So Much to Sea Travel Co. books the following travel destinations:
✓ Universal Orlando Resort
✓ Universal Studios Hollywood
It may come down to family or work schedules, a dislike of the heat and humidity, or a desire to go during Halloween Horror Nights. Schedules and personal preferences aside, some times of the year are better than others when considering crowd levels, ticket prices, and things to do at the parks. Below, we discuss the best times to go to Universal Studios and why.
Visit Universal Studios Orlando’s website for park hours.
The best time to go to Universal Studios Orlando is September after Labor Day through the middle of October. This is based on various factors, including ticket pricing, crowds, events, and weather.
Ticket pricing
The first factor is ticket pricing, which we based on a one-day, one-park ticket with no discounts or add-ons. You will find some of the cheapest ticket pricing of the year between September and October. There are many weekdays where you can purchase park tickets at Universal Studios lowest ticket tier, which is $109 for 2023 during this period.
Prices increase slightly on the weekends and rise closer to Halloween.
Ticket pricing and crowd levels are often linked together: you can expect fewer crowds when ticket pricing is low. Universal and Disney intentionally set their prices this way (referred to as “surge pricing”) to encourage guests to visit during slower times. As a result, lower ticket pricing usually indicates the least crowded days to visit Universal.
Crowds are typically lower after Labor Day through mid-October because most children have returned to school by the end of Labor Day weekend. In addition, families are less likely to take their children out of school for vacation right after summer breaks, making it a great time to visit Universal and other Orlando theme parks.
You can expect crowds to slightly increase on weekends due to visits from locals and annual pass holders. Still, you won’t generally notice it compared to other busy times of the year, such as during the summer or spring break. Don’t forget you can always purchase an express pass. The peak season for park guests in Universal Studios Orlando is May to August.
The weather in Central Florida is another excellent reason to visit Universal between mid-September and mid-October. Florida usually transitions from a tropical, wet-season pattern with daily afternoon thunderstorms to a dry, low-humidity pattern with very few rainy days during this time. When visiting in October, expect days with highs in the low and mid-80s with low humidity and comfortable, breezy nights.
While mid-September through mid-October is the best time to visit Universal, there are other periods throughout the year when you’d experience low crowds, great weather, and plenty of activities. Here are some of the other great times to visit Universal:
January — The End of February
The period just after New Year’s and before March first is historically the least crowded time of the year to visit Universal Studios Orlando. Crowds increase on certain long weekends, like Martin Luther King Jr. Day (the third Monday in January) and President’s Day (the third Monday in February). Still, most weekends and weekdays are great times to visit.
Suppose you choose to visit right after New Year’s. In that case, you can experience all the Universal holiday festivities and decorations without the holiday crowds. Universal Studios Christmas decor typically stays up through the first weekend in January. You can also join in on the festive fun of Mardi Gras, which starts in early February every year.
The weather is typically very comfortable during this time as well. There’s low humidity, below-average precipitation, and only a few “cold snaps” (which in Florida means any day under 70 degrees). So overall, you’ll experience the type of weather you can boast about to your friends up north who are stuck in snowy cities.
Ticket prices are typically some of the lowest of the entire year during this time, too!
End of April — Mid-May
The spring break rush leading up to Memorial Day is another excellent time to visit Universal Studios Orlando. Again, low attendance will allow you to enjoy the Wizarding World of Harry Potter™, the VelociCoaster at Jurassic World, and thrill rides like Rip, Ride, and Rockit with short wait times. Weather-wise, you can expect warm, summer-like temperatures with increasing humidity and some intense afternoon thundershowers that pass quickly.