Best time to travel in Jan or Feb??

[rapunzels]

Thinking about pulling the kids out of school for a trip to Universal (skipping Disney)... Wondering if there is a better time in late Jan/Feb to go... Originally thinking of Feb 20-27... but saw somewhere that was the start of peak for Universal??? Any suggestions..

 

[sz9144]

there's martin luther king weekend middle of january and I think there's a harry potter weekend celebration at the end of january so you may want to avoid that weekend

 

[RMulieri]

Jan sees crowds thru Jan 4th or so. Then all the South American tour groups roll in. .It isn't insanely crowded, but it isn't dead/low crowds either. MLK weekend sees a surge of crowds and then after that it is average crowds. Not low or dead

 

[Squirlz]

We're going Jan. 10-17. Crowd calendar predicts mostly 2s, a couple of 3s.

 

[angierae]

We're going January 8-12. Saturday is predicted to be a 5, everything else is 2-3. We've got express passes, so I'm not super worried.

 

[kohlby]

It can be hard to find reliable universal crowd calendars so what I've done in the past is to look at Disney crowd calendars and compare weeks. That will give you an excellent idea - other than when there are special events. We went the last week of January one year and it was the most quiet I've ever seen it. However, it was also record cold weather that year - and it was the winter before the first Harry Potter area opened up. (We were also at Disney that week and same thing - the least crowded we've ever seen it - even less than the beginning of September which is super low crowds). I am not aware of the dates for the Harry Potter weekend or how that will effect crowds. So - if the end of Jan/start of Feb is not the Harry Potter weekend, then that would likely be an excellent time to go. As for Feb, I looked up a specific week in Feb when I was considering taking my nephews that week. I was very surprised how high crowd calendars had that week. (My nephews have a week vacation in Feb and one in April. The April one was only moderate crowds, so that's the week we're going instead).

 

[Lfsdromero]

I was looking at the touring plans crowd calendar and it has Feb 7th-13th as 2/3. However when I went to try and book a room at Cabana Bay , I am told they are sold out.

 

[angierae]

I was looking at the touring plans crowd calendar and it has Feb 7th-13th as 2/3. However when I went to try and book a room at Cabana Bay , I am told they are sold out.

I just tried to book a room at Cabana Bay for 2 adults and two kids for 2/7 through 2/13 and it gives me options for regular rooms and suites.

 

[Lfsdromero]

I just tried again and yes it gave me the standard rate but it wont give me my AP discount. I even called this morning and was told no that they were sold out. These must be rooms that someone canceled. I am on hold again with reservations

 

[Lfsdromero]

 

[Lfsdromero]

its puzzles me that this is supposed to be a slow period for them yet everything is sold out. Reservations just told me that I could not get the ap discount. Oh well I guess I will just stay off site this time. Just as long as I get to go LOL

 

[keishashadow]

I was looking at the touring plans crowd calendar and it has Feb 7th-13th as 2/3. However when I went to try and book a room at Cabana Bay , I am told they are sold out.

you're running into President's day weekend which is very busy, even moreso when if daytona 500 same weekend (not in 2016). More than a few adults tend to head down for valentines day too.

did u try different pricing via moving trip up a few days (to lop off a few days end of the trip)?

 

[Lfsdromero]

yes It looks like a split stay will be best. Maybe stay the first couple of days offsite then the last 3 days onsite. At this point, I am ok with staying offsite the whole time to save some $$$. I just want to go back LOL Some Universal is better than none.

 

[macraven]

Totally agree
Some time at the dark side is better than no time there

 

[dpena2]

I was looking at the touring plans crowd calendar and it has Feb 7th-13th as 2/3. However when I went to try and book a room at Cabana Bay , I am told they are sold out.

Mardi Gras celebrations are going on during February at Universal, that might have an impact. I think Diana Ross is playing that week so that might be why. :/

 

[Cuchman]

We're going from 2/17 - 2/23. Crowd calendar at Undercover Tourist is mostly 7/10 but goes as high as 8/10 and as low as 4/10.
Calendar is very detailed and you can see it here:
https://www.undercovertourist.com/orlando/crowd-calendar/february-2016/#calendar

This will be our first trip staying at a deluxe so I'm hoping we will get some advantage from the express passes.