In this in-depth guide, I’ll answer the most popular question when it comes to Universal Orlando vacation planning – how much does it cost to go to Universal Studios Florida?
Universal Orlando is one of the most popular theme parks in the world where you can experience the thrill of your favorite movies and TV shows coming to life.
But before you pack your bags and head to Florida, let’s break down all of the costs associated with Universal Studios vacation planning such as park tickets, hotels, food, transportation, and add-ons.
Don’t worry, we won’t scare you away with the prices – after all, what’s a little wallet dent when you’re having the time of your life? So sit back, relax, and let’s dive into how much you should expect to pay for a trip to Universal Studios.
How much does it costs to go to Universal Orlando?
Lets break down you vacation cost by category. As an example, I will use 2 adults and 2 children above the age of 3 to factor in the total costs.
Total Cost (to save you time)
Here’s how much a 3-night vacation to Universal Orlando Resort will cost on average for a family of 4 (2 adults and 2 children):
- Budget Vacation: a 3-night trip for a family of four staying at the Endless Summer Dockside with 3-day 3-park tickets, including food and transportation will cost $2,481 on average.
- Luxury Vacation: a 3-night trip for a family of four staying at Loews Portofino Bay Bay Hotel with 3-Day 3-Park to Park tickets, including food and transportation will cost $3,732 on average.
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How much are park tickets at Universal Orlando?
Regardless of the number of days or the number of parks you choose to visit, Universal Orlando uses date-based pricing meaning tickets will more expensive or cheaper on certain days throughout the year.
That said, here is the complete list of park ticket prices for Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure, and Volcano Bay:
(Adults are ages 10+ and children are ages 3-9. Children under the age of 3 are free.)
Universal Studios Florida & Islands of Adventure
The park ticket prices for both of these parks are identical. The only time the prices will vary is if you add Express Pass.
2-Parks 1-Day tickets start at $164 per adult and $159 per child. This ticket’s price ranges from $109 to $159.
One-Park One-Day tickets start at $109 per adult and $104 per child. With this ticket option, both Universal Studios and Island of Adventure are the same price.
2-Park 2-Day Tickets (Park to Park) start at $276 per adult and $266 per child. This tickets price ranges from $276 to $370.
Volcano Bay
A 1-Day Volcano Bay tickets starts at $80 per adult and $75 per child.
These water park tickets can range from $80 to $90.
There is also a 3-Park 3-Day ticket that lets you visit Universal Studios , Islands of Adventure, and Volcano Bay in a three day period. You can opt for the one park per day option which starts at $242 per adult or you can do the park to park to option which starts at $342 per adult.
Florida Resident Deals
Universal Orlando offers Florida resident deals that include discounted tickets as well as free day promotions.
There are so many deals that come and go that it’s difficult to list them here. That’s why I recommend that you check their Deals and Specials page.
How much does Express Pass cost?
Express Pass is a ticket add-on that allows you to skip regular lines at participating rides at Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure, and Volcano Bay.
There are currently three Express Pass options:
- Universal Express – skip the regular lines one time per participating ride
- Universal Express Unlimited – skip the regular lines an unlimited number of times at participating rides
- Volcano Bay Express – skip the Virtual Line one time per participating ride at the water park
Just like park tickets, Express Pass also uses date-based pricing:
- Universal Express = $89.99 to $349.99
- Universal Express Unlimited = $99.99 to $379.99
- Volcano Bay Express = $19.99 to $149.99
If you plan on adding Express Pass for a certain park, Islands of Adventure is $5 more expensive than Islands of Adventure.
How much are hotels at Universal Orlando?
There are 8 official Universal Orlando hotels and resorts, all of which have their own perks, benefits, and price ranges.
There are four categories of hotels:
- Premier Hotel
- Preferred Hotel
- Prime Value Hotel
- Value Hotel
Here’s a breakdown of costs and amenities for each hotel category. Just note that night room rates are only averages, and can fluctuate greatly depending on the time of year, holidays, and season.
Value Hotels
There are currently two Value hotels – Universal’s Endless Summer Resort Dockside and Universal’s Endless Summer Resort Surfside.
- Universal’s Endless Summer Resort Dockside costs $119 per night on average
- Universal’s Endless Summer Resort Surfside costs $119 per night on average
Prime Value Hotels
There are currently two Prime Value resorts – Universal’s Aventura Hotel and Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort.
- Universal’s Aventura Hotel costs $174 per night on average
- Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort costs $174 per night on average
Preferred Hotels
There is only one Preferred hotel – Loews Sapphire Falls Resort.
- Loews Sapphire Falls Resort costs $262 per night on average.
Premier Hotels
There are three Premier hotels – Loews Portofino Bay Hotel, Loews Royal Pacific Resort, and the Hard Rock Hotel.
When you stay at a Premier Hotel, you’ll receive Universal Express Unlimited for every guest per day, which is a $129+ daily value. Premier Hotels also are the only properties with Club Level Rooms.
- Loews Portofino Bay Hotel costs $484 per night on average
- Loews Royal Pacific Resort costs $406 per night on average
- Hard Rock Hotel costs $453 per night on average
Regardless of what hotel you book, you’ll receive Early Park Admission as well as free transportation via shuttle or water taxi (if applicable).
How much is the food at Universal Orlando?
Food is always an important part of any vacation.
At Universal Orlando, you’ll quickly realize how inflated dining prices are, as expected at any touristy spot.
Although everyone’s eating preferences vary, I estimated how much you should budget per person per meal.
As of this writing, you should plan to budget around:
- $25 per adult per meal
- $18 per child per meal
This might be on the higher side, but theme park food prices aren’t getting any cheaper and will continue to rise unfortunately, as recently seen at WDW.
Universal Orlando has put a hold on their dining plan as of 2021, so unfortunately, I won’t be able to go into any further details regarding that. Disney World has just unveiled that they are bringing there’s back on January 9th, 2024 and generally, Universal likes to follow suit. But we shall see, especially since Universal has deleted all of their information about the Universal Dining Plan.
How much does it cost to go to Halloween Horror Nights?
The insanely popular Halloween Horror Nights start in early September and run through late October.
Tickets for Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Orlando start at $109.99 per adult. Tickets are the cheapest during the weekday and the most expensive on weekends.
HHN prices get progressively more expensive the closer you get to Halloween. These prices usually range between $109.99 to $219.99 per person.
There is also a Halloween Horror Night Express Pass that lets you skip the line at every haunted house. Prices for this add-on vary between $109.99 and $219.99 per person on top of your HHN ticket.
If the goal is to save money, then your best bet is to go early during the first week and on a Wednesday.
How much does the Wizarding World of Harry Potter cost?
Access to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter is included with the price of admission for any Universal Studios or Islands of Adventure ticket.
However, in order to visit both Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley, you will need a ticket that gives you access to both Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure.
Once inside the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, you will not need to spend any additional money for access to the rides and attractions.
One thing to note is that in order to ride the Hogwarts Express between Hogsmeade Station and King’s Cross Station, you will need a Park-to-Park ticket.
Here’s how much a Park-to-Park ticket costs:
- 2 Park 1 Day Ticket starts at $164 per adult (ages 10+) and $159 per children ages (3-9)
- 2 Park 2 Day Ticket starts at $275.99 per adult and $266 per child.
How much is transportation to get to Universal Orlando?
By far the best way to get to Universal Orlando is using Uber or Lyft, especially if you’re coming from the airport or Disney.
On average, a Lyft from Orlando International Airport to Universal Orlando Resort will cost between $34 and $39 each way.
From Walt Disney World, a Lyft will cost around $17 to $27 to get to Universal Orlando.
Parking Costs
If you decide to drive yourself, these are the daily parking rates per vehicle (pricing is seasonal):
- Prime Parking = $50 – $60
- Prime Upgrade = $20 – $30
- RV/Bus = $40
- Regular = $30
Here are the Valet parking costs:
- 2 hours = $30
- Over 2 hours = $40 – $75
- Over 2 hours on HHN = $75
- Preferred Annual Passholders = 50% off valet
- Premier Annual Passholder = free (excluding special event nights)
You can get free self-parking after 6 pm on non-Halloween Horror Nights and free self-parking after 12 pm on Halloween Horror Nights.
You can also get free regular parking for matinee movie showings between 11 am to 6 pm with purchases of two or more tickets at Universal Cinemark. To get free parking, you’ll have to first pay for regular parking then you’ll be reimbursed upon presentation of parking receipt.
How much does it cost to go to Universal Orlando for one day?
To visit Universal Orlando for one day, it will cost $174 per adult and $159 per child, on average.
In order to full get the most out of your day at Universal Orlando Resort, you will need to get a 2-Park 1-Day ticket that gives you access to both Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure.
If time is of the essence, then I also recommend that you get the 2-Park Express Pass which will cost around $144.99 on average. This way you can easily knock out all of the important rides (with some exceptions) without waiting in line for too long.
This will bring your total cost for a one day visit to Universal Studios to $366.36 per person.
Florida Resident Discounts
Universal Orlando is so good to Florida residents.
They offer both park ticket and resort discounts that every Florida resident can take advantage of. Not to mention, they always have some sort of ongoing Florida resident promotion or deal that will cut down the costs of your visit dramatically.
To learn more about these discounts, check out their official offers page.
Military Discounts
Universal Studios Orlando offers specially priced tickets and vacation packages for Department of Defense civilians, active duty service members and spouses, and retired military members and spouses.
These special deals must be purchased at an authorized Military Ticket and Travel office.
Planning to visit SeaWorld or Disney?
If you plan on knocking out the other popular parks in the area, I got you covered with a similar price breakdown for your visit to both SeaWorld Orlando and Walt Disney World.
Heck, I also have price breakdown for Disney Cruises if that’s something that interests you.
Final Thoughts
Universal Studios Orlando is an amazing vacation destination that offers endless fun and excitement for visitors of all ages.
While the cost of tickets may seem daunting at first, it’s important to remember that the memories and experiences you’ll gain from your trip are priceless.
By planning ahead, taking advantage of discounts and vacation packages, you can make the most of your budget and create a vacation that you’ll never forget.
So, if you were wondering how much does it costs to go to Universal Studios Orlando, I hope this article has provided you with the information you need to plan your perfect trip.
Happy travels!
The post How much does it cost to go to Universal Orlando in 2023? appeared first on Urban Tastebud.
