Planning first trip - timing advice needed.

[EllNat11]

Hello All - I've been to Universal many times as a child/teen, but have only been once as an adult (and that was a single day trip 11 years ago, and I was pregnant and felt unwell so I really don't remember much about it. We've done WDW several times over the last 10 years with my daughter, she's a little older now, and super in to Harry Potter. We told her we'd take her to Universal in 2023 as a gift for her 11th birthday. I know things are always busy now, but was hoping for some feedback on pros and cons for the following weeks to help me make a decision. I'm a little late in the game on getting things booked I know.

My intention would be to book at one of the Premier hotels so we have the express passes.

The three potential weeks we are looking at would be:

Presidents Day week (2/18-2/25)

Spring Break (4/1-4/8)

May 6-13 (this is the other week we traditionally take time off, not sure what the cheer/dance etc situation usually is this time of year?)

I really appreciate any feedback. I know it'll be busy whenever we go, and we fully intend to make the best of whatever our situation may end up being, but I'm a bit out of my element. Thank you!

 

[mamapenguin]

I would vote May. Weather is nice and it shouldn’t be super busy. We did Spring Break this year (late March for us) and it was pretty busy and nice weather. May we did back in 2019 (Mother’s Day weekend) not super busy and nice weather.

 

[AJA]

100% May.

Prior to Covid we had taken many trip to Universal the first week of May and the weather is usually more bearable than summer and not as many rainy days. Along with the lower crowd levels. I know crowds the last two years have not been normal but more and more families are getting bavk into old routines work/school. I think the early May crowds will be manageable next year.

 

[CAPSLOCK]

President's Day for most pleasant weather, May for lowest crowds.

 

[UOAP-Naples]

President's Day for most pleasant weather, May for lowest crowds.

I agree with this one.

You're not late in the game booking for Universal. You have plenty of time to book hotels, figure out if you want express passes and make some food reservations. That's really all you have to do at Universal.

 

[EllNat11]

Thanks all - I think I'm so used to planning WdW, and then now reading all the park reservations and genie + and everything else it wasn't occurring to me how much easier planning a Universal trip may be. Thank you!