How bad is it in June?

[aprilfoolwed]

Family of 5, and considering a June trip (13th-18th). We have super inflexible dates for vacationing this year, and it's driving me crazy to deal with prime crowd levels.

I just don't think on-site will work for us. We value our space too much, and will be generally miserable if we are squished in a standard hotel room. So looking at pool homes.

How bad will wait times be without EP? We've been to Universal a few years ago, but want to do it all again.

I am looking into how much it would cost to get a room on-site one night to just use EP, but that's going to add at least $400 to our trip costs and I don't know if I want to do that.

 

[kohlby]

The Orlando Informer has a pretty good crowd calendar on it.
Off the top of my head, I'd guess high - but not very high - as all the southeast schools I know of are out by then. The northeast schools aren't all out then.

If it's in the budget, I would do a night at an express hotel. Keep in mind you get two days of express for that one night at the hotel. (So, if it's $400 for a night, that would work out to $40 per unlimited express pass even if you don't sleep there that night. Keep checking rates though as they do sometimes drop and they'll change the rate for you if you ask if it drops).

 

[Metro West]

I would guess 7-8 would be appropriate for Universal in June. School is out and family vacations are the norm but it's not as crowded as a major holiday week would be.

 

[Robo56]

It will be busy. I have seen attendance up even for the last two weeks of May. Prices go up on the rooms after the first of June.

I would start watching AP prices on the rooms and cost out getting one AP if you can get a room at a good price. I would not personally go without EP that time of year.

No matter what you choose to do have a great time at Universal. I love it there.

Volcano Bay is slated to be open during your visit time also. Should be great fun

 

[wagman67]

(So, if it's $400 for a night, that would work out to $40 per unlimited express pass even if you don't sleep there that night. Keep checking rates though as they do sometimes drop and they'll change the rate for you if you ask if it drops).

Remember, also, you have to sleep somewhere, so you are going to spend at least $100 on a hotel room or condo. Royal Pacific is $344 for weekday nights, that week...minus the $100, you end up with an extra $250ish bill, which makes your EPs about $25 each.

 

[VacaPlanner2012]

We went this week in 2016, and the daytimes are crowded. What we did find though is that about 5:30, the park emptied (in a mad rush), so if your feet have staying power, you can get a lot done in the evenings without EP. That is a long day and not our style, so we stay onsite to allow for EP and an afternoon siesta/pool time.

 

[derekw]

We went that week in June 2014. Stayed one night a RPR (needed two rooms for our family size) to get the 2 days of EP. If I only had 2 days I'd want EP to be able to get on all the attractions with the crowd level. If you don't get EP I'd hit the parks over a period of 3-4 days around 5ish till close as someone suggested.

 

[aprilfoolwed]

Thanks for the replies. After giving this a little more thought, we are going to push off our Universal trip until an off-season. Our last visit was in January, and we were spoiled with low crowds. I don't think we'll enjoy June nearly as much. Something to look forward to later in 2017 or 2018.