At Universal Studios Orlando, you can escape from a wizard bank on a dragon, take a studio backlot tour, race velociraptors or become a Minion. But all of that comes with a price, so we don’t blame you for reaching for your calculator. Knowing how much Universal Studios tickets are is the first step in the planning process, especially when saving money on travel is a top priority.
AAA Tickets has helped thousands of AAA members save on entertainment tickets, including theme parks. Budgeting for a trip like this starts with understanding your ticket options and strategies to help you safely purchase discounted tickets, which we’ve outlined below.
Universal Studios uses a variable ticket pricing system, which means that the amount you pay will depend on the date of your tickets. Disneyland and Disney World use a similar system. Ticket prices are accurate as of January 2, 2025, and are subject to change without notice.
Ticket price range: Free to $169
One Park Per Day tickets allow entry to one of the two Orlando parks or the water park. Please note that with the opening of Universal's Epic Universe on May 22, 2025, One Park Per Day tickets will not currently include access to this new park.
Park switching is not permitted with this ticket option.
Tickets to Universal Studios or Islands of Adventure range as follows:
Tickets to Volcano Bay, Universal’s water park, start at $80 for adults and $75 for children ages 3-9. Admittance to Volcano Bay is free for kids under 3.
Ticket price range: Free to $224
Universal Studios consists of two distinct parks and one water park.
Universal Studios has the following lands:
Islands of Adventure includes:
Epic Universe includes:
Universal’s Volcano Bay includes water slides, a water coaster, lazy rivers, raft rides, a beach and more to help you beat the Florida heat.
Similar to Disney’s Park Hopper tickets, Universal sells Park-to-Park tickets that allow you to visit two parks in one day. If you plan on riding the Hogwarts Express, you’ll need a Park-to-Park ticket since the ride connects both of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter lands.
Single-day Park-to-Park tickets cost from $174 to $224 for adults and $169 to $219 for children.
Universal Studios currently features two main parks, Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure, along with a water park, Volcano Bay. Starting in May 2025, a new park, Epic Universe, will join the lineup. At present, park-to-park tickets are available only for Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure.
Ticket price range: Free to $438.99
You can purchase multi-day tickets if you plan to go to the park for more than one day. These tickets have a lower cost per day than a single-day ticket, especially if you combine them with Park-to-Park options.
| Ticket Type | Single Park Ticket Price | Park-to-Park Ticket Price | 3-Park Park-to-Park Ticket Price |
| 2-Day Adult | Starts at $232.99 | Starts at $292.99 | Starts at $365.99 |
| 2-Day Child | Starts at $222.99 | Starts at $282.99 | Starts at $355.99 |
| 3-Day Adult | Starts at $295.99 | Starts at $355.99 | Starts at $390.99 |
| 3-Day Child | Starts at $285.99 | Starts at $345.99 | Starts at $380.99 |
| 4-Day Adult | Starts at $353.99 | Starts at $373.99 | Starts at $418.99 |
| 4-Day Child | Starts at $343.99 | Starts at $363.99 | Starts at $408.99 |
| 5-Day Adult | Starts at $378.99 | Starts at $393.99 | Starts at $448.99 |
| 5-Day Child | Starts at $368.99 | Starts at $383.99 | Starts at $438.99 |
The new Universal Epic Universe theme park at Universal Orlando Resort is scheduled to open on May 22, 2025. While the official opening is still in the future, you can purchase multi-day tickets now for your upcoming visit.
You can also purchase one of eight annual passes if you plan to visit the park regularly.
You must show a valid ID with each pass, and the same person must use the same pass each time.
Universal Studios Orlando offers special discounts for Florida residents through special purchase deals rather than a flat-rate reduction on ticket prices. These deals vary by season, so check their website.
Ticket price range: $104.99 to $134.99
No one wants to spend most of their park time standing in line. Express passes are ticket add-ons that allow you to skip the line at participating attractions and rides. You’ll need to purchase these passes on top of your theme park admission.
| Ticket Type | Price |
| 1-Day Universal Express Unlimited Pass: Universal Studios AND Islands of Adventure | $134.99 |
| 1-Day Universal Express Pass: Universal Studios AND Islands of Adventure | $104.99 |
A trip to Universal Studios quickly adds up when you factor in transportation to Orlando, food, cheaper hotels and all the extras like souvenirs and photos. Many people from out of state also try to combine a trip to Universal with a trip to Disney World.
So it’s no wonder people try to save a few bucks on their admission tickets.
Whatever you do, don’t purchase discounted tickets from an unofficial seller. You don’t want to end up at the gates with disappointed kids because you bought fake tickets. The general rule of thumb is if the deal looks too good to be true, it probably isn’t legitimate.
Here are a few strategies to safely purchase discounted tickets to Universal Studios.
You can purchase discounted Universal tickets with your AAA membership.
Multi-day tickets are the best per-day ticket value. If you purchase a 5-Day Park-to-Park adult ticket, you’ll pay about $72 per day compared to the usual daily admission of $174.
Universal Studios offers lower admission if you order your tickets online in advance. This also cuts down the time you’ll spend in line at the ticket office, so you can get the most bang for your buck and head straight for your favorite attractions.
If you belong to a warehouse store that sells discounted gift cards or have a credit card that gives you cash back on all purchases, purchase gift cards to Universal or Visa or Mastercard gift cards.
Let’s say you want to purchase four 2-Park, 2-Day adult tickets for your visit to Universal Studios. The tickets, which start at $292.99 each, would total $1,171.96. If you purchase gift cards worth that much with a 5 percent cash back credit card, you’d save nearly $50, which is almost enough to buy a Harry Potter wand.
Universal Studios offers Universal Orlando Vacation Packages that allow you to bundle your tickets with a Universal hotel stay. You can save up to $200 by purchasing your tickets with this strategy. Some packages even allow you to add your airfare to your bundle. All levels of hotels, from budget to luxury, are offered in these packages.
If you’ve ever traveled with kids, you know that most days don’t go exactly as planned, especially when you’re on vacation. Purchase One Park Per Day tickets in advance, and if you realize you’ll be able to make it to the other park in one day, stop by guest services to upgrade your ticket. You’ll just need to pay the difference.
This way, if someone has a meltdown and you have to head back to the hotel for a nap, you won’t be out the price of a 2-Park ticket.
Universal Studios offers discounts for certain groups of people.
All active duty and retired military members qualify for a discount, but you’ll need to purchase those tickets through a Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) office or an Information, Tours and Travel (ITT) office. They are not available at the Universal Studios gate or website.
The cheapest time to go is when the park is expected to be the least busy. In general, tickets for weekdays in September and January are the cheapest tickets offered all year.
Tickets tend to be higher during peak times, including:
Tickets in busy months such as December and during the summer season are typically about 20 percent more expensive than those in the off-peak months.
Children age two and younger are admitted free into Universal Studios, so save money by taking them before they turn 3. Not having to purchase one 2-Day, 2-Park children’s ticket will save you at least $282.99 on your trip.
Become a AAA member today to access discounted tickets for your next Universal Studios visit through AAA Tickets. AAA Discounts and Rewards® Program can also help you save money on your entire Universal Studios trip with our preferred hotels and travel partners.