Universal Orlando Resort Wait Times for January 2024

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Welcome to 2024!

We’re gonna think of this year as pre-Epic Universe, but that’s getting us ahead of ourselves.

As things stand, 2024 is poised to be another spectacular year for Universal Studios, a theme park business that maintains almost comical levels of momentum.

I can prove this with a quick look back at what just happened at the parks during the holiday season.

Here are Universal Orlando Resort’s wait times for January 2024.

Please remember that we’re evaluating the crowds from December 2023, though!

Universal Studios Florida – The Big Five

At Universal Studios Florida, the average wait times fluctuate regularly.

So, what I call the park’s Big Five attractions don’t always require the longest waits.

Instead, some other attractions may take longer, but you’re getting less bang for your buck with them.

Photo: Universal

I say this because Universal Studios fans have identified the best five rides at the park.

At the top of this list is Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts, a perennial favorite.

During the holiday season, the dark ride/roller coaster combo averaged a wait of 63 minutes, which is one minute more than last time.

Photo: FX Guide

Meanwhile, the two Minions rides continued to delight guests.

During the holiday month, Despicable Me Minion Mayhem averaged a wait of 48 minutes. That’s seven minutes more than during November.

The ride’s new younger sibling, Illumination’s Villain-Con Minion Blast, had a wait of 30 minutes, which is one minute more than last time.

Villain-Con Minion Blast

This behavior reinforces something I’d previously indicated.

Now that Minion Land has been open for a while, the ride’s massive throughput has controlled its expected line time.

The throughput for this moving sidewalk ride is the gold standard and ensures countless satisfied guests each hour.

Photo:
Blog.Universal.com

Another attraction nearby, Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit, averaged a wait of 55 minutes, which is a significant increase of 22 minutes or 67 percent from November.

Finally, we have Revenge of the Mummy, which hovered at 50 minutes, three minutes more than the previous month.

So, we’re seeing the behavior gradually fall in line with expectations. The three thrill rides at the park had the longest waits among the Big Five.

Meanwhile, Minion Mayhem should require a longer wait than Minion Blast on most dates. As an auditorium attraction, its throughput isn’t quite as good.

Universal Studios Florida – Everything Else

Here are the other average wait times at Universal Studios Florida last month:

• Hogwarts Express – King’s Cross Station – 47 minutes, down 6
• TRANSFORMERS: The Ride — 3D – 35 minutes, no change
• The Simpsons Ride – 32 minutes, up 2
• T. Adventure – 31 minutes, up 2
• Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon – 27 minutes, up 1
• MEN IN BLACK Alien Attack! – 27 minutes, up 2
• Fast & Furious – Supercharged – 26 minutes, down 1
• Kang & Kodos’ Twirl ‘n’ Hurl – 25 minutes, up 2

Photo: Universal

Overall, guests stood in line for an average of 37 minutes per attraction, which is one minute more than last time.

I want to highlight a couple of curiosities before we proceed.

Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit’s sudden surge reflects some recent struggles with the ride.

Meanwhile, guests didn’t travel between the parks via King’s Cross Station as much as we’ve typically witnessed in previous Decembers.

I honestly have no idea what that’s about and am curious whether it’ll be the same at Hogsmeade Station.

Overall, this was an eerily similar month compared to November, though.

Universal’s Islands of Adventure

Photo: Universal

At Islands of Adventure, the inevitable crowd surge occurred.

If you’re unfamiliar with the holidays at this park, it’s the home for many of The Grinch’s activities.

As you might expect, Seuss Landing hosts a lot of it. And one of the events is more popular than all the rest.

Photo: Universal

The Grinch character greeting averaged a wait of 180 minutes, which is more than an hour longer than during November.

So, you can tell when the Christmas spirit hit everyone, causing their hearts to grow three sizes last month.

Photo: Universal

Here are the park’s other average wait times during December:

• Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure – 91 minutes, up 6
• Jurassic World VelociCoaster – 77 minutes, up 11
• Skull Island: Reign of Kong – 48 minutes, up 7
• The High in the Sky Seuss Trolley Train Ride – 47 minutes, up 7
• Pteranodon Flyers – 44 minutes, up 4
• Flight of the Hippogriff – 43 minutes, up 3
• Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey – 42 minutes, up 8
• The Incredible Hulk Coaster – 41 minutes, up 8
• The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man – 41 minutes, up 10
• Hogwarts Express – Hogsmeade Station – 41 minutes, up 10
• One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish – 23 minutes, up 4
• The Cat in the Hat – 21 minutes, up 3
• Doom’s Fearfall – 16 minutes, up 3
• Jurassic Park River Adventure – 15 minutes, down 5
• Dudley Do-Right’s Ripsaw Falls – 13 minutes, down 6
• Popeye & Bluto’s Bilge-Rat Barges – 13 minutes, down 1
• Caro-Seuss-el – 12 minutes, up 2
• Storm Force Accelatron – 10 minutes, up 1

Source: Pinterest

Overall, Islands of Adventure attractions averaged a wait of 41 minutes, which is nine minutes more than last time. So, the Seuss Factor was real!

Have a happy New Year, everyone!

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Main image: Attractions Magazine