Crowds, we dislike ’em! Going during a crowded time throws off your vacation’s vibe – more crowds mean longer waits for rides, busier restaurants, and more guests around the parks. Avoid the crowds and use our Crowd Calendar to find the perfect time to visit Universal Orlando. In this article, we’ll go over five great times to visit based on our Crowd Calendar data.

The Crowd Calendar

TouringPlans uses collected data and statistically advanced prediction methodologies to predict crowds and plan your vacation.  TouringPlans’ Crowd Calendar predicts the perceived crowds and forecasts wait times for Universal Orlando. Our crowd calendars are driven by hard data: 10 million wait times submitted by users, local and national school schedules, holidays, special events, and more. The dates below are pulled from our full 2024 crowd calendar and are accurate as of January 10, 2024 – please review the crowd calendar before your trip for the latest predictions.

The full Crowd Calendar is available with a TouringPlans.com subscription plus you receive customized touring plans and real-time wait time predictions.

Now, let’s look at the best times to visit Universal Orlando in 2024. We are searching for several days in a row with Crowd Calendar predictions at 3 or lower, perfect for a few days at the parks. All these dates include Crowd Level 1 and 2 days.

February 5 – 8, 2024 (Monday – Thursday)

Let the good times roll! A little under a month from now is the first great time to visit Universal Orlando.  February 6 and 7 are the first days with low crowds at the parks with a predicted Crowd Level of 2. CL 2 days mean Hagrid’s Magical Creature Motorbike Adventure sees 40-minute wait times between 11:00 am and 2:00 pm and Revenge of the Mummy during the same time sees a whopping 9-minute wait times. Wow.

Did we mention Mardi Gras? Universal’s celebration of all things carnival starts in early February. The chefs at Universal bring dozens of exclusive food and drink menu items to food booths in Universal Studios Florida, from beignets to spicy Indian curry.  Live entertainment takes a focus with headliner live acts on select nights, daily live jazz music, and a nightly PG-rated Mardi Gras parade – including beads!

While February features mild temperatures several attractions might be closed for refurbishment. This year Popeye and Bluto’s Blige Rat Barges are closed for refurbishment.

May 5 – 8 (Sunday – Wednesday)

With a crowded spring break and Easter season, the next quiet period at Universal Orlando is May 5 through 7. No events are running during these dates but the weather will be pleasant with highs in the mid-80s and only six days of rain on average. Crowd Level days for this period are between a 2 and 3, equating to an average wait of 16 minutes for Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts.

These dates, plus the week after on May 12, are the only less crowded days in 2024 that include weekend dates which makes it perfect for locals, those who drive, and/or have fewer vacation days.

September 9 – 13 (Monday – Friday)

Summer remains extremely busy at Universal Orlando with high crowd days from the week before Memorial Day till Labor Day. For guests looking for a late summer escape or want to uncover the horror with low waits, Monday, September 9 through Friday, September 13 are the perfect days to visit. Halloween Horror Nights operates on Wednesday through Sunday nights making this a great option for those looking for haunted house attractions.

There are two major downsides to touring in September: heat and hurricanes. It is hot and humid, with high temperatures in the 90s with frequent rain storms. Mid-September is also smack dab in the middle of the Atlantic hurricane season, so your vacation could be impacted by heavy storms.

November 18 – 21 (Monday – Thursday)

Want to visit Universal Orlando with the shortest waits? The only Crowd Level 1 day at Universal Orlando in 2024 is during this period and the temperatures are much cooler. All attractions are open, including water rides, but Universal’s holiday offerings might still be mothballed. This is the best time to visit if you do not care about seasonal events and don’t mind traveling before Thanksgiving.

Want to know which day has the coveted Crowd Level 1? Subscribe to TouringPlans for the full Crowd Calendar, customized touring plans, live wait time predictions, and more!

December 9 – 12 (Monday – Thursday)

The last slow period of the year is right before Christmas, from Monday, December 9 through Thursday the 12. Universal operates all of its holiday offerings during the week including the musical spectacular Grinchmas and the Universal Orlando Holiday Parade featuring Macy’s.

Average daily temperatures range from the 60s to 80s, but morning lows sometimes reach the 50s. When temperatures are 50 or lower some attractions might close due to weather, including Volcano Bay [Blog – Touring Universal Orlando in Cold Weather]. Pick this period if you don’t mind missing some water rides in exchange for Christmas vibes.

TouringPlans Tips

Weekdays are less crowded than weekends. Our Crowd Calendar predictions are several Crowd Levels higher on weekends which means noticeably more people in the parks with longer waits for top attractions and restaurants.

Visit before or after major USA holidays. Guests from the USA and Canada are less likely to travel immediately before and after holidays, especially holidays that create long weekends.

Avoid the summer. Universal is still very crowded during the summer, so avoid the crowds and the heat and skip the summer. Trust us, it’s hot enough for the rest of the year.

When are your favorite times to visit Universal Orlando? Leave them in the comments below!