Can't BELIEVE .. IOA/US hours in June....

[Mabelette]

Looked at the posted schedule for park hours in June, (thanks Barry) and I can't believe they are STILL closing at 7 p.m. Our kids will be out of school, and I think for many people June is the beginning of vacations, yet they close at 7 p.m. ????? SeaWorld begins longer hours-- closing ast 10 p.m. GEESH..!!! Come on Universal/ IOA, June should be at least until 8 or 9 p.m.

 

[Sherrilatte]

I ranted about this several threads ago...I'm glad to see someone else feels the same way I do about these short June hours at US/IOA...

 

[degenerationxwwfwdw1]

Well if IOA hours aren't increased to at least 10:00 p.m in early July I think I'll just spend all of my 11 days at WDW. 7 or 8 pm closing is unexcuseable. Especially with a new park and huge crowds. Universal better be careful if they keep cutting back on hours. Many people like me wont be spending their 1 or 2 days at UO and might spend them at Sea World or just stay more at WDW. And can anybody tell me how to add pics to my signature. Thanks

 

[h20jag]

What to do in June on Father's Day week-end.....Six Flags over Georgia is open till 10 P.M. Think I'll take my wallet there! I love coasters at nite!!
Jim

 

[jtopicz1]

IOA is scheduled to be open until AT LEAST 8pm in June, except for the first week. Local schools (many of them, at least) are still open until June 5th, I believe. Sure, I'd like for the parks to be open until 10pm or later every night, but 11 or 12 hours is still plenty of time. Remember too, IOA generally isn't quite as crowded as Disney or Six Flags (which, to me at least, seems to always be packed since they aren't open year round - last summer everything seemed to have 1 or 2 hour waits...ugh).

Jim

 

[h20jag]

Well, truth be known, going for a baseball week-end really. Wanna check out the Lo-Q (Express with a pager system, like at restaurants) & hit all the coasters. If Braves lose Fri. nite, and there's a big probability of that, doin' Six Flags till close Sat. nite.
But, yeah, Universal really should be open later in June. They promote & advertise heavily enough, so if they stay open..."they will come!" And stay!
Jim

 

[jtopicz1]

Well....if you go (to SFoGa) let me know if Acrophobia and DejaVu are open and how they are. I'm still thinking about making the trip up there this summer to check them out.

Jim

 

[BarryHom]

I checked http://www.themeparks.com/unifl/calendar/hours.htm and the hours are as follows for both USF and IOA:

June 1 - 9: 9 am to 7 pm
June 10 - 23: 9 am to 8 pm
June 24 - June 30: 9 am to 9 pm

Crowds tend to increase as the month goes on.

 

[Mabelette]

Unfortunately ( I guess) for us, we are going June 3 - 7 . I just assumed they would be open a little later by then. We like to go for a few hours, then come back and swim / rest/ then have dinner and go back in the evening. Guess we'll have to re think our plan. M

 

[Radar]

Well we were here last year a week later and they still closed at 7 as I remember. I do know however that the HR pool is open late so we may stay longer and swim in the evening. I do know that FOTL lines are virtually nil, you can ride everything multiple times, even is Disney is open later, you're still waiting in huge lines so are you really any better there, doubtful, besides when was the last time they gave you third day free tickets??

 

[jelly-beans]

I visited in April and IOA and US closed at 7. By 6 many attractions were already closed (particularly at US). The one day I visited Disney (EPCOT) the hours were posted to close at 8:30 pm yet I was still there riding test track at 10!!! It seemed pretty packed at Epcot that day (much less crowded at IOA and US when I visited). Has anyone experienced IOA or US extend operating hours same day because crowds were big similar to what Disney seems to do? I want to add that although I was disapointed that I couldn't go to IOA or US at night, with FOTL the need to stay at the park for 12+ hours wasn't really there.

jb

 

[BarryHom]

Test Track generally stays open one hour after the park closes. If you are in the queue line before the park closes, you can stay in the line until you get to ride. The ride will close at the scheduled closing time, but you can stay in the queue line until it is your time to ride.

 

[DisneyFanGuy]

Twice I have been to DW where they have extended the closing time because of larger than expected crowds. I would imagine that they can only do it if there is no ETicket night going on that night.

I have never heard of US doing that but who knows.

BTW, 9-7 is plenty of time with moderate crowds at US. You can make reservations at a City Walk restaurant and end your day there. It works really well, the food is better and much CHEAPER!

There is a reservations booth as you walk through CW on your way to the parks. We have done that every time and skipped it if we are too tired. Our favorate is the Hard Rock Cafe. Not too expensive and very fun, though a little loud!

 

[degenerationxwwfwdw1]

Yes 7 pm might give you enough time but there is nothing better than riding Dueling Dragons at night. Heck almost every ride at IOA is different at night. That is the complaint. I like Hulk, Dr. Doom, and Popeye better in the night for some reason. So that is the complaint. Maybe they need an E Ticket type system open to the general public of course I think alot of people agree with me about riding rides at night.

 

[CoasterFEV]

Yes, both Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure have extended their operating hours, unexpectedly, mid-day. For example, on a day we may be scheduled to close at 8pm, we may scramble early afternoon to keep all the attractions and most merchandise and food outlets open until 9pm or later.

But, I wouldn't think this is something to look forward to. The only reason Universal would do this is if every line in the park is so unbearably long, that there is no way a guest can see much of the park prior to its scheduled close. So yes, there is always the off-chance hours might be extended - but you're going to spend that extra time in MUCH longer lines.

 

[larworth]

I understand the need to match times with general crowd level to keep operations profitable. However, I agree with others that not being able to do the park at night is a huge loss of guest experience.

Love riding JPRA, Hulk... at night. I remember when you could walk into the Lost Continent at night with the torches lit, WOW.

Even during some of the slower times it would be neat if they could pick one day to stay open later so people could see another side (the dark side) of the park.

 

[Jon360]

Why is it that all other parks like Disney and Six Flags have later hours than what is supposed to be the theme park of the 21st century Universal and IOA? If the 21st century means they don't stay open till 10-11pm, I want to go back to the 20th!

 

[jtopicz1]

All the other parks have longer hours because they are more crowded. Six Flags is not open year round, forcing everyone to visit during the summer months. I'll take a 8 or 9pm closing time over a packed Six Flags with a 10pm closing time any day! When I was at IOA a week ago, the park closed at 7pm and by 5pm it was nearly empty, why would Universal want to keep it open later??

Jim

 

[h20jag]

Yeah, the parks aren't that crowded now. That's why we're going this week-end.
In June, they're (USO) still closing at 7 P.M. though. Virtually all schools are out and the tourist / vacation dollars are flowing! Even if the ride lines are long, it's always a beautiful stroll thru the parks at night.
Sure, money may not be spilling out of all the pockets at these hours, but you don't want to let 'em think of alternate parks for future June visits.
Jim

 

[robvia]

Yes, this does alter your strategy. It used to be, visit the park in the morning, go back to the hotel for a rest, then come back to the park at night. Can't happen at IOA with the early closing hours.
However, both parks have water attractions which take the place of a swimming pool at a hotel. Bring a change of cloths into the park and store it in the $5 locker at the front of the park.
I think another reason they close the park early is because of City Walk. They want everyone leaving the parks and going to the restaurants to eat/drink.
At most parks, when you leave, it's to a parking lot to get into your car. At IOA/US, it's to a row of bars and good smelling food with music playing.
They also have a fountain area at City Walk which shoots up water patterns from the ground. People run thru it getting wet, it's something to see, kids love it.