Universal Studios Wait Times for October 2026
Universal Orlando Resort has really been through it lately.
After opening Universal Epic Universe in 2025, 2026 hasn’t been as good.
Attractions magazine
In fact, Comcast, the corporate owner of NBCUniversal, recently played the blame game.
Executives explained all the reasons why tourists weren’t traveling to Orlando.
Today Show
Then, Disney turned around and announced huge attendance gains.
That purpose pitch plunked Comcast and made the corporation look like a bunch of chumps.
Universal
Thankfully, Halloween Horror Nights has arrived just in time to save the day. Hopefully.
Here are the Universal Studios wait times for October 2026.
Universal Studios Florida – The Big Three
Look, I’m obviously not sugarcoating it. Universal took it on the chin this summer.
The parks seemingly had all the momentum, only to get totally derailed.
So, Universal needed a strong September to get back on track. And yes, despite the article’s name, we are evaluating the park’s September wait times.
Over the past month, the news is thankfully good…at one theme park. I’m getting ahead of myself, but Universal Studios Florida definitely did better.
Photo: Universal
Last month, guests stood in line for an average of 38 minutes at the park’s top ride.
Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts increased its average wait by two minutes.
Photo: FX Guide
Even better, fans stood in line for Revenge of the Mummy for 35 minutes.
That’s five minutes more than last time, indicating increased demand for the top two rides.
Photo: Universal Hollywood
Despicable Me Minion Mayhem also increased its average wait to 32 minutes.
Sure, that’s just one minute more than last month, but we’re still three for three.
Yes, the Big Three at Universal Studios Florida all increased their average waits.
Universal Studios Florida – Everything Else
Photo: Universal
Did that trend continue at the park’s other attractions? Interestingly, the answer is largely yes. Here are the average wait times last month:
- E.T. Adventure – 32 minutes, up 2
- Hogwarts Express – King’s Cross Station – 32 minutes, up 7
- Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon – 27 minutes, up 6
- TRANSFORMERS The Ride 3D – 25 minutes, up 2
- The Simpsons Ride – 24 minutes, down 1
- MEN IN BLACK Alien Attack! – 22 minutes, no change
- Trolls Trollercoaster – 15 minutes, no change
- Kang & Kodos’ Twirl ‘n’ Hurl – 12 minutes, down 2
- Illumination’s Villain-Con Minion Blast – 9 minutes, no change
Photo: Universal
Overall, guests waited for an average of 25 minutes per attraction. That’s two minutes more than last time and a solid step in the right direction.
Universal’s Islands of Adventure
One of our Hagrid’s Motorbike Adventure ride photos.
Here’s the thing about Universal Studios Florida, though. The park closes many of its attractions early in September due to the parties.
Meanwhile, Islands of Adventure remains open for non-party guests. I suspect you’re about to notice the difference in a second.
Photo: Universal
Here are the park’s average wait times last month:
- Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure – 62 minutes, down 5
- Jurassic World VelociCoaster – 40 minutes, down 6
- The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man – 28 minutes, down 8
- Dudley Do-Right’s Ripsaw Falls – 26 minutes, down 14
- Skull Island: Reign of Kong – 30 minutes, up 7
- The Incredible Hulk Coaster – 20 minutes, down 2
- Flight of the Hippogriff – 19 minutes, down 7
- Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey – 19 minutes, down 2
- Hogwarts Express – Hogsmeade Station – 18 minutes, down3
- Doctor Doom’s Fearfall – 14 minutes, down 1
- The High in the Sky Seuss Trolley Train Ride! – 14 minutes, up 1
- The Cat in the Hat – 11 minutes, no change
- Popeye & Bluto’s Bilge-Rat Barges – 11 minutes, down 4
- One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish – 10 minutes, down 2
- Caro-Seuss-el – 8 minutes, down 1
- Storm Force Accelatron – 8 minutes, no change
Overall, the attractions here averaged an extremely modest wait of 21 minutes.
That’s three minutes less than last time and one of the lowest numbers we’ve ever tracked.
So, despite the solid numbers at Universal Studios Florida, the news still isn’t great.
Attendance broke even at best and arguably even dropped a bit due to Islands of Adventure.
Photo: Universal
I’m trying not to read too much into it, but this definitely isn’t what I’d hoped to see.
For whatever reason, Universal Orlando Resort is really struggling right now.
Photo: Tim Shortt
On the bright side, those of you visiting the park this fall are in for a treat.
The lines are as short as you’ll ever find them, especially at Islands of Adventure.
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Feature Photo: Universal
