This article is your guide to the question how much does it cost to go to Universal Studios Orlando! We typically recommend budgeting about $300 per person for one day for Universal Orlando tickets and food or around $3,555.30+ for a family of four planning to stay for three days!
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 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
From our experience helping our clients a family of four can expect to budget around $3,555.30+ for a four-day stay, encompassing park tickets to Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure, and even Volcano Bay if you choose, as well as hotel accommodations, dining, souvenirs, and various expenses like travel and parking. This guide offers a starting point for budgeting, with the understanding that actual expenses can fluctuate based on your travel dates, choice of on-site or off-site hotel, dining preferences, and the types of Universal Orlando souvenirs you decide to take home. You will also see that these numbers do not include any deals or promotions that Universal might be running throughout the year. It’s also important to note that Universal theme park tickets could change when the brand new park EPIC Universe opens which will include a new Harry Potter section and the very popular Super Nintendo World.
A crucial expense is park admission. Universal Orlando Resort offers tickets to Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure, and Volcano Bay. For a family wanting to explore both Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure, you’ll need park-to-park tickets to enjoy the flexibility of visiting multiple parks in a single day. A 4-day, 2-park base ticket starts at about $336.92 per adult and $326.90 per child, with prices subject to change based on seasonality. Below are the average 2025 prices for the most popular Universal Orlando ticket types to help you get an idea of how much you will spend on tickets.
As you can see, purchasing a base ticket is a way to save on tickets significantly. However, these base tickets don’t allow you the freedom and flexibility to hop between parks or ride the Hogwarts Express. We love Universal Orlando because of how close the parks are. Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure are right next to each other! That is why we always recommend the park-to-park ticket to get the full Universal experience.
Tickets to Epic Universe will look similar however you will only be able to visit Epic Universe for ONE day. Here is a look at the price for a 3-day ticket with 1 day at Epic Universe.
If you are looking to enhance your Universal Orlando vacation, you could purchase add ons like the Universal Express Pass, or maybe you’re visiting during Halloween Horror Nights and want to purchase a ticket for Orlando’s premier Halloween event. Below are some of the most common add ons for your Universal vacation to get an idea of the average cost.
The Universal Orlando hotels start at $99 and can go up to as high as $500 for a signature collection hotel. If you’re on a budget, we would recommend staying at a Value Resort like one of the Endless Summer hotels to keep costs down. There are also Prime Value family-friendly options like the new Stella Nova, which is always a win for big families who want to visit Epic Universe.
Value:
Prime Value:
Signature (No Express Pass Included):
Signature (Free Express Pass Included) hotels:
Universal Orlando Resort hosts a variety of dining options, from quick service to full-service restaurants across its theme parks and CityWalk. We recommend budgeting approximately $20-$40 per person per meal for a mix of dining experiences. Remember to include snacks and drinks in your budget, with prices varying widely based on preferences. However, you can also take advantage and save using the Universal refillable cup!
Merchandise and Souvenirs
From themed apparel to collectibles, merchandise expenses can vary. Budget $100 to $300 for souvenirs to ensure you can bring home a piece of the magic.
The cost of travel to Orlando, whether by plane, train, or car, and any associated rental car or parking fees should be considered. Additionally, plan for miscellaneous expenses such as locker rentals or Universal Orlando photo packages.
Epic Universe is opening up May 22, 2025, which means new tickets, new hotels, new rides and more! Our sample trip for a family of 4 is using the Stella Nova Resort hotel, a Prime Value hotel, and the new ticket pricing with Epic Universe attached!
Total cost for Universal Epic Universe trip: $5,047 (excluding flight and other major costs) for a family of 4
Related post: What are the New EPIC Universe Hotels?
As you will see below, the average cost for a trip to Universal Studios for a family of four is around $4,554.00. This would allow the family to visit all three of the Universal Orlando theme parks. It also includes the Universal Orlando park-to-park ticket to ride the Hogwarts Express, as well as four-night hotel accommodations at Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort, which is right in the middle of all of the action. As you can imagine, this budget might be different based on your own personal preferences and needs; however, we do believe it’s a great starting point. It’s also important to note that this budget does not include any discounted Halloween Horror Nights tickets, which is the very popular separate ticketed Halloween event in the parks, which runs from the end of August through October.
Total Estimated Budget: $3,555.30+ (excluding major travel costs to Orlando) for a family of 4.
SPECIAL PROMOTION: As a way to help all members of our Universal Orlando Community out as much as possible, we will be running a promotion on all new Universal vacation packages booked through our small business! For a limited time, we will be giving our clients an extra $75.00 off their next Universal Orlando vacation package, which can be combined with any promotion that Universal is also running. Email Mike@theparkprodigy.com and let him know you would like to take advantage of this deal!
Related page: Best Deals and Promotions on Universal Orlando Hotel Packages
The estimated cost of a visit to Harry Potter World is approximately $1,260 for four adults with 2-park-to-park tickets. This allows for a full day of exploration in Hogsmeade and another day in Diagon Alley. While this may be slightly higher compared to other online budgets, it includes the park-to-park option at an additional $60 per person.
This is necessary to ride the iconic Hogwarts Express, an absolute must-do for any Harry Potter fan. On the other hand, families planning a budget-friendly trip to Harry Potter World may only require a two-night hotel stay instead of the typical three or four nights for a comprehensive visit to Universal Orlando. We do have an entire guide budgeting out a trip to the Wizarding World, which you can read right here!
Related post: Complete Guide to Butterbeer at Universal Studios Parks
A: We typically recommend budgeting about $300 per person for one day for Universal Orlando tickets and food or around $3,555.30 for a family of four planning to stay for three days!
A: You can buy a 1-day ticket to Universal Orlando. You will have 2 options – a 1-Day base ticket will allow you into just one of the parks – Universal Studios Florida or Islands of Adventure. However, a 1-Day, Park-to-Park ticket will allow you into both parks in just 1 day as well as ride on the Hogwarts Express.
A: Standard parking at Universal Orlando costs $32. Universal also offers prime parking, valet parking, and additional upgrades for a higher cost.
Our Universal Orlando Crowd Calendar is the best tool to help you get the most out of your time in the parks. We break down the park crowds, park hours of operation, ticket prices by day, and average temperature.
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!