Crowd levels in July?

[sbevione]

We are going on our first trip to Universal this July (the 15th through the 23rd). Any guess at how horribly crowded it will be? Some of the pictures I have seen of WWOHP are quite scary with the amount of people! Thanks!

 

[mesaboy2]

Pretty much horribly crowded. Sorry!

Go with a plan and realistic expectations and you'll still probably manage to have a good time. Use the info in this forum to help--it is invaluable IMO.

 

[sbevione]

Thanks Mesaboy!! It looks/sounds to me like Universal is not as good at managing crowd control as Disney, unfortunately. :-/

 

[mesaboy2]

Disney will be bad too I'm afraid. WWoHP is just a small area and that just exacerbates the crowd issues.

 

[Metro West]

Disney will be bad too I'm afraid. WWoHP is just a small area and that just exacerbates the crowd issues.

Yup...the whole summer is going to be bad at all local parks which is one reason I won't go in the summer and I live here. Disney is no better in the summer so it has nothing to do with crowd control.

 

[sbevione]

Yup...the whole summer is going to be bad at all local parks which is one reason I won't go in the summer and I live here. Disney is no better in the summer so it has nothing to do with crowd control.

We need to go in the summer since I won't take my kids out of school for a vacation. Though Disney has always been very crowded when we've gone, I am always very impressed with their crowd control. I haven't been to Universal yet, though, so I am only going on others' impressions/comments when I conjectured that they are not as good at crowd control. Hopefully I will be pleasantly surprised!

 

[ky07]

We need to go in the summer since I won't take my kids out of school for a vacation. Though Disney has always been very crowded when we've gone, I am always very impressed with their crowd control. I haven't been to Universal yet, though, so I am only going on others' impressions/comments when I conjectured that they are not as good at crowd control. Hopefully I will be pleasantly surprised!

We have to do the same and while it does get very crowded we still manage to do everything we want but not only will it be crowded and metro will agree it gets very hot
So just stay cool as you can and have fun and remeber its a vacation

 

[Metro West]

We need to go in the summer since I won't take my kids out of school for a vacation. Though Disney has always been very crowded when we've gone, I am always very impressed with their crowd control. I haven't been to Universal yet, though, so I am only going on others' impressions/comments when I conjectured that they are not as good at crowd control. Hopefully I will be pleasantly surprised!

The only area that crowds will be tough to deal with is WWoHP...it's so small and so many people will be going to visit. Just remember to pack your patience. Try to get there as early as possible if you aren't staying onsite at Universal.

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

I'd avoid the WWOHP during the first weekend of your trip, OP. There is a HP convention at the Royal Pacific during that weekend, and the last movie will be released on July 15, 2011. I expect crowds to be particulary insane that weekend (due more to the convention than the movie release).

We went to Universal last July, and it was very hot and very crowded. We went a few years ago in late August - just as hot, but not nearly as crowded (but that was before WWOHP, so not really a good comparison). We always stay onsite at Universal, so we find it very manageable. Even so, it was necessary to be there at opening because the WWOHP lines build VERY quickly. We left WWOHP about 10 am and the line was huge - we would not have been able to get back in for hours.

I do think Universal does not do crowd control as well as Disney (sorry!). Because we stay onsite, the lines and crowds are not a big deal for us. But if you stay offsite and do not buy express passes, it is very tough to get things done in the middle of the day (been there, done that our first trip, so we always stay onsite now). Because there are no free fastpass/express pass options, the middle of the day means waits for almost everyone. By arriving early, you can get the headliners done and at least be waiting in shorter lines for smaller rides. Disney has lines too, but the fastpass system allows someone who is up early and is clever to accumulate fastpasses to use midday.

Disney is the master of diversion - when you enter the park, the characters siphon off some of the crowd, then the street performers take a bit more, then the photographers slow down a few more, then the hub (at least at MK) disperses the crowd. It doesn't work as well at Hollywood Studios since 95% of the crowd is going to Toy Story Mania, and it doesn't work as well at IOA for Universal since 99% is going to WWOHP. I don't find US crowds to be unmanageable, though, even during crowded times.

If you are staying onsite, be there before the early entry time for hotel guests and go straight to WWOHP. If you arrive after the park opens for everyone else, you have lost your onsite advantage for that part of IOA. If you are staying offsite, be there early and go straight to WWOHP when they let you in. If you are offsite, I'd plan two days for IOA - one to hit WWOHP first thing and one to do everything else early before the lines get too bad.

 

[sbevione]

I'd avoid the WWOHP during the first weekend of your trip, OP. There is a HP convention at the Royal Pacific during that weekend, and the last movie will be released on July 15, 2011. I expect crowds to be particulary insane that weekend (due more to the convention than the movie release).

We went to Universal last July, and it was very hot and very crowded. We went a few years ago in late August - just as hot, but not nearly as crowded (but that was before WWOHP, so not really a good comparison). We always stay onsite at Universal, so we find it very manageable. Even so, it was necessary to be there at opening because the WWOHP lines build VERY quickly. We left WWOHP about 10 am and the line was huge - we would not have been able to get back in for hours.

I do think Universal does not do crowd control as well as Disney (sorry!). Because we stay onsite, the lines and crowds are not a big deal for us. But if you stay offsite and do not buy express passes, it is very tough to get things done in the middle of the day (been there, done that our first trip, so we always stay onsite now). Because there are no free fastpass/express pass options, the middle of the day means waits for almost everyone. By arriving early, you can get the headliners done and at least be waiting in shorter lines for smaller rides. Disney has lines too, but the fastpass system allows someone who is up early and is clever to accumulate fastpasses to use midday.

Disney is the master of diversion - when you enter the park, the characters siphon off some of the crowd, then the street performers take a bit more, then the photographers slow down a few more, then the hub (at least at MK) disperses the crowd. It doesn't work as well at Hollywood Studios since 95% of the crowd is going to Toy Story Mania, and it doesn't work as well at IOA for Universal since 99% is going to WWOHP. I don't find US crowds to be unmanageable, though, even during crowded times.

If you are staying onsite, be there before the early entry time for hotel guests and go straight to WWOHP. If you arrive after the park opens for everyone else, you have lost your onsite advantage for that part of IOA. If you are staying offsite, be there early and go straight to WWOHP when they let you in. If you are offsite, I'd plan two days for IOA - one to hit WWOHP first thing and one to do everything else early before the lines get too bad.

Ugh - while I knew that the movie is opening on the 15th (we will be in the theaters here at home at midnight before heading home to catch a few hours of sleep before getting on the plane! LOL) I did not know about the convention. While I would love to stay onsite, it is really not in the budget for us this year. We are saving up for WDW/Disney Cruise trip next year, so this year needs to be a bit less spendy. WWoHP is the *big* focus of our trip though, so I will need to try to plan carefully so we can enjoy it - especially since my mother is handicapped and will be in an ECV, which will be difficult to manage in closely packed crowds. We are planning to get the Orlando Flex ticket, so I suppose if we need to go back every day of our trip to really see all parts of WWoHP we just will. ;-)

 

[tinydancer09]

This month is when I say just go ahead and buy your express passes now! You can't use them in Harry Potter but you can use them most other places. Get to the park 30-45 min before rope drop. If you're staying onsite take advantage of the early hour.

Like other have said pack your patience and remember to stay hydrated. July is hot and HUMID HUMID HUMID in the south. The humid part will make you dehydrate quickly and not be able to cool off. (Esp if you're not from around these parts) Water is free in the souvenir cups and will honestly make a lot of difference. Kind of crazy that I make a big deal about this but promise me you will thank yourself if you take the advise.

 

[Bluer101]

We normally go every year for a week on July 4th weekend. We did not go last year, but many years past without WWOHP open. All I can say it is extremely busy. As for hot and humid I cannot really comment since we live here and are used to it. Since you say you cannot stay onsite due to budget I would say get there early in the morning and do as much as you can before the heat and crowds. I would wait to buy express passes until you get there. But that would defeat the purpose of you saving money on the hotel since the passes are going to be expensive.

Have you thought of booking one night onsite to get the 2 days of unlimited express and early entry? Then you have somewhere to return during the heat of the day. A lot of people book a room and don't even spend the night. Its just a thought and depends how many in your party. I just checked the price and its $269 for one night plus taxes from Monday the 18th to Thursday the 21st. Right now express passes for one park are $49.99. So depending on your party size it might be something to consider.

 

[LUVIOA]

It is beyond crowded in July but that's when we always go. The rest of the parks are easily enough handled but WWOHP is crazy. When it gets that crowded, they will hand out "return time" tickets and you will come back at your assigned time. For Disney folks, it's very similar to a fast pass in that the time you get could be 8-10 hours later (as in Toy Story Mania). This will just get you into the area. People have complained that they have showed up to spend a day there and not been able to get in at all (although I'm still pretty sure you can get in late in the day).

I have been to Disney and not been able to ride certain rides because of a breakdown, out of fast passes for the day, and 2 hour lines. But I don't blame Disney for not handling the crowd situation. Crowds are Crowds there is simply nothing they can do. I don't think it has anything to do with Disney being able to handle crowds better. They have NEVER had anything like WWOHP. A simple character or side show will not pull 50,000 people in different directions. Universal does the best it can given that thousands of people all want to go to one place.

 

[ky07]

It is beyond crowded in July but that's when we always go. The rest of the parks are easily enough handled but WWOHP is crazy. When it gets that crowded, they will hand out "return time" tickets and you will come back at your assigned time. For Disney folks, it's very similar to a fast pass in that the time you get could be 8-10 hours later (as in Toy Story Mania). This will just get you into the area. People have complained that they have showed up to spend a day there and not been able to get in at all (although I'm still pretty sure you can get in late in the day).

I have been to Disney and not been able to ride certain rides because of a breakdown, out of fast passes for the day, and 2 hour lines. But I don't blame Disney for not handling the crowd situation. Crowds are Crowds there is simply nothing they can do. I don't think it has anything to do with Disney being able to handle crowds better. They have NEVER had anything like WWOHP. A simple character or side show will not pull 50,000 people in different directions. Universal does the best it can given that thousands of people all want to go to one place.

I agree

 

[nymomof3]

this will be our 5th time going in july and we love it. our plan is always hang out by the pool, take showers and eat a early dinner and we head to the parks around 5 and because we stay for 6 days we are able to relax and also enjoy the parks not in the hottest part of the day and we get to see everything. this is the 1st time going with wwohp so i dont know how the evenings will be there but if its bad we will try early entry one day. dont worry, enjoy it will be fine as long as you are staying onsite.

 

[fairyprincess88]

As a previous poster mentioned OP, it might be best to avoid IOA from the 15-17th of your trip. Leaky Con will be held at Royal Pacific July 13-17th and is so far the largest Harry Potter convention to be held to date in history and is sold out. So picture thousands and thousands of Potter fans invading the area.

Of course many of the events will be held at the hotel convention center but you can choose which ones to attend, meaning many will just head to the parks instead of attend certain events. There is also a private WWoHP event where that part of the park will be open just for the convention attendants, but that will be before your arrival date and after park closing. We should all be cleared out and on our way home on the 18th, so while IOA, especially WWoHP will still be insane busy(I went last July), it won't be as horrible as it will be the 13-17th.

 

[heidijanesmith]

As all the previous posters mentioned July is busy, busy, busy.....We found WDW to be less manageable then US.

We stayed on site, HIGHLY recommend staying on site for the Unlimitted Express Pass and the 1hr early entry into WWoHP. We were able to tour WWoHP at our lesisure during the hour early and then hit the shops when the crowds were let in. It was a lovely way to start the day. The rest of UoA was crowded, but with the Pass, we never waited more than 5-10 min for a ride. The stand by lines were huge, so we could tour with little wait.

US, hit Rip Ride Rocket 1st, as it does not have an Express line. The rest of the day we encountered little wait using the Pass.

WDW does not offer the express pass, so we toured in the AM and the evening. The trouble with WDW in the evening, all of the Fast Passes were gone, so we made sure to hit the long line rides in the AM and enjoyed the senery at night.

The heat can be intense, so we would hydrate often and leave the parks in the afternoon for a break and the pool.

The tour groups can be daunting, huge numbers of people wearing the same colored shirts, hitting the same rides as you or eating in the same place. We never encountered any rudeness, just multiple groups in all the parks we hit(even if we park hopped), even US and IoA.

 

[ZYanksRule]

I went in July last year (and am going from the 11-16th this year)

Just carry a bottle of water with you. There are tons of water fountains, and you can fill up as often as you want.

And whenever you get too hot, just run onto a water ride. Any time I got too hot, I did a water ride, and that cooled me off for at least 2 hours LOL.

 

[heidijanesmith]

ooops