How Much Is It To Visit Universal Orlando?

How Much Is It To Visit Universal Orlando?

Where to Buy Harry Potter Robe

How Much Is It To Visit Universal Orlando?

This article is your guide to the question how much does it cost to go to Universal Studios in 2024?  We typically recommend about $200 per person per day for Universal Studios costs, or around $4,820 for a family of 4 planning to stay for 4 days! But, we’ve put this article together to help you come up with the average cost to go to Universal Studios in 2024, which will include your Universal Orlando tickets, hotel room, and daily meals.

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 answer the question, how much is Universal Studios?…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

How Much Does a Universal Orlando Vacation Cost in 2024?

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Planning your adventure to Universal Orlando Resort? A family of four can expect to budget around $4,820+ for a magical four-day stay, encompassing park tickets to Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure, and even Volcano Bay if you choose, as well as 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 memorabilia you decide to take home. Whether you’re riding the movies, exploring magical lands, or making a splash, we’ve broken down the costs to help you plan a trip that’s as unforgettable as it is budget-friendly

The Basics of Budgeting a Universal Orlando Trips

  • Park Tickets: A crucial expense is the 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, park-to-park ticket starts at about $285 per adult and $275 per child, with prices subject to change based on seasonality.
  • Accommodations: Staying at an on-site hotel like Cabana Bay Beach Resort offers benefits such as early park admission and complimentary transportation. The cost for a moderate stay at Cabana Bay for a family of four can average around $150 to $250 per night, depending on the season and room type.
  • Food and Dining: Universal Orlando Resort hosts a variety of dining options from quick service to full-service restaurants across its theme parks and CityWalk. Budget 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.
  • 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.
  • Travel and Miscellaneous: 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 photo packages.

Sample Budget for a Family of Four (2 adults, 2 children) for 4 Days:

  • Park Tickets: $560 (adult) + $550 (child) x 2 = $2,220 (based on average park-to-park ticket prices)
  • Accommodations: $200 x 4 nights = $800 (Moderate Stay at Cabana Bay Beach Resort)
  • Food and Dining: $300 x 4 days = $1,200 (mix of quick-service and sit-down dining)
  • Merchandise: $300 (a few souvenirs per person)
  • Travel and Miscellaneous: Budget at least $300+, varying greatly based on mode of transportation and miscellaneous expenses.

Total Estimated Budget: $4,820+ (excluding major travel costs to Orlando) for a family of 4.

This guide aims to help you plan a financially savvy trip to Universal Orlando Resort, ensuring a balance of adventure and affordability.

Related page: Best Deals and Promotions on Universal Orlando Hotel Packages 

How Much Are Tickets to Universal Studios 2024?

Harry Potter Ride Islands of Adventure

The average cost of a one-day, one-park ticket at Universal Studios Orlando currently stands at $134 for adults and $129 for kids. This is a critical factor in understanding the overall Universal Studios Orlando cost. It’s worth noting that Universal Orlando tickets are date-based, meaning the specific date or start date you choose will affect the Universal Studios costs you incur.

Fortunately, Universal Orlando excels in offering pricing information well in advance, aiding in the planning process. This allows you to start exploring the Universal Studios Florida cost and Universal Studios tickets cost up to a year ahead of time. By having this foresight, you can effectively plan and budget for your visit, ensuring that your Universal Orlando experience remains both enjoyable and financially manageable.

Guests can also bundle their Universal Orlando tickets with an on-site Universal Orlando hotel, which starts at less than $99 per night for the cheapest prices possible.

How much are Universal Studios tickets in 2024?

For one adult, your ticket will cost:

  • 1 park, 1 day: $109-159
  • 2 parks, 1 day: $164-214
  • 2 parks, 2 days: $111-176 per day

For one child, your ticket will cost:

  • 1 park, 1 day: $104-154
  • 2 parks, 1 day: $159-209
  • 2 parks, 2 days: $110-171 per day

A family of 4, your tickets will cost:

  • 1 park, 1 day: $518-626
  • 2 parks, 1 day: $738-846
  • 2 parks, 2 days: $1099 – 1383

Below, we’ll explain your options so you can figure out the Universal Orlando admission price that will apply during your vacation.

Related Page: The Cheapest Universal Orlando Ticket Prices

How Much Do Universal Studios Tickets Cost – 1 Day, 1 Park in 2024?

So, what is the cost of 1 day-1 park Universal Studios tickets? Universal Studios offers a variety of ticket options to suit different budgets and itineraries. For a single day of adventure, you can choose a one-day, one-park ticket. Prices typically range from $110 to $135 for adults and $105 to $130 for children, depending on the season. If you plan to spend more time exploring the parks, multi-day tickets provide better value. Starting around $215 for adults and $210 for children, these tickets allow you to enjoy the Universal Studios experience over multiple days, immersing yourself in all the excitement and attractions the park has to offer.

  • Adults – $109 – $159
  • Children – $104 – $154

If you are only visiting one park, the one-day ticket price for Universal Studios Orlando 2024 for an adult starts at $109 and goes all the way up to $159  (tax not included). A child’s ticket is $5 lower, from $104-154 (tax not included). As a note – a child’s ticket only applies to children 3-9 years old.

Related Article: The Best Time to Visit Universal Orlando

How Much Do Universal Tickets Cost: Park-to-Park Option

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If you want to see both parks in one day, your best option is to purchase a Universal park-to-park ticket. Adults will pay between $164 and $214 (plus tax), and children will pay $159 to $209 (plus tax). For Harry Potter fans, this gives you the chance to ride the Hogwarts Express from park to park. So how much is it to go to Universal Studios in 2024 and Islands of Adventure on the same day? Like above, it depends on when you go.

How Much Are Tickets To Harry Potter World Orlando?

The other big question most people have about visiting Universal is the price of visiting the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. You’re in luck! The Harry Potter world cost is included in your ticket. Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure each have their own Wizarding World within the park. Once you’ve paid the admission cost to Universal Studios Orlando, you’re all set to enjoy the Harry Potter world, too.

Related post: How Much Should I Budget for the Wizarding World of Harry Potter?

How Much Would it Cost to Stay at a Universal Orlando Hotel?

how-much-does-it-cost-to-go-to-universal-studios

The Universal Orlando hotels start at $99 and can go up to as high as $500 for a Premier 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 Cabana Bay Beach Resort, which is always a win for big families who want to visit Volcano Bay.

Prices of onsite Universal Orlando Hotels:

Prime:

  • Endless Summer (Dockside and Surfside) – Starting at $99 /night

Prime Value:

  • Universal Adventura – Starting at $145 /night
  • Cabana Bay Beach Resort – Starting at $145 /night

Preferred

  • Loews Sapphire Falls Resort – Starting at $222 /night

Premier (Free Express Pass Included) hotels:

  • Loews Royal Pacific Resort – Starting at $337 /night
  • Hard Rock Hotel – $386 /night
  • Loews Portofino Bay – $393 /night

What are the perks of staying at a Universal Orlando hotel?

All of the Universal Orlando hotels offer:

When you consider the Universal ticket prices (Orlando), getting into the park for an hour adds real value to staying at the resort. During that extra hour, only hotel guests are at the parks, meaning you’ll have shorter waits for rides and will get more out of your day.

Related Page: Which Universal Orlando Hotels Include Express Passes?

How Much Does Universal Studios Cost: Dining Options

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Before we discuss the dining options below, Universal has put its dining plan on hold for the time being. We will continue to keep this page updated as more information is released. Now that we’ve answered your main budget concern – how much does it cost to get into Universal Studios? – it’s time to look at other areas of your budget. So, one of the next biggest concerns families have is how much they should budget for food at Universal Studios in 2024.

For a family of four, we recommend planning for at least $60 for a quick service type meal and around $100 for a sit-down meal.

When you’re at the theme park all day, food can be a big part of your Universal Studios trip cost. You aren’t allowed to bring food into the park (with some exceptions, such as baby food or small snacks). And there are plenty of dining options on-site, so it will depend on where and what you eat.

Unfortunately, one of our favorite cost-saving dining options, the Universal Dining Plan, has not returned yet. However we would say it’s still absolutely possible to budget for meals throughout the parks and also some ways to take advantage of some discounts.

Universal Dining Budget

  • Price per adult: $22.00 per person, per meal
  • Price per child: $15.00 per person,  per meal

Universal refillable Coke Freestyle Cups

Another way to save money is to try out the Universal refillable mugs. We love the refillable mugs so much that we have an entire article outlining these budget-friendly theme park drink options.

The Universal Coca-Cola Freestyle price is:

  • 1 Coke Freestyle cup – $17.99 plus tax

After you purchase your Universal Studios refillable cup, you can take it to any participating location and pay $1.49 for a beverage refill. The $1.49 can be used on soft drinks, but you can also receive a discount on other Universal beverages like Iced lemonade, tea, and slushies. Just note that the discount price may change depending on the beverage, and the only thing that is $1.49 is soda.

Related post: Guide to Travelling From Orlando International Airport to Universal Orlando

How Much Does The Wizarding World of Harry Potter Cost?

how-much-budget-for-harry-potter-world

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, as opposed to 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

Cost of Universal Orlando FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How much does it cost to go to Universal Studios?

A: The cost of visiting Universal Studios varies depending on ticket type, time of year, and additional experiences. One-day, one-park tickets range from $110 to $135 for adults and $105 to $130 for children. Multi-day tickets start around $215 for adults and $210 for children. Park-to-Park tickets, allowing access to Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure, range from $170 to $195 for adults and $165 to $190 for children.

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 break down 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!