What are crowds like in between Christmas and New Year Parks

Question

Curious to who busy it would be say from December 28th to January 3rd at the universal Parks with express pass? Are the express pass lines crazy as well? Also what do the parks do on NYE? Which one would we want to be in? Thanks

Answer

The week between Christmas and New Year’s (December 28th to January 3rd) is one of the busiest periods at Universal Orlando Resort. Both Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure experience extremely high attendance during this timeframe, as many families are on holiday vacations and international tourists are also visiting. Crowds will be dense, and even with Express Pass, you should expect lines to be longer than usual, though the Express Pass significantly reduces wait times compared to the regular standby lines.

Crowd and Express Pass Expectations:

Even with Express Pass, popular attractions can have wait times of 20–40 minutes during peak periods, especially in the late morning and early afternoon.
Early entry into the parks (if you are staying at a Universal hotel offering early park admission) is strongly recommended to experience popular rides with minimal wait.
Express Pass lines are usually faster, but for the most popular rides like Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts, Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure, and Jurassic World VelociCoaster, you may still encounter moderate waits during the busiest hours.

New Year’s Eve at Universal:

Universal Orlando does not have a full park-wide fireworks show, unlike Walt Disney World. However, CityWalk hosts New Year’s Eve celebrations with music, DJs, and entertainment. Some attractions may close earlier or operate on limited hours, and crowd control is more stringent in certain areas.
Expect heavy crowds in the evening around CityWalk if you plan to celebrate New Year’s Eve within the resort, as many visitors gather for the festivities.
If your goal is to experience the parks primarily, plan to do most rides and attractions during the daytime on December 31st and consider leaving the park before the peak evening crowd builds up.

Park Selection and Strategy:

Both Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure are very crowded, but Islands of Adventure may feel slightly less congested early in the morning because some guests gravitate first to the Wizarding World in Universal Studios Florida.
If your teens or family members love Harry Potter, start your day at Hogsmeade in Islands of Adventure, then head to Universal Studios for Diagon Alley later, using the Hogwarts Express to transfer between parks efficiently.
Rope drop strategy: Arrive at the parks before opening to maximize rides on high-demand attractions before the bulk of the crowd arrives.
Consider single-day touring plans with Express Passes; planning your route and prioritizing must-do rides will make your experience smoother despite the high crowd levels.

Summary: Crowds from December 28th to January 3rd are extremely high at Universal Orlando. Express Pass is very helpful, but even with it, popular rides can have moderate wait times. Arrive early, use early park admission if possible, and plan for the peak crowds in the evening, especially on New Year’s Eve. Islands of Adventure may be slightly less congested in the morning, but both parks are busy. For a mix of attractions, rides, and some seasonal entertainment, you can enjoy the parks with careful planning and Express Pass usage.

What are crowds like in between Christmas and New Year Parks

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