Reduce your wait times at Universal Orlando!

Posted on by Kenneth Reece, Agent of Modern Travel Professionals

Everyone hates standing in line. And, the theme parks at the Universal Orlando Resort offer an incredible amount to see and do. And, let’s not forget all the great entertainment, dining & shopping opportunities at CityWalk…there is a lot to do.

Fortunately, there are ways to minimize your time spent waiting in the Universal queues and to maximize your time spent enjoying the amazing rides & shows. Here, I’ll give you some simple time-saving steps for you to ensure you have the best time possible on your next trip to the Universal Orlando Resort.

Step 1: Go during non peak times. Attendance levels at Universal Orlando vary greatly from season to season. Picking a less crowded time of year can save you a significant amount of time you’ll wait in line.

Here are some of the busiest times of the year at Universal Orlando:

  • The Summer (late May through late August)
  • Holidays — Christmas Day through New Year’s Day; Thanksgiving Weekend; (really any three day weekends)
  • October — particularly weekends, due to the Halloween Horror Nights event
  • Spring Break and the weeks either side of Easter

Here are some of the least crowded times at the parks:

  • September & November up until Thanksgiving
  • Between Thanksgiving and Christmas
  • Early January through the end of February
  • The Weeks following Easter before Memorial Day Weekend

Step 2: Stay in a Deluxe Resort and take advantage of the INCLUDED ExpressPass. Staying at a premier Universal Orlando Resort is the easiest and most cost-effective way to get the Universal Express Pass. The on-site hotels at Universal that included the Unlimited Express Pass are:

  • Loews Portofino Bay Hotel
  • Loews Hard Rock Hotel
  • Loews Royal Pacific Hotel

With ExpressPass, you get to SKIP the regular lines at most of the rides & shows at Universal Studios & Islands of Adventures. You can fit way more fun in your day, and maybe even schedule an afternoon break at the resorts’ amazing pools, soaking up a bit of the Florida sun, without missing out on any of the attractions.

Step 3: Take advantage of Early Park Admission. If you stay at any of the Universal Resorts (OR if you purchase your park tickets through me) you will get an extra hour each morning in one of the parks. Hotel guests get in early each morning…just breeze into the parks before anyone else and get a jump on the rest of the folks!

Step 4: Get the Red Carpet Treatment and take a VIP Experience Guided tour. What’s included in a VIP tour? I’m glad you asked….

Front of the Line Access
Why wait to get immersed in your favorite stories? The VIP Experience offers true front-of-the-line access, even better than Universal Orlando’s Express Pass, so there won’t be any unnecessary waiting to explore the worlds of Marvel superheroes, Jurassic Park, Men in Black, or Harry Potter!

Go Behind the Scenes
There are few things more exciting than getting a peek behind the scenes at how some of these amazing attractions and the theme parks they reside in operate day to day. With your VIP Experience, you get to visit behind-the-scenes areas off-limits to other guests and hear about the operations of some of Universal Orlando’s most popular attractions.

Guide to All the Details
Every VIP Experience tour is led by an experienced and knowledgeable guide excited to share what they know about the parks with you! Not only will they be there to guide you to the front of the line for many of the theme park’s amazing attractions and shows, they’ll also share their stories and fun details about the theme parks.

Special Access at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter
All of the above perks also apply to the Harry Potter nerd’s paradise, the Wizarding World of Harry Potter! With front-of-the-line access to the attractions and an experienced guide to point out all the incredible details, it’s the ultimate day for Harry Potter fans.

Step 5: If you don’t mind separating your party, you can take advantage of the Single rider line! Now, they are not open all the time, but when they are open, you can save a bit of time by waiting in a shorter line and being the “body” that fills the empty seat on the attraction. Men in Black, Escape from Gringotts, & Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure all might have a single rider queue. Just check with the Team Member at the attraction’s entrance to see if the single rider queue is open, and the approx. wait time. If you are ok separating your party, this can be a way of saving a bit of time.

Are you ready to begin planning your Universal Orlando vacation? If so…

Published by Kenneth Reece, Agent of Modern Travel Professionals

Hi! My name is Kenneth Reece, a native from Stockbridge, Georgia. I am a travel agent for Modern Travel Professionals. I opened Enchanted Gardens Florist & Gifts in 1986--when I was just 19. My love affair with Disney started in 1998 when I added Walt Disney collectibles to my merchandise displays. When I started to learn about the rich history of The Walt Disney Company, (which is required to successfully sell Walt Disney Animation Art) is when my store came alive. I've enjoyed hosting Disney Artists, Sculptors & Imagineers for in-store signing events, and was thrilled to tour the Walt Disney Studios in Burbank a few times as a guest of the company. One of my fondest Disney memories is that of holding one of Walt Disney's personal Academy Awards while visiting the Walt Disney Archives in Burbank, CA. As my love of Disney grew, I began planning trips to Disney for my clients at my store, which grew into a new career! After a few years of both running my retail store and planning travel, I closed my brick & mortar store, moved to Vero Beach, Fl where I've been planning travel full-time now for over five years. Vero Beach has small-town charm with world-class luxury. It's an incredible place to live. I help take care of my parents here, and travel extensively with them. Together, we visit Disneyland and The Walt Disney World Resort often. I've planned tours in England, Scotland, Paris, Greece, Italy, Denmark, Ireland, & France including Disneyland Paris. Living in Vero Beach, where retirees seem to outnumber all other age groups, I've become an expert on helping people travel who are "young at heart". Living a short road trip away from the Orlando area, I visit the theme parks at Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando & Sea World often. Many times I'm there once a week! I've stayed at every Disney Resort in North America, toured every hotel at the Universal Resort, and have taken over 25 cruises, being a Platinum Castaway Cay member with Disney Cruise Line. I've cruised to the Caribbean, The Bahamas, Alaska, the Panama Canal, Trans-Atlantic (East & Westbound), Mediterranean & Northern Europe. Also, if you need restaurant recommendations, I've personally ate at most of the restaurants at the Walt Disney World Resort & at the Disneyland Resort in Southern California. Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge is my favorite Walt Disney World Resort, and Disney's Grand Californian Resort & Spa is my favorite resort at Disneyland. I've attended various events at Walt Disney World such as: Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party, Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party, Star Wars Weekends, Disneyana Conventions, EPCOT's Food & Wine Festival, The Flower & Garden Festival and the new Festival of Arts. Contact me for personalized, concierge-level service. I'll help you as much (or as little) as you like, whatever your needs. I want to provide you with a worry free, incredible vacation, with memories that will last a life time.