If you were planning to spend your Columbus Day weekend riding Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure or racing through Bowser’s Castle at Universal Orlando Resort, you’re probably still in line. Visitors took to Reddit and social media Sunday morning to vent—and marvel—at the absolutely wild wait times across both Universal Orlando and the new Epic Universe park, with some rides seeing their longest queues since the pre-pandemic era.One Redditor posted a screenshot showing Hagrid’s Motorbike Adventure at a jaw-dropping 255-minute wait, captioning it with a stunned, “Wow, never seen this since 2019.” That’s more than four hours in line for just one ride. For those unfamiliar, this roller coaster is notorious for its long waits even on moderately busy days—but 255 minutes? That’s a whole new level.wow never seen this since 2019 byu/staycstan_sobad inUniversalOrlandoNot Just Hagrid—Wait Times Skyrocket Across the ParksCredit: UniversalHagrid’s wasn’t the only ride pushing guests to their limits of patience. Here’s a snapshot of some of the posted wait times from Universal Orlando and Epic Universe on Columbus Day:Universal Orlando ResortJurassic World VelociCoaster – 110 minutesHarry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts – 135 minutesSkull Island: Reign of Kong – 40 minutesThe Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man – 55 minutesEpic Universe (the much-anticipated new park)Curse of the Wereworld – 90 minutesFyre Drill – 95 minutesHarry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry – 240 minutesMine-Cart Madness – 200 minutesMario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge – 105 minutesHiccups Wing Gliders – 120 minutesIf you’re keeping count, that means three rides with over 200-minute waits, and six with over 90 minutes. For theme park regulars, this is practically gridlock. And for those who came expecting moderate holiday weekend crowds, the reality was a harsh wake-up call.What’s Behind the Madness?Columbus Day may not get as much attention as other holidays, but for theme parks, it can be a perfect storm of crowds. As one commenter put it, many people don’t realize how sneaky this weekend can be.“People don’t realize that there is a lull between ‘back to school’ and Columbus Day Weekend that sneaks up on you,” one seasoned visitor noted. “The parks stay busy through Halloween as locals come, and then it goes back to being a little slower in early Nov before Thanksgiving.”They’re right. The period between mid-August and early October tends to be slower as families settle into the school year. But Columbus Day Weekend represents one of the first opportunities for a long getaway, and locals are ready to take full advantage—especially with fall weather finally showing up in Florida.“I know it’s a holiday weekend,” another commenter wrote, “but there are lots of holiday weekends through the year, and this is one of the worst I’ve seen besides the holidays. First nice weekend of weather since winter will do that I guess.”When you combine pent-up demand, a three-day weekend, and some of the most pleasant weather Central Florida has seen in months, it’s no surprise that people flocked to the parks in droves.Epic Universe: A Victim of Its Own Hype?Credit: Andrew Boardwine, Inside the MagicAdding to the chaos is the buzz surrounding Epic Universe. With rides like Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry (reportedly hitting a 240-minute wait) and Mine-Cart Madness (at 200 minutes), it’s clear that visitors are eager to explore Universal’s boldest expansion yet.While Universal may view this as a success, for families trying to ride more than one major attraction per day, it’s a logistical headache.What Can You Do if You’re in the Parks?If you’re currently at Universal and staring at triple-digit wait times, here are a few tips to salvage the day:Hit less popular rides: While the headliners are jammed, attractions like Skull Island: Reign of Kong and The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man had more manageable waits (40 and 55 minutes, respectively).Single Rider Lines: If you’re not worried about riding with your party, these lines often move faster—especially at attractions like Gringotts and VelociCoaster.Mobile Order Food Early: Long lines aren’t just for rides—food locations get swamped too. Place mobile orders early in the day to avoid extra frustration.Stay Late: Crowds tend to thin a little later in the evening. You may not get on everything, but you might snag a few big rides before closing.When Will It Slow Down?The good news? If you can wait a few weeks, crowd levels are likely to drop. Early November typically sees a slight dip in attendance before ramping back up around Thanksgiving. And the sweet spot for low crowds often falls in early December (especially mid-week), before the two-week Christmas-to-New-Year’s crush begins.Columbus Day 2025 has proven once again that holiday weekends at Universal Orlando Resort are not to be underestimated. Between perfect weather, a new park drawing massive interest, and a general post-summer travel boom, wait times skyrocketed into territory not seen since before the pandemic. While some guests were surprised by the surge, seasoned visitors know this weekend has a history of delivering big crowds—and this year, it delivered in full.If you’re planning a Universal visit anytime soon, pack your patience, use every trick in the book, and maybe keep that Express Pass handy. Or, better yet, aim for that magical early-December lull—your feet (and sanity) will thank you.The post Harry Potter Leaves Universal in 4+ Hour Gridlock, Guests Pay Hundreds for Entrapment appeared first on Inside the Magic.