Does Universal Limit crowd?

[tawasdave]

Driving down from Michigan, hope to arrive around noon on Sat 3/31..planning on hitting Universal around 6 pm for parade and Steve Miller band...this will work right? Universal does not close due to high crowds do they? Do they stay open later when crowds are high?

 

[robvia]

They won't limit the crowds. The Steve Miller Band concert will happen in the Bone Yard area next to Jimmy Neutron. Many people will have already stayed in the park the entire day, they'll be tired and leave. So the crowd size won't be an issue. Yes, it sounds like thousands of people would show up for the concert, and I'm sure there will be many watching, but not a massive crowd like one would think.
If you show up around 6pm, you can go on The Mummy, MIB, watch the parade, then get ready for the concert. Use single rider lines if the regular line is long.
If you want to be near the front of the stage you'd have to be there very early. There seems to be a group of people (probably locals) who get to every concert early. The sound system is really huge and they blast it, so you don't have to be anywhere close to hear it. One time we waited for some performer to start, they came out 20 minutes late, and the system was real loud and we left. So you don't have to be any where near the bone yard when it starts. In other words, don't rush over there because it's really not a big deal.

I'll also be there on the 31st. I plan on shooting video of the 360 show if they have it, then walking over to see some of the concert.

 

[PlutoLuvr]

They won't limit the crowds. The Steve Miller Band concert will happen in the Bone Yard area next to Jimmy Neutron. Many people will have already stayed in the park the entire day, they'll be tired and leave. So the crowd size won't be an issue. Yes, it sounds like thousands of people would show up for the concert, and I'm sure there will be many watching, but not a massive crowd like one would think.
If you show up around 6pm, you can go on The Mummy, MIB, watch the parade, then get ready for the concert. Use single rider lines if the regular line is long.
If you want to be near the front of the stage you'd have to be there very early. There seems to be a group of people (probably locals) who get to every concert early. The sound system is really huge and they blast it, so you don't have to be anywhere close to hear it. One time we waited for some performer to start, they came out 20 minutes late, and the system was real loud and we left. So you don't have to be any where near the bone yard when it starts. In other words, don't rush over there because it's really not a big deal.

I'll also be there on the 31st. I plan on shooting video of the 360 show if they have it, then walking over to see some of the concert.

Boy, you're not kidding about the part I bolded. DH & I were there a few years back for the Allman Brothers, and we heard the show just fine sipping our hurricanes on a bench right at the walkway to get to the HRH -- out of the park! We could still hear it, albeit not as loud, as we were just entering the hotel.

 

[tawasdave]

I have seen mention of the 360 show...what is that?..and where?

 

[robvia]

The 360 show is in the lagoon of USF. They have these huge white spheres (hence the name 360) which they play videos on. Some fireworks also go off.

I'm not sure if they're having the 360 show, or something at IOA. Not even the insiders are saying anything. We'll know in a week, because Spring break starts March 31st and that's when the park stays open until 10pm for two weeks. When the park stays open until 10pm, they have a fireworks show which starts at 09:55pm.

So theoretically, you could be looking to watch a parade, the 360 show in the lagoon, and then the concert. That's the order I'll look to do it. There's no way I'll be anywhere near the concert stage when it starts, that area will be a zoo as people walk up, get their ears blasted off, then leave. Yes Universal, you win, you know how to build a huge sound system and blast it so loud that it actually hurts and makes people leave.

 

[Disney/Universal Fan]

We've been to 2 of the concerts(Los Lonely Boys) (Huey Lewis) and we were up close both times. Yeah, it was loud, but they are CONCERTS. The crowds stayed large throughout the shows and did not really notice a large amount of people leaving. The ones that left probably did not want to attend the concerts. People are saying that Spring Break begins on March 31. That may be for some schools, but there have been schools on spring break starting a couple of weeks ago. This is the time of year when crowds are going to be big. You just plan for it. If you want smaller crowds, you have to plan to be here at times of the year when the crowds are smaller. Good luck and I hope everyone enjoys their trip.