Are you planning a trip to Universal Orlando Resort but unsure whether to purchase a day ticket or an annual pass? The choice can be overwhelming, but don’t worry – we’ve got you covered! In this guide, we’ll help you choose the option that’s right for you and your family. Whether you’re looking for a one-time visit or want to experience the park multiple times throughout the year, we’ll break down the benefits and costs of day tickets versus annual passes, so you can make an informed decision.
Note: this post is only related to the 2 theme parks at Universal Orlando: Islands of Adventures and Universal Studios.
One Park Per Day
I generally advise against this option unless you’re on a tight budget or have a specific plan to ride only certain attractions.
The benefit of a single park ticket at Universal Orlando Resort is that it allows you to access one of the two theme parks, either Universal Studios Florida or Islands of Adventure, on a given day. This type of ticket is a good option for visitors who have limited time and want to focus on experiencing one specific park, or for visitors who want to save money by purchasing a less expensive ticket option.
Single park tickets are also a good choice for visitors who have already visited one of the parks and want to spend more time exploring that park in depth, rather than trying to visit both parks in one day.
However, it’s important to note that if you have a single park ticket and want to switch to the other park on the same day, you will need to purchase a new ticket or upgrade your ticket to a park-to-park ticket.
Park-to-Park Day Passes
If you’re planning a one-time visit to Universal Orlando Resort during the year, this is my top recommendation for you.
A park-to-park ticket allows you to visit both parks on the same day and take advantage of the Hogwarts Express train, which is an attraction that travels between the two parks.
You will also have access to a wider range of attractions and experiences across both parks, including The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Marvel Super Hero Island, and Jurassic Park. We find that park-to-park is super helpful when navigating wait times and riding attractions during peak times of the day.
You can experience a wider range of special events and shows across both parks, including the Universal Orlando’s Cinematic Celebration nighttime show, the Nighttime Lights at Hogwarts Castle show, and the Marvel Character Dinner.
Annual Passes
If you’re planning visiting Universal Orlando Resort multiple times during the year, this is my top recommendation for you.
Overall, the decision of whether to purchase a annual pass versus day tickets depends on your individual circumstances and priorities. If you plan to visit the parks multiple times throughout the year and want to take advantage of the perks that come with the pass, such as discounts and early access to the parks, an annual pass may be a good choice. Visiting multiple times throughout the year allows you take advantage of the amazing seasonal events that Universal offers like Mardi Gras and Holidays at Universal Orlando Resort.
The annual pass offers unlimited admission to the parks during certain times of the year (some passes have blackout dates). Certain passes also offer discounts on merchandise, dining, hotel stays, and select events. If you plan to visit the parks more than once or twice during the year, an annual pass can save you money compared to purchasing individual day tickets for each visit.
Universal also does a great job of giving additional passholder benefits throughout the year! We are so excited for the May Passholder benefits, which we took advantage of on Mother’s Day!
Annual Pass Options
- Seasonal Pass: This pass is valid for select dates throughout the year but includes blockout dates during peak times. It, like all the other passes, offers discounts on on-site hotel stays.
- Power Pass: This pass includes more days of access than the Seasonal Pass, but still has blockout dates during the busiest times of the year. It does offer discounts on parking throughout the year.
- Preferred Pass: This pass avoids blockout dates and offers discounts on food, merchandise, and on-site hotels. It allows early park admission on certain days, as well as free parking after the first visit.
- Premier Pass: This pass also avoids blockout dates, as well as offers free parking, early park admission, and the Universal Express pass after 4pm (sometimes 2pm). Discounts on food, merchandise, and select on-site hotels are higher with this pass. It also provides one free Halloween Horror Nights ticket.
What Our Family Chose
We chose to get annual passes and have loved using them. It allows us to visit often (every other month) but for short periods of time without feeling like we are wasting money. If we don’t visit an attraction during one trip, we can do it another trip. If we only stay til 1pm on a Sunday, we still feel like we got our moneys worth.
My daughters and I have the Seasonal Pass, while my husband has the Preferred Pass. This way, we take advantage of the benefits of the Preferred Pass (discounts on food and merchandise, free parking) while not purchasing the Preferred for all of us. It does mean that we cannot go on blockout dates, but avoid those as they tend to be the busiest days. We also can’t take advantage of Early Park Hours, but that isn’t typically something we want to do anyway after long days.
Which will you decide to choose for your next trip to Universal Orlando?
Below is a comparison from Universal Orlando’s website.
