Considerations For The Best Time to Visit Universal Studios Hollywood

When it comes to crowds and long lines, Universal Studios follows the same general patterns as many other theme parks. Summer is extremely crowded, because kids are out of school and families take their vacation time. Christmas can be busy too, as can spring break. Late spring and fall are much less crowded, with locals tending to visit more than out-of-state tourists. January is the quietest month of the year, with the holidays over and most people back in work or school; it's likely the best time to visit if you want to avoid crowds. Weekdays are usually less busy than weekends, of course, and Universal Studios is open 7 days a week (they're closed Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day). If you can, think about gong sometime in the middle of the week.

Southern California is blessed with good weather year 'round, but there are some seasonal considerations that come into play when visiting Universal Studios. Most notably, it can get extremely hot in the summer. Universal City is only a few miles from the coast, but its shielded by hills, which means temperatures can be as much as 20 degrees warmer than they are at the beach. Smog is a bad problem too, which makes walking around less than pleasant on the worst days. Universal takes steps to mitigate it with shaded waiting areas and misters to stay cool in, but if you're concerned about overheating, you may want to consider a milder time of year to visit.

The rides themselves have a tangential effect on the best times to visit, but still merit consideration. Obviously, when a new ride opens or an old one is refurbished, it tends to draw a much larger crowd. The prospect of seeing something new can be a serious draw, but it may also translate into a bigger crowd and a longer wait. You'll have to weigh the benefits with the drawbacks when considering whether to visit. Universal Studios also has "Halloween Horror Nights" in October: using their movie know-how to turn the park into a giant spook show. It's well-organized, but it can be intense for younger kids and tends to emphasize graphic violence. If horror is your thing, it's definitely worth a look. If you don't like horror, if you have young kids, or if excessive crowds aren't worth it for you, consider going at another time.

Universal Studios is connected to a pair of other on-site venues--most notably the Gibson Amphitheater (formerly the Universal Amphitheater), which hosts concerts and similar events. You may want to visit the park on the same day you attend a big concert or the like; it makes a convenient way to kill two birds with one stone. Both venues share the same parking space, however, which means parking may be tougher during days when there's a concert. Consult Gibson's schedule to see if there are any concerts on the day you want to attend the park, and adjust your plans accordingly.