April <May> June
Events:
High school students have a special time at the theme parks this month as Universal Orlando hosts Gradventures, exclusive parties for high school students graduating two or three times during May. Although the official start time for this special event is at 7:00 pm, the celebration begins at 4:00 pm and continues until midnight.
Velvet Sessions music parties continue this month at the Hard Rock Hotel for music lovers 21 and older. Join the fun for an early cocktail party, or just hit the music; Either way, you will enjoy spending time listening to some of your favorite acts in person.
Weather:
Expect hot summer days and warm, warm nights when you visit Universal Orlando in May. The heat has arrived, but it won’t be in full force until summer, so you can still explore Universal in relative comfort.
Be sure to pack that bathing suit because the weather will be perfect for taking a dip in the pool, even into the evening.
Crowd levels:
May is a great time of year to visit Universal Orlando. The full heat of summer has not yet arrived, and neither have the summer crowds, so it will be easy to ride some of your favorite attractions without waiting in long lines. The only exception is the end of the month when Memorial Day begins the summer vacation season.
Advice:
- Universal Orlando will close early some nights for Gradventures; If you are not an 8th grade graduate of a participating high school, you will need to find something else to do on Gradventure nights.
- Use Universal’s “Express Access Pass” to speed through the lines at some of the most popular attractions at both theme parks.
- Enjoy fun water games like Jurassic Park River Adventure to beat the Florida heat and cool off during the hottest time of the day.
- Visit busy new attractions like the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in May, you’ll be able to see more of this area with less of a wait.
Cautions and Warnings:
- Be sure to pack (and wear) sunscreen to avoid getting burned, and don’t forget to reapply sunscreen throughout the day for continued protection.
- Although May is generally less crowded than other times of the year at Universal Orlando, on the weekends it will draw a large crowd as locals visit the parks, particularly on Memorial Day weekend.
- Higher peak season rates may apply when reserving a room at Universal Orlando hotels during Memorial Day weekend.
- While Universal’s “Front of the Line” program is always helpful, you probably won’t have to pay extra for the Universal Express Pass when you visit in May.
Edited by Dawn Henthorn, Florida travel expert since June 2000.
