HOW MUCH ARE UNIVERSAL STUDIOS TICKETS? [2023]

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.

AAA Tickets has helped thousands of AAA members save up to 30% on entertainment tickets, including theme parks. Budgeting for a trip like this starts with understanding your ticket options and what strategies exist to help you safely purchase discounted tickets, which we’ve outlined for you below.

Ticket prices are accurate as of January 26, 2023, and are subject to change without notice.

Table of Contents

• Types of Tickets
• One Park Per Day Tickets
• Park-to-Park Tickets
• Multi-Day Tickets
• Annual Passes
• Local Resident Passes
• Express Passes
• How To Save Money on Universal Tickets

TYPES OF TICKETS

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.

Tickets tend to be higher during peak times, including:

• Three-day weekends
• Saturdays
• Spring break season (generally March and April)
• Summer (May through August)
• Halloween
• Between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day

Universal Studios offers several different types of tickets, so you can purchase the one that best fits your needs and budget.

One Park Per Day

One park per day tickets will let you into one of the two Orlando parks or the water park. You cannot switch parks with this ticket option.

Tickets to Universal Studios or Islands of Adventure range as follows:

• Adults: $109 to $159
• Children ages 3-9: $104 to $154
• Children under 3: free

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.

Park-to-Park Tickets

Universal Studios consists of two distinct parks and one water park.

Universal Studios has the following lands:

• The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Diagon Alley
• Hollywood
• Minion Land (opening in summer 2023)
• New York
• Production Central
• San Francisco
• Springfield
• World Expo
• Woody Woodpecker’s KidZone

Islands of Adventure includes:

• The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Hogwarts Castle and Hogsmeade
• Seuss Landing
• Jurassic Park
• Marvel Super Hero Island
• Toon Lagoon
• Skull Island: Reign of Kong
• The Lost Continent

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 $164 to $214 for adults and $159 to $209 for children. 

Multi-Day Tickets

If you plan to go to the park for more than one day, you can purchase multi-day tickets. These tickets have a lower cost per day than a single-day ticket, especially if you combine them with Park-to-Park options.

Annual Passes

You can also purchase one of eight annual passes if you plan to visit the park regularly.

• Seasonal Pass: This pass is the cheapest, but it comes with the most blackout dates, including the whole month of July.
• Power Pass: For $50 more than the seasonal pass, you’ll have fewer blackout dates.
• Preferred Pass: There are no blackout dates with this pass, and you get perks like discounted parking and early park admission.
• Premier Pass: In addition to no blackout dates, discounted parking and early park admission, this pass comes with:
  • Free admissions to select special events
  • One free admission to Halloween Horror Nights on select nights
  • Universal Express after 4 p.m. one time per ride
  • Discounts on selected products

You must show a valid ID with each pass, and the same person must use the same pass each time.

Local Resident Passes

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.

Express Passes

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.

HOW TO SAVE MONEY ON UNIVERSAL STUDIOS TICKETS

A trip to Universal Studios quickly adds up when you factor in transportation to Orlando, food, 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.

1. Buy Your Tickets with AAA Tickets

You can purchase discounted Universal tickets with your AAA membership. But don’t leave your card at home because you may be able to get a 10 percent discount on food and souvenirs in the park or on the CityWalk.

2. Buy Multi-Day Tickets

Multi-day tickets are the best per-day ticket value. If you purchase a 5-Day adult ticket, you’ll pay about $53.80 per day compared to the usual daily admission of $109.

3. Buy Online Instead of at the Gate

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.

4. Buy Discounted Gift Cards

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 $243.99 each, would total $975.96. 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.

5. Bundle Tickets With a Universal Hotel

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.

6. Buy Lowest-Tier Tickets and Upgrade the Day Of

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.

7. Use a Military, Student or Group Discount

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.

8. Go During Off-Peak Times

The cheapest time to go is when the park is expected to be the least busy. In general, tickets for any weekday in September are the cheapest tickets offered all year.

9. Take Your Kids Before They Turn 3

Children age 2 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 $233.99 on your trip.

SAVE MONEY ON YOUR NEXT UNIVERSAL STUDIOS TRIP WITH AAA

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.