Summer vs Fall visit; hours, weather, etc.

[ShyMiss]

Hi Universal Fans. Can you help us? We (family of four with two teens) are excited to try a week at Universal for our next vacation. We have been debating between the two time periods that we are available. July (gasp) and November.

We've been to Disney in November (last year) so can picture the temperatures. Never been in July. I know July is supposed to be crazy hot/humid but we are trying to make a plan (sleep in, pools, AC lunch & dinner, then parks till close.) Thinking we'd be able to take advantage of the new waterpark more in July. Though if there is an 80 degreee day in November, we could do some waterpark activities then too...

My questions:
1. I see the website says 10:00 closings in July. Does universal ever extend the hours to 11 or midnight as the month gets closer like Disney does?
2. Summer visitors, what are the typical afternoon rain times/patterns?
3. Does it feel cooler after sunset?
4. Any other tips/advice for July vs November?

Thanks so much in advance!
(Other details if interested: we'd stay at RPR for the whole week & only pop over to AK for one day. We live in a midwest climate that gets humid in summer but not as hot as FL)

 

[snoopy5386]

After sunset it feels less like the surface of the sun and more like a sauna. Seriously it never cools down and the oppressive humidity is always there. I'd go with November.

 

[macraven]

I vote for November
Generally less crowds
Even with earlier closing times, you can do the entire parks


July is hot, crowded and very busy

Passing thunderstorms do not cool the park off in the summer

 

[ShyMiss]

Thanks for the replys so far! Looking forward to more advice. Maybe I should have noted that our November availability would be the week leading up to Thanksgiving, so not expecting low crowds -lol! But the weather advice is helpful & I imagine the express pass would help quite a bit.

I'll also add that with 2 teens, we are NOT early morning/rope-drop people, so hoping to see the Harry Potter stuff near closing-as I read that's the 2nd best time (after rope-drop.) Teens are huge Harry Potter fans. (I just started reading the first book. Trying to build background knowledge before the vacation. lol)

 

[kohlby]

Any chance you could do the very end of August instead? Then crowds won't be as big of an issue and the weather will be about the same as July. We went to Disney the first two weeks of Sept once and the heat index was over 100 several days. We were living in SC - where our summer heat index is often over 100 - but we don't spend all day out in it. I did much better than I had thought - but two of the five people in our family really suffered with the heat. If you do decide July - or August - my suggestion would be partial days. Plan on more days in the parks but spending less time each day. After that trip, we decided to stick to cooler times of year. There are ways to make dealing with crowds easier but the ways of dealing with the heat are much, much more limited. (We're locals now though - so we probably will try the parks this summer anyway but we can plan it to avoid the days with the heat index over 100 at least!)

 

[janicept]

Thanks for the replys so far! Looking forward to more advice. Maybe I should have noted that our November availability would be the week leading up to Thanksgiving, so not expecting low crowds -lol! But the weather advice is helpful & I imagine the express pass would help quite a bit.

I'll also add that with 2 teens, we are NOT early morning/rope-drop people, so hoping to see the Harry Potter stuff near closing-as I read that's the 2nd best time (after rope-drop.) Teens are huge Harry Potter fans. (I just started reading the first book. Trying to build background knowledge before the vacation. lol)

I'm not sure if you mean the week before Thanksgiving or the week of Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving week will be busy since Orlando schools are out plus many other schools I would imagine. I went last year with my family Thanksgiving eve and Thanksgiving and it was busy. I get early entry with my annual pass so that was helpful. The hours are long when the crowds are heavy though. If you are getting tickets for the entire week you won't have trouble seeing everything. I've never seen Universal open past 10 pm except separate events like HHN. If you mean the week before Thanksgiving I would guess it would be similar to the week I'm there after Thanksgiving. If you have enough days you wouldn't need express passes. The weather is great in November. I avoid Florida like the plague in summer so I can't speak for July. I go May and September and it can be hot then. Gosh, just a week ago (March) we were there and it got to high 80s or 90 almost every day. We are from upstate NY so 100 degree weather is for being inside with AC not outside standing in line.

Either way don't forget to get to Universal app. It's great for ride wait times and show schedules.

 

[ShyMiss]

Thanks for all the advice. As it turned out, November worked better for hubby's job schedule. We just booked a week at club level at RPR in November. I am anticipating a great time based on what I've read on these boards. I'm sure I will have more questions as our vacation draws nearer.

 

[macraven]

Good choice!