How much is the ticket to Universal Studios Orlando
To tell you exactly how much the entrance to Universal Studios Orlando costs is not easy, but here I am going to tell you and explain what the cost depends on. I will give you the price range you’ll be moving in, explain all the options and tell you about the different types of tickets for Universal Studios Orlando.
However, the first thing you should know if you are going to travel to Florida is that it is an expensive trip. Prices are high in general. But if in addition to enjoying Miami and the Everglades, you want to treat yourself to having a great time at the most famous theme parks in Orlando, the cost goes up even more.
If you’ve made it this far, it’s because you want to know how much it costs to go to Universal Studios Orlando. After having been there with my partner and my three children who were 5, 3 and almost one year old at the time, I’ll tell you everything I wish I had known.
Before organizing your visit to Universal Studios Orlando, I recommend getting travel insurance to go with complete peace of mind. The tickets, as well as the trip to Florida in general, are too expensive to lose money in case you have to cancel the trip, which is why you should add cancellation insurance. I recommend HeyMondo insurance which works great and also has a 24-hour medical chat in its app and a video consultation option.
Take advantage of the fact that you now have a 15% discount for being a reader of the blog. And also if you travel as a family you add another extra 15% when booking through my link. Yes, up to a 30% discount.
These huge discounts are for Black Friday only, so you must take out your policy by December 2nd at the latest to travel whenever you want.
Which parks to visit in Universal Studios Orlando?
Before diving into how much it costs to go to Universal Studios Orlando, you should know that this name refers to one of the three parks that make up the complex of Universal Orlando Resort. So before buying your tickets for Universal Studios Orlando, you first need to be clear about which park or parks you want to visit because that will determine the final price.
What is known as Universal Orlando Resort is a huge complex that includes:
- Universal Studios: The most famous park in this complex doesn’t just house a part of the world of Harry Potter and The Simpsons. You will also immerse yourself in other movies like E.T., Transformers, Men in Black, or Back to the Future. And the little ones will enjoy meeting The Minions, Shrek, Dora the Explorer, or SpongeBob SquarePants, among others, in person. This is the only one of the three that I visited.
- Islands of Adventure: If you have enough time, you have to go to this other park and do it in a very special way: riding the Hogwarts Express. Of course, to board the famous Harry Potter train you are required to buy the Park to Park ticket which gives access to both parks. Once there, continue exploring the universe created by writer J. K. Rowling and, while you’re at it, dare to look the dinosaurs of Jurassic Park in the eye
- Volcano Bay: a water park ideal for beating the Florida heat.
- City Walk: an open-air shopping area full of restaurants, shops, and plenty of entertainment. If you can, save some free time to stroll leisurely because there’s a great atmosphere. Highly recommended to book a table at Hard Rock Cafe Orlando with VIP access to skip the lines and two exclusive menus to choose from.
How much does a ticket to Universal Studios Orlando cost
As I was telling you at the beginning, telling you exactly how much it costs to go to Universal Studios Orlando is not easy. The price of admission to Universal Studios Orlando varies depending on the date. In other words, depending on the season, and even the specific day you go to the Harry Potter park, you will pay one amount or another. It is not the same to go during the week as on the weekend or on special dates such as Christmas or Halloween.
During my trip to Florida, in March, in the middle of the Mardi Gras carnival and during the Spring Break school holidays, I paid 470 dollars including taxes for two adult tickets and one child ticket, about 150 dollars per person for a single park, Universal Studios, and a single day.
And now let’s see how much a ticket to Universal Studios costs and to the other two parks in the complex.
Types of tickets for Universal Studios Orlando
Before buying the ticket for Universal Orlando, take a look at the two types of tickets to find out how much it costs to go to Universal Orlando. The prices you see were checked in March 2024 and, as you will see, they will vary depending on the time you go.
–Park per day: The one-park-per-day ticket, as its name suggests, allows you to enter a single park for a single day. Here are some prices for this option, from the cheapest to the most expensive:
- 1 park in 1 day: from 116 to 169 dollars, including taxes, to enter either Universal Studios or Islands of Adventure.
- 1 park in a day: from 85 to 92 dollars, including taxes, only valid for entry to Volcano Bay.
-Park to Park: This option allows you to access two parks in a single day. Remember that if you want to ride the Harry Potter train that connects Universal Studios with Islands of Adventure, this is the only way to do it. Here are some prices for this option, from the cheapest to the most expensive:
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2 parks in 1 day: from 175 to 227 dollars, including taxes.
- 2 parks in 2 days: from 292 to 392 dollars, including taxes.
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3 parks in 2 days: from 338 to 431 dollars, including taxes.
If you don’t want to get complicated with so many price changes, a good option to always ensure the same price is to buy these tickets for Universal Orlando with which you will pay a fixed price: 122 euros per park per day and you can access everything: Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure, and Volcano Bay. You have to choose the three-park option in 14 days. However, if you are going for fewer days, you will probably have to do the math to see if it is worth it.
I suggest you buy the tickets for Universal Studios Orlando here because some options are cheaper, such as the 2 parks in 1 day option which, for example, for September 2024 you can find from 170€.
What do Universal Studios Orlando tickets include?
The Universal Studios Orlando prices you have seen only include admission to the parks. Nothing more.
If you want to add the express pass, you have to pay a supplement as I will explain in detail later.
Parking is not included in the ticket price. If you are wondering how much parking costs at Universal Studios:
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Standard cars 25 dollars.
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RVs and buses: 32 dollars.
- Prime Parking: 60 dollars to park very close to the entrance (Yes, the parking lot is gigantic and some people don’t want to walk too much if they can afford it).
However, after six in the evening parking is free at Universal Orlando Resort. This is something that will come in handy if you feel like going for a walk or having dinner at City Walk, which is recommended if you have extra time.
If you don’t have a rental car or if you prefer to save time, a good option is to take the direct transport to Universal Orlando Resort for only 32 euros. They pick you up and drop you off at your hotel so you don’t have to worry about anything else. However, remember to buy tickets to Universal Studios Orlando beforehand so you don’t risk running out of them when you get there.
How the fast pass works at Universal Studios Orlando
Here, the time-saving fast pass is called Universal Express Pass. Just like with tickets, the cost is not fixed; instead, the price varies depending on the date, the park, and the number of days you go.
Keep in mind that buying this pass does not mean that you won’t have to wait at all to get on the attractions. The Universal Express allows you to skip the normal line and access through the express line where the wait time is reduced. Depending on the attraction, the season, and the time of day, you might go straight through without waiting at all, or you might have many people in front of you who, like you, also bought the pass.
If you’re wondering if the Universal Orlando fast pass is valid for all attractions, the answer is practically yes, with four exceptions. Here is the list of attractions for which the fast pass is NOT valid at Universal:
- Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure (Islands of Adventure).
- Jurassic World VelociCoaster (Islands of Adventure).
- Pteranodon Flyers (Islands of Adventure).
- Fievel’s Playland (Universal Studios).
Another good thing about this fast pass is that there is no need to reserve a time slot, which is required, for example, at Disney’s Magic Kingdom
How much does the Fast Pass at Universal Studios Orlando cost?
There are three types of passes:
- Universal Express: this is the normal fast pass that allows you to get on the attractions through the express line, but only once for each one. The cheapest price starts at 79 dollars plus tax and can even go up to 239 dollars if you buy it during peak season and for immediate use.
- Universal Express Unlimited: if you pay more, you can repeat as many times as you want using the express line. The cheapest price starts at 109 dollars plus tax.
- Volcano Bay Express: the specific express pass for the Universal Orlando water park is much cheaper, starting at $19 plus tax. It allows you to use the express line once per attraction.
Keep in mind that if you stay at any of the Universal Orlando Resort hotels, you will have the unlimited express pass included, in addition to being able to access the parks one hour before opening. Some of the hotels that include Universal Express Pass for free are Universal’s Hard Rock Hotel, the Loews Portofino Bay Hotel and the Loews Royal Pacific Resort
Is the express pass worth it at Universal Studios Orlando?
If you’re wondering if it’s worth buying the Universal Express, well, it depends. In my case, it wasn’t worth it and I didn’t pay for it. I was with very young children who couldn’t ride the most popular attractions, so it wasn’t worth paying such a high price.
What was the cost of not paying for the Universal Express during my visit? On one hand, having to wait more than an hour to ride the Minions attraction that the little ones were excited about. On the other hand, missing out on the famous Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts attraction because the wait time was an hour and a half.
Whether or not to buy the express pass depends on many factors, such as the season you go or your preferences. It’s a personal decision. I would pay for the Universal Express if you are visiting both parks in a single day, that is, if you buy one-day Park to Park tickets. That way, you’ll be able to make much better use of your time.
Is there any alternative to save at Universal Studios Orlando?
To try to save time without paying for the express pass, there is the Virtual Line system available on the official Universal Orlando Resort app, available for Android y for iOS. Download the app and you can use this system that allows you to book a specific time for free to ride certain attractions with the group of people you’re with. It’s like waiting in line virtually.
Note that it is not active for all attractions and these are constantly changing. The only Universal Orlando park where this system works for everything is the Volcano Bay water park, where it’s called Tapu-Tapu. At most you can make two Virtual Line reservations at once.
When booking, the app will generate a QR code that you’ll need to show upon arrival at the attraction to be let through without waiting. Note that in some attractions, like Jimmy Fallon’s at Universal Studios, you save yourself the initial line, but once inside the building you’ll join the rest of the people and wait as usual.
If you’re going to Islands of Adventure, I recommend trying to book with Virtual Line for Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure as soon as you arrive at the park. This attraction is the most popular roller coaster and I remind you that it’s not included in the Universal Express fast pass.
Unlimited data with a discount
Having an Internet connection on your mobile is essential for organizing your visit to Universal Studios Orlando. One solution is to buy an eSIM card that you can activate as soon as you land without opening your phone because it’s virtual and through which you can have unlimited data.
Take advantage of the 5% discount at HolaFly for being a blog reader by booking here.
Special dates at Universal Studios Orlando
If your stay at Universal Studios Orlando coincides with any of these dates, know that you’re going to have a doubly special experience. Parades, shows, food, and special entertainment to make your visit unforgettable—and much more expensive too, obviously.
Mardi Gras: Between February and April (depending on the year) the park fills with color and fun to pay tribute to Carnivals around the world, from New Orleans to Brazil. During the themed parades, they throw colored bead necklaces. In 2024, Mardi Gras at Universal Studios Orlando is from April 3 to 7.
Halloween Horror Nights: From September to October 31, the park becomes terrifying. This year, these parties will be even better because Chucky’s haunted house will be inaugurated, which promises to be very scary.
Christmas: At Christmas, Universal Studios Orlando overflows with magic everywhere with large parades and special programming at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Oh, but watch out because the Grinch also wants to be the protagonist. Here is everything they organize.
Travel insurance, essential in the budget for visiting Universal Studios Orlando
If you are calculating how much it costs to go to Universal Studios Orlando, I cannot help but remind you to reserve a small part of the budget to hire a good travel insurance policy. The cost is much less than you imagine and can save you a lot of money given the high cost of healthcare in the United States.
Can you imagine having an accident in the park? What if you get heatstroke and need medical attention? What happens if after paying the high price of tickets to Universal Studios Orlando you have to cancel the trip? Or maybe they simply lose your suitcase during the flight and you need to buy clothes. There are many uncomfortable situations that can arise during a trip and having someone on the other side ready to resolve them gives a lot of peace of mind.
5% discount on travel insurance.
if you travel as a family you have another 15% extra
20% in total
To show you how cheap it is, for less than 30 euros you would already have travel insurance for an entire week in the United States. Are you sure you want to risk it for so little money?
Tips for buying tickets to Universal Studios Orlando
– Do it far enough in advance and online. Waiting to buy tickets for Universal Orlando at the box office at the last minute can mean you run out of them, especially if you go in high season, or that you pay more than expected. Plus, you save yourself a long line.
-The most recommended thing before buying your tickets for Universal Studios Orlando is to check the price calendar on the official website and then compare with these ticket offers for Universal Studios The calendar will appear after you choose the ticket type and the number of tickets you want. If you have flexibility in the dates, this small gesture while you are organizing the trip gives you the possibility to match your visit with the most economical day.
-Remember that when buying the ticket, it is mandatory to do so for a specific day. This is very important, as you will not be able to access the park on any date other than the one that appears on the ticket. This advice is also valid for Disney parks and I know this from personal experience. If you get the day wrong, they will not allow you to enter and, if there is no availability for the date you wanted, you will lose your money.
–Make sure to select that you are ‘NOT’ a Florida resident. If you buy tickets on the official Universal Orlando Resort website, several options will appear to check before continuing with your purchase, one of which is to confirm whether or not you are a Florida resident. Watch out because the price is much cheaper for people who live there, but later they will ask you for a document to prove it and obviously you won’t have it.
-Keep in mind that children from 10 years old already pay as an adult. However, there is hardly any price difference between a child ticket and an adult one, around 5 dollars. The child ticket is for ages 3 to 9, both included.
–Children under 3 enter for free. At Universal Studios there are very few attractions they can ride at that age, as there is a height restriction on almost all of them. In the case of my daughter, who was 3 years and two months old, and is quite short, I confess that I took a risk and didn’t buy her a ticket. Nobody asked us for it at the control point, nobody checked her age, and I saved almost 150 dollars.
-If you want to add the Universal Express Pass, you can buy it on the official website or at the ticket office. Once again, I recommend doing it online and in advance. However, make sure you buy it for the same day you bought your ticket and for the same park. Before paying, check all the options that need to be marked and make sure the entry and fast pass dates match.
*This article includes affiliate links. If you book something through them, it will cost you the same price, but you will help me maintain this blog with the small commission you generate.
