Did you know Universal Orlando had gift cards? Various types are offered. Could these help with your vacation?

 

Universal Orlando Resort continues to grow as a significant theme park vacation destination. While often still in the shadow of Walt Disney World Resort, Universal Orlando Resort stands to cut into the tourism market more when Universal Epic Universe theme park opens in 2025. With a third Wizarding World of Harry Potter area opening along with Super Nintendo attractions, Universal Epic Universe will draw a crowd.

Those crowds will spend money on admission, merchandise, food and beverage, and hotels. Universal Orlando has all of this and more. Would purchasing Universal Orlando gift cards help with your planned vacation? This article will supply as much current information as possible about using and acquiring these, including their various deals.

Universal Orlando Resort

Universal Orlando Resort has become a full-fledged theme park vacation destination. When it opened in 1990, it was one barely surviving theme park, Universal Studios Florida, but it has grown to much more. With two theme parks, a water park, eight hotels, and CityWalk, the entertainment and dining complex, Universal Orlando Resort has emerged as a vacation destination all on its own.

With Universal Orlando Resort’s presence increasing with Universal Epic Universe’s opening in 2025, many people are looking for ways to help plan their vacation budgets. An Orlando area vacation, like everything in life, can be expensive. Of course, if there were a way to save a little money, everyone would love that, right? Universal Orlando Resort gift cards can help meet those objectives.

Universal Orlando Resort Gift Cards: The Basics

Universal Orlando Resort gift cards look and work similarly to gift cards from other companies. They work like cash at participating locations, never expire, and do not have maintenance or usage fees. Depending on where you purchase the gift cards, they range from $10 to $500.

Universal Orlando Resort gift cards are only in physical form. Those who are used to using online gift cards at their favorite stores and adding them to their online payment wallet will be unable to do that. Also, Universal Orlando Resort gift cards cannot be used online to make purchases.

These gift cards can be used at almost all locations within the Universal Orlando Resort. However, a few third-party points of sale do not accept them. Guests can use these Universal Orlando Resort gift cards for hotel stays. Nevertheless, you cannot pre-pay for your hotel stay with them. Still, we have paid for entire week-long stays using Universal Orlando gift cards. You pay when you check in with them.

Those looking for a unique gift card design will enjoy these. Guests can find gift cards with a design featuring their favorite character or attraction found at Universal Orlando. Standard designs on the gift cards include Harry Potter, Transformers, Minions, Spider-Man, The Hulk, Suess, and Simpsons characters. Also, many other properties like Jurassic Park, Shrek, and The Grinch will have gift cards for guests to buy.

Where Can I Buy Universal Orlando Gift Cards?

Unlike many prominent companies, Universal Orlando Resort gift cards are difficult to find in brick-and-mortar locations. The easiest way to acquire them besides in-person at the theme park resort is online. In fact, we find buying them online very easy.

The Universal Orlando Resort website makes getting gift cards simple. As a bonus, the physical gift cards will be mailed to your address for free via standard shipping. Yes, you can buy all the gift cards you want with free shipping.

Now, you may want to purchase Universal Orlando Resort gift cards in person at a local store. For reasons we fail to understand, the pattern of where interested parties can purchase Universal Orlando Resort gift cards at brick-and-mortar stores is limited. Your chances of finding these gift cards sold at a local store increase exponentially the closer you get to Orlando.

Still, we have purchased Universal Orlando Resort gift cards in Massachusetts, Missouri, and Illinois. It never hurts to look around when you see a gift card display. The most likely stores to find Universal Orlando Resort gift cards are places like Target, Publix, and Kroger. We have heard of other places, but those are rare, and the product arrives for a limited time. Also, we have seen these at warehouse membership stores like Sam’s Club and Costco. However, that does not happen often.

Why Buy Universal Orlando Resort Gift Cards?

Now that we have explored the basics of Universal Orlando Resort gift cards, this leads to a critical question. Why buy these anyway? We suggest two good reasons. Of course, you may find more. Our two main reasons for purchasing Universal Orlando Resort gift cards are:

1. Budget control
2. Savings opportunities

Budget Control

We all like to save money. Vacations can be expensive. More significantly, money will often appear to fly out of your bank account at theme parks. We realize that does not really happen. Still, sometimes it feels that way.

Now, imagine you have hungry teens and tweens to feed at a theme park resort. Gift cards can provide a way to set a budget in advance. Using the teens and tweens example, you can let them use the gift cards you provide in advance to pay for their meals. In fact, if you trust them enough, you could let them wander off to eat where they want with no fear of them going over budget since they have a gift card. We see this strategy used often at Universal Orlando Resort.

Of course, guests can use a similar strategy to help budget their vacation money. Universal Orlando Resort gift cards can be purchased in advance and used to pay for items at the theme park resort. In doing so, guests find relief in paying with gift cards and not adding to the credit card bill.

Saving Money with Universal Orlando Resort Gift Cards

There are ways to save guests money by buying Universal Orlando Resort gift cards. We will suggest a few options. In all cases listed below, guests who pay for a gift card receive a discount or complimentary merchandise. Some savings examples involve a gift card only valid for merchandise or food and beverage. We have divided these examples into four categories:

1. Discount from buying at a brick-and-mortar operation
2. Mardi Gras Food and Beverage Promotion
3. Merchandise-only Promotions
4. Hotel Package Dining Cards

The gift card promotions featured in this resource section can change, and many are available only on a seasonal basis. However, these options can be beneficial if you visit Universal Orlando during certain times of the year. Still, we will start with an everyday choice for gift card savings that is common.

Everyday Discounts on Gift Cards

A common way to buy gift cards to save money is to visit stores like Target, Sam’s Club, Kroger, and Publix. Guests with memberships or participation in the store’s reward programs often save money buying them at these locations. For example, customers buying Universal Orlando Resort gift cards (or any gift card for that matter) using the Target Red Card receive a 5% discount. Other options involve customers getting gas rewards or other perks when purchasing.

Of course, several online sites sell Universal Orlando Resort. These may offer discounts that help you save money on your vacation.

Mardi Gras Food and Beverage Gift Cards

In recent years, Universal Orlando has offered discounted food and beverage-only gift cards during the resort’s Mardi Gras season. The Mardi Gras celebration happens in the late winter and early spring, with Universal Studios Florida as the festival’s primary location. We love the Mardi Gras season at Universal Orlando Resort. There exist many reasons to visit during that time of year. In 2025, this event runs from February 1 until March 30.

In fairness, we do not know the specifics regarding the Mardi Gras promotion for upcoming years. Nevertheless, we anticipate this seasonal promotion happening again.

Guests purchasing these gift cards receive sizable discounts on Mardi Gras food and beverage locations and almost all dining locations inside the theme parks, Volcano Bay, and Universal CityWalk Orlando. The Mardi Gras gift cards may not be used at the Universal Orlando Resort hotels or on anything besides food and beverages from dining locations.

Based on previous years, a $75 gift card can be purchased for $65. Also, annual passholders could buy a $150 gift card for $120. These gift cards never expire. However, they can only be purchased during the Mardi Gras event. In addition, annual passholders can still use their food and beverage discount of up to 15% when using these gift cards.

The Mardi Gras gift cards and the top annual pass discount used together would save guests a little over 30% on food and beverages. Once again, we cannot guarantee this program will happen during your visit, but most indicators lean towards this program occurring again.

Universal Merchandise-only Card Promotions

A more common promotion relates to a merchandise-only version. For several years now, Universal Orlando’s main stores have sold special merchandise-only gift cards. People purchasing these also received a non-interactive Wizarding World of Harry Potter wand with them.

At the time of writing, guests must purchase a $300 merchandise-only gift card to receive a complimentary non-interactive (will not activate spell station in Wizarding World areas of the theme parks) wand. In addition, another current promotion involves buying a $500 merchandise-only version, which includes a complimentary wand and a few other items.

This promotion can end anytime, but we expect it to last a while. Guests planning to spend significantly on Universal Orlando merchandise should consider this gift card offer. Once again, it is merchandise-only, so it cannot be used for food, beverages, hotels, and tickets, for example.

Hotel Packages at Universal Orlando Resort

Universal Orlando Resort and Loews Hotels offer many vacation packages. Many of them are close to the Universal Orlando theme parks. Infrequently, they offer packages that include Universal Orlando Resort gift cards. A recent example consists of a package that gives guests a complimentary gift card for food and beverages up to $1000. The current promotion is available for purchase for select travel dates from November 7, 2024, through April 10, 2025. Your Universal Family Vacation travel specialist can help you determine if a package like this is available when you plan to visit.

When is Your Next Universal Orlando Resort Vacation?

No matter when your next Universal Orlando Resort vacation occurs, the Universal Family Vacations staff can help you plan it fee-free. Whether it is in 2025, when Universal Epic Universe opens, or before, their services are free to you. They can help with vacation packages that might save you money, like the ones with gift cards. Happy vacation planning!