The Best Time to Go to Universal Studios

The best time to visit Universal Studios depends on many different factors. 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.

Crowds at Universal Orlando

Images are courtesy of Universal Orlando Resort

When Is the Best Time to Visit Universal Studios Orlando?

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 to consider is ticket pricing, which we based on a standard one-day, one-park ticket with no discounts or add-ons. Some of the lowest ticket prices of the year can be found between September and October. During this period, there are numerous weekdays where you can purchase park tickets at Universal Studios’ lowest tier, which is expected to be around $120 for 2025.

Prices increase slightly on the weekends and rise closer to Halloween, potentially reaching up to $160-170 per day.

Crowd Calendar

Ticket pricing and crowd levels are often connected; lower ticket prices typically indicate fewer crowds. Universal and Disney use a strategy known as “surge pricing,” intentionally setting their prices to encourage guests to visit during less busy periods. Consequently, when ticket prices are lower, it usually means that the parks will be less crowded on those days.

Crowds tend to decrease after Labor Day and continue to be lower until mid-October. This is mainly because most children have returned to school following the Labor Day weekend. Additionally, families are less inclined to take their kids out of school for a vacation immediately after the summer break. This makes it an excellent time to visit Universal and other theme parks in Orlando.

Crowds tend to increase slightly on weekends because of visits from locals and annual pass holders. However, this increase is usually not noticeable compared to busier periods of the year, such as summer or spring break. Remember, you can always purchase an Express Pass for quicker access. The peak season for visitors at Universal Studios Orlando is from May to August.

Halloween Horror Nights and Other Special Events

One of the main reasons September and October are the best times to visit Universal Studios is to experience Halloween Horror Nights, the park’s most popular event of the year, which regularly sells out.

This ticketed event takes place on select nights throughout September and October, typically running from around 6 PM to 1 or 2 AM. Halloween Horror Nights usually occurs on weekends for most of September, with two or three weekday events added toward the end of the month and throughout October, making it ideal for a fall break.

If you visit on a weekday event night between mid-September and mid-October, you’ll have the best chance to enjoy Halloween Horror Nights while avoiding the larger crowds that typically gather closer to Halloween.

Weather

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, low humidity, and comfortable, breezy nights. These are the perfect temperatures for a night out at HHN.

The Incredible Hulk Coaster - Universal Orlando

Other Great Times to Visit Universal

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.

Best time to go to Universal Studios is during Halloween Horror Nights

What Is the Best Month to Visit Universal Studios?

October is the best month to visit Universal Studios Orlando. More specifically, weekdays in the first two weeks of October are the best time to visit.

Crowds are typically low at the beginning of October but increase closer to Halloween. Weekends in October can get pretty busy: many locals and annual pass holders come to experience Halloween Horror Nights on their time off. You may experience a slight spike in attendance the weekend before Columbus Day weekend / Indigenous Peoples’ Day (the second Monday in October). However, you’ll be set if you stick to weekdays in October.

The main event during this time is Halloween Horror Nights. If you’re a fan of seeing your nightmares come to life with haunted houses themed after popular shows like Stranger Things and movies like The Haunting of Hill House, you’ll definitely want to visit Universal during this time. However, if horror isn’t your cup of tea, Central Florida’s low humidity, low rain chances (goodbye afternoon thunderstorms!), and comfortable afternoon temperatures will convince you to visit Universal Orlando in October.

What Is the Best Season to Visit Universal Studios?

The best season to visit Universal Orlando is winter.

There’s something simply wonderful about visiting theme parks around the holidays. There’s never a dull moment with plenty of festive experiences, whether you watch Hogwarts™ castle come to life with visions of the Yule Ball at Hogsmeade™ or take a trip to Who-ville for Grinchmas™ at Seuss Landing™.

Don’t forget to catch the holiday parade featuring balloons from Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade! Although winter is one of the best times to visit Universal, it can also be one of the busiest, so expect crowds. If you avoid these busy times, you’ll see the lowest crowds and prices of the year.

We suggest visiting Universal Orlando during the following times in the winter:

  • Beginning of November through the week before Thanksgiving.
  • The week after Thanksgiving through the week before Christmas.
  • January through the third week in February.

What Days of the Week are the Least Busy at Universal Studios?

The slowest days of the week at Universal are Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, especially during the school year. The reason is pretty apparent: it is smack dab in the middle of the workweek. Those are a few days that adults are less likely to take off work (even if they want to take a long weekend) and aren’t typical days for kids to be off school unless it’s during a break. Note: this doesn’t mean you won’t see children on your trip if you visit during one of these days! Saturday is usually the busiest day to visit Universal Studios Orlando, so the closer you get to the weekend, the busier it will be.

What is the Best Day to Visit Universal Studios?

The best day to go to Universal Studios is Wednesday. Since Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday are the slowest days of the week, they’re also the best few days to visit.

As we discussed above, ticket prices typically indicate crowd levels. Ticket pricing on Wednesday is consistently lower than on other days of the week throughout the year. Therefore, planning a trip to Universal Studios on a Wednesday gives you the best chance to purchase park tickets at Universal’s lowest ticket pricing tier. However, a few exceptions exist, such as Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Eve week. Overall, Wednesday is the least crowded and cheapest day to visit Universal Orlando, regardless of the season.

What is the Cheapest Month to Visit Universal Studios in 2025?

September is expected to be the cheapest month to visit Universal Orlando in 2025. Current projections show that weekday tickets during this month will be priced at Universal’s lowest pricing tier of around $120 for a one-day, one-park ticket. This increases your chances of getting the best possible price for your Universal Studios Orlando and Islands of Adventure park tickets. We suggest choosing a weekday after Labor Day and before October first to get the best ticket deals.

What is the Most Expensive Month to Go to Universal?

The most expensive month to visit Universal Orlando is December. We don’t want to be a Grinch, but since the Christmas season is one of the busiest times to go to Universal, the ticket pricing is the highest of the year. In fact, the entire week between Christmas and New Year’s is expected to be priced at the most expensive tier, which could reach up to $200 per day in 2025. Even the lowest ticket price in December is typically the most expensive price point in slower months like September. The Pop Warner Super Bowl and National Cheer and Dance Championships are also in the first week of December.

See our How Much Does It Cost to Go to Universal article for more information.

Halloween Horror Nights at Universal

When is the Busiest Time to Visit Universal Studios?

We’ve discussed the best time to go to Universal, but what times of the year should you avoid? Universal Studios’ busiest times coincide with other busy times at theme parks like Walt Disney World. The busiest times to visit Universal Orlando are:

  • The week of Thanksgiving.
  • The week between Christmas and New Year’s.
  • Spring break season (the beginning of March through Easter Sunday).

These are the times when most children are on school breaks, and many adults also have off work. So you can bet that any time there is a large group of people off of work or school at the same time, Orlando theme parks will be busy.

Visit Universal Studios Hollywood

Universal Studios Hollywood is a theme park and movie studio in Los Angeles, California. It is one of the most popular and oldest theme parks in the United States, featuring attractions and rides based on popular movies and television shows. Some of the park’s most popular rides include the Forbidden Journey ride, Harry Potter World, The Walking Dead attraction, and Jurassic Park: The Ride.

The park also features a variety of live shows, including the Special Effects Show, Super Silly Fun Land, Universal Citywalk, and the WaterWorld stunt show. In addition to the rides and shows, visiting Universal Studios Hollywood also has a variety of dining and shopping options, as well as several hotels located nearby for those who want to make a vacation out of their visit.

The Best Time to Visit Universal Studios: A Summary

The best times to visit Universal Studios are:

  • September after Labor Day through mid-October
  • January through the end of February
  • April (after Easter Sunday) through the week before Memorial Day

The cheapest and least crowded times to visit Universal Studios are:

  • September (with tickets starting at around $120)
  • Weekdays in October
  • January through the third week of February

Winter is an excellent season to visit Universal Studios due to numerous special events during the holiday season and lower crowds in January and February. If you plan your trip just after New Year’s, you can enjoy the holiday festivities without the large crowds.

Ticket Pricing for 2025

In 2025, ticket prices will range from $120 to $200 for single-park tickets, with Park-to-Park options costing more. The exact price will depend on your visit date, as holidays and peak summer weeks will have the highest prices. Consider booking multi-day tickets to get better value, as the per-day cost is typically lower than that of single-day tickets.

Conclusion

These recommendations are based on factors such as historical crowd levels, ticket pricing, and the weather in Central Florida. We hope this guide helps you and your family plan your visit to Universal Studios and Universal’s Islands of Adventure, making it easier for you to decide when to go.

Book your Universal Orlando Vacation

If you’re ready to get started with booking your Universal Studios vacation, talk to our friends at The Vacationeer. They offer free vacation planning services with expert Universal travel agents. Click HERE for a free quote!

Are you looking for more information on Universal or Magic Kingdom? We have many more articles!

See our other Universal pages, including: Universal Orlando Map, Universal Orlando Transportation, Best Universal Orlando Rides, Universal vs Disney World, How to Get from Disney World to Universal, How Much do Wands cost at Universal Studios, Is the Universal Express Pass Worth It, Universal Orlando Customer Service Contact Info, and How to get the Universal Express Pass for Free.