Universal Orlando Wait Times for September 2024
An interesting summer has reached its conclusion at Universal Orlando Resort.
The formerly hot theme parks here cooled off mightily in 2023, suffering an attendance drop of nearly ten percent.
Then, many potential tourists this year understandably chose to wait until 2025, when Universal Epic Universe debuts.
Universal officials anticipated this behavior and added a few limited-time activities during the summer.
Photo: Universal
Did those amenities do enough to bring in the crowds? Here are the average wait times at Universal Orlando Resort for September 2024.
About Universal Studios Florida
Photo: Universal
First, let’s talk basics. I inaccurately name this article as September wait times, but that’s because it posts in September.
We’re evaluating data from August 2024, when most kids returned to school.
Photo: Universal Orlando
Historically, that behavior didn’t impact Universal Studios as much as you might expect.
That’s because Universal Studios skews older than many competitors in the theme park industry.
Image Credit: Loews
Lately, that statement isn’t as accurate, though. That’s because Universal has opened Minions Land and DreamWorks Land.
While you could argue that DreamWorks Land is just a revamp of an existing children’s play area, it’s still much more appealing.
Image Source: Universal
So, Universal Studios is specifically trying to entice more families with school-aged children to visit.
That’s a problem when, you know, summer ends and kids go back to school.
The problem won’t be as severe in September, as Halloween Horror Nights crowds (well, mobs) will lure more people.
In August, it’s potentially a huge sticking point, though. How big a deal was it? Let’s find out!
Universal Studios Florida – The Big Five
As a reminder, we categorize a handful of attractions as the Big Five at Universal Studios Florida.
They’re not always the attractions with the longest wait times, but they’re the anchor experiences at the park.
Photo:instagram/universalorlando
I’ve recently suggested that I should update this list, but I wanted to give the straggler – you know the one – the summer to turn things around.
So, let’s discuss that one first. Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit has lost its momentum, which is a weird thing for a roller coaster to do.
Rumors have surfaced that Universal officials aren’t married to the attraction, with some viewing it as disappointing.
In 2024, tourists have generally agreed, as the coaster’s popularity has waned.
Photo:instagram/universalorlando
Over the past month, guests waited for an average of 33 minutes per ride, which is the same as last month.
The park’s most popular attraction for August was Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem, which averaged a wait of 48 minutes.
That’s a long wait, but it’s four minutes less than last time.
Similarly, Illumination’s Villain Con Minion Blast averaged a wait of 18 minutes, which is a drop of seven minutes.
So, we can definitely track a drop in the popularity of family-friendly rides, at least among the Big Five.
Meanwhile, Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts came with a wait of 41 minutes, which is four minutes less than last time.
Photo: Universal
Finally, Revenge of the Mummy averaged a 36-minute wait, a drop of ten minutes. Hmm, maybe it’s not just family-friendly rides.
Universal Studios appears to be struggling a bit.
Universal Studios Florida – Everything Else
Did that trend hold throughout the park, or is it an issue of small sample sizes?
Here are the other average wait times at Universal Studios Florida last month:
- TRANSFORMERS: The Ride 3D –36 minutes, down 5
- T. Adventure – 33 minutes, up 1
- The Simpsons Ride – 33 minutes, no change
- Hogwarts Express – King’s Cross Station – 30 minutes, down 2
- Trolls Trollercoaster – 30 miutes, down 4
- Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon – 28 minutes, down 4
- Fast & Furious – Supercharged – 27 minutes, up 4
- MEN IN BLACK Alien Attack! – 25 minutes, no change
- Kang & Kodos’ Twirl ‘n’ Hurl – 22 minutes, no change
Photo: Universal
Overall, park guests stood in line for an average of 31 minutes per attraction. That’s three minutes less than last time.
Universal’s Islands of Adventure
So, Universal Studios Florida definitely ticked downward a bit. But how did its sibling do?
Here are the average wait times at Islands of Adventure last month:
- Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure – 74 minutes, down 14
- Dudley Do-Right’s Ripsaw Falls – 53 minutes, down 17
- Jurassic World VelociCoaster – 51 minutes, down 22
- The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man – 34 minutes, down 8
- The Incredible Hulk Coaster – 34 minutes, down 3
- Flight of the Hippogriff – 30 minutes, down 9
- Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey – 29 minutes, down 6
- Skull Island: Reign of Kong – 28 minutes, down 7
- Jurassic Park River Adventure – 26 minutes, down 13
- Hogwarts Express – Hogsmeade Station – 24 minutes, down 1
- Popeye & Bluto’s Bilge-Rat Barges – 21 minutes, down 7
- Doctor Doom’s Fearfall – 15 minutes, down 1
- The High in the Sky Seuss Trolley Train Ride! – 14 minutes, down 3
- One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish – 14 minutes, down 4
- The Cat in the Hat – 13 minutes, no change
- Storm Force Accelatron – 8 minutes, no change
- Caro-Seuss-el – 8 minutes, up 1
The data speaks for itself here. As you can guess, Islands of Adventure was down significantly month-over-month.
Guests waited for an average of 27 minutes per attraction, which is seven minutes less than last time.
Photo: Universal
I think it’s fair to say that Universal Orlando Resort is struggling right now and quite thankful that Halloween Horror Nights has begun.
Speaking of which, I’ll provide you with an update on this year’s event soon!
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