How to Choose Your Universal Orlando Park Tickets
When is your first day in the Universal Orlando parks?
Universal Orlando has date-based pricing. This means the price you pay will be higher or lower depending on when you visit.
If you want to get an idea of projected crowd levels, take a look at the pricing around your planned travel dates. High prices (upwards of $139 for a one-day one-park ticket) are an indication that you’ll be there on one of the busiest days of the year. Conversely, a lower price (one-day one-park tickets currently bottom out at $109) indicates low crowds.
If your dates are flexible, or you’re just starting your planning, you can choose a start date for your park touring on a less expensive (ergo less crowded) day. Sometimes just moving your vacation by a day or two can save money and make touring easier.
There is also an option to buy a ticket with no date attached. This is called a Flex Ticket. Flex tickets are priced at the highest-end price-point, but they do allow you to use them anytime within a year of purchase.
Should you add Universal Express?
The next step after choosing your number of days, number of parks, and start date for your tickets is to decide if you’d like to add Universal Express Pass.
Express Pass is an add-on to your ticket that allows you skip the regular line on almost every attraction at Universal Orlando. It is an incredibly powerful tool in maximizing your time on rides while minimizing time in line.
There are two types of Express Pass: standard and unlimited. A standard Express Pass allows a guest to skip the line once per day on each participating attraction. An Unlimited Express Pass allows a guest to skip the line an unlimited number of times per day on each attraction.
If you’re familiar with Disney’s FastPass system, Express Pass is similar, but there are a few major differences. First, Express Pass doesn’t have any specific time constraints. Guests can use the Express entrance to any attraction at any time during the day. Secondly, Express Pass is not free.
Depending on the type of Express Pass you choose and when you’ll be visiting, the cost can range from about $60 all the way up to $260 per day! In spite of this fact, I believe an Express Pass can be well worth the investment, especially on a high-crowd day.
You can purchase an Express Pass at the time you purchase your park ticket, or you can add it later – even once you’ve entered the park.
Stay on-site, get free Unlimited Express
One of the best tips in Orlando is that if you stay in Universal’s Portofino Bay, Hard Rock, or Royal Pacific resorts, you will receive a free Unlimited Express Pass for the duration of your stay. Considering the price of these passes, it almost always makes sense to choose one of these hotels – even just for a one-night stay.
I discuss the benefits of Express Pass and the calculations around staying at the Portofino Bay, Hard Rock, or Royal Pacific in detail in this post. Be sure to read it if you are considering getting Express for your time in the Universal parks.
