Universal Studios Wait Times for January 2026

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Happy New Year!

As you’ll read in a different article, 2025 proved historic for Universal Studios.

The theme park company opened Universal Epic Universe, but that was far from its only achievement.

Universal also moved forward with plans for Universal Kids Resort in Frisco, Texas.

Universal Kids Resort

Oh, and we’re getting a new theme park an hour from London, England, too!

We have so much to look forward to experiencing over the next few years.

Before then, we should look back at the end of 2025 to learn how the parks finished.

Here are the Universal Studios wait times for January 2026.

Universal Studios Florida – The Big Three

Photo: Universal

With the closure and demolition of Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit, we made some changes.

As a reminder, another ride, Illumination’s Villain-Con Minion Blast, had seen its wait times drop significantly.

Photo: BeyondtheThrills.com

So, we dropped from a Big Five at this park to the lower total of a Big Three.

Those attractions are Despicable Me Minion Mayhem, Revenge of The Mummy, and the biggie.

That one is Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts, the most popular ride at the park.

During the month of December, Gringotts averaged a wait of 60 minutes.

Photo: FX Guide

That’s seven minutes more than last time, which isn’t the least bit surprising.

Revenge of the Mummy required a wait of 39 minutes, which is six minutes more than last time.

Finally, Despicable Me Minion Mayhem’s December wait was 36 minutes, a three-minute increase.

Universal Studios Florida – Everything Else

Photo : Erin Wingard

In case you’re wondering, we call this the January wait times article due to the publication date.

However, the data covers December because that’s how the arch of time works.

I cannot very well tell you the average wait times for January because they haven’t happened yet.

Keeping that in mind, here are the park’s average wait times during the holiday season:

• Hogwarts Express – King’s Cross Station – 36 minutes, no change
• TRANSFORMERS The Ride – 3D – 32 minutes, up 3
• T. Adventure – 31 minutes, no change
• The Simpsons Ride – 30 minutes, down 3
• Fast & Furious – Supercharged – 26 minutes, up 7
• MEN IN BLACK Alien Attack! – 26 minutes, up 5
• Trolls Trollercoaster – 22 minutes, up 3
• Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon – 21 minutes, up 2
• Kang & Kodos’ Twirl ‘n’ Hurl – 20 minutes, up 1
• Illumination’s Villain-Con Minion Blast – 15 minutes, up 4

Overall, Universal Studios Florida attractions averaged a wait of 30 minutes each.

That’s three minutes or 11 percent longer than last time. So, why is that?

Universal’s Islands of Adventure

Image: Universal

As a reminder, wait times generally increase by a lot in December, as that’s the busy season.

Families and single adults flock to Universal Studios to spend the holidays in style.

Photo: Universal Orlando

However, the first two weeks of the month are oddly slow, which creates a drag on wait times.

Also, even Central Florida experiences cold weather in December, which matters here.

Photo: jetsun

All the wet rides tend to have their wait times plummet because most of us aren’t gluttons for punishment.

I mean, I am. It’s 40 degrees outside, and I’m wearing shorts. Most people are smarter than me, though.

Photo: Universal

So, they avoid the wet rides at Universal Studios and other parks. Did that impact anything?

Here are the average wait times at Islands of Adventure last month:

• Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure – 139 minutes, down 6
• Jurassic World VelociCoaster – 56 minutes, up 3
• Pteranodon Flyers – 48 minutes, up 2
• Flight of the Hippogriff – 42 minutes, down 8
• Skull Island: Reign of Kong – 39 minutes, up 8
• The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man – 38 minutes, up 10
• Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey – 34 minutes, down 8
• The High in the Sky Seuss Trolley Train Ride! – 34 minutes, up 13
• Hogwarts Express – Hogsmeade Station – 34 minutes, up 6
• The Incredible Hulk Coaster – 29 minutes, up 4
• One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish – 24 minutes, up 6
• Doctor Doom’s Fearfall – 21 minutes, up 4
• Dudley Do-Right’s Ripsaw Falls – 19 minutes, down 1
• The Cat in the Hat – 18 minutes, up 4
• Jurassic Park River Adventure – 16 minutes, up 1
• Popeye & Bluto’s Bilge-Rat Barges – 14 minutes, up 1
• Caro-Seuss-el – 12 minutes, up 2
• Storm Force Accelatron – 10 minutes, up 1

Final Thoughts

While we don’t factor it into average wait times, we have one other lengthy wait to discuss.

The Grinch’s character greeting has evolved into one of the most popular annual events.

Photo: Universal Orlando

For the month of December, guests stood in line for an average of 132 minutes to meet The Grinch.

That’s not a typo, either, and it’s 48 minutes more than last time. People REALLY love The Grinch.

Photo: Universal

Overall, Islands of Adventure attractions averaged a wait of 35 minutes per attraction.

That’s two minutes more in December than in November and signals a solid holiday season.

Photo: Orlando Informer

However, Universal Epic Universe and a sluggish economy do appear to have had an impact.

A year ago, the average wait times were five minutes higher at Universal Studios Florida.

Photo: Universal Orlando

At Islands of Adventure, they were four minutes higher in 2024 than in 2025.

That’s a trend to monitor as we enter the new year.

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Feature Photo: Universal