Universal Resort to Extend Theme Park Hours

in Universal Orlando

Aerial photo of Islands of Adventure at Universal Orlando Resort.

Credit: @Bioreconstruct on X, formerly Twitter

Universal Orlando Resort has announced they are finally extending their theme park hours – but there’s a catch! Here’s what you need to know.

Guests walking into Universal Studios Florida
Credit: Universal

Universal Orlando Resort News

Besides the news of Universal extending its theme park hours, many guests were stuck at an attraction with the lights on and the screens malfunctioning. The attraction in question was The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man ride located at Marvel Super Hero Island inside of Islands of Adventure.

For folks visiting Universal Studios Florida, Volcano Bay, or Islands of Adventure, be weary of the rides that might shut down for lengthy refurbishments in December. For instance, the Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey attraction, located inside the Hogwarts Castle within Hogsmeade at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, will close down for a temporary refurbishment from December 10 through 17.

For the Thanksgiving Holiday week and weekend, Orlando International Airport saw more than two million people, including Universal Orlando Resort guests, walk through its terminals for their Florida vacations. With the Christmas season officially underway, it’s best to prepare for delays and more for those going during the week of Christmas.

Guests of all ages posing happily with the Minions
Credit: Universal Orlando Resort

Extended Theme Park Hours – With a Catch

Besides ride closures and crowded theme parks, the one thing that fans have been hoping for has been for the theme parks to finally extend their theme park hours past their usual time of 9 p.m. on most nights, while other nights see the theme parks closing down by 7 p.m. on weekdays during the off-season.

But it would seem that Universal has answered the prayers of so many guests with the announcement that during the New Year’s Eve Holiday, the theme parks will be open until 1 a.m., which includes both Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios Florida.

According to the official Universal website, the parks will remain open through the evening and into the early morning of New Year’s Day, January 1, 2024. The parks will also be available until 10 p.m. the week before the holiday.

An empty Diagon Alley at Universal Studios Orlando Florida
Credit: Universal Orlando Resort

Unfortunately, these extended hours will only be short-lived, as there is no word on the schedule for 2024 at the Universal Parks. A new land, dubbed DreamWorks Land, is coming to Universal Studios Florida and is set to open sometime next year.

But the more significant news is the new theme park coming in 2025. Epic Universe will see How To Train Your Dragon Land, a Monsters Land, an expansion of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, and SUPER NINTENDO WORLD come to life in a whole new way.

Hopefully, with these new additions to the theme parks, the theme parks will understand that people want to spend more time inside the parks and would like to see some hours extended throughout the busy season and even during the off-season. Disney World usually has theme parks open through 10 p.m. most days and nights.

For now, I guess time will tell whether or not Universal will take a page from the Walt Disney World Resort book and extend its park hours.

in Universal Orlando

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