Summer heat at Universal compared to Disney World?

[pbb&j]

I'm thinking about taking my 14 year old daughter to Universal in late August, primarily to explore the Harry Potter attractions. We went to Disney World last August, and it was SO much hotter than I had expected. It only rained once over 8 days, and the sun was just brutal hot. We made the best of it, and the evenings were fine, and the very early morning. We stayed out of the parks from about 11-5. The water parks were great, though!

Because she'll be in high school, we can either go in the summer, or at Christmas or Easter. So, I can't believe it, but I'm thinking about summer again. I'm curious what Universal is like by comparison, in terms of air-conditioned queues, shade getting to and from the parks, air-conditioned restaurants... We would stay at a Universal Hotel to get the Express pass, but I'm even wondering how hot it is getting to and from the parks? For example, we just stayed at the Boardwalk Inn at Disney over spring break, and walked to Hollywood Studios, which was fine in April, but we commented that we wouldn't want to do that walk in August. Is one of the Universal hotels closer, and potentially a shorter walk?

Probably my biggest sadness about the heat last summer was that it was too hot to enjoy the little details outside, like at World Showcase. Will we feel that way at Universal, too?

I apologize that I haven't done much research yet, so maybe one of the hotels is an obvious choice. We would certainly spend our afternoons at the hotel, which we did last summer. We also did early magic hours, and would take advantage of those at Universal, too.

Thanks for any help you can give!

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

I'm thinking about taking my 14 year old daughter to Universal in late August, primarily to explore the Harry Potter attractions. We went to Disney World last August, and it was SO much hotter than I had expected. It only rained once over 8 days, and the sun was just brutal hot. We made the best of it, and the evenings were fine, and the very early morning. We stayed out of the parks from about 11-5. The water parks were great, though!

Because she'll be in high school, we can either go in the summer, or at Christmas or Easter. So, I can't believe it, but I'm thinking about summer again. I'm curious what Universal is like by comparison, in terms of air-conditioned queues, shade getting to and from the parks, air-conditioned restaurants... We would stay at a Universal Hotel to get the Express pass, but I'm even wondering how hot it is getting to and from the parks? For example, we just stayed at the Boardwalk Inn at Disney over spring break, and walked to Hollywood Studios, which was fine in April, but we commented that we wouldn't want to do that walk in August. Is one of the Universal hotels closer, and potentially a shorter walk?

Probably my biggest sadness about the heat last summer was that it was too hot to enjoy the little details outside, like at World Showcase. Will we feel that way at Universal, too?

I apologize that I haven't done much research yet, so maybe one of the hotels is an obvious choice. We would certainly spend our afternoons at the hotel, which we did last summer. We also did early magic hours, and would take advantage of those at Universal, too.

Thanks for any help you can give!

It'll be just like Disney World - very hot and humid. I can't remember much about shade - I know the walk from the Royal Pacific Resort to City Walk was very shaded but it was still hot and humid. I guess I'm lucky that I get used to it living in Georgia where the weather is about the same.

Even when it rains in Florida, it only cools down for a little bit and then gets even more humid.

I usually stay at either Hard Rock Hotel or Royal Pacific Resort. I've never tried the other Deluxe resorts or any of the newer moderate ones like Cabana Bay or Sapphire Falls.
The Hard Rock Hotel is a really short walk and I think it's the closest to City Walk and Universal Studios. Royal Pacific Resort has a boat or you can walk and that is closest to Islands of Adventure and Margaritaville.

I know someone else with more info will be along soon! Happy planning!

 

[pcstang]

Hard Rock is closest to Universal Studios and short walk past that to Islands of Adventure. It will be hot! No way around it! Everything is very compact at USO and I think you will be fine with the afternoon break. HRH is about a 5 minute walk to US or you can take the boat to citywalk which will put you in between US and IOA. Lots of indoor queues with AC. Bottom line is, it's hot no matter what but if you go in knowing that it's not a big deal.

 

[pcstang]

It'll be just like Disney World - very hot and humid. I can't remember much about shade - I know the walk from the Royal Pacific Resort to City Walk was very shaded but it was still hot and humid. I guess I'm lucky that I get used to it living in Georgia where the weather is about the same.

Even when it rains in Florida, it only cools down for a little bit and then gets even more humid.

I usually stay at either Hard Rock Hotel or Royal Pacific Resort. I've never tried the other Deluxe resorts or any of the newer moderate ones like Cabana Bay or Sapphire Falls.
The Hard Rock Hotel is a really short walk and I think it's the closest to City Walk and Universal Studios. Royal Pacific Resort has a boat or you can walk and that is closest to Islands of Adventure and Margaritaville.

I know someone else with more info will be along soon! Happy planning!

You typed faster than me!

 

[pbb&j]

Thanks! I was just looking at the resort on google maps, and it's interesting how different it looks from Disney World. Not all of that wide open space like in Epcot, and it looks like lots of attractions inside buildings.

 

[pcstang]

Yes, lots of indoor queues with AC. MIB has an ice cold entrance.

 

[Kivara]

Also, pool hopping is allowed; and as resort guests you can use the boats to get to Portifino, Hard Rock, Royal Pacific, and/or Sapphire Falls (free shuttle bus from the parking garage area for Cabana Bay.)

We would pack our swimsuits in the bottom of our park bag in the morning. Around midday, we'd get some lunch in the AC, then hop on a ferry boat to whichever hotel we wanted to swim at that day. After swimmimg, we'd take the ferry back to CityWalk, then transfer to the ferry to our hotel. Get showered, changed, get dinner, then back to the parks in the evening.

It will be hot and humid, but between shady spots, misting fans, AC in shops and restaurants, pools, water rides, etc...it is doable. (Also, you can get free ice water from any food stand and the Cocacola freestyle machines.)

 

[kbelle8995]

You already have a good idea on how to deal with this. Some of the rides have at least half of the queue inside. There are also great areas like knockturn alley that are covered so that you can escape the heat.

Universal is really built well to be able to take advantage of the midday break. And going back to lie down for awhile in AC or jump in the pool, is an excellent way to escape the zenith of heat and humidity. Drink water and gatoraid/poweraid. Don't just drink soda all day.

 

[kohlby]

Yes, it will be hot. I'd say the same as most of the Disney parks. For some reason, AK always feels hotter to me than the other Disney parks. Though, World Showcase is rough on a sunny day. (I've been in World Showcase when the heat index was over 100. It was rough!) Universal's transportation is easier than Disney's since you are so much closer. You can walk or take the boat. It was a 6 minute walk from RPR to the park for us, and that's not the closest hotel - so not bad. But the boat is so relaxing so we usually took the boat. Also, you won't be waiting in lines in the heat since you'll have express during a time when crowds aren't high anyway. You can expect to walk on the rides. Gringotts and FJ don't have express, but the lines should be short enough to be mostly inside as long as you don't do it mid-day.

 

[macraven]

UO is not spread out like wdw is

Short walks or water taxi from 3 of the hotels allows you to reach the parks quickly

Most of the rides at the studios are indoors
This helps when it is raining or very hot outside

If you go in summer, do the parks from opening until 1:00

Return later when the sun angle has moved
This might help dealing with high heat

 

[spewey]

Epcot in August is hotter than the surface of the sun. Universal is positively chilly compared to that.

My family and I are going to UO in late August as well. We will also be following the early entry/go through lunch/hit the pools plan (with a day or two at the water park).

We've been there before in July, and although the heat is brutal, as mentioned above things are a bit more compact than Disney, and most queues are indoor, therefore air-conditioned. And there's always the water rides at IOA - Jurassic Park, Bluto, and Dudley - all amongst the best of their kind in the world.

 

[k1koala]

if you head to say HRH for the pool, since it is close, will they provide towels?? its easy to carry bathing suits in bag but not towels!!

 

[DisneyOma]

There was a really brutal section of IoA - the part that's about superheroes?

The HP sections are pretty cool, Diagonalley is mostly covered, which is nice. Hogsmeade is a bit brutal and the queue for FJ can be brutal as well when it is in the (boring) outside part before the greenhouses.

 

[macraven]

if you head to say HRH for the pool, since it is close, will they provide towels?? its easy to carry bathing suits in bag but not towels!!

Show your room key and they will give you towels

Since people pool hop, always keep your room key with you to show at the pools

 

[PrincesaMama]

We've done both in the summer, but I think Universal seemed more bearable because we could walk easily to parks from RPR. This means midday breaks were easier to accomplish with tired kids. Also, with the express pass the wait to get into the air conditioned part of the attraction was much faster. Overall, the parks weren't as crowded, and we were able to stop at places like Simpson's Fast Food Alley for a cheap lunch. Diagon Alley is also a relatively cool place to hang out. Frozen butterbeer doesn't hurt either.

 

[Kivara]

Super Heroes area does seem to be hotter than most areas, but they do have several shops, an arcade, and rides with inside lines (except Storm's) and a misting area near the water
When it's hot, we usually go through the Toon area, and get soaked on Bluto's Bilge Rat Barges, then walk through Marvel

 

[HM]

At both Disney and Universal we do the afternoon pool break (or room rest) in the hot months.

I remember one year at Disney it was so bad we didn't even do the pools, just watched tv and did puzzles in our room in the afternoon.

If you can do December before Christmas, I'd suggest that. We love going early to mid-December. The weather is so much better.

 

[pcstang]

MGM always seemed the hottest park to me with all the blacktop streets. Holy heat batman!

 

[pbb&j]

At both Disney and Universal we do the afternoon pool break (or room rest) in the hot months.

I remember one year at Disney it was so bad we didn't even do the pools, just watched tv and did puzzles in our room in the afternoon.

If you can do December before Christmas, I'd suggest that. We love going early to mid-December. The weather is so much better.

Last year it was hot at the pool in the shade!
I wish we could go before Christmas (we did it last year and loved it!), but she doesn't get out until December 23 this year, so my options are the 2 weeks after Christmas, the week after Easter, or late August. So, high crowds and high prices, or less crowded, less expensive and roasting?

 

[keishashadow]

I'm thinking about taking my 14 year old daughter to Universal in late August, primarily to explore the Harry Potter attractions. We went to Disney World last August, and it was SO much hotter than I had expected. It only rained once over 8 days, and the sun was just brutal hot. We made the best of it, and the evenings were fine, and the very early morning. We stayed out of the parks from about 11-5. The water parks were great, though!

Because she'll be in high school, we can either go in the summer, or at Christmas or Easter. So, I can't believe it, but I'm thinking about summer again. I'm curious what Universal is like by comparison, in terms of air-conditioned queues, shade getting to and from the parks, air-conditioned restaurants... We would stay at a Universal Hotel to get the Express pass, but I'm even wondering how hot it is getting to and from the parks? For example, we just stayed at the Boardwalk Inn at Disney over spring break, and walked to Hollywood Studios, which was fine in April, but we commented that we wouldn't want to do that walk in August. Is one of the Universal hotels closer, and potentially a shorter walk?

Probably my biggest sadness about the heat last summer was that it was too hot to enjoy the little details outside, like at World Showcase. Will we feel that way at Universal, too?

I apologize that I haven't done much research yet, so maybe one of the hotels is an obvious choice. We would certainly spend our afternoons at the hotel, which we did last summer. We also did early magic hours, and would take advantage of those at Universal, too.

Thanks for any help you can give!

April in MCO can have some hot days too. No need to walk to MGM from BW, the boat gets a nice breeze and chance to recharge those feet

Sounds like you just got back & trying to possibly space out your trip but August is seriously HOT in MCO. May & June not as oppressive, July even seems better than August. Trip should be doable with the afternoon break you take, especially with a teenager vs kids sweltering in a stroller. Dress for the weather in wicking clothing and a hat with SPF. You need to set your expectations accordingly and look for afternoon shade.

JMHO the afternoon rain makes it even more steamy, less humidity gives better real feel temp.

There is nothing @ Universal that compares to that long, shadeless walk from the front of Epcot to World Showcase area. I swear i had a pair of crocs melt on the sidewalk once