PHOTOS: Here’s What Universal Orlando Looks Like at Capacity

Universal Orlando Resort has been busy over the past few weeks!

With schools around the country out for spring break throughout March and April, all three Universal Orlando theme parks have been crowded. And, the parks have even reached capacity quite a few times — including most days this week! So, what exactly does it look like if you make it into the park before it hits capacity? We stopped by Universal Studios to check it out!

When we arrived, the Universal Studios capacity sign was out front so you’d know right away whether you’d be getting in or not.

Now, when the Universal parks reach capacity, there still are a few guests that are guaranteed entry including guests re-entering the park, those hopping from another park, those staying at a Universal Orlando Resort Hotel, and those who have park tickets or express passes specifically for that date. Unless the parks are at the absolute limit of capacity, these guests will still be able to get in without a wait.

If you’re not in any of those categories, then you are directed to a standby line near the park entrance. When we were there, we spotted quite a few people waiting in the area since the park had reached capacity in the morning.

Once we were in the park, it definitely felt busier than usual. The large walkways were filled with people, but it didn’t feel overly crowded — there was still room to move around with extra space between groups.

Whenever we stumbled upon a character out to say “hi” to park guests, there was always a bit of a crowd nearby. And, if you were searching for a bench to sit down and rest your feet for a little throughout the park, that was hard to come by.

Lines for food were also longer than we are used to seeing on a day that the park isn’t at capacity. We stopped by The Simpson’s Fast Food Boulevard for lunch and it took us about 30 minutes to get through the line. Regardless of whether you mobile order or plan to order at the counter, everyone waits in this line and is assigned a table when you get to the front.

After lunch, we decided to head into Diagon Alley and see how the crowds were in the more popular area of the park. And, there were definitely a lot of people wandering around the themed land.

The crowds seemed to be in pockets so you’d stumble upon a larger group of people and then shortly after there would be room to move around. It really was just a matter of being in the right place at the right time.

The entrance to the section of the park (which is kind of hidden) seemed to be one of the more trafficked areas.

And, lines for food in Diagon Alley were also longer. The Hopping Pot was literally “hopping” with people (sorry, we had to).

Overall, the park felt busier but it wasn’t an overwhelming amount of people to navigate through while keeping health and safety considerations in mind. If you’re hoping to get in before the Universal parks hit capacity, we do suggest trying to arrive early so that you can enter before the park hits capacity. And, be sure to check out our tips to help you navigate the crowds and make the best of a busy day!

Here’s How to Navigate the Crowds in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal

Have you been to Universal Orlando Resort when it has reached capacity? Let us know in the comments!

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