The 2024 Cheapest Time to Visit Universal Orlando

The 2024 Cheapest Time to Visit Universal Orlando

one-of-the-best-days-to-visit-universal-orlando

The 2024 Cheapest Time to Visit Universal Orlando

This article is your complete guide to the 2024 cheapest time to visit Universal Orlando. We all know Universal Studios Orlando brings thrill and adventure in all of their parks, rides, and entertainment. However, with all the parks, travel, hotel fare, and other amenities, your exciting trip turns into a budgeting nightmare. However, there are plenty of ways to save money at Universal Studios Orlando, and we’re here to teach you some tricks and tips.

We’ve done many trips on short weekends, looking for the best time to go to Universal Studios to save some money! We’ve stayed in offsite hotels, done all of Universal Orlando in one day, and many other tricks to budget a cheap Universal trip.

We hope you find this post helpful! Our goal at The Park Prodigy has always been to help you save time and money on your next Universal Orlando vacation!  If you are planning a trip to Universal Orlando be sure to check out our discounted multi-day Universal Orlando tickets and Universal Orlando vacation package deals which include EARLY PARK ADMISSION to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter!

So if you’re ready to learn how to do Universal Studios on a budget read on!

SPECIAL NOTE: If you need help picking the best time to visit Universal Orlando for your next vacation be sure to check out our Universal Crowd Calendar!

 Universal Orlando Crowd Calendar

The Cheapest Time of Year to Visit Universal Studios Orlando 2024

Toon Lagoon Dudley Do-Right Ride

Let’s start with the most important question on this topic which is, when is the cheapest time to visit Universal Orlando? And as a general rule of thumb, the cheapest time to visit Universal Orlando is in September right after kids go back to school from summer break, January, February, and the end of August. It’s also important to note that we find the best time to buy your discount Universal tickets is in January.

The primary reason why the best times to go to Universal Studios are so appealing lies in Universal’s recent marketing strategies. For the past two consecutive years, Universal has launched special ticket promotions, offering 2 complimentary days when you purchase a 2 or 3-day pass to the parks. These enticing offers often extend through the fall, providing an excellent opportunity to capitalize on the already budget-friendly ticket prices usually found in late August and September. Before we delve deeper into the best time to go to Universal during the off-season, here are several invaluable tips and tricks to help you pinpoint the best day to go to Universal Studios Orlando for yourself!

Pay attention to ticket prices

One of the easiest ways to spot the Universal Orlando off-season is to pay attention to ticket pricing. The reason is Universal Orlando tickets now fluctuate based on the day you first plan to visit the theme parks. As you can guess, Universal will adjust their ticket pricing during the busier times of the year and also adjust ticket pricing during the Universal Orlando off-season. So one of the easiest ways to spot the cheapest time of year to visit Universal Studios Orlando is by looking at the one-day Universal Orlando ticket pricing!

Plan your trip right after the kids go back to school

One of the most effective strategies for identifying the cheapest time to go to Universal is to align your trip with the school calendar. Specifically, consider planning your visit right after the kids return to school. This period usually falls at the beginning of September, making it an optimal time to go to Universal Studios Orlando for several reasons. First, the parks are generally less crowded, as families have concluded their summer vacations and children are back in school. Second, you’ll find that ticket prices and hotel rates are often more affordable during these off-peak times.

Another window of opportunity is during the winter breaks in January and February. While these months may not offer the warmest weather, they do present a chance to experience Universal with fewer crowds and lower costs. This is especially true if you’re not tied to a school schedule and have the flexibility to travel during these less popular months.

So, whether you’re aiming for the best time or the cheapest time to go to Universal, planning around the school calendar can offer significant advantages.

Look for deals on vacation packages

Not only will Universal run deals on vacation packages during the off-season but it can be one of the cheapest ways to visit Universal Orlando. The main reason is guests might be able to take advantage of up to 30% off a vacation package depending on the time of year you visit. The second is that some of the Universal Orlando hotels come with free express passes. Although the hotels typically cost more per night the savings on the express passes along with the opportunity to skip the lines will allow you to get so much more done in a short amount of time.

Always buy your tickets in advance

One of the cheapest ways to go to Universal Orlando if you are not purchasing a vacation package is to buy your tickets in advance. All guests who purchase their tickets in advance will take advantage of savings when compared to the price of tickets at the gate. When guests book multi-day tickets or vacation packages through The Park Prodigy get Early Park Admission!

Related Page: The Cheapest Universal Orlando Tickets

When is the Cheapest Times to Visit Universal Studios in 2024 

volcano-bay-universal-studios

As a general guideline, vacation prices for Universal Orlando are most affordable during specific months: late August, September, January, and February. These months often align with the best time to go to Universal Studios 2024 and beyond, as they offer a combination of lower costs and fewer crowds. To assist you further, we’ve included a comprehensive Orlando Crowd Calendar on our website.

This calendar features all one-day ticket prices, and as you’ll observe, these prices closely mirror the expected crowd levels at both Universal and Disney parks during various times of the year. In essence, the ticket prices serve as a reliable indicator of Universal Studios’ best time to go, allowing you to plan your trip more effectively.

What are the cheapest days to go to Universal?

  • Jan. 5-9, Jan. 10-15, Jan 24-31 (cheapest way to go to Harry Potter World)
  • Feb. 1-14, Feb. 22-28
  • Mar. 1-6
  • Apr. 25-May.1
  • May. 8-15
  • All of August
  • All of September
  • Oct. 1-7, 11-16, 18-22, 24-29
  • Nov. 1-6, 8-10, 14-19 (avoid Thanksgiving week)
  • Dec. 1-4, 6-11  (avoid Christmas and New Year’s Eve)

What is the off-season for Universal Orlando?

Another important question we receive regarding this topic is, what is the off-season for Universal Orlando? As a general rule of thumb, we do find September, January, February, and the end of August. The main reason is these are the times of year when most kids are going back to school after major summer or holiday breaks.

Related Page: Discount Universal Orlando tickets

What is the Cheapest Way to go to Universal Studios for Tickets?

universal-islands-of-adventure-discount-tickets

Buying discounted Universal tickets from a verified travel agent site such as The Park Prodigy is the cheapest way to get to Universal Studios. These tickets are authorized to ensure secure travel. The Park Prodigy will also run special deals and promotions on Universal tickets throughout the year to take advantage of even bigger savings. You can select single-day or multi-day tickets. If you’d rather buy directly from Universal, be sure to only select their cheapest times of the year. However, for the cheapest way to go to Universal Studios Orlando, we do suggest working with a verified retailer!

When is the cheapest time to buy Universal Orlando tickets?

Now that you have figured out who you will buy your tickets from you might be wondering, when is the cheapest time to buy your Universal Orlando tickets? As a general rule of thumb, Universal will typically run the best deals in January and February and then again in early fall. Some of the most recent deals that Universal has run have been buy two days and get two days free.

Related Page: How to Visit Universal Orlando on a Budget

When is the Best Time to Book Universal Hotels 2024?

As Universal ticket prices fluctuate, so do Universal Studios hotel prices. Discounted rates have been offered on hotels during the off-season for Universal Orlando. To confirm these months are typically the end of August, Early September, January, and February. It is recommended, however, to book in advance, as hotel prices can always change, and if the deal is great, then that entices travelers to book while the deal is hot. It’s also important to note that guests who do book an official Universal Orlando vacation package through a Travel Agent like The Park Prodigy guests would also be eligible to try to take advantage of any discounts and promotions that Universal releases even after their package has been booked.

What is the cheapest Universal Orlando hotel?

Related Page: Discount Universal Orlando Vacation Packages

The Most Expensive Time to Visit Universal Studios Orlando 

Universal Orlando Holiday Vacation

Similar to many other theme parks, the cheapest way to see Universal Studios Orlando is not during the holidays. The holiday season, around Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year, brings out fans from all over the world, as they want to see the magic and creativity that happens during the holiday season. Along with that, kids are typically on school break, allowing them to travel with the family.

If you’re trying to go to Universal Studios on a budget, you should also try avoiding visiting during the summer months. Although hot, kids have off from school, creating a very busy time for the parks. Because of this, prices increase and it doesn’t make for a comfortable setting.

Related Article: Special Events at Universal Orlando 

Is it Cheaper to Stay at Universal Studios or Disney?

Premier Hotel Universal Orlando Resort

Another common question we receive is, is it cheaper to stay at Universal Orlando or Disney? And, we do find that Universal hotels are cheaper to book when planning your Orlando vacation. Very simply Universals value resort, the Universal Endless Summer Resort has rooms starting at $98 per night.  Not only that but we also do find that the premier Universal resorts are also cheaper than the Disney deluxe resorts.

The great news is these rooms will become even less expensive if you use all of the tips and tricks to pick the cheapest time to visit Universal found on this page. Including waiting and shopping for a Universal Orlando package deal for late August and early September.

How Can I Know the Cheapest Time of Year to go to Universal Studios?

If you’re looking for some money-saving tips for Universal Orlando, start with planning around the time frame. Using our Universal Crowd Calendar can help determine how busy the parks will be during a specific month, week, and even day. This reliable source will help break down crowd levels, park hours, and average weather. Our calendar helps by being the cheapest way to book Universal Studios Orlando tickets by showing the cheapest times. Since ticket prices change daily, the calendar will show the cost of a one-day ticket.

Related Page: Transportation from MCO to Universal Orlando 

2024 Cheapest Time of Year to Visit Universal Orlando FAQ

f-a-q

Q: Why does Universal close so early?

A: Another great way to spot some of the cheapest times to visit Universal Orlando is to pay attention to the park hours. The main reason is Universal will typically close the parks earlier during the off-season when they tend to be least busy. This could be another great tip to find some of the cheapest times to visit Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure.

When Is The Best Time To Visit Universal Orlando?

Our Universal Orlando Crowd Calendar is the best tool to help you get the most out of your time in the parks. We breakdown the park crowds, park hours of operation, ticket prices by day, and average temperature.

Are You Ready to Plan Your Next Universal Orlando Trip?

If you are planning a trip to Universal Orlando be sure to check out our discounted multi-day Universal Orlando tickets and Universal Orlando vacation package deals which include EARLY PARK ADMISSION to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter!

And to stay up to date on everything going on inside the theme parks be sure to check out our partners at Themeparktoday.com!

Michael Belmont

Michael Belmont is the owner at Theparkprodigy.com, an authorized Disney and Universal travel agent. He specializes in Disney and Universal theme park tickets and vacation packages, as well as daily park plans to help optimize vacation time. Michael and The Park Prodigy have been featured on ABC’s Florida affiliate, WTFV, as well as over 10 Disney focused blogs. As owner, Michael manages The Park Prodigy blog and social media, a Disney themed podcast, and a Disney and Universal focused YouTube channel. Prior to starting The Park Prodigy, Michael was a long time Disney and Universal enthusiast, frequent visitor of the parks, and even served as a Walt Disney World Cast Member in Orlando, Florida!