Three Parks Are Nearly Empty This Week

Islands of Adventure is packed at 34 minutes average, but three other major parks are running at a fraction of capacity. If you have flexibility, this week opens a narrow window for unusually short lines at some of the year's most crowded…

By Level Up Adventurestheme-parks · family-travel · weekly · week-2026-28Filed under Theme Parks
Photo: Jeremy Lam · Unsplash

Islands of Adventure is packed at 34 minutes average, but three other major parks are running at a fraction of capacity. If you have flexibility, this week opens a narrow window for unusually short lines at some of the year's most crowded destinations.

Attractions down for maintenance across the network

Most parks are managing routine refurbishments this week, but the scale varies sharply. Magic Kingdom has just two rides closed, while Hersheypark has 50 offline. Before you commit to a specific park, check the live status for the rides your family wants to ride.

Wait-time snapshot

Islands of Adventure is the outlier this week. With 16 of its 27 attractions open, the park is running 34 minutes average, nearly three times the network baseline of 12 minutes. Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure is at 105 minutes alone. If you're set on Islands of Adventure, arrive at rope drop and head straight to the Harry Potter lands before the crowd builds.

Three parks, Busch Gardens Tampa, Hersheypark, and Six Flags Great Adventure, are running at a fraction of normal traffic. Busch Gardens is essentially empty at 0 minutes average, though only one ride is reporting open. Hersheypark is at 6 minutes across 22 open attractions, and Six Flags Great Adventure sits at 1 minute across 33 rides. If your calendar is flexible and you're within driving distance of any of these, this is the week to go.

Magic Kingdom averages 21 minutes, above the network baseline but manageable. Disneyland, Knott's Berry Farm, and Cedar Point are all running close to typical summer levels. Dollywood is tracking 18 minutes, suggesting steady midweek traffic. Universal Studios Hollywood's snapshot shows only 3 open rides, so wait times there are not representative.

Per-park averages (live):

  • Universal Orlando, Islands of Adventure: 34 min (longest: Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure, 105 min)
  • Walt Disney World, Magic Kingdom: 21 min (longest: TRON Lightcycle / Run, 55 min)
  • Dollywood: 18 min (longest: Lightning Rod, 60 min)
  • Busch Gardens Tampa: 0 min (1 open ride)
  • Hersheypark: 6 min (longest: Candymonium, 20 min)
  • Knott's Berry Farm: 7 min (longest: GhostRider, 60 min)
  • Cedar Point: 9 min (longest: Maverick, 90 min)
  • Disneyland (Anaheim): 8 min (longest: Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, 50 min)
  • SeaWorld Orlando: 12 min (longest: Expedition Odyssey Fire & Ice, 35 min)
  • Universal Studios Hollywood: 12 min (longest: Mario Kart: Bowser's Challenge, 25 min)
  • Six Flags Great Adventure: 1 min (longest: THE JOKER, 25 min)

Live wait data: queue-times.com

Timing for your trip

If you're flexible and live near Busch Gardens Tampa, Hersheypark, or Six Flags Great Adventure, this week delivers short lines. Book now if these parks are on your family's radar.

For Magic Kingdom and Islands of Adventure, crowds are above baseline. If you're not locked into this week, aim for a Tuesday or Wednesday in late September, mid-January, or early May instead.

Disneyland, Cedar Point, Knott's Berry Farm, and Universal Studios Hollywood are running at or near typical summer pace. Standard family strategy applies: arrive when the park opens, hit your must-do rides in the first 90 minutes, take a midday break to eat and rest, then return to the park after 5 p.m. when evening crowds thin.

This digest is editorial, not a booking platform. Verify ride availability, park hours, ticket prices, and travel-advisory status with the official park / operator before traveling.

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