Anybody just get back from Universal?

[DOREEN1779]

My husband and son are going to Universal for the day next Tuesday, the 23rd. Can anyone who has been there withen the last week or so give me an update on wait times for some attractions.Doreen

 

[Metro West]

I'm going to move this to the main board so you can get more responses.

 

[Planogirl]

We were there this past week. We spent four days with about equal time in the Studios and IOA.

The longest wait times we saw were at Forbidden Journey and Rip Saw Falls. Forbidden Journey got up to 90 minutes and then dropped to 45 minutes at times. Ripsaw was easily up to 60 minutes during the afternoon. The longest wait time I saw at the Studios was Disaster at 60 minutes but we did not check Rip Ride Rockit. I would expect that one to be busy. Spiderman and Hulk surged up to 50 minutes at times. Some rides were at 45 minutes routinely such as the Mummy, the Bilge Rat Barges, MIB and even Cat in the Hat.

It was really quite busy with most of the rides being at 30 minutes or more most of the time. It might ease off now because I think that we might have been in a crowd that was taking one more trip before school starts. I would get to the park early, hit those popular rides and then see the shows and ride less popular rides until evening when many lines tend to settle down.

 

[humphreydog]

There's an app for that

 

[DisneyLover25]

I just went the first week in August and the wait times were not really bad (although I stayed on property so you can skip all of the lines except for rip ride rock-it and the forbidden journey). I would say it really depends on the day that you go because some days the wait times will be ridiculous and then the next day everything is walk-on. I think that many of the Florida schools start next week so I think that will definitely affect the crowd levels. Also, I just moved to Florida recently and was looking at the Florida resident discounts and this Sunday starts the "value" season where the cost of the hotels is cheaper (which probably hints to the fact that the crowds will minimal)..however, be prepared because its going to be HOT HOT HOT! I would also suggest if anyone in your family has a smartphone to get the free application from UndercoverTourist... the wait times are pretty accurate and the wait times for harry potter ride change drastically throughout the day (from 120 minutes all the way down to 40 minutes when we were there).

 

[UBSHANG]

Our family just returned from a August 14 one day/one park visit to Universal Studios. By staying at the Royal Pacific resort, we were able to use the Universal Express lines for all the attractions. We arrived 30 minutes before the park opened and were among the first to ride Rip Rocket. Most of the other rides had wait times of 10 to 15 minutes during the morning, but increased to 45 to 60 minutes later in the day. But since we used the Universal Express lines, we had absolutely no wait in the morning, and only 10 minute wait times throughout the rest of the day. Also, using the single rider lanes allowed us to ride separately, but almost immediately. By 1:00 pm, we had gone on every ride at least once, and spent the remainder of the afternoon having lunch, seeing the shows and shopping. Since we finished Universal Studios so early, we should have purchased a one day/two park admission ticket and visited Islands of Adventure. You definately can do two parks in one day, especially since most students have returned to school this week.

 

[damo]

Our family just returned from a August 14 one day/one park visit to Universal Studios. By staying at the Royal Pacific resort, we were able to use the Universal Express lines for all the attractions. We arrived 30 minutes before the park opened and were among the first to ride Rip Rocket. Most of the other rides had wait times of 10 to 15 minutes during the morning, but increased to 45 to 60 minutes later in the day. But since we used the Universal Express lines, we had absolutely no wait in the morning, and only 10 minute wait times throughout the rest of the day. Also, using the single rider lanes allowed us to ride separately, but almost immediately. By 1:00 pm, we had gone on every ride at least once, and spent the remainder of the afternoon having lunch, seeing the shows and shopping. Since we finished Universal Studios so early, we should have purchased a one day/two park admission ticket and visited Islands of Adventure. You definately can do two parks in one day, especially since most students have returned to school this week.

Rip Ride Rocket doesn't have express access, just to clarify. It does have a single rider's line which they let fill up and then close until it empties again. It is a good ride to experience as soon as entering the park since the line will fill quickly.

 

[pigletliz]

We were there on Tuesday, the 15th, for the day. The longest wait we saw for Forbidden Journey was 120 minutes if you wanted to stay with your group, but only 15 minutes for single riders. The wait for Ollivanders was about 50 minutes and Spiderman was about an hour, as well. Definitely go early and purchase your tickets ahead of time, if possible. I couldn't get the family moving and we definitely paid the price for arriving late.

Also, be prepared for the heat, followed by the rain.

 

[UBSHANG]

Rip Ride Rocket doesn't have express access, just to clarify. It does have a single rider's line which they let fill up and then close until it empties again. It is a good ride to experience as soon as entering the park since the line will fill quickly.

That's why "we arrived 30 minutes before the park opened". We also arrived before the park opened because Universal Studios does not offer the one hour early park entry. Only Islands of Adventure allows resort guests early admission for the Harry Potter attraction.

 

[jjjmranch]

We were at Universal on August 9th and 10th. Just regular people going in at the normal time, no express passes or on-site early admissions. The Harry Potter FJ was a two hour wait in the morning, but only 45 minutes in the afternoon. Rip Ride Rocket was a 90 minute wait in the single rider lane. Spiderman was 45 minutes and the Simpsons was about 30 minutes.

 

[DOREEN1779]

Thanks for all of the great advice! I better plan on getting them there by 8:15. I already have their tickets. Is there seperate line for ticket holders entering the park? Doreen

 

[darthmoon]

We were there Sunday 8/14. We got to the entrance approximately 45 minutes before general public opening (which was listed as 9:00) and were let in at 8:30 and allowed to do whatever we chose at that time.

We of course went right to WWHP and got in line for Olivanders. BAD MISTAKE!!! FJ wait was only 1/2 hour at this time but I followed the advise I found here and went to Olivanders first. Olivanders wait ended up at around 1 hour at which time FJ wait was 1 hour 45 minutes.

My advise is get there early and go right to FJ. Olivanders was not that great and even my 8 year old said she wouldn't wait for it again. FJ was back down to 45 minutes by mid afternoon and seemed to stay at that for the rest of the day.

Definitely get frozen butterbeer and eat at 3 broomsticks. Even though it was super busy at 3 broomsticks we got our food quickly and the workers we able to direct us to an open table. They do a great job there!

 

[drag n' fly]

We were there August 14-18. We spent our entire ee one morning waiting in line at Ollivanders....yes our daughter was picked. She was no where near the stairs...she had no HP stuff on and she is 15 years old lol...Based on our experiences here is our advice.

Even though the park closed at 10, FJ will let you get in line (short lines) and do it at 10 or near closing time. Ollivanders is way better done in the evening right before FJ. You dont have to wait in the sun and the lines are half as long.

They really need to express FJ asap