Best Time to Visit Universal Orlando in 2024

As a Universal Passholder and former Orlando resident, I had the opportunity to visit Universal Orlando year-round. I have made my way to the parks and frolicked through the single-rider lines season after season, day after day. After seeing the parks at their best and worst, I eventually learned the best time to visit Universal Orlando and the best time to stay home and watch park videos instead. While there is never a wrong time to go to Universal Orlando, certain times of the year bring heavy crowds, extensive spending, long waits, and a less personalized experience. This may lead to a trip that isn’t as enjoyable as it could have been. 

Let’s explore the best time to visit Universal Orlando in 2024 so you can pick the best trip for you and your family. 

Best Time for Avoiding Crowds

Whether you’re a very social person or an introvert, we all can agree that high crowd levels are a no-go. There are so many unpredictable risks involved with high crowds and theme parks. With high crowd levels, you may find yourself unable to do all the things you want to do. You may also find difficulty navigating through the park, meeting the characters you wanted to meet, or even getting the individual attention you were promised. In my experience visiting Universal Orlando, crowds take away from the experience and leave your enjoyment up to chance. If possible, it is best to avoid excessive crowds altogether.

The best time to visit Universal Orlando to avoid crowds is in late spring/early summer. For 2024, this means any time between April 7th and May 22nd. In the theme park community for locals and frequent park-goers, there is a sweet spot just before the heavy summer crowds and after the crazy spring break crowds. This is the secret ingredient for a wonderful crowd-free trip.

During this time, all students and families are on the first flight back home and reluctant to schedule another trip due to finals and standardized tests. If you are among those who don’t have to take those tests, this season is perfect. During these days, the park is nearly vacant. Most wait times are fifteen to twenty minutes, and the same number of characters and performers are out entertaining. This leaves you feeling like all the fun in the park was just for you and your family, making it a more memorable and enjoyable experience. 

Best Time for Budget Planning and Savings 

Staying on a budget also heavily contributes to the enjoyment of your trip. You may have the perfect trip, but then find yourself regretting it once the credit card statement comes in. Alternatively, because of the costs, you might avoid a trip in general, opting to watch park videos from afar. Did you know that scheduling the right time to go can help you save hundreds of dollars on your trip?

The best time to visit Universal Orlando to save money is at the end of summer. For 2024, this will be any date between August 25th and September 30th. These dates indicate another sweet spot for theme park goers. Like the dates to avoid crowds, from Late August to Late September Universal Orlando finds their usual attendees and visitors back to school after their long break and unlikely to return so soon after school has just started. 

Universal Orlando’s marketing team knows this. They know the schedule and the drop in sales. Because of this, you will often find the best ticket and hotel deals during that month. During this time Universal offers up to 40% off rooms when staying on the property. Of which also includes free express passes. Universal Orlando also offers ticket bundles on multi-day tickets and hotel-park packages. If you don’t want to stay on property, you’ll find neighboring hotels in Orlando with similar deals. In this season, you’ll easily find hotels in the city that have dropped their prices, desperate to fill up rooms. 

If you’re planning a trip but believe budgeting will be an issue, I’ll always recommend waiting for September. That way you can save the most money for your Universal Orlando trip. 

Best Time for Holiday Seasons

The holiday season is incredibly magical and such a fun time in everyone’s everyday lives. The holiday season at Universal Orlando takes that magic and multiplies it by ten. Holidays at Universal are jam-packed with exciting parades, beautiful decorations, and events that capture the world. Whenever I recommend Universal Orlando to friends and family, I always suggest going during the holiday season. However, during the holidays you have to know the right time to go. 

There are two major holiday seasons at Universal Orlando. The first season is Halloween, with the yearly award-winning Halloween Horror Nights Event. The second is Universal Holidays, celebrating the classic and sweet Grinchmas. Though these events take place consecutively over the span of four months, you can’t just show up on any day. With these two holidays, you run the risk of visiting on an extremely busy day. Like summertime and spring break, crowds flock from all over the world to enjoy the holiday. Specifically for Halloween Horror Nights, if you pick the wrong time to go, you’ll likely find yourself spending extra money on express passes and still only able to enjoy four out of the thirteen exciting houses. It is important to schedule wisely in order to make the most of your time at either event. 

For the Halloween season, the best time to visit Universal Orlando is in the month of September. Many believe Halloween should only be celebrated in the month of October. Because of this, most of the heavy crowd flocks to Halloween Horror Nights and the daytime parks only during October. What they don’t see is that the park and event are fully functional and decorated for an entire month before October and ready to welcome guests. 

For the Christmas/Grinchmas season, the best time to Visit Universal Orlando is the entire month of November, excluding Thanksgiving weekend. As soon as Halloween Horror Nights end, Universal Orlando packs everything up and almost overnight decorates for Christmas. You’ll find the park relatively calm and fully decorated, awaiting visitors to bring in holiday cheer.

Best Time for the Weather

There are a few of us that require the perfect weather in order to enjoy a trip. I can understand that if you and your family are prone to sunburns or have little ones afraid of rain and thunderstorms. Though I am a Universal lover through rain, shine, or hurricane, there is nothing wrong with wanting mild sunshine to carry you through your vacation. For this, I would say the Best Time to Visit Universal Orlando for good weather is in late winter/early spring. 

In 2024, late winter/early spring dates are anytime between January 8th to March 16th. These are the perfect dates for those with an aversion to the hot Florida sun. Though the Florida winter does not see snow or extremely low temperatures, it does reach the low 50s during the month of January, which may be more comfortable for parkgoers. For the rest of the months, you won’t see temperatures hotter than the mid-70s and you will have a higher chance of dry, rain-free days. 

Going during these dates doesn’t mean you will miss the fun though, as a bonus you will be able to take advantage of Universal Orlando’s Mardi Gras celebration while comfortably enjoying the mild weather. 

Best Practice

All in all, the best practice is to avoid major holiday seasons, specific days, and summertime. It is always best to go before and after the boatloads of crowds arrive and to pay attention to what elements you need to have an enjoyable trip. Follow this guide for the best time to visit Universal Orlando and you will, without a doubt, be able to schedule the most comfortable and cost-effective time for you and your family to go.