Just how crazy croweded are the parks between Xmas and New Year's?

[mala55]

I'm toying with the idea of a short trip to Universal from 12/27-12/30, if I can do it at a reasonable price. Unfortunately, it appears that Hard Rock, Portofino and Royal Pacific hotels are fully booked for those dates, which i had hoped to stay to get the express passes. I'm now looking at Sapphire Falls, but no express passes included. I guess I could buy them separately, but that significantly adds to expense. Do you think we will need them during these dates? Is it crazy crowded around the holidays.

We have only been to Universal once and it was during the Spring. We stayed at the Hard Rock and loved it, especially being able to walk to the parks. Not sure if we will be disappointed in Sapphire Falls. Any opinions?

Thanks

 

[FoxC63]

It will be crazy crowded! Here a few links to crowd calendars which indicate as much.

UnderCover Tourist

Touring Plans

Orlando Informer

Since you cannot get EP, I would book an offsite hotel which would be way cheaper and then buy the EP.

 

[schumigirl]

Yep, crazy crowded.........

We have friends who stay for 3 weeks every year at that time......and don’t go anywhere near the parks in the week after Christmas.......manic!!

 

[Brett Wyman]

The week after Christmas and before New Years is literally the worst week to go to Universal or WDW. Crowds that boggle the mind. Were talking almost an hour to get a hot dog that normally takes 5 minutes. Some people accept it and have the disposition to handle it. Some people wisely stay far far away.

 

[Chickinvic]

The week after Christmas and before New Years is literally the worst week to go to Universal or WDW. Crowds that boggle the mind. Were talking almost an hour to get a hot dog that normally takes 5 minutes. Some people accept it and have the disposition to handle it. Some people wisely stay far far away.

You couldn't pay me to be there at that time.

 

[mala55]

Thank you. Decision made. Moving our trip to the Spring. We will do something else during Xmas vacation. Thanks again!!!.

 

[cxr]

what about after new years? the week starting Jan 1st? or the week after that i know my DD school is still on break

 

[Squirlz]

By contrast, the first 2 weeks of December are really slow.

 

[only hope]

what about after new years? the week starting Jan 1st? or the week after that i know my DD school is still on break

I would expect most crowds to be gone starting Monday 1/6. Seeing as the 1st is on a Wednesday, I doubt many school districts will start back on 1/3 for just one day before the weekend. Some districts will likely still be out on 1/6 but it will be much better than the previous week. Passes with blackout dates are allowed back in on 1/4, so Universal expects crowds to drop starting then. Disney is 1/3.

 

[Alynw]

I'm toying with the idea of a short trip to Universal from 12/27-12/30, if I can do it at a reasonable price. Unfortunately, it appears that Hard Rock, Portofino and Royal Pacific hotels are fully booked for those dates, which i had hoped to stay to get the express passes. I'm now looking at Sapphire Falls, but no express passes included. I guess I could buy them separately, but that significantly adds to expense. Do you think we will need them during these dates? Is it crazy crowded around the holidays.

We have only been to Universal once and it was during the Spring. We stayed at the Hard Rock and loved it, especially being able to walk to the parks. Not sure if we will be disappointed in Sapphire Falls. Any opinions?

Thanks

I go every year at this time and have been for many years now. I can tell you from first hand experience that the crowds during this time are freaking insane and I'm not exaggerating, they are horrible. This is hands down the most busiest time of the year and when crowd levels reach their highest so if u do change ur mind and decide to go, u best be prepared and get a mindset that its going to be beyond crazy crowded. With that being said, we still really enjoy it, the atmosphere there at that time of the year is so awesome and we always have so much fun. As far as wait times, they range from 40min to 120min with 60min being the average so its really not to bad depending on ur opinion of what's a long wait time. The weather is perfect with almost no rain during this time of year. Also, the city walk is absolutely amazing this time and it's one big party and a blast especially if your there for bringing in the new year. Keep in mind too, they do offer different levels of express pass so u can get them at a cheaper rate depending on what u want. Plus, right there at city walk before u go into the parks, they usually have special offers to get free Express passes. Last year it was sign up for an American Express credit card and get 2 free Express passes, so hell yea we signed and then called and canceled them the next day. Or, if you want to go to the parks in the afternoon and then stay late, they have an after 4pm Express pass for half the price so there are some options. My personal opinion, if your not strapped for money and this isn't one of those trips u have been saving for, I'd say go for it cause u might be pleasantly surprised but if money is a factor and if u go at xmas and don't like, u wont be able to go back in spring, then I would stay away. Good luck to whatever u decide.

 

[Alynw]

I would expect most crowds to be gone starting Monday 1/6. Seeing as the 1st is on a Wednesday, I doubt many school districts will start back on 1/3 for just one day before the weekend. Some districts will likely still be out on 1/6 but it will be much better than the previous week. Passes with blackout dates are allowed back in on 1/4, so Universal expects crowds to drop starting then. Disney is 1/3.

Actually, Wednesday the 1st is when the crowds should hopefully be gone and go back to normal if not below normal and its also when the prices drop as well. We are there every year at this time and I can tell u from personal experience it's the 1st of every year when the crowds drop drastically and the rest of that week is really nice with lower crowds. It's for this reason we visit Disney during the week of xmas because we have the fastpasses to help deal with the long waits and then visit universal the week of new years because the crowds drop after the big new years eve party. I'm hoping it stays the same this year as well, fingers crossed.

 

[Alynw]

what about after new years? the week starting Jan 1st? or the week after that i know my DD school is still on break

Yes, starting Jan 1st, the crowds should drop off big time and its really nice at universal, or so this is how it's been for the last several years for us.

 

[Alynw]

The week after Christmas and before New Years is literally the worst week to go to Universal or WDW. Crowds that boggle the mind. Were talking almost an hour to get a hot dog that normally takes 5 minutes. Some people accept it and have the disposition to handle it. Some people wisely stay far far away.

Yes, crowds are mind boggling and it can get extremely frustrating trying to navigate through the parks with so many people but universal does really good with trying to control the crowds. They put down lines separating walk ways and they add a lot of cast members to enforce the proper walking lanes, stay to the right. Some people just dont get it and try to walk against the flow of people but universal will make them walk in the right lane and this definitely helps keeping everything moving. As far as food n drinks go, our normal wait in line is around 15min for quick serve road side. Butterbeer lines are usually pretty long and we wait anywhere from 10-20min for butterbeer. The quick serve restaurants are usually pretty quick as well, 10-20min wait but honestly, there really not that bad for being as crazy crowded as it is. I'll make a mental note to keep track of our wait times to get a more accurate time.

 

[jennib5426]

We just booked For Jan 1 - 5 last night and there where rooms available at all the on site hotels but some room categories were sold out.
We went big and booked Portifino for express pass, it will be our first time staying onsite as a Christmas surprise for the kids.
Hoping crowds are a little lower but I am sure everyone is still on school break thru Jan 5.