The Cheapest Way Visit Universal Orlando? (Under $3,000)

The Cheapest Way Visit Universal Orlando? (Under $3,000)

universal-studios-on-a-budget

The Cheapest Way Visit Universal Orlando? (Under $3,000)

This article is your complete guide on the cheapest way to visit Universal Studios Orlando! As a general rule of thumb, guests will want to make sure to book their Universal Orlando vacation as early as possible, stay at one of the Endless Summer value resorts, purchase Universal Orlando promotional tickets, or stay at the cheapest Universal Orlando signature collection resort to get the express passes for free! Of course, there are plenty of other tricks for saving money once on your vacation, such as getting groceries delivered to your hotel and bringing ponchos and other items from home, which we will cover below.

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!

SPECIAL NOTE: If you’re looking for the best time to visit Universal Orlando, check out our Universal Crowd calendar! 

Universal Orlando Crowd Calendar

What is the Cheapest Way to Visit Universal Orlando 2025?

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From our experience helping our clients book discount Universal Orlando tripsthe best way to do the parks on a budget is to always stay at one of the Universal Orlando value resorts, time your ticket purchase at the beginning of the year when Universal is most likely to release deals and promotions such as buy 2 days and get 2 days free and always bring items such as ponchos, sunscreen and anything else which you might use in the parks from home. For guests who might be booking official Universal Orlando Resort vacation packages, we would also suggest booking as early as possible, as availability is typically released in June of the previous year and this will allow you to lock in the cheapest rates possible. Pricing for Universal Orlando hotels and tickets will almost always go up in price and be the most expensive 30-60 days before your travel dates.

How to do Universal Cheap:

  • Best Universal Orlando hotel on a budget: Universal Endless Summer Dockside with rates starting below $100 per night
  • Cheapest Universal Epic Universe hotel: Universal Terra Luna Resort
  • Best Universal Orlando Resort tickets on a budget: Always ask if Universal is running a special promotion for theme park tickets or vacation package deals.
  • Cheapest Universal Orlando hotel with free Express Passes: Universal Royal Pacific Resort
  • Cheapest time to visit Universal Orlando Resort: September
  • The cheapest ticket for The Wizarding World of Harry Potter: One Day Park-to-Park ticket

Best Tips and Tricks when booking your Universal Orlando Resort trip

  • If you stay at Hard Rock Hotel, Loews Portofino Bay, or Loews Royal Pacific Resort, you will get the Universal Express Pass included in your Universal hotel stay.
  • Take advantage of seasonal deals such as 30% off on select Universal Orlando vacation packages
  • Book as early as possible to lock in pricing
  • Pick one of the slower times of year such as September, January or February to avoid the Express Pass
  • The more days you stay, the less you will pay per day on multi day tickets.
  • Stay at a hotel with free shuttle transportation to save on parking every day
  • Active and retired military service members, take advantage of special savings on Universal Orlando tickets with authorized military ticket.
  • Price out the Universal Orlando combo tickets when using the Express Pass for multiple days
  • Use points to book your hotel and purchase multi-day Universal Orlando tickets with The Park Prodigy to get early park admission

Best Tips and Tricks when visiting the parks

  • Get groceries delivered to your hotel or pick them up: Use an app like Instacart to get groceries delivered to your Universal hotel.
  • Bring your own snacks: To manage your budget further, consider bringing your own snacks. Universal allows you to bring food into the parks as long as it’s not in a cooler larger than 8x6x6 inches.
  • Bring items from home: Visit your local dollar tree or Amazon and pick up items such as ponchos, sunscreen, cooling towels etc from home to save money and not have to buy them in the parks.
  • Visit After 6 PM for Free Parking: One of the hidden gems for budget Universal Orlando is that parking is free after 6 PM. This can significantly reduce the cost of your trip to Universal Studios.
  • Invest in Refillable Snacks: Universal offers refillable snack options (popcorn buckets) that can be a cost-effective way to eat throughout the day and save money.
  • Look for freebies or cheap souvenirs: Keep an eye out for budget-friendly Universal Studios souvenirs or even freebies that might be available during special events or promotions like an “I’m Celebrating” button.
  • Share larger meals throughout the day: Share larger items throughout the day such as the meatball mountain at the minions cafe or chicken rib platter at Three Broomsticks.
  • Stop at Starbucks in the morning: Use your Starbucks app to purchase your coffees at the Universal Orlando hotel Starbucks locations. Universal Annual Passholders can use their UOAP discount.
  • Consider Universal Rewards card: Universal has a new credit card rewards system where you can earn points by making purchases at Universal Orlando Resort.

Related Post: Guide to Universal Refillable Cup

Sample Universal Orlando Budget 2025dark-universe

Budgeting for your Universal Orlando Resort vacation can be simple when you know all the charges. That’s why we’re here to help. Let’s take a look at a sample budget for a Universal Orlando value resort.

  • Endless Summer Dockside Hotel 4-night stay (4 adults) = $1,079 plus tax
  • 2-park, two days, one park per day for (4 adults) = $987.96 plus tax
  • Meals for four days = $1000.00

Looking to visit the new Universal Epic Universe theme park? Let’s look at a sample Epic Universe vacation package.

  • Universal Stella Nova Resort 4-night stay (4 adults) = $1,087 plus tax
  • 3-Day 2 Park Tickets One Park Per Day PLUS 1-Day Universal Epic Universe (4 adults) = $1,587.96 plus tax
  • Meals for four days = $1000.00

As we mentioned, by staying at Hard Rock Hotel, Loews Portofino Bay or Loews Royal Pacific, you will get the Universal Express Pass included in your stay. Here is a sample vacation package to ensure you get the express pass.

  • Loews Royal Pacific 4-night stay (4 adults) = $3,240 total plus tax
  • 2-Day 2 Park Tickets One Park Per Day PLUS 1-Day Universal Epic Universe (4 adults) = $1,523.96 plus tax
  • Meals for four days = $1000.00

Related post: How Much to Budget for The Wizarding World of Harry Potter 

Take Advantage of Free Universal Orlando Items

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Another way to do Universal Studios on a budget is to look out for any freebies being handed out in the parks. Some of our favorite moments from trips are the little, cheap Universal Studios souvenirs we were able to acquire during our visit.

Here are some of our favorite cheap or free Universal Studios souvenirs:

  • Celebration buttons
  • Stickers
  • Mardi Gras beads
  • Universal park tickets or brochures for scrapbooking
  • Themed food or drink containers
  • Pressed penny
  • Plastic ice cream cup from Wizarding World of Harry Potter ice cream shops
  • Plastic souvenir butterbeer cup
  • Exchange your U.S. currency for Gringotts bank notes

Related post: The Cheapest Time to Visit Universal Orlando

Universal Studios on a Budget FAQ

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Q: How much money should I take to Universal Studios Orlando?

A: If you are wondering how much money you should take to Universal Studios Orlando, that could change drastically depending on what you want to do. For a baseline, we suggest budgeting around $30 per adult per meal while in the parks and then an extra $100 per day for souvenirs. If you’re looking at a family of four for a four-day trip, we would recommend bringing about $2000 if you plan on eating and purchasing souvenirs in the parks!

Q: When is the cheapest time to go to Universal Studios?

A: The cheapest time to go to Universal Studios will be during the off-season, which is usually early November, late January and February, and August – September. This is typically when kids are back in school and on dates that aren’t near any major holidays or popular events.

Q: Is it cheaper to buy Universal Studios tickets online?

A: Another common question we receive is, is it cheaper to buy Universal Studios tickets online? And as a general rule, yes, it’s always cheaper to buy your Universal Orlando tickets online compared to the park gate. You can often find Universal Orlando deals online and this is true even if you decide to buy your tickets directly from Universal, as you will automatically save up to $10 per ticket by buying them in advance.

Q: Does Costco sell discounted Universal Studio tickets?

A: Yes, Costco Travel offers vacation packages to Universal Orlando that include theme park tickets, flights, hotels, and rental car options, but they don’t sell theme park tickets only.

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, 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!

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Nik Chapman

Nik Chapman is the executive editor and one of the main content creators for The Park Prodigy blog and social media pages. With a lifelong love for Disney and Universal, Nik immersed herself in the Orlando area for three years to fully indulge in the magic of the theme parks. In between going to the parks and creating content for The Park Prodigy, Nik also hosted a Disney themed podcast with her two best friends and helps run multiple Disney-themed social media accounts which help over one million people per year. Drawing from their experience as a local Florida resident, Nik brings a unique perspective to the world of theme parks.