Best Times to visit Universal

When planning a trip to Central Florida to go to any theme park destination, knowing when to come may be just as important as planning what to do while on the trip. While most families visit Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure during the peak season (summer), planning a trip around that especially busy time may make the world of difference when it comes to your trip.

As a general rule of thumb, January (starting the second week to avoid the New Years crowd), February, September and early November are the least busy times of the year for both Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure. Wait times for major rides at the parks are slowest during January and February, with times ranging on average from 0-15 minutes. In September and early November (October is out because of the influx of people for Halloween Horror Nights), wait times will range anywhere from 10-30 minutes per attraction.

By far the busiest months for Universal Orlando are May-August, when the summer crowd hits. March and April are surprisingly busy times for the parks as well, as Spring Breakers and Easter weekend spell large numbers for the Central Florida area. October, as mentioned above, is popular because of Halloween Horror Nights, while late November and December are packed with people enjoying their holiday breaks.

The year-round sunshine in Florida also makes it a great destination any time of the year and is another reason why the holidays are so packed at Universal Orlando. However, the slow seasons at both parks (January, February, September) may also be some of the best times weather-wise to visit. In the early months of the year, one can beat the extreme heat and humidity while still being comfortable. January is the coolest month of the year, but both months will see high temperatures ranging in the low-to-mid 70’s, with lows hovering around the 50 degree mark. Rainfall is also very limited during this time, as January and February mark two of the five months of the year with expected precipitation under three inches.

September, however, may be a bit of a different tory in terms of rainfall and temperatures. Though the crowds are definitely thinning out at this time, you can still expect 90’s almost everyday, with a high chance of rain daily as well. This is also still hurricane season in Florida, so there is always the possibility of encountering a tropical system on your visit during the late summer months.

The rainy season, with chances of rain and thunderstorms every day, usually lasts from late May until early October. You can also expect temperatures to average in the 80’s from April through October, with 90 degree readings from June through the end of August. But just because the rain chances are high every day, that shouldn’t detract you from enjoying all the Universal Orlando has to offer. A typical day in the summer will see a brief shower or thunderstorm pass through at least once per day, but a total washout is not highly likely and shouldn’t keep you from enjoying your fun for too long. Lightning in the area will shut down all outdoor activities, however, so be prepared to take in some indoor attractions should that arise.