Universal Studios/Islands of Adventure in July

[Ally0005]

We are planning next summer a trip to Universal Studios/Islands of Adventure our first time there. We just did out first trip to DW this past June.
In the past we always take our vacation in July.
Is July a bad time to go to Universal Studios/Islands of Adventure?
We are also thinking of going to Cocoa beach for a few days.

 

[Metro West]

Well...summertime in Florida isn't the best time to visit the parks. The heat/humidity and the crowds are awful. If you can deal with the weather, that's half the battle. I was at IOA this past Sunday and I got there early to avoid the heat and the crowds. I didn't avoid either one and by 10:30am I was ready for someone to throw me in the lake! The parks were very crowded with wait times hovering around 50 mins for the non-water rides and 90 mins for the water rides. It looks as though everyone is trying to get there early too which doesn't help the crowd level anymore.

But...If you're up to it, you should have a great time!

 

[Kml9876]

The best time to head to the parks is in the fall and the spring. The summer is very hot and there are a ton of people. As a local I don't even bother going to any of theme parks June- end of August.

 

[DOOM1001]

If it's the only time you can go then do it, but definitely June-September the weather is very hot,humid and rainy.Late Aug and September the crowds ease off as schools get back in but that's also the hurricane peak season.Also as a Floridian these months you'll find me at the waterparks but not the theme parks.Mid October through May the weather is much,much better and although it might be a bit hot at certain times and you could see some rain,but it's nothing like June-September.My favorite time of the year at Universal is October on nights they have Halloween Horror Nights and my other favorite time is sometime in January or February those days where the high is 70 degrees and lows in the 50's without a cloud in the sky and light crowds.But like I said before if you can only go in July,do it!!

 

[michelle1]

We just came back and found it to be hot but not unbearable although we do love the heat. More important than the heat though....express pass!! DON'T go without one because we were on and off rides in 10 minutes compared to the 45-90 minutes the other folks were waiting. We stayed onsite so we had the unlimited express pass and we couldn't have done it otherwise.

 

[mslclark]

We've been several times in July - but we always stay onsite so that we can use our room keys for front of the line access. I wouldn't go in July without it. We hit the parks early and we are usually done for the day just after lunch. Then we spend the rest of the afternoon at the pool or just napping in the room!

 

[WDW Princess]

As someone already said before, if July is the only time you can go than I would rather go than not. However, you couldn't pay me enough to go there during summer time!! Even with fast pass. Although, we are going for a long weekend in August; however, it's purely for a quick getaway to enjoy HRH amenities (specifically and primarily the pool! ) and may be stop by the parks for a couple of hours towards the evenings. Other then that, I cannot handle the crowds and the heat.

In September, however, the crowds are lighter but the weather is still quite warm but tolerable (for me). We've been very fortunate and have never encountered a severely bad weather in September while in parks. Sooooo.... If you could choose a different month, I would, but if not, than I'd go anyway.

 

[Metro West]

As someone already said before, if July is the only time you can go than I would rather go than not. However, you couldn't pay me enough to go there during summer time!! Even with fast pass. Although, we are going for a long weekend in August; however, it's purely for a quick getaway to enjoy HRH amenities (specifically and primarily the pool! ) and may be stop by the parks for a couple of hours towards the evenings. Other then that, I cannot handle the crowds and the heat.

Plus...in July there are all the lovely Brazilian tour groups to deal with.

 

[BettyBoop.IOA]

I always go in July/August and as my mother used to say "You get what your given, and you will like it". It's hot, but hey, it's Florida can't expect nothing less in July. It's fine for us because we take it easy and don't rush around trying to fit everything in too quickly. Single riders lines work great for us also We've done both parks in one day - Without the express pass. It's really not that bad! And there is the occasional brazillian tour group, but most of them are at Disney. So no prolems

 

[paracelsus]

I teach summer school every summer at the local community college. Classes always end on the last Thursday of July. On that day (which is today, by the way, but we aren't going this year) we pack up the van and drive to Orlando to visit Universal and Disney. We have never been to Universal at any other time than the last week in July, so I think it's great! I have nothing to compare it to. It's hot, but it's supposed to be hot. It's crowded, but it's always crowded. We stay on site for FOTL and have a great time! I think that I would feel cheated if I went at a different time of year and it was cold and the park hours were shorter. It would feel strange. Go in July! You'll love it!