Crowds the week leading up to Christmas?

[horseshowmom]

Anybody been there the few days just before Christmas (say the 20th-22nd)? We'll be there sometime in that timeframe and were wondering how bad the crowds will be. Thanks!

 

[Pooh Fan]

I have the same question. We'll arrive there on the 21st and plan to leave Christmas night. I am hoping it's not too crowded.

 

[SpideyHulk24]

It should not be too bad. Are you staying on site? IF so, you have nothing to worry about. Now Christmas Eve and Christmas day can be busier than normal, but overall, if you start early, you will be fine. New Years is busier.

 

[rstamm]

I will be there 20-21 and I had no idea either, so I booked a room and it won't matter, with FOTL.
I will be with DS who hates to wait, and wants to ride Spiderman many times in a row.
I have been to Universal a few times in the off season and the waits were small, but I was a little worried this close to Christmas about the crowds.
If long lines are a concern, get a room and it won't matter.

 

[Pooh Fan]

We are already booked onsite for our time frame, so we will have FOTL. I can't imagine going to Universal and not staying onsite. When we were there last year between Christmas and New Years, we still waited 20-40 minutes for some rides with FOTL. Granted, stand by was much longer. We were just hoping for smaller crowds since we will be there about a week earlier.

 

[Keacc]

We have been there several times the week before Christmas and will visit at least twice this year between December 16th and 23rd. The crowds have always been managable in the past but that was using FASTPASS. Universal discontinued FASTPASS for the general public unless you pay for it or are staying on site. My best advice is to be at the park when it opens. At IOA we usually ride the Hulk and Spiderman twice when we enter the park with no wait. At US we head for Shrek first and then go to the Mummy. Waits are short at the beginning of the day. Get to the most popular rides early.

 

[vwlfan]

the week after Christmas? How are the crowds then?

 

[chrisn]

We won't be staying onsite (stay in dad's condo). I am debating on whether or not to purchase the Express Passes. They are $20 for this time period. Would you get them or not? Last time we went, I purchased them for our late Feb trip and didn't even need them. They were $15 for that time frame.

 

[horseshowmom]

We won't be staying onsite (stay in dad's condo). I am debating on whether or not to purchase the Express Passes. They are $20 for this time period. Would you get them or not? Last time we went, I purchased them for our late Feb trip and didn't even need them. They were $15 for that time frame.

I've been told by someone who knows that we probably won't need the Express Passes, because it won't get really busy until Dec. 25th. I was told that we can always buy them when we get there if we need them (I believe they were selling them in the stores the last time we went).

I had debated getting a room for the night, but we're like you and will be staying in a condo for the week. The room would only be for the keys and will cost me $199 (AAA for 4 adults) plus 12% tax plus $12 parking. It's very tempting (and I may still go for it), but I'm starting to lean more towards putting the money into some really good meals (we've never tried Mythos due to the cost) and time at CityWalk. Oh yeah, and we're definitely doing the valet parking, because it's so handy!