This is definitely not a TRADITIONAL crowds year!!! In the past, we've spend several Christmas weeks there and it's been very reasonable for crowds and there have even been Christmas Days where it's barely busy at all. This year, Christmas break, it was VERY FULL (for COVID TIMES). We weren't there, but spoke to people who were. That being said, I think that weekends are always much busier.
After the first week or so of March (March 1-10th or so), things USUALLY get very busy due to spring break. I would bet that things will get busy there on March 12 and stay busy until spring breaks are done with. Seeing the crazy busy crowds there over Christmas, I don't know if I'd want to be there for that, but like I said earlier, it's not the traditional year of crowd levels.
We learned a very good lesson a few years ago. We ALWAYS buy season passes, because we get HUGE deals on ON SITE resorts. Here's my cost breakdown for our next trip and it's a good example as to WHY we get the season passes! All Hotel options chosen were for Loews Royal Pacific for 6 nights, I'll tell you why in a bit...
Without Season passes VACATION PACKAGE booked THROUGH Universal Studios Orlando site:
Our 6 night package included 4 days of park to park tickets (most amount of days available when you don't opt for season passes). total:
$3551.04
Booking separately on Loews website AND buying just tickets through Universal Site (same dates, hotel and tickets):
Hotel: $1995
Tickets: $1160
Total of
$3155
Booking WITH season passes (on Universal website), same hotel, same dates: (season passes are good for 15 months with their current promo that ends in March)
Hotel: $1159 (THANKS TO THE ANNUAL PASSHOLDER DISCOUNT!!!!)
Season passes: $1220
TOTAL PRICE: $2519
With the season passes, we saved OVER $100 PER NIGHT staying at Loews Royal Pacific. The savings is just as great (or MORE) at the other 2 Loews higher end hotels. We also LOVE Sapphire and get WONDERFUL deals there...currently it's not open and no opening dates are listed...AND Sapphire DOES NOT include the express passes. Only the top three (Royal Pacific, Hard Rock and Portofino) include that.
We LOVE to stay at one of the higher end hotels (Hard Rock, Portofino, or Royal Pacific) because we are a family of 4 and all of those hotels INCLUDE unlimited Express passes (little to no waiting in line!) People pay anywhere between $100-250 PER PERSON PER DAY for those passes when they buy them separately! We LOVE the express passes at Universal. If the 'standby time' on a ride is an hour, you go in the express pass line and it cuts your wait in half (or even a fourth at times!!!)! MOST times, we get in the express pass line when the regular line is a 45 minute wait and we've WALKED ON to the ride!). The new Hagrids coaster does not include express passes AT THIS TIME. It's either Virtual que OR standby, but when you stay on property, you also get into the park an hour earlier than general public and can get in line for that ride with little wait time.
Four days is absolutely a great amount of time to be at Universal, Islands of Adventure!!! In fact, we always add an extra day or two (or this time, we're staying 6 nights) because we LOVE to have the occasional relaxing trip and spend a day POOL HOPPING at all of the Loews pools. It's not only allowed, it's encouraged! All of the pools are super nice and they all have different "feels".
Our family is usually a Disney family, but we really do like to go to Universal too! It's a much more 'relaxing vacation'. Our
Disney vacations are CONSTANTLY GO, GO, GO, GO!!! Which is GREAT and we love to get EVERYTHING in that we can!!! But, Universal is much more "laid back" for us.
-Staying on site, the transportation is SO AMAZING. It's a nice, laid back boat ride through tropical trees, beautiful sites and it's not rushed or 'frantic' AT ALL. Take the boat from Sapphire, Royal Pacific, Portofino or Hard Rock (H.R is so close, you don't really even need to get on the boat, it's RIGHT there!).
-Other Universal "value type" hotels have bus transportation. Also, fine- but they drop you off at the transport station and you'll have a bit more of a walk to get into Universal and IOA. They definitely aren't as "relaxing" and calm as the boat ride.
-Some meals at Universal properties are enough for 2 people. We do not waste food in our family, so for our family (2 adults and 2 teens) we will usually order 3 meals and split them. SOME places, we order kids meals (if the have more than just the regular pizza, chicken strips and burgers). Some of the restaurants have miniature versions of adult meals and they are just as good...I'm doing a full food, menus and dining review once we get back, because so many food tips, thoughts and tricks aren't even listed anywhere to be found online. And, if they are, they're WAYYYY out of date! Disney has an updated food pics list, tips and tricks listed every where- that's not the case with Universal.
-Some people don't stay on site, because they get "sticker shock" when they do a vacation package on the Universal site. I've given you three different prices of our same exact trip to show you that there are ways to save $$$ just by running numbers on your own. Universal Studios "Vacation packages" aren't usually a good deal, unlike Disney that offers huge deals on their Vacation packages.
-Don't go to Harry Potter areas right when the park opens (unless you stay onsite and take advantage of their early opening!). EVERYONE seems to go right there when the park opens and it's usually PACKED right away in the mornings. We usually tend to do other areas of the park right away with no waits at all. Go to Harry Potter areas later in the morning/afternoon/evening. It's MUCH less crowded.
-Since you haven't been in a while, 4 days (or more) is a great amount of time. It allows you to take your time and 'experience everything' without being rushed. Definitely get a pass that AT LEAST has park to park. Especially if you're a Harry Potter fan. The train ride is so much fun and such a great experience. The ride is different each way. You'll want to take the train each way multiple times to 'take in the full experience' they've really gone above and beyond.
-A lot of the "favorite foods and treats/snacks" at Universal differ from person to person. Of course, there's the butterbeer. Some people LOVE the frozen butter beer, but our family things that it lacks the depth of butter beer flavor, we LOVE the cold. You'll want to get a "big pink donut" if you're a Simpsons fan. Even if you aren't, you'll still want one! Our family buys 1 and SHARES the entire thing. Pictures don't do it justice, it's GIGANTIC. And YUM. We REALLY like to go into bakeries while at Disney and Universal. Our favorite bakery stops at Universal are in Suess Landing and there are two that we love in the Harry Potter areas. If you like the butter beer, you should really try the butterbeer FUDGE. Get one piece for the two of you and share it. It's sweet, but it is SO GOOD. It's also a "good value"
-get a refillable cup. We all get really thirsty when we're in Florida and walking a lot. The refills are very cheap (or free depending on the cup you get).
-If you have an American Express card, book your tickets with it. That gives you access to the American Express members lounge. Last time we were there, we went in there a few times. There are chips, granola bars, waters and a super nice and clean bathroom. It's next to the meet and greet area for Shrek
I'm sure I can add more when we return.
