Crowds This Time Of Year

[sonny]

We are going to Universal for the first time since the original opening year (pretty boring) Now we are going to give it another chance and are looking forward to a good time. Does anyone have an idea about the crowds this time of year? We are going the 28th of April for a week and want to know how are the crowds and what days are best to go. This time of year I know Disney is pretty crowded on weekends and a big spillover on Mondays. But usually a walk-on with most rides on weekdays. Is Universal the same?

 

[loribell]

I can't answer for sure as I have never been at this time of year but I would say if things at Disney are a walk on then they should be at Universal as well. I'm sure that someone that has been at this time of year will be along soon to let you know for sure.

 

[macraven]

read what ksdave says in this link.

http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1422668

3 years ago i went the first week of may and found no crowds.
ksdave posted on another thread in the forums that he found a hotel filling up for about or close to your time period.

just because a hotel is full doesn't always mean the parks will be crowded.
Best Buy held a convention and the employees stayed at hrh when i was there and that is what filled that hotel up. the conventioneers only had a limited time free for the parks.

i'm guessing that the first week of may should be fine and not crowded.
maybe someone else has a different opinion that will post their thoughts.


one thing that will help determine the crowd predication for april 28, early may is check out the costs of the express passes. if they are being sold for $15 each, that would make me think parks will not be crowded.

 

[clownboy007]

Right now the parks are in the post-Spring Break and Mardi Gras lull so they're pretty dead. The weekend is "Grad Bash" so it will be crawling with high school seniors. But otherwise, the next 3 or 4 weeks are one of the best times to visit Universal and Florida in general.

 

[PlutoLuvr]

Late April/beginning of May is a fantastic time to visit the parks. The weather is perfect -- warm during the day, comfortable enough to wear jeans in the evenings -- and the crowds are very, very light. Last May, we stayed off site and walked on the rides without any kind of FOTL.

We always visit at this time, as well as mid-September. September is truly empty, but the heat is stiffling, even at night.

You'll love it this time of year!

 

[sonny]

Now I am REALLY excited. With a 3-year old grandson, I really don't want to be standing in lines for long. I was just so hesitant about Universal after that disastrous first trip. But with prices so low for the 7-day pass, I have to give it a try. And from what I am reading, we are going to have a great time. We are staying at the Hilton Grand courtesy of a friend's RCI timeshare so this will be an affordable vacation. I keep watching the 15 day forecast and I hope the hotel pools and water rides will be warm. I have never done water rides anywhere but plan to if we can take a nearly 40" 3 year old on one. Thanks again.

 

[goofie4goofy]

My DH and I always go this time of year for many years now. We go 2 weeks after Easter, Spring Break is over all is quiet. The parks are empty, no lines no waiting...very relaxing. It is so nice in fact that we are out of the parks by 2-3 o'clock (been on everything 2-3X) and are at the pool soaking up some sun. Last year we were there during Grad Bash nights, and it does not affect the crowd level at the parks during the day. The parks close early to the general public (7pm) and only Grad Bash ticket holders are permitted in. Grad Bash is for high school seniors and chaperone's in participating schools, so it is a school sponsored event, like a senior trip kind of thing.

Each year I have noticed that there are many corporate conventions/meetings at the hotels during this time. Not a bad thing as they may take up blocks of rooms, but are not at the pools or in the parks very much, they are in meetings. So just because a hotel is sold out does not mean it is busy. What I do is go on the universal site www.universalorlando.com and check availability on all the resorts by putting your dates in. If a resort is "sold out" it is most likely a convention.

This is absolutely the best time of year to visit Florida in general. It has to be the best weather in the country at this time, low humidity, warm not hot temps and the crowds are gone.

You can check the weather here at www.wesh.com and there is also a live universal studios webcam on that site.