Sure, Disney is the big cheese in Florida. But Universal Orlando has cast its own spell in the theme park capital of the world with highly lauded lands devoted to "Harry Potter", world-class attractions, some truly kick-ass roller coasters and thrill rides, one of the best water parks anywhere, and more. You owe it to yourself to seriously consider adding a Universal visit to your Florida vacation itinerary. You also owe it to yourself to get the best deals on admission passes. Daily tickets start as low as $109 for the theme parks and $80 for Volcano Bay water park when purchased online. There are discounts available, including multi-day passes, as well as tickets and hotel packages to consider.
How Much Are Tickets to Universal Orlando?
Universal Orlando has two theme parks, Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure, and the Volcano Bay waterpark. The theme park resort uses variable pricing and charges more for tickets during high-attendance periods. Prices are as of 2021.
- One-park, one-day theme park tickets for adults (ages 10 and older) start at $109 and go as high as $159, depending on the date.
- One-park, one-day theme park tickets for children (ages 3 to 9) start at $104 and go as high as $154, depending on the date. (Children under 3 are admitted free.)
- Two-park, one-day tickets (also known as park-to-park passes that allow admission to both Universal Studios Florida andIslands of Adventure) for adults start at $164 and go as high as $214, depending on the date.
- Two-park, one-day theme park tickets for children start at $159 and go as high as $209 depending on the date.
- One-day Volcano Bay tickets for adults start at $80 and go as high as $85, depending on the date. Children’s tickets start at $75 and go as high as $80 depending on the date.
To receive the prices above, tickets need to be purchased in advance online at the official Universal Orlando website. Tickets purchased at the gate cost more (and require you to wait in line to buy them).
Discount Pricing
Multi-Day Passes
It’s virtually impossible to experience everything at both of Universal’s theme parks in one day. The resort sells multi-day passes for up to five days. The more days you purchase, the less you'll pay per day. For example, adult two-park, three-day tickets start at $233.99, or $78 per day. You can save even more (on a per-park and per-day basis) if you purchase a three-park pass that includes Volcano Bay.
Hotel and Tickets Packages
With seven on-property hotels, all operated in conjunction with Loew’s Resorts and ranging from Value- to Premier-level, Universal Orlando almost always offers accommodation packages that include tickets to the parks. In addition to saving money, there are other compellingreasons to consider staying at Universal’s hotels, including early admission to the parks and front-of-the-line access to select attractions. Check out Universal Orlando’s site for the latest packages and other deals.
Other Universal Orlando Discounts
- Do you live in the Sunshine State? The resort offers special rates and deals exclusively for Florida residents.
- Universal offers members of the armed forces a discountedMilitary Freedom Pass.There are also special hotel and vacation package offers for military members.
- Check the resort’s official site forspecial deals and offers. The resort often has money-saving ticket offers and other promotions.
- Do you have an American Express or a AAA card? You can’t use them to score discounts on tickets purchased online at Universal Orlando’s site, but once you are at the parks, be sure to ask what discounts might be available on food and merchandise.
- If you are a member, you may be able to purchase Universal tickets at a slight discount directly from AAA.
- If you live in Florida or plan to visit the state often, consider getting an annual pass. Be aware of blackout dates.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/UniversalOrlando_Globe_UOR3-592d7b753df78cbe7e0da804.jpg "Your Complete Guide to Universal Orlando Ticket Prices (1)")
Plan Your Visit
When to Go
As noted above, Universal uses dynamic pricing, so you’ll pay less and face lower crowds if you plan your visit for an off-peak time. You’ll find the least amount of visitors (and the lowest hotel and ticket prices) during mid-January to mid-February. September and October would be a tad busier, but still fairly quiet (and you'd be able to experience the wonderfulHalloween Horror Nights) as well as early November, mid-December, April, and early May. Expect bigger crowds and higher prices in late May, early June, and late August. The busiest times are during school vacations: late June to early August, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter.
Universal Express
On days when wait times are likely to be long for the rides, consider purchasing Universal Express, the line-skipping pass at Universal Orlando. There are two options: Express lets you bypass the regular lines on most attractions once; the higher-priced Express Unlimited lets you skip the lines as many times as you wish. Costs for the passes vary depending on the day and the anticipated crowd levels. Note that Universal Express is included with the room rates at Universal’s Premier-category hotels.
Dining
Many of the dining choices at the parks, CityWalk, and the on-property hotels are great. Among our favorites are the Toothsome Chocolate Emporium & Savory Feast Kitchen, Bigfire, and Vivo Italian Kitchen, all at CityWalk. Reservation info for table-service restaurants is available atUniversal Orlando’s Web site. Many quick-service restaurants offermobile food orderingvia Universal’s phone app.
Parking
It costs $26 to self park in Universal’s gargantuan garage. It is free after 6 p.m.
