How Much Does It Cost to Visit Universal Orlando? Tips and the Epic Addition in 2025

Guests looking to enjoy a vacation at Universal Orlando Resort have plenty to look forward to. How much does It cost to visit Universal Orlando Resort?

Universal Orlando Resort has become a premier destination for theme park devotees. From the Wizarding World of Harry Potter to the thrilling roller coasters, the resort has been a leader in providing immersive experiences for guests. Now, the resort is preparing to take its Orlando area theme park offerings to the next level with the highly anticipated Universal Epic Universe theme park.

Universal Orlando Resort will become a more attractive vacation destination in May 2025 with the addition of this third theme park, Universal Epic Universe. It will be the first major theme park to open in the Orlando area since Universal Islands of Adventure opened in 1999.

In fairness, other theme parks have been built since 1999 in the Orlando area. SeaWorld Parks opened Discovery Cove in 2000. Legoland Florida, in Winter Haven, opened in 2011. Along with Legoland Florida, Peppa Pig Theme Park opened in 2022. A smaller amusement park, Fun Spot America – Kissimmee, opened in 2007. However, none of those count as full-fledged major theme parks. For example, Legoland Florida is great, but primarily targets younger families. Discovery Cove makes for a magnificent day spa experience but is not considered a complete theme park. Based on that, Universal Epic Universe will be a gigantic addition to the Orlando area theme park landscape.

Universal Volcano Bay Clarification

Universal Orlando Resort contains arguably the best water park in the Orlando area, Universal Volcano Bay. However, Universal Orlando Resort claims that Volcano Bay counts as the third theme park. You will notice that we referred to Universal Epic Universe as the “third” theme park. We love Volcano Bay. This water park should be considered as you plan for the cost of a Universal Orlando vacation.

Nevertheless, people who drive their cars to the Universal Orlando parking garage before their theme park day know that Volcano Bay is a great water park but should be considered a water park. When guests enter the parking toll booth to visit Universal Orlando Resort, the Universal Orlando Resort team members ask a telling question. That question is, “Are you going to the theme parks or Volcano Bay today.” They ask this to determine where you should park in the parking garages. Still, even the Universal Orlando Resort team members do not consider Volcano Bay a major theme park. Thus, we stated that Universal Epic Universe, when it opens in May 2025, will make the third theme park at Universal Orlando Resort.

Universal Orlando Resort Basics

Universal Orlando Resort currently offers guests two theme parks, Universal Studios Florida and Universal Islands of Adventure, along with its water park, Volcano Bay, eight hotels, and an entertainment district called Universal CityWalk Orlando. However, in 2025, a brand-new theme park and three more hotels will open for guests to enjoy.

Universal Orlando enjoys being owned by NBCUniversal, which functions as part of the Comcast Company. In addition to internet technology, this group operates Peacock and NBC television networks.

Warning

 

We have a critical word of caution about terminology and ticket purchases for Universal Orlando Resort visitors. Some guests purchase incorrect ticket media for a day at Universal Orlando Resort. The typical online usage of the term “Universal Studios Orlando” leads to some of these issues. While we understand the use of this term for searching purposes, it often leads to confusion.

The title “Universal Studios Orlando” directly relates to nothing. No such place exists. Though this phrase appears online, no theme park property goes by that name. Remember, the two theme parks currently open at Universal Orlando Resort are Universal Studios Florida and Universal Islands of Adventure.  The entire resort is called Universal Orlando Resort.

Every week, we hear reports of guests showing up with tickets to Universal Studios Hollywood, thinking they bought tickets to a Hollywood-themed studio park in Orlando. The term “Universal Studios Orlando” usually leads to the confusion.

Confusion grows exponentially with Disney’s Hollywood Studios entertaining guests at Walt Disney World. We realize this sounds odd to some, yet ticket errors continue to happen based on team members’ reports in guest services at Universal Orlando Resort.

For the record, the tickets to Universal Studios Hollywood only work in California. In addition, Universal Orlando Resort cannot accept those tickets or extend a refund. This error would lead to a much higher price in the cost to visit Universal Orlando.  In all cases, the groups that bought tickets to visit the California theme park while planning a trip to Universal Orlando did not use a authorized travel advisor like Pixie Vacations.

Also, people sometimes buy one-day tickets to Universal Studios Florida theme park thinking they can visit Islands of Adventure, only to find out that information is false. When chatting with these guests at guest services, often the issue relates to thinking Universal Studios Orlando is the actual name of the resort. Universal Destinations and Experiences branded its theme parks poorly through many previous ownership groups. This poor branding leads to some confusion. When you purchase ticket media to Universal Orlando Resort, ensure you know the pertinent details before arriving. If not, your cost to visit Universal Orlando Resort could be much higher than expected.

Cost to Visit Universal Orlando: Tickets

Unless you have an annual pass, you will need a ticket to enter one of the Universal Orlando theme parks. The ticket price will vary depending on the length of your Universal Orlando Resort vacation.

Like at all the Orlando area theme parks, one-day tickets make the least financial sense. Universal Orlando tickets use variable pricing, so the price will vary depending on the time of year your group chooses to visit. If you plan only to visit one of the theme parks for a one-day ticket, expect to pay around $150. This price will vary up or down based on the season.

If you are looking to visit both theme parks in a single day, this is not difficult at Universal Orlando since the two current theme parks are so close to each other. Most days, when visiting Universal Orlando Resort, we walk from one theme park to another. However, the privilege of going from park to park in a single day will cost guests more. Park-to-park single-day tickets will cost guests around $200 per day.

When you start to price tickets for a group of four or more, that $200 or more price tag adds to your vacation cost very quickly. In fairness, all the Orlando area theme parks price their single-day tickets very high. This encourages guests to buy multi-day tickets or even annual passes. Guests buying multi-night tickets are far less likely to visit other theme parks during their vacation.

Fortunately, most Universal Orlando vacations will be more than just one day.  When Universal Epic Universal opens, even more theme park attractions will be available for guests to enjoy. With that, we expect pricing for multi-day tickets to increase. Not all ticket media options that include Universal Epic Universe have yet been released. Thus, visitors must wait a little longer for complete details when planning a vacation involving Universal Epic Universe theme park,

How Much Are Multi-Day Tickets to Universal Orlando Resort?

Most guests plan to enjoy several days of Universal Orlando fun. However, they will need multi-day tickets unless they buy annual passes, which can make financial sense if they visit the theme park for five or more days.

Due to variable pricing, multi-day ticket prices for Universal Orlando Resort vary depending on the number of days, type of access, and the time of year. The pricing will look something like this:

Two-Day Tickets:

• Single park access per day: $235–$338 (adults), $223–$339 (children 3–9 years old).
• Park-to-Park (allowing access to multiple parks in a single day): $293–$409 (adults), $283–$399 (children)​

Three-Day Tickets:

• Single park access per day: Pricing starts at $352 for adults, varying based on the dates selected
• Park-to-Park access tickets: These can cost around $412 or more ​

​Four and five-day tickets:

Guests should expect to pay around $400 per adult for single park access tickets and $480 for park-to-park access.

The final prices vary based on the dates selected and if Volcano Bay is included. However, Universal Orlando Resort often offers promotions allowing guests to pay for two or three days and get two (or more) free. The prices shown above look high. We suspect that the cost may be lower most of the time. Your travel expert at Universal Family Vacations can help if any ticket promotions are active.

Cost to Visit Universal Orlando: Hotels

When Universal Epic Universe opens in May 2025, Universal Orlando will have eleven “on-site” hotels, ranging from value levels to upscale hotels. Universal Orlando partners with Loews Hotels regarding its “on-site hotels,” and this partnership has been successful for the theme park resort.

When overall value is considered, the quality of hotels at Universal Orlando matches anything in the Orlando area. Guests with any budget can stay “on-site” at Universal Orlando.  For example, these are the starting prices for the hotels as you plan for the cost to visit Universal Orlando Resort.

Value Level:

• Universal’s Endless Summer Resort includes two sister hotels (Dockside Inn and Suites and Surfside Inn and Suites) with a starting price of $100/night.
• Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort starts at $145/night.

Prime Value Level

• Universal Aventura Hotel starts at $145 /night.
• Universal Stella Nova Resort starts at $134 /night.
• Universal Terra Luna Resort starts at $134 /night.

Signature Level with no Universal Unlimited Express Pass included:

• Loews Sapphire Falls Resort starts at $210 /night
• Universal Helios Grand Hotel starts at $390 /night

Signature Level with Universal Unlimited Express Pass included:

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

Obviously, your vacation expenses will vary based on which hotel you stay at and how long you stay there. Also, these are starting prices. If your group plans to visit during a busy week at Universal Orlando Resort, then expect to pay more. However, groups staying at one of the value or prime value hotels can make the vacation more affordable. For more information about these hotels, we have written other resources about them that might help:

• Why we love these eight Universal Orlando Hotels?
• Guide to Universal Orlando Hotels with Express Pass 

You Have to Eat, Right?

Universal Orlando presents guests with many dining options. They range from basic snack carts to full service dining. Your food and beverage expenses will be based on the style of dining you choose to take part in while at Universal Orlando.

Depending on how you dine on your vacation, we suggest budgeting between $50 and $70 per day for your meals. This can be lowered if you order groceries or bring them before arriving at Universal Orlando.

Universal Orlando offers refillable popcorn buckets and drink containers. You can use them to save money during your vacation. Also, during certain times of the year, a dining package may be offered for guests staying at Universal Orlando Resort hotels.

Are You Planning to Buy Souvenirs at Universal Orlando?

You should plan to buy some items at Universal Orlando Resort.  Prices vary depending on what you want to take home from your vacation. Either way, guests should plan to spend some money on merchandise at Universal Orlando Resort.

Average Cost for a Universal Orlando Resort Vacation for Four

This resource has covered some of the basic information needed to plan your vacation budget. A reasonable budget for most groups of four would be about $5000 for a four-to-five-day stay at Universal Orlando Resort. For all our price estimates, we have rounded up to build in some extra room for budget planning. Based on this, your group may be able to visit for less than our estimate. This should allow guests to visit the two theme parks and Volcano Bay. This estimated price assumes guests are buying park-to-park tickets, which allow guests to ride the Hogwarts Express between the two theme parks.

This estimated price assumes guests stay at one of the Value or Value Plus level hotels. Since all provide easy transportation to the theme parks, this makes for a leisurely time during a theme park vacation.

Of course, vacation budgets and preferences differ, so you may decide to stay at one of the Signature Collection hotels, which offer more luxury and amenities but increase your budget. We encourage guests to take an active role in deciding what works for their budget. Still, your travel advisor at Universal Family Vacations can help as much or as little as your group desires.

What About the Cost When Epic Universe Opens?

There will be more to do with a brand new theme park opening in the Orlando area. This will also mean that guests will pay a bit more for their Universal Orlando Resort vacation. The main price increase will be the cost of tickets and guests staying longer at Universal Orlando Resort.

Based on that, including the Universal Epic Universe theme park in your plans will increase the overall cost for a group of four by about $400. This price increase involves the ticket price increase and the expected additional time at Universal Orlando Resort. A safe estimate of $5500 for a group of four with some time at Epic Universe sounds right based on what we know at the time of writing. Not all ticket information has been released about this new theme park at this time.

Cost to Visit Universal Orlando: Universal Family Vacations Can Help

Are you still looking for more information about the cost of visiting Universal Orlando Resort? The trained staff at Universal Family Vacation can help you navigate the sometimes tricky path of budgeting your vacation.

In case you did not know, Universal Family Vacations’ travel advisors offer their services fee-free to guests looking to book vacations at Universal Orlando Resort. They receive payment from Universal Orlando Resort after your vacation is complete. The great news is that the service does not increase the cost of your vacation. We wish you a great vacation and hope you enjoy the planning phase, too!