Universal Studios Wait Times for May 2024
NBCUniversal just admitted that attendance has been down at Universal Orlando Resort so far in 2024.
I don’t think that’s surprising at all, and I’ll explain why in a minute.
Universal Globe
So, let’s discuss the average wait times at Universal Orlando Resort for the past month.
About Universal Orlando Resort
Photo: Universal
During Comcast’s quarterly earnings report, the corporate owner of NBCUniversal acknowledged something predictable.
While demand at Universal Studios Hollywood remains strong due to Super Nintendo World, Universal Orlando Resort (UOR) has slipped a bit.
Universal
I’m firmly of the opinion that this shouldn’t surprise anyone.
First, we’re in the offseason at UOR, a park whose momentum picks up in May and remains through the end of the year.
Universal
Second, with Universal Epic Universe opening next year, some tourists have understandably chosen to wait until 2025 to visit.
For this reason, I’m expecting modest crowds and modest wait times relative to the past two years.
Photo: Universal
In 2022 and 2023, UOR was frankly the hottest it’s ever been, as the parks finally satisfied all the pent-up demand during the pandemic.
A slowdown at some point was inevitable, and we’ve finally reached that point.
Photo: Universal
Read on to learn how that has impacted wait times.
Universal Studios Florida – The Big Five
Image: Universal
The first thing to know about Universal Studios Florida’s data is that I’m reconsidering my options.
Based on what I’ve seen and heard lately, I feel like one of the Big Five isn’t as big as it used to be.
Image Credit: Universal Orlando
In fact, one site recently reported a rumor that it might be going away soon.
I haven’t heard that, but the fact that the speculation exists says a lot about its current popularity and perception.
Image Credit: Universal
The data supports the fact that its demand is flagging. For the month, the ride in question, Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit, wasn’t a draw.
This roller coaster averaged a wait of 34 minutes, which is an 11-minute drop from March.
Photo:instagram/universalorlando
While Universal Studios attendance has been down a bit in 2024, that doesn’t (necessarily) explain all of what we’re seeing here.
Fans may have turned on Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit, which is admittedly a fairly rough ride experience.
Photo:instagram/universalorlando
Universal’s decision to reduce the number of songs available on the playlist isn’t helping any.
I’m tracking several presumed budget cuts so far in 2024, which are understandable, given the cost to build Universal Epic Universe.
Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts, the most popular of the other rides in this group, only had a 48-minute wait.
That’s down ten minutes from last time and legitimately one of the shortest waits I can ever recall here for an entire month.
Universal Studios Florida – Everything Else
Photo: universal
I’m sneaking the other members of the Big Five into the Everything Else group this time since that section was running long.
I don’t want the algorithm to get mad at me.
Anyway, at Minion Land, Despicable Me Minion Mayhem required a wait of 45 minutes, which is five minutes less than last time.
Meanwhile, Illumination’s Villain-Con Minion Blast averaged a 21-minute wait, which is a drop of four minutes.
Villain-Con Minion Blast
As an aside, 15-20 minutes is about the wait time range I expect Minion Blast to have for most of its existence. Its throughput is massive.
Finally, we have the other member of The Big Five, Revenge of the Mummy, which came with a 45-minute wait.
Photo: Universal Hollywood
That’s a two-minute drop from March to April. And it’s solidifying my belief that it may be time to drop the above section to The Big Three.
Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit and Minion Blast may no longer qualify.
Photo: Universal
Anyway, here are the other average wait times at Universal Studios Florida:
- Hogwarts Express – King’s Cross Station – 39 minutes, no change
- TRANSFORMERS: The Ride 3D – 32 minutes, down 24
- The Simpsons Ride – 31 minutes, down 1
- E. T. Adventure – 30 minutes, no change
- Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon – 27 minutes, up 1
- MEN IN BLACK Alien Attack! – 24 minutes, down 4
- Kang & Kodos’ Twirl ‘n’ Hurl – 23 minutes, down 2
- Fast & Furious – Supercharged – 19 minutes, down 2
Overall, guests at Universal Studios Florida averaged a wait of 33 minutes in April, which is four minutes less than during March.
Universal’s Islands of Adventure
Photo: Universal
- Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure – 90 minutes, down 12
- Jurassic World VelociCoaster – 78 minutes, down 22
- Flight of the Hippogriff – 62 minutes, down 8
- Pteranodon Flyers – 47 minutes, up 2
- Dudley Do-Right’s Ripsaw Falls – 39 minutes, up 1
- The Incredible Hulk Coaster – 38 minutes, down 13
- The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man – 37 minutes, down 6
- Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey – 35 minutes, down 6
- Skull Island: Reign of Kong – 35 minutes, down 7
- Hogwarts Express – Hogsmeade Station – 32 minutes, down 4
- Jurassic Park River Adventure – 29 minutes, down 3
- The High in the Sky Seuss Trolley Train Ride! – 25 minutes, down 3
- One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish – 22 minutes, down 2
- Doom’s Fearfall – 21 minutes, down 2
- Popeye & Bluto’s Bilge-Rat Barges – 20 minutes, up 1
- The Cat in the Hat – 16 minutes, no change
- Caro-Seuss-el – 10 minutes, no change
- Storm Force Accelatron – 10 minutes, no change
Overall, park guests stood in line for an average of 35 minutes per attraction, which is six minutes less than in March.
Most of those drops come from three attractions: Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure, the VelociCoaster, and The Incredible Hulk Coaster.
Photo:attractions magazine
I guess Universal fans just weren’t into roller coasters last month.
Speaking of which, the wait times for the water parks will pick up as hot weather arrives in Central Florida.
Photo: Universal Orlando
Technically, that already happened in late April, which had a couple of days with near-record-high temperatures.
We probably won’t receive the full brunt of that heat for another month or two, though.
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Featured image: Universal
