Dates to Avoid at Universal Orlando If You Hate Crowds

This guide will help you understand which dates to avoid when planning your trip to Universal Orlando, and why. Whether you’re a first-time visitor or a seasoned passholder, avoiding peak dates can be the difference between a fun trip and a frustrating one. Timing is crucial when visiting Universal Orlando because crowd levels can significantly affect your overall experience.

Visiting during peak times, such as holidays, school breaks, and weekends, often means longer wait times for rides, more congestion in the parks, and higher prices for accommodations. Conversely, choosing to go during off-peak periods such as late winter, typically offers shorter lines, easier dining reservations, and a more relaxed atmosphere. Planning your visit around lower crowd levels can lead to more time enjoying attractions and less time waiting, ultimately making your trip more enjoyable and efficient.

Our Universal Orlando Crowd Calendar

Universal Orlando Resort is one of the most thrilling vacation destinations in the United States. With iconic attractions like Jurassic World VelociCoaster and Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure, it's a magnet for families, thrill-seekers, and film fanatics alike. But with great popularity comes great crowds, and if you choose the wrong time to visit, you might find yourself spending more time in lines than on rides.

We visit Universal Orlando during each season throughout the year and have narrowed down the best and worst times to go to the theme parks. If your priority is to avoid the crowds, I HIGHLY recommend referring to our Universal Orlando crowd calendar which is periodically updated and will help make your decision on when to visit much easier! It is updated monthly and will break down what to expect with the crowd levels, as well as what events are happening during your trip.

So let’s dive into the times of year to steer clear of if you want to make the most of your Universal adventure based on our own personal experience and the data used from our Universal Orlando crowd calendar.

Spring Break Season (Mid-March to Mid-April)

Why it's crowded: Spring break schedules vary by region, but March and early April are always packed with families of kids on spring break. Families from across the U.S. (and internationally) descend upon Orlando for warm weather and fun before summer hits. Spring break is one of the worst times to visit any theme park in Orlando, and I personally avoid the parks if possible.

Peak weeks to avoid: To avoid peak crowd levels at Universal Orlando, do not visit during the second and third weeks of April or Easter weekend.

Tip: If you must visit in spring, try the first week of March or late April. The weather is still great, and the crowds are lower once school is back in session.

Summer Vacation (Mid-June to Mid-August)

Why it's crowded: Summer is the traditional family vacation time. Schools are out, and families have more flexibility to travel.

Peak weeks to avoid: Although summer is a popular time to visit due to school breaks, I would try to avoid the weekends during June and July as this is when you will see the parks increasingly crowded due to local passholders.

Extra challenges: In addition to crowd levels, there are extra challenges of visiting Universal Orlando during summer break. These obviously include high humidity and heat (often exceeding 90 degrees), pop-up thunderstorms which can put a damper on riding certain outdoor attractions, as well as longer hours in the sun while waiting in certain lines.

Tip: If summer is your only option, consider visiting middle to late August, when many schools start back and crowds begin to taper off. Although it’ll still be very warm, at least the crowds will be extremely mellow by then.

Thanksgiving Week (Late November)

Why it's crowded: Many schools give the entire week off for Thanksgiving, and it's a popular time for family travel. The weather is pleasant, and the parks begin to transition into their holiday decor which brings in even more crowds.

Peak days to avoid: If you want to visit Universal Orlando during Thanksgiving, I would avoid the Wednesday before Thanksgiving through the Sunday after.

Tip: Visit the week before Thanksgiving or wait until early December for festive vibes without the heavy traffic. Universal Orlando is one of my favorite parks to visit during the holidays, however I never visit too close to the major holidays when families are traveling during school breaks.

Winter Holidays (Mid-December through New Year's Day)

Why it's crowded:Christmas at Universal Orlando is the busiest time of the year and brings in the largest crowds. Families on winter break pack the parks, and everyone wants a taste of the holiday magic.

Dates to avoid: Honestly, I would avoid all Orlando theme parks, including Universal Orlando, between December 20 through January 2.

Expect: If you plan on visiting Universal Orlando during the winter holiday break, be prepared for hefty crowds, expensive rates for hotels and Express Pass, and limited availability for dining reservations.

Tip:Consider visiting inearly Decemberto catch the holiday décor and shows with much smaller crowds.

Holiday Weekends and Federal Holidays

President's Day Weekend (Third Monday in February): Usually combined with mid-winter break in some states. When visiting this weekend, you should expect higher crowds especially from Friday through Monday.

Memorial Day Weekend (Last Monday in May): Kicks off the summer season and brings big crowds and higher temperatures.

Labor Day Weekend (First Monday in September): A last hurrah before school starts and/or gets serious. Labor Day weekend usually brings in moderate if not heavy crowds.

Columbus Day Weekend (Second Monday in October): Surprisingly, Columbus Day weekend can be very busy due to several schools having fall breaks.

Martin Luther King Jr. Weekend (Third Monday in January): MLK Jr weekend has become increasingly busier due to the federal holiday and nice weather.

Tip: If you plan on visiting Universal Orlando during a holiday weekend, try visiting on a Tuesday through Thursday following these weekends in order to avoid the larger crowds.

Special Events That Increase Crowds

Universal Orlando hosts several events throughout the year that can enhance your visit but also bring in large crowds. Although each of these events are so much fun and worth experiencing, it can be overwhelming to those who prefer to avoid large crowds. Despite these events, there are several periods or days of the week that will have less crowds than normal, which can help you avoid more people while still partaking in the fun.

Read more below to learn about each of these events at Universal Orlando and what dates to avoid.

Halloween Horror Nights (September through October)

Why it's crowded:Halloween Horror Nights is arguably Universal's most popular event of the year and is my personal favorite event at Universal Orlando. Although it is a separately ticketed event, many guests opt to visit the Universal Orlando parks during the day before the event kicks off after hours.

Avoid: When visiting Universal Orlando during the Halloween season, try to avoid visiting Friday and Saturday nights, especially in the last two weeks before Halloween. If Halloween falls on a weekend, I would definitely avoid Universal if possible if you need a break from crowds.

Tip: Visit the parks early in the day before the Halloween crowds arrive, or go midweek in September for lighter crowds. If you want to experience the Halloween Horror Nights event with lower crowds, I recommend purchasing your ticket for after Halloween. The event usually runs for a couple more days after the holiday, and crowds tend to thin out especially if these days fall during the week. Even without an Express Pass, I was able to experience most of the haunted houses, the Nightmare Fuel show, and walk around the scare zones within plenty of time.

Mardi Gras Celebration (February to April)

Why it's crowded: A family-friendly Mardi Gras celebration with concerts, parades, and unique food options is another amazing event at Universal Orlando. It’s fun, but it often draws large crowds, especially on the weekends. This is another fan favorite season that, unlike Halloween Horror Nights, is not a separately ticketed event. Another reason this event draws crowds is due to the various free concerts that take place during select nights during the event. Popular musicians and bands including Joe Jonas, All Time Low, and T-Pain have performed for audiences at Universal Orlando during the Mardi Gras event.

Avoid: If you plan on experiencing Mardi Gras, I would avoid Saturdays and concert nights. Luckily this event takes place over three months and typically isn’t too bad unless there is a concert. I visited Universal Orlando on the day of the Joe Jonas concert this past season, and Express Pass was over $200 for the day. We spoke with a Team Member who stated Express Pass is often more expensive on concert days due to the crowds wanting to get on rides before the show.

Tip: Visit earlier in the day, during the week, and on non-concert dates to enjoy the atmosphere without the shoulder-to-shoulder crowds.

Grad Bash & Gradventure (Late April to May)

Why it's crowded: Grad Bash at Universal Orlando is an exclusive, after-hours celebration designed just for graduating high school seniors, transforming both Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure into a private party afterhours. Held on select nights in April and May, it offers attendees the chance to enjoy shorter lines on blockbuster attractions, live DJ-hosted dance parties at the Universal Music Plaza Stage, and specially themed photo ops throughout the parks. Guests can also opt for "mix-in" tickets to enter the parks at 4 PM and experience daytime rides before the official Grad Bash activities begin, which can make the crowds busier, especially right before the event.

Avoid: Grad Bash dates in April and May (usually posted on Universal’s website), especially if you're traveling with small kids or want a less stressful evening.

Other Tips to Maximize Your Day at Universal Orlando

If you plan on visiting Universal Orlando during peak seasons, there are still several ways to avoid the crowds. As long as you come prepared and have a plan, you can still have an amazing day within the parks during peak seasons.

Use our crowd calendar: As previously mentioned, be sure to also refer to our Universal Orlando crowd calendar which is updated monthly. We base our crowd calendar on transparent about the data we use to make the crowd-level decisions that impact the ratings for each date on this Universal Orlando crowd calendar. These include the prices of 1 day Universal Orlando ticket prices, Express Pass ticket prices, Universal Orlando Annual Passholder blockout dates, and events that take place throughout the year like Halloween Horror Nights, Mardi Gras, holiday seasons.

Stay on-site: Guests of Universal Orlando resorts receive early entry into the parks each day which is a huge advantage when it comes to avoid crowds. Additionally some resorts like Hard Rock Hotel and Royal Pacific offer free Express Passes.

Arrive early: Rope drop can give you hours of low-crowd riding before peak times.

Get Express Passes: Skip the regular lines and maximize your day.