How crowded is the first week of February? (Feb 4-5)

[Smugpugmug]

Hi! After thinking about it for a few months, I decided to get a Universal annual pass. I was thinking of going to Universal Feb 4th and 5th to activate my pass and was wondering how crowded it'll be. I just realized that February 4th is the beginning of Mardi Gras and that there will be a concert that night. How do the crowds impact the lines for rides, if at all? I am not interested in the concert or any of the Mardi Gras festivities. I also will not have Express (my pass does have Express after 4) and my group and I are totally fine with using single rider lines. I've only ever been to Universal during Christmas (which was INSANE) and mid May (which was relatively quiet) so I was curious how early February compared to those times.

Unrelated question - the website says to pick up my annual pass at the ticket window. Is that will call or guest relations or somewhere else?

Thank you!

 

[wdwrule]

Typically you can pick up your AP at any onsite hotel if you’re staying there and have paid in full.

We’ll be there too that weekend. Opening day of Mardi Gras will most likely be crowded but as you mentioned SR line is key. We also have the after 4:00 express which is nice. During the day, we often use SR line which often times is quicker than EP line… not always but sometimes. We’re here now and crowds aren’t too bad for a Saturday but SR line is smooth sailing. I don’t recommend SR lines for families of little ones or first-timers to experience stand by queues.

In past experiences, we’ve experienced shorter ride lines during concerts.

Also early morning is key. We typically arrive halfway through early admission and get so much done.

 

[Smugpugmug]

Typically you can pick up your AP at any onsite hotel if you’re staying there and have paid in full.

We’ll be there too that weekend. Opening day of Mardi Gras will most likely be crowded but as you mentioned SR line is key. We also have the after 4:00 express which is nice. During the day, we often use SR line which often times is quicker than EP line… not always but sometimes. We’re here now and crowds aren’t too bad for a Saturday but SR line is smooth sailing. I don’t recommend SR lines for families of little ones or first-timers to experience stand by queues.

In past experiences, we’ve experienced shorter ride lines during concerts.

Also early morning is key. We typically arrive halfway through early admission and get so much done.

We're not staying on site. We grabbed a last minute room at Saratoga at Disney.

Great info, thanks! We're all adults so no worries about the single rider line. Good to know about shorter wait times during the concerts. Agreed about early admission. I bought tickets from Park Prodigy that had early entry as a perk and we got a lot done during that time. Hagrid's was down the entire morning so didn't get to ride it.

 

[wdwrule]

That’s the nice part about premiere pass that you have…early entry even staying offsite and after 4:00 EP. We’ve stayed offsite too as well and yet enjoyed all of the perks.

 

[BorderTenny]

Keep in mind that there is an Orlando Informer Meetup happening on the 4th. Although it's looking less in demand this time, and attendees don't start hitting the parks until 5pm (unless they have other admission for the day).

 

[Smugpugmug]

Keep in mind that there is an Orlando Informer Meetup happening on the 4th. Although it's looking less in demand this time, and attendees don't start hitting the parks until 5pm (unless they have other admission for the day).

That's for letting me know! I didn't know that Orlando Informer had a meetup that day. I have dinner at Cowfish at 6:30 pm that night and then I plan to head back to my hotel afterwards so it wouldn't be too much of an issue.

 

[Smugpugmug]

That’s the nice part about premiere pass that you have…early entry even staying offsite and after 4:00 EP. We’ve stayed offsite too as well and yet enjoyed all of the perks.

Exactly! I also saw that it includes a free Halloween Horror Nights ticket too. I've never been and I'm already trying to convince my sister to check it out this year.

 

[wdwrule]

Exactly! I also saw that it includes a free Halloween Horror Nights ticket too. I've never been and I'm already trying to convince my sister to check it out this year.

Yes! We’re are not big into horror but Diagon Alley is fabulous during HHN nights. Maybe that’ll sway her… short ride lines and you feel like you have Diagon Alley to yourself- especially during the early evening hours.

 

[TheBacklot]

Our family will be there from February 1st-8th, I have some concerns regarding the Orlando Informer meetup and how it will impact Friday and Saturday night but I suppose we can always call it quits early at the parks those days and find other things to do at Citywalk and Cabana Bay. I did want to ride Hagrid's once at night but I feel like the lines will be even more ridiculous than usual those evenings.

 

[CAPSLOCK]

I did want to ride Hagrid's once at night but I feel like the lines will be even more ridiculous than usual those evenings.

On the Nov OI Meetup nights, they closed the Hagrids line early before park close. Especially on the Sat night, I think they closed it by 6pm.

So you probably want to plan Hagrids night ride for neither of the OI Meetup nights. Normally you can hop in line any time up until park close. And enjoy nighttime Hagrids, it is totally awesome!

 

[YodaRulz]

My daughter and I hit up Universal during the first of Feb. last year for 3 days with the Mardi Gras kickoff and other than Hagrid's (which is always a long line) it was super chill and we were able to do everything we wanted. A couple of the water rides were closed for refurb which they do every year. We were onsite and did early park admission which helped a little but that the 2 weeks before Presidents day weekend are always slower, just check the weather because it can be crazy the first few months of the year. It was like 80's the first day and then then next 2 were windy and cooler only getting to the 60's and 40's at night.

 

[Smugpugmug]

I'm back at my relative's house and wanted to do a quick trip report.

Feb 4th was very crowded, but not nearly as bad as Christmas or spring break. Express after 4 was a lifesaver as I was able to do every ride on the Universal Studios Florida side (minus Minions and Ripe Ride Rocket as that was closed all day due to wind) without waiting a long time. We ate at Finnegans which was kind of mediocre. Service was great but I wouldn't go there again. The restaurant was also kind of chilly in there and I'm not one to complain about restaurant temperatures lol The food booths were very long so we didn't try anything, though the India booth looked pretty good.

Feb 5th was WAY lighter crowd wise. I think the predicted rain forecast scared people off because wait times weren't bad at all. We got to the park around 11 and we did both Hagrid's and Velocicoaster during lunch time/early afternoon. Hagrid's was 65 minutes and I found that the wait time was very accurate, not over or under estimated. Velocicoaster said 45 and that was accurate too. My parents and sister LOVED Hagrid's and said the wait was totally worth it. We did everything else in the park minus the water rides without waiting more than 20 minutes for anything. Also we had early dinner at Cowfish which was fantastic. I picked up my annual pass magnet but they were out of lanyards. Oh well, I wasn't too upset since I already had a lanyard.

We did notice a lot of rude behavior like another poster talked about in a recent trip report but it didn't ruin the entire weekend. Overall we had a great weekend as brand new annual passholders!

 

[Duckbug.Ducktales]

Wow, we were there the same weekend! We stayed at Portofino and so had an express pass both days. Did everything at both parks (except Hagrid's) the first day and were done by about 6 pm and then the highlights at a slower rate the second day plus Hagrid's twice. Were done by about 2:30 or 3 pm. All thanks to that express pass.

For anyone reading this, my tip for doing Hagrid's is the single rider line during early morning hours: we waited 10-15 min each time of the two times we did it! You join in after already being in the regular line for a little bit, it's kinda confusing. Also, you must do this ride on the motorcycle to really get the best of it. My first time was not the bike and I thought it was ok, just a coaster. Second time got the bike and it really changes the experience, now I think it's the best ride at UO.

Lastly: yeah, I've always noticed that there seems to be a bit more rude behavior at Universal, but one can get past it for sure.

 

[Smugpugmug]

Also, you must do this ride on the motorcycle to really get the best of it. My first time was not the bike and I thought it was ok, just a coaster. Second time got the bike and it really changes the experience, now I think it's the best ride at UO.

Definitely agree with this. My dad was in the sidecar and said the ride was fun but he enjoys Guardians at Epcot better. I told him to do the motorbike next time as the motorbike is WAY more fun than any coaster at Disney lol

My sister and I plan to do another weekend at Universal next month (which is spring break so we expect to get less done).