If you are heading to Universal this week, you’ve picked a weirdly perfect time. Halloween is wrapped, the holiday rush has not quite slammed into Orlando yet, and Universal is about to flip the switch on full-blown Christmas this Friday. It is that rare little gap where crowds are reasonable, temps are comfortable, and the parks are quietly gearing up for the most extra version of the year.
What’s in this edition
New 2025 holiday season details and what that actually looks like in the parks.
2026 Military Freedom Pass under $250 and what it means for military families.
Ride closures, weather, and crowd expectations for the “calm before the holidays” week.
Recent News Roundup
Holidays at Universal 2025 start November 21
Universal has confirmed that Holidays at Universal Orlando run from November 21, 2025 through January 4, 2026. Expect the usual big pieces: Grinchmas at Islands of Adventure, Christmas in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Universal’s Holiday Parade featuring Macy’s, plus a paid Holiday Tour and a Grinch & Friends character breakfast on select dates. This year, the holiday overlay is expanding into Epic Universe, with seasonal decor and lighting in Celestial Park and Christmas in the Ministry of Magic joining Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley.
Why it matters: If you are in the parks starting this Friday, your “normal” visit just turned into a holiday trip. Your evenings are now packed with extra entertainment and photo ops.
2026 Military Freedom Pass: full year under $250
Universal has rolled out details for its 2026 Military Freedom Pass, aimed at active and retired U.S. service members and their families. Eligible guests can get a 2-Park Freedom Pass (Universal Studios Florida + Islands of Adventure) for $220, or bump up to a 3-Park Freedom Pass including Volcano Bay for $255. Epic Universe is not part of the base pass, but Universal is offering a separate Epic Universe 1-Day add-on ticket at a special rate for Freedom Pass holders. The passes have a few blockout windows (Christmas / New Year and spring break, plus a seasonal Volcano Bay blockout) and must be purchased through authorized military ticket offices.
Why it matters: If you are military or traveling with family who are, this is absurd value. One long weekend plus a future trip and you’ve already “won” on cost, especially if you use that Epic Universe add-on strategically on a lower-demand weekday.
New permit hints at future Epic Universe expansion
A construction permit filed with Orange County references site utilities and foundation work for a 150,000-square-foot project at the Epic Universe site. Universal has always said Epic was built with expansion pads, and executives have been openly talking about “the next thing at Epic” in recent interviews. The permit does not spell out exactly what is coming or where it will sit inside the park, but it confirms that Universal is already moving into its post-opening build-out phase.
Why it matters: For anyone planning trips in 2026 and beyond, this is a reminder that Epic Universe is not a “one and done” park. It will keep evolving, which strengthens the argument for Universal as a full week-long destination.
Ride Closures & Refurbishments
These are the closures and refurbishments most likely to affect trips the week of November 17–23, 2025. Always double-check the Universal Orlando app a day or two before you go, because schedules can shift.
Universal Studios Florida
DreamWorks Imagination Celebration in DreamWorks Land is listed as closed for refurbishment through November 17 on some calendars, with a planned reopening afterward. If you are visiting exactly on Monday the 17th, treat it as “maybe closed” until the app says otherwise.
Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit remains permanently closed as of August 18, 2025, as Universal prepares that area for a future project.
Islands of Adventure
Most headliners, including Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure, VelociCoaster, and Forbidden Journey, are scheduled to be operating this week. Forbidden Journey has had a planned refurb window earlier in November on some calendars, but it is slated to be back up by mid-month.
Expect the usual pattern of occasional temporary downtime on high-tech rides (Hagrid’s, VelociCoaster, Spider-Man) during the day, especially if you catch a storm cell or technical reset.
Volcano Bay
Water slides Honu and Ika Moana from the Honu ika Moana family raft attractions are listed as under refurbishment from early November through mid-December, so plan your must-do list around them being unavailable.
Looking ahead
Separate reporting has flagged bigger closures and multi-month refurbishments in 2026 (including Jurassic Park River Adventure and Hogwarts Express) so if you are a long-range planner, keep in mind that 2026 will have more downtime baked in than this holiday season.
Weather Outlook
Day | High | Low | Forecast |
|---|---|---|---|
Mon, Nov 17 | 81° | 59° | Mostly sunny |
Tue, Nov 18 | 82° | 61° | Plenty of sunshine |
Wed, Nov 19 | 85° | 62° | Mostly sunny and very warm |
Thu, Nov 20 | 84° | 65° | Mostly sunny |
Fri, Nov 21 | 83° | 66° | Times of sun and clouds |
Sat, Nov 22 | 84° | 65° | Mostly sunny |
Sun, Nov 23 | 84° | 66° | Mostly sunny |
Without drowning you in numbers, here is what to expect this week in practical terms:
You are looking at warm afternoons in the 80s, with mornings and evenings comfortable enough that a light layer is all you need while rope-dropping.
Humidity is still very much a thing in Orlando, so it will feel warmer than the actual temperature in the middle of the day.
As usual, build in the assumption that at least one or two afternoons may have passing showers or a quick thunderstorm cell, even if the week looks mostly dry.
Practical packing tips:
Pack compact ponchos or a light rain jacket instead of buying the on-site ones at theme park pricing.
Bring a refillable water bottle and actually use the Coke Freestyle machines and water fountains; mid-afternoon dehydration is real.
Sunscreen is non-negotiable, even in November. The Florida sun does not care that you are technically in “fall.”
Toss a very light sweater or long-sleeve into your park bag if you are staying out for nighttime holiday shows later in the week, especially for kids.
Crowd Levels & Park Strategy For This Week
Based on crowd calendars and historical patterns, this is one of the last truly “moderate” weeks before Thanksgiving and the full holiday crush. Mid-week days (Monday through Thursday) are rated in the “slow to average” range on major third-party crowd calendars, with a noticeable bump starting Friday, November 21, when Holidays at Universal kicks off.
Park hours, in broad strokes:
Expect 9 am openings at Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure, and Epic Universe, with Epic and IOA typically holding slightly later closing times than USF.
Volcano Bay generally operates on shorter “daylight” hours around 10 am to late afternoon / early evening.
Always confirm your exact date in the Universal Orlando app, because hours can flex around events and crowd expectations.
Strategy thoughts for this week:
If you are in town before Friday 21:
Use Monday–Thursday as your ride-heavy days at the original two parks while crowds are still mild. This is a great week to finally tackle some of the “I’ll get to it later” attractions without feeling rushed.If you are there during the holiday start weekend:
Treat Friday night and the weekend as “entertainment-first” evenings. Prioritize the Holiday Parade featuring Macy’s, Grinchmas, and Wizarding World holiday projections, and lean on mornings for your must-do rides.Express Pass math:
With Hagrid’s now accepting Universal Express, Express becomes noticeably more valuable if that ride is non-negotiable for your group. For a quieter week like this, I would lean against buying Express for every day unless you are squeezing a ton into very limited time or focusing on weekends.
If this helped you tighten up your plans, hit reply and tell me when you are going and which park you are most nervous about “doing right.” I’m always collecting real-world trip stories to shape future guides.
If you have a friend or family member planning a Universal trip soon, forward this their way so they don’t accidentally walk into the parks blind the week the holidays start.
Hey! 👋 I’m Bradley and I write this newsletter every week! Great to meet you!
Here is a great list of some of our best guides/articles to help prep for your upcoming Universal trip!
As always, don’t hesitate to reach out If you need help planning your trip!