Universal Studios for March Break

[fitmom3]

I booked a trip to WH for March break. We are interested in visiting Universal. They have a buy two days get the third for free. Can anyone advise on crowd levels for CDN march break. We have visited Busch Garden and Sea World for March break in the past and it wasn't too bad. Can we expect Universal to be less packed than Disney???

 

[mc2]

We spent some time there during March Break last year and didn't find it horrible, but it was also freezing when we were there - WE even had to put on sweatshirts. It was like a game of "spot the Canadians" - the locals were all in jeans, sweatshirts, and jackets. We all had on shorts and sweatshirts!

 

[bankr63]

We've done Ontario break several times now. Like Disney, it helps to be early and get the headliners done first. By afternoon lines start getting long, and the FOTL passes are a big expense that I don't want to pay.

Note that this applies to the park in general; the WWOHP in US area will be swamped and will probably lower lines in some other areas of the park. WWOHP in IOA has calmed over the years, but with the P2P between the two on the Hogwart's express it might see a resurgence.

We are looking forward to US this year as WWHOP has openened, as has Transformers since our last visit, and Despicable Me was way too long a wait for us try. Last time there, there was hoarding all over the place. I think it will almost be like a new park with all the changes.

ETA: And no, the parks don't feel quiet as busy as Disney from a crowd level aspect, but the rides don't generally load as quickly, so lines often seem longer (IMO).

 

[coastgirl]

We are going Mar 9-20. NS break is the second week of that, not sure which week you are taking. (My niece in BC has BOTH weeks!) The research I've done corresponds with what the others have said. Crowd calendars are saying "moderate". US "spring" breaks are all over the place, apparently, and there tends to be a busy spot around Easter, which is beginning of April this year. Diagon Alley is going to be busy any time for a while yet, and I've heard it's getting better at Hogsmeade in IOA, but the layout of that area feels congested at the best of times (though I love the effect they were after--just wish it wasn't so full of muggles!).

Our strategy is to go early and then come back late afternoon. Crowds tend to die down around suppertime. We also buy a long ticket (14 days though this time we will only be in town 10 days) so we don't get too dependent on doing everything in a day or two. The 14 day park-to-park ticket is not much more expensive than a 3-day, at about $200 from Undercover Tourist. And we're staying on site for the first few days at the new value hotel for the early entry to Diagon Alley.

 

[pigletto]

We will be doing part of March Break as well. Our March break is actually the 16th to the 20th, but we are going the 18th to the 25th. Yes the kids will miss 3 days of school but the flights were astronomical to go from the weekend to the weekend and both of them can make up anything missed without much trouble.

From the crowd calendars I am seeing, the second part of our trip will be much worse than the first few days. It's not in the budget to stay at one of the resorts with FOTL access so we are staying at Cabana Bay. We'll take advantage of early entry, leave for the most crowded parts of the day to hang out by the pool and go back in the evenings.

For the first time ever we will be at Universal for an entire week so I am not too worried because there will certainly be time to do all of our favourites a few times. We love the FOTL pass, but we are so happy to be going back we will just deal with not having it.