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Reader poll: Your favorite time of the year to visit Universal Orlando Resort

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Holidays at Universal Orlando Resort.
Holidays at Universal Orlando Resort.

Each season of the year offers unique and fun happenings at Universal Orlando Resort. In this week’s poll, let’s find out which one is your favorite!

Spring at Universal means it’s time to kick back with a drink, enjoy the tastes of New Orleans and dance the night away at Universal’s Mardi Gras celebration. The event’s biggest highlight: the boisterous parade featuring beautiful, handcrafted floats, party music, and best of all, so many beads! After the parade, some of the best known bands in the country take to the Universal Music Plaza stage — and the Mardi Gras concerts are included with admission. Spring also means that families are celebrating Spring Break, which can be very busy but also very exciting.

Beginning in June, Universal kicks off summer with their Summer Concert Series, featuring even more of the biggest names in music. The summer season is also when new attractions usually debut. In 2012 Universal introduced us to The Superstar Parade, Cinematic Spectacular, and Despicable Me Minion Mayhem. Then in 2013, we were asked to “prepare for the greatest battle you’ll ever ride” when Transformers: The Ride 3D officially opened on June 20. Next year, rumors point to June again for Diagon Alley’s grand opening.

The fall season at Universal Orlando is best known for the award-winning, absolutely terrifying Halloween Horror Nights. From the gory details of the haunted houses, to the elaborate outdoor scare zones and all-around immersive atmosphere, this event does not disappoint. Fall also brings with it lighter crowds and lower temperatures, providing some of the most beautiful weather for touring Universal’s theme parks.

During the holiday season, guests are dazzled by the Macy’s Holiday Parade and filled with cheer by Mannheim Steamroller live in concert at Universal Studios Florida. Over at Islands of Adventure, Seuss Landing becomes Whoville as the park celebrates Grinchmas, complete with a charming stage production of How The Grinch Stole Christmas. And don’t forget to come back on New Year’s Eve, when Universal CityWalk throws one of Orlando’s biggest end-of-the-year parties!

There is one more theme park “season” we need to mention: the time in between major events and holidays, when kids are in school and the crowd levels at the parks are very low. We’ll call this the slow season, and it happens several times each year: parts of January and February, the lull between Spring Break and summer, most of September and November — like we said, basically whenever kids are in school. Low crowd levels may mean shorter park hours, but when you only have to wait 20 minutes instead of two hours for Despicable Me, the shorter park hours don’t seem so bad.

And now the moment of truth…

 

[socialpoll id=”2171281″]

 

Note: You don’t have to sign into a social network to vote, that is just a feature offered. If you prefer to vote anonymously, click your selection in the poll and when you see the pop up, click “Keep vote anonymous”.

 

Learn more about these topics:

Free 12-month Universal Orlando crowd calendar

Universal Orlando’s annual events

Biggest thrill this Halloween season: Win a $500 Universal gift card

Universal Snapshot: See everything that’s happening right now

Last week’s poll: If you could, which closed USF attraction would you bring back? With 236 out of 624 votes (37.8%), JAWS the ride & Amity win. Back to the Future was second with 178 votes (28.5%). View all of our reader polls

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Hilary Howser
Hilary Howser
September 14, 2013 2:24 pm

HHN?! Fall will always be the best time to visit.

Paul Deakin
Paul Deakin
September 14, 2013 2:24 pm

ps i voted fall as i love hhn just a pity im in the uk and im missing what looks like an amazing yr

Amanda Brindley
Amanda Brindley
September 14, 2013 2:26 pm

Have been at Fall time but after this years visit prefer Summer 😉

Melissa Peterson
Melissa Peterson
September 14, 2013 2:27 pm

I remember 2 years ago I came down during Christmas. We had no clue what was going on but the parks were horrible. Here they had 2 large football events going on at the same time. Now we know to check before we come down. Lines at Disney were +3 hours long.

Gerald Earby
Gerald Earby
September 14, 2013 2:28 pm

CHRISTMAS!!!!

Tracy Mcgillivray
Tracy Mcgillivray
September 14, 2013 2:33 pm

Fall

Julie Foster
Julie Foster
September 14, 2013 2:33 pm

Easter – the weather is perfect 🙂

CassieRyan
CassieRyan
September 14, 2013 2:46 pm

I like to go when it’s slow, and when the Florida weather is a bit cooler. Sometimes it’s unpredictable, though, and my favorite Islands of Adventure experience so far has been on my birthday in June when it was SURPRISINGLY slow and the weather was actually quite nice for the summer! The humidity was low and the breeze was cool that day.

Michael Aaron Futterman
Michael Aaron Futterman
September 14, 2013 2:47 pm

Halloween by far

Joy Shaw
Joy Shaw
September 14, 2013 3:07 pm

I’ve been in May both times and it was nice and quiet. Next time will be in September for HHN and hoping it will still be a quiet time to visit

Lisa Roshak
Lisa Roshak
September 14, 2013 3:17 pm

Summer and Christmas

Melissa Kight Mimbs
Melissa Kight Mimbs
September 14, 2013 3:31 pm

Christmas we go every year dec17-26!!!!

CaptainAction
CaptainAction
September 15, 2013 8:38 am

Melissa, how do you deal with the crowds? Do you stay onsite? We love this time of year too but we used to pull kids out of school and go in early December to see decorations but avoid crowds. Our oldest son began at University this year so taking our kids outside of official days off is out. Thanks for any thoughts or tips.

Jennifer Locke-Thornhill
Jennifer Locke-Thornhill
September 14, 2013 3:41 pm

I like any time with low crowds… I hate waiting in lines, and only go during slow times!

Sylvia Minchington
Sylvia Minchington
September 14, 2013 3:57 pm

First week in February – have to pull the kids out of school, but so worth it, no lines.

Tammie Lewis Lovingood
Tammie Lewis Lovingood
September 14, 2013 4:00 pm

Fall/Winter

Elektra Huimin Baobei
Elektra Huimin Baobei
September 14, 2013 4:01 pm

We went in first week December before. Love it as its Xmas season!:)

Lisa Cook
Lisa Cook
September 14, 2013 4:07 pm

Christmas was great. Our family was young and loving the grinch! It’s the only time we’ve been during holiday.

Paul Michael Glenn Tyson
Paul Michael Glenn Tyson
September 14, 2013 4:41 pm

I find the best time to visit is in May, but will be visiting in January as I’m running the Walt Disney World Marathon

Trevor Moseley
Trevor Moseley
September 14, 2013 7:21 pm

Mardi Gras!!

RobinPaul McMullin
RobinPaul McMullin
September 14, 2013 9:18 pm

We like to visit in march, we are planning to go in 2014 since the last time we went to universal was 2011. Looking forward to the new attractions and expanded ones like Harry potters world

CaptainAction
CaptainAction
September 15, 2013 8:46 am

We like to stay at Universal when the weather is cool. Since it is warm so often in Orlando, arriving during cooler weather makes everything feel even more unique to our family. We love December when the Christmas festivities are in full gear, We also love January and February since the crowds are low. We did hit one year during either Presidents Day or MLK Day and the parks were packed so we try to avoid those holidays now.

RickyT
RickyT
September 15, 2013 8:47 am

I love going when its slow!!! Slow seasons are the best, but hours/attractions are limited because this is when they do construction, updates and refurbs. But I hate crowds so its the best!!!
Otherwise I’ll spend the extra to stay onsite because there’s no way I’m waiting more than 30 minutes for anything lol. Express passes are essential during non-slow times of the year!!!!

Melissa McLaughlin
Melissa McLaughlin
September 15, 2013 7:27 am

Hhn and grinchmas are my favorite

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