We will be at Universal for our first time August 24-26. I believe the parks are predicted to be medium busy (5-6 crowd level predicted by touringplans). In people's experience, how early does one need to be to a show to get a seat (horror makeup show, Animal Actors, etc)? How about to get a spot to watch the parade? And for the new night time show? Thanks.
How early for shows and parade?
- Thread starter jkattk
- Start date
The first show of the day has the lightest crowds
Go about 20 minutes before the start the seating
I do both shows but use the ep line and arrival maybe 10 minutes prior to allowed in for seating
Could be about 10 minutes for all to be seated before show starts for horror make up show
Animal actor show allows hc seating first then ep lines then general line
Plenty of seats in this arena
I don’t line up until 5-10 minutes prior to ep line let in
Go about 20 minutes before the start the seating
I do both shows but use the ep line and arrival maybe 10 minutes prior to allowed in for seating
Could be about 10 minutes for all to be seated before show starts for horror make up show
Animal actor show allows hc seating first then ep lines then general line
Plenty of seats in this arena
I don’t line up until 5-10 minutes prior to ep line let in
When do they start letting the EP line in?
schumigirl
It’s a bit of a roodie doodie word for lady parts!
- Joined
- May 15, 2007
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The new night time show in the Studios has a few areas to watch it.
The new viewing area they’ve built is always busy, we didn’t go there, we were there around 20 minutes before the show started and stood by the water to the side of Transformers. It was just a fluke we were there so early.
You really don’t need to be there really early for the shows.
The Hogwarts show we walked up to the first show of the evening right as it was starting and stood quite near where the stage is opposite the snowman. We saw it clear as a bell. The later shows aren’t just as busy.
The parade you definitely don’t need to stake out a spot.
The new viewing area they’ve built is always busy, we didn’t go there, we were there around 20 minutes before the show started and stood by the water to the side of Transformers. It was just a fluke we were there so early.
You really don’t need to be there really early for the shows.
The Hogwarts show we walked up to the first show of the evening right as it was starting and stood quite near where the stage is opposite the snowman. We saw it clear as a bell. The later shows aren’t just as busy.
The parade you definitely don’t need to stake out a spot.
nighttowll
DIS Veteran
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- Jun 29, 2013
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- 1,818
Ive never lined up to watch the parade. We usually just stumble upon it. It’s never seemed hard to find a place along the route to watch.
The Mardi Gras parade is different. If it’s during Spring Break people stake out spots along the route early. You can always see it last minute as well, but to be up front for the beads, I’d say 30 minutes to an hour depending on crowd levels. It doesn’t run in August, but I figured I’d mention it for others who might be curious.
We’ve never felt the need to get to the shows super early. They don’t seem to fill up as quickly as Disney shows do. I think the previous advice you got on those seem good.
We went and watched the new nighttime lagoon show the other week. We went to the park that night solely to see this, so when we arrived at 9, I headed straight over to the viewing area in Central Park. At 9:00, 45 minutes early, I’d say it was already about 1/4 of the way filled up. I wandered around for a bit trying to figure out where would be the best place to stand. I was told directly across from Starbucks, and that seemed right. That location puts you in the direct center for the show. By the time I figured this out at about 9:15, this area was already taken along the rail. If you were tall, I’m not, you could have stood behind people, but luckily a nice family said they had room for me and my sister to stand with them. You could still definitely walk up and see this show up to starting time and even after, but if you want the best unobstructed view, I’d arrive early. Also, you do have to be on the Central Park side of the lagoon to see the show. You can see some effects from other locations, but the show consists of movie clips projected onto a water mist. That’s not going to be visible from the other side of the lagoon.
The Mardi Gras parade is different. If it’s during Spring Break people stake out spots along the route early. You can always see it last minute as well, but to be up front for the beads, I’d say 30 minutes to an hour depending on crowd levels. It doesn’t run in August, but I figured I’d mention it for others who might be curious.
We’ve never felt the need to get to the shows super early. They don’t seem to fill up as quickly as Disney shows do. I think the previous advice you got on those seem good.
We went and watched the new nighttime lagoon show the other week. We went to the park that night solely to see this, so when we arrived at 9, I headed straight over to the viewing area in Central Park. At 9:00, 45 minutes early, I’d say it was already about 1/4 of the way filled up. I wandered around for a bit trying to figure out where would be the best place to stand. I was told directly across from Starbucks, and that seemed right. That location puts you in the direct center for the show. By the time I figured this out at about 9:15, this area was already taken along the rail. If you were tall, I’m not, you could have stood behind people, but luckily a nice family said they had room for me and my sister to stand with them. You could still definitely walk up and see this show up to starting time and even after, but if you want the best unobstructed view, I’d arrive early. Also, you do have to be on the Central Park side of the lagoon to see the show. You can see some effects from other locations, but the show consists of movie clips projected onto a water mist. That’s not going to be visible from the other side of the lagoon.
Depends on the overall crowd level of the show. The normal superstar parade usually is pretty easy to find a spot. Special parades like the Christmas or Mardi Gras are a bit more popular, so I'd get there at least 15 minutes early (30 minutes for the best spots to see them, in the New York Secion by the fake "Macy's store" to the left and around Mummy.
For the nighttime show, the best place to see it is any of the levels in central park about straight across from starbucks (look for starbucks across the lagoon) 45-30 minutes for the absolute best spot, but 10-15 is ok for around there (unless i'ts particularly busy that day). If its a rainy or bad weather day you could probably just walk right up.
For the nighttime show, the best place to see it is any of the levels in central park about straight across from starbucks (look for starbucks across the lagoon) 45-30 minutes for the absolute best spot, but 10-15 is ok for around there (unless i'ts particularly busy that day). If its a rainy or bad weather day you could probably just walk right up.
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