22 Hidden Ways to Save Money at Universal Orlando

A trip to Universal Orlando is incredible. However, it can also be very expensive.

I’ve been visiting Universal Orlando for over a decade. I’ve visited the resort as a broke student, graduate, new parent and fully fledged adult – well, sort of…

*21-Year-old me, visiting Universal Orlando in 2015.*

As such, I know first-hand the various ways you can save money on a trip to Universal Orlando.

Not all of these ideas, hints and tips will be suitable for your trip. However, I’ve included as many as I’ve used and can think of so you can pick out a handful that you find best.

1. Buy Your Theme Park Tickets in Advance

One of the best and easiest ways to save time and money at Universal Orlando is to buy your park tickets in advance. There are two benefits to doing this:

You can spend the time comparing different ticket options
You can get straight into the park than going to Will Call

Pro Tip: Getting into the Universal Orlando parks early is important since the first few hours are the best for low wait times.

2. Look for Theme Park Ticket Discounts

Universal Orlando park tickets will be among the most expensive items you buy for your vacation. As such, it’s worth shopping around to save money.

Universal Orlando theme park ticket discounts are rare, but they do happen. There are two places you can look for discounts:

Universal Orlando website
Licensed third-party Universal Orlando ticket retailers

Remember, if you see tickets for Universal Orlando at prices too good to be true, they probably are. Scams and timeshare tours are common, so be wise when buying tickets online.

If you’re from the UK, I recommend buying your tickets from AttractionTix. I’ve used AttractionTix for over a decade for all of my Universal and Disney theme park tickets.

If you live in the US or Canada, I recommend buying Universal Orlando park tickets from Undercover Tourist. Unless you’re a Florida resident, in which case you’ll want to get a Florida resident ticket directly from Universal Orlando.

3. Stay In a Signature Collection for Free Express Passes

If you only have one or two days at Universal Orlando, you won’t be able to do everything without an Express Pass. But a Universal Express Pass starts at $180 plus tax.

However, guests staying in selected Signature Collection hotels on-site at Universal Orlando get Universal Express Unlimited passes for free.

This covers all guests staying at the hotel and includes the day of check-in and check-out. As a result, staying in an eligible Signature Collection hotel is often the cheapest way to get a Universal Express Pass.

4. Bring Your Own Food & Drinks

The cost of food and drink at Universal Orlando can be high. Therefore, bringing your own food and drink is another great way to save money.

Outside food and drink is permitted at Universal Orlando. However, bringing it all into the park can be hard work, requiring more prep and larger bags. As such, I often compromise and bring smaller snacks and water bottles.

This saves me some money on food and drink at Universal, but it doesn’t significantly increase the amount I have to carry around the parks. Plus, it means we can still experience some of Universal’s themed food options.

5. Invest in a Refillable Cup

No matter how strict my Universal Orlando budget is, I always buy a refillable cup.

Universal Freestyle Cups cost $18.99 and provide unlimited drink refills throughout the day. You can also bring your cup back with you in the future and reactivate it for $10.99.

For comparison, a Coke costs $5.50, so you only need to buy three drinks for the cup to be worth the money.

6. Eat Breakfast Before You Visit

I’ve visited Universal Orlando more than 50 times but never had breakfast in any of the theme parks.

Having breakfast before you arrive at Universal is one of the best and easiest ways to save money on your trip. It can also help you save a lot of time inside the parks.

That’s because the first hour after the theme park opens is the quietest it will be all day. This is the best time to go on some of Universal Orlando’s most popular rides without waiting in long lines – I’m looking at you, Hagrid’s.

Therefore, the last thing you want to do after getting into the theme park is get breakfast. That being said, when it comes to breakfast, you have two options:

Eat breakfast at your hotel
Grab breakfast en-route

The option you choose will depend on several factors and may not be the same every day of your trip. However, in every scenario, you’ll spend less than you would have had you had breakfast inside the Universal Orlando Resort.

Pro Tip: Consider saving even more money by staying in a hotel that offers a free breakfast buffet.

9. Look At Ubers & Lyfts Instead of Car Hire

The cost of hiring a car in Orlando is significantly increasing year on year. This includes:

The car rental itself
Gas prices
Toll prices
Parking

While having a car offers increased flexibility, it’s often now a lot cheaper to use Uber or Lyft instead.

Pro Tip: Staying on-site at Universal Orlando means you’ll get free transport to and from the theme parks.

10. Get Savvy With Your Souvenirs

There are some fantastic Universal Orlando souvenirs available. However, merch inside Universal Orlando can be expensive, and not all souvenirs are created equal.

As such, I suggest researching the best things to buy at Universal Orlando in advance and budgeting for those items accordingly.

I’ve spent over $1,000 on souvenirs at Universal Orlando, and my top buys include:

Pro Tip: Avoid buying anything at Universal Orlando that you can get from a retail store back home.

11. Thrift Themed T-Shirts

I love wearing themed t-shirts on a trip to Universal Orlando. However, themed t-shirts bought at Universal Orlando start at $24.99.

You can find these t-shirts cheaper on second-hand sites or at retail stores such as Target and Walmart. However, one of my favourite places to buy them is at a Goodwill store in and around Orlando, where they are often sold for $5 or less.

12. Skip The My Universal Photo Package

Photos are one of the best ways to remember a trip to Universal Orlando.

However, despite this, I’d avoid buying the My Universal Photo Package as it doesn’t have nearly as many options as PhotoPass+ at Walt Disney World.

Instead, I’d use a smartphone for photos inside the park – so be sure to pack a power bank to ensure you have enough charge to last you for the entire day.

13. Get Any Entitled Military Discounts

Military discounts of up to 40% are available for:

Active Military
Retired Military
Military Spouses
Department of Defence

You can get these discounts by taking your identification card to an authorised retailer or calling the travel office on (877) 801-9720.

14. Make the Most of Your AAA Membership

If you’re an AAA member, then you can get discounts on:

Discounts vary, so check your membership cards in advance to find out what you’re eligible for.

15. Don’t Book Too Many Days

The price per day decreases the more days at Universal Orlando you book. However, the total cost will increase. As such you want to be sure to only buy the number of days you need. I recommend at least one day per theme park.

16. Park-To-Park Upgrade

A park-to-park ticket allows you to visit more than one Universal Orlando theme park in one day. However, this flexibility comes at a cost. As such, if you upgrade your park ticket for park-to-park access, make sure you are going to use it.

Pro Tip: Since the Hogwarts Express takes you between Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure, you will need a park-to-park ticket to ride this ride.

17. Visit in the Off-Season

If you can choose when you travel, try to visit Universal Orlando in the off-season, which runs from January to May, excluding Spring Break.

Universal Orlando is often quieter at this time, which means you don’t need an Express Pass. Plus, since park tickets are sold using dynamic pricing, they should be cheaper, as should hotels, flights, and car hire.

18. Check Your Packing List

Essential items are available at Universal Orlando. However, they are expensive. As such, I suggest ensuring you double-check your Universal Orlando packing list, which includes:

Ponchos
Sunscreen
Nappies
Wipes
Baby Food

19. Book Hotels as Far in Advance as Possible

To get the best hotel deals, I always suggest booking as far in advance as possible since that’s when availability is at its highest.

Most hotels release their rates 12 months in advance. However, if you can’t book that far in advance:

Look for discounts on dates such as Black Friday and Memorial Weekend
Sign up for hotel newsletters and set up price alerts
Check third-party travel sites for exclusive deals or package discounts
Join hotel loyalty programs for potential member-only rates or perks

20. Don’t Buy the Express Pass in Advance

An Express Pass can be a worthwhile investment on a trip to Universal Orlando.

If you want to use an Express Pass during your visit, I always suggest looking at Signature Hotels, which offers the pass for free. You’ll have to buy the pass outright if you can’t stay in one of these hotels.

You can upgrade your Universal Orlando ticket to include an Express Pass online. However, I’d avoid doing this unless you’re visiting during the peak season.

That’s because you might get to the park and find that an Express Pass isn’t necessary, especially if you’re visiting during the off-season.

Express Passes can be bought at the Universal Orlando theme parks (provided they are still available). As such, it’s best to wait to see what the wait times for rides are in the run-up to your trip before investing.

21. Skip Alcoholic Drinks

A beer inside the Universal Orlando theme parks costs between $9.50 and $11.50. Meanwhile, cocktails sold at Volcano Bay and restaurants at CityWalk start at $20.

Therefore, one of the easiest ways to save money on food and drink at Universal Orlando is to avoid alcohol.

Unlike water bottles and the Coca-Cola Freestyle cup, you can’t bring alcohol into Universal. However, you can bring alcohol or order it to be delivered to your hotel room if you stay in a Universal Orlando hotel.

22. Use Your Credit Card

It’s rare that a credit card will instantly reduce the price you pay for your Universal Orlando vacation. However, selected cards offer rewards in the form of points or cashback that can be used in the future.

Consider checking out the latest credit card deals and offers before you visit Universal Orlando.

Pro Tip: Research the impact credit cards have on your credit score. Only sign up for a credit card if you can responsibly use it.