are those where school in the US is in session and there are no major holidays around.

It’s definitely worth noting, though, that the parks close much earlier in the winter (5 or 6pm, compared to 9 or 10pm). Park hour calendars are always available on Universal’s website or app! You also may find more attractions down for refurbishment, restaurants closed for the season, or snack carts with very limited hours. It’s all a trade-off, though! Pros and cons on both sides, as always.

If you’ve visited any year-round theme park during multiple seasons, share you experiences below!