Multi-day Universal Orlando tickets are cheaper than comparable Walt Disney World tickets, but if you're considering the trip from the perspective of re-allocating some days away from Walt Disney World to Universal Orlando, it's good to know that this cost differential is significant.
Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure are two of the most popular parks in Orlando, Florida. However, if money is tight or you are short on time, fortunately there is a way to visit both parks in one day without using Fast Pass or getting early access.
Find Tickets for Less
- Buy Your Tickets Ahead of Time. The simplest way to save on Universal Studios' prices for park entry is to buy your tickets before you get to the gate.
- Use Your AAA Membership to Your Advantage.
- Buy the Lowest-Tier Ticket and Upgrade Later.
- Shop Around Carefully.
Walt Disney World has the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney's Hollywood Studios, and Disney's Animal Kingdom. Universal Orlando Resort has Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure, and Volcano Bay. Many people get confused because both resorts have a studio-themed park.
That's the best of each Universal Orlando Resort theme park. As you can see, each has a different appeal. In years past, Universal Studios Florida has been tops in our book. But lately, Universal's Islands of Adventure is our favorite Universal Orlando Resort theme park.
Unfortunately, Universal Express Pass is worth the premium you pay. But to get in the shorter line you need a Universal Express pass which is between $179 to $269! That gets you in front of the line once for each ride and show. It was worth it.
1. Disney World's Magic Kingdom/Disneyland. Turns out the original parks — Disneyland Park and Disney World's Magic Kingdom — are still the best. Nearly three-quarters of visitors call these parks, which are almost identical to one another, excellent.
Mears Transportation Group offers shuttle service, which is a popular option for many families looking for transfers from Disney's on-property resorts to Universal Studios. Round trip transportation costs $21 per person (age 12+), $16 per child (age 3-11), and free for children under 3.
Keep in mind there are no “weight restrictions” on any of Universal's theme-park attractions; instead, it comes down to how your unique body dimensions fit inside each ride's restraint system. Two people may weigh the same, but one will fit and the other will not – which is why the test seats are so important.
City Walk is more of an entertainment complex. It is somewhere to go for a meal and drinks. Disney Springs is more of a shopping complex even though they do have restaurants, bars, and a movie theater.
Disney World to Universal Resort Orlando or Elsewhere
The easiest option is to get a taxi from outside your hotel. Expect to pay $50-$60 each way. Perhaps not quite as easy but cheaper is catching an Uber or Lyft. Uber & Lyft are both cashless taxi services.It really depends. Universal's Islands of Adventure has slightly more rides than shows, including more thrill rides, as opposed to Universal Studios Florida. Universal Studios Florida has plenty of thrills, but there are slightly more shows and kid-friendly attractions.
Truth be told, you do pay a premium to stay onsite, mostly because of a number of perks afforded to guests of Walt Disney World and the convenience of staying so close to the parks. You can find cheaper rooms for sure offsite- or at least more room for the same money, but it's a trade-off.
Option #1: Shuttle Service
Mears Transportation Group offers shuttle service, which is a popular option for many families looking for transfers from Disney's on-property resorts to Universal Studios. Round trip transportation costs $21 per person (age 12+), $16 per child (age 3-11), and free for children under 3.You can go to Universal in the middle of your vacation to break up your Disney days; you get to enjoy the “Disney Bubble” every night of your vacation; and, depending on where you stay, it may be cheaper to stay at a Disney World hotel than to stay at Universal.
Park Hopper (visit both parks each day):
| Ticket Type | Ages 10+ | Ages 3-9 |
|---|
| 1-Day Park Hopper Ticket (Tier 3) | $179 | $172 |
| 1-Day Park Hopper Ticket (Tier 4) | $194 | $187 |
| 1-Day Park Hopper Ticket (Tier 5) | $209 | $201 |
| 2-Day Park Hopper Ticket | $290 | $275 |
Prices at both parks vary based on the demand previously recorded for each day of the year. At Universal Studios Hollywood, the price for a ticket booked online is $119 for high-demand days, up from $116. The price for regular days went up to $114, from $110, while prices on low-demand days rose to $109, from $105.
8 Hotels Near Disneyland with Free Shuttles or No Transport Needed
- Hyatt Regency Orange County. Credit: hyatt.com.
- Sheraton Park Hotel at the Anaheim Resort.
- Disney's Paradise Pier Hotel.
- Disneyland Hotel.
- Anaheim Desert Inn and Suites.
- The Candy Cane Inn.
- Days Inn and Suites Anaheim at Disneyland Park.
- Grand Californian.
Ticket is not transferable and is valid only during regular theme park hours. Ticket specifically EXCLUDES admission to special or separately ticketed events at either of Universal Orlando® theme parks or within any of Universal CityWalk® venues. Tickets must be claimed within 30 days from first travel date.
While Disneyland remains the most popular in influence and attendance, Disney's California Adventure makes a really excellent option as well, offering all the Disney fun you'd expect at any Disney theme park!
You could see the whole park in half a day, so disappointed I bought a season pass (which I did before I went). Great day we chose the VIP tour. It is well worth the money although a little expensive. This is a great theme park.
The distance between Hollywood Sign and Disneyland is 32 miles.
Along with 20th Century Fox and Paramount, Universal was one of the most important “outlaw” film studios in the early history of film, a decisive force in making Hollywood the center of American movies — and in making the United States a center of world cinema.
As a result of the theme park snub, Disney has been trying to expand its Disneyland Parks around the world to feature new attractions. So, to recap, Disney does not own the rights to the Harry Potter films or the rest of the Wizarding World franchise.
Universal Studios Hollywood is a film studio and theme park in the San Fernando Valley area of Los Angeles County, California. About 70% of the studio lies within the unincorporated county island known as Universal City while the rest lies within the city limits of Los Angeles, California.
The Universal Studios theme park in Florida celebrates past and present movie hits with a series of rides and attractions. Typical costs: One-day tickets to Universal Studios Orlando[1] cost $88 for adults and $82 for children. A family of four can expect to pay about $340.
Universal has chosen to close early during off season; if they didn't they would be out of business because their expenses would exceed their income in off peak months. Supply, demand, capitalism. It's our system in the US.
