spring break crowds

[chimommy]

How are the crowds/wait time during spring break weeks? We are thinking about booking a last min trip. I have not been to universal for a long time... we normally go to Disney. However we were just there in the fall and I thought we should try something different. Do they have anything like the fast pass at Disney? Thanks

 

[shoppgirl]

We have gone during "spring break" the last two years and plan on going again this year. Spring break spans over a month I'm sure and some weeks are busier than others! We go the second full week of March and I can assure you it's busy!!! And it just seems to be getting busier every year. It's Mardi Gras time too so I'm sure those events plus the concerts adds to the crowds. I always stay onsite at the hotels that offer express pass. much better than Disney's fast pass system since that only allows you three FP a day. Express pass is good all day and all rides!

 

[Mickeygolf]

Piggybacking on you going at spring break, how has your EP worked during that time? Are you getting a lot done or do you still have long waits? We are going that second week in March this year too.

 

[gunderda]

I think we're going the busiest spring break week (last week of March) and it's giving me anxiety. We're only doing one day at universal - is it even worth it to do a park to park ticket for one day during a busy time? And we're only doing one day because I went a couple years ago and we spent 5 days between universal and disney and it was way too much so i'm only dedicating one day to universal this time as i'm not a huge ride person but I really like the rides on the universal side, I could really care less about island of adventures but just asking in the event my friend (who has never been) would like to see both.

 

[shoppgirl]

Express pass is a must....I'm sorry to say. I have gone to the parks with and without. Having had the taste of EP, I would never consider going without. But the EP lines can be somewhat long sometimes depending on the ride, especially Minion Mayhem! they definitely aren't walk on, but similar wait times like the Fast Pass lines at Disney. We are definitely able to do more. Last year at Spring break we went to the parks one day without EP as we only stayed onsite for 2 nights but had four day tickets. Our day without EP, we barely did anything. We just didn't have the patience to wait, and we knew we were coming back for three more days with EP.

The line up to get on the Hogwarts Express was super long every day we were there...they didn't have EP last year either. And one day, the ride was down almost all day. We actually had to walk out of the park and walk all the way around to enter the other park instead of taking the Hogwarts Express.

 

[Iluvshoes531]

We went Spring break of 2017. The parks are busy but nothing compared to Disney. We had express passes and it made our day so much more enjoyable. I do not think we waited any longer than 20 minutes for a ride . It is awesome that Harry Potter is included this year, as it was not for us. It was helpful to use the extra hour before the park opened if you are staying onsite. We are able to experience Diagon alley with little to no wait. This was our first trip to universal ever, we went to Disney just about every year since my son was 2. He is now 7 and when we asked him where he wanted to go he said Universal. He loves the rides an universal so much more and I love the relaxed touring you can do with express pass. It is so much better than fast pass at Disney. When we first arrived i was a little worried as I did not have any reservations for meals or a plan to which park on which day. It was a nice relaxing trip!!! Even during Spring break we were able to walk up and get seated for dinner at Cowfish and Toothsome with little to no wait. I hope you have a great time!! We are headed back for a week this June!

 

[gunderda]

When we went to Universal a couple years ago (June) we didn't have EP for Universal and we did wait awhile for each ride but I didn't think it was terrible, except that it was freaking hot out but we were able to get to the inside line que right away (except for minions and shrek since I don't think they have an line que area if i remember correctly). We did everything we wanted to once within on day. But it looks like EP for the week we are there is almost $200 so I don't think I can justify a $400 one day ticket.