11 Tips for Saving Money at Universal Studios Hollywood

A trip to Universal Studios Hollywood can be expensive. But it doesn’t have to be. As someone who has visited Universal Studios more times than I can count, I’ve found several ways to save money.

Not all of these money-saving hints and tips will be for everyone, but implementing just one or two could save you hundreds of dollars.

1. Travel Out of Season

Visiting Universal Studios Hollywood in the off-season can save you time and money. Tickets to Universal Studios Hollywood are sold using a dynamic pricing model. This means tickets cost more on days set to be busy and less on days set to be quiet.

However, that’s not the only way travelling out of season can save you money. If you’re travelling from outside LA, you’ll also find flights and hotels cheaper, saving you money on your vacation as a whole.

Plus, since the theme park is set to be quieter, you’ll waste less time waiting in line for popular rides. This means you’re less likely to need a Universal Express Pass or multi-day tickets. Instead, you should be able to do everything at Universal Studios Hollywood in one day.

2. Bring Drinks & Snacks

You are permitted to bring food and drink into Universal Studios Hollywood. Provided that it meets the security requirements.

While themed food and drink is a big part of visiting Universal Studios the costs can quickly add up. I suggest budgeting at least $50 per person per day for food and drink at Universal Hollywood.

If you’re on a tight budget, you may want to bring a full packed lunch. However, remember that this will somewhat lower the overall theme park experience.

Instead, I recommend bringing snacks to Universal Studios, especially if you’re visiting with young kids. There’s nothing worse than spending $8 on a snack that they take one bite of—yes, I speak from experience.

3. Share Food

A great way to save money and experience more of Universal’s delicious food is to share it. While the cost of food at Universal can be expensive, the portions are plentiful.

This means young kids should be able to share an adult’s entree, especially for lunch.

Heck, even my wife and I sometimes find the portion sizes at Universal to be too much. In this case, we often share an entree and dessert, meaning we both get to try two different things.

Some of the best value-for-money restaurants at Universal Hollywood include:

• Panda Express
• Krusty Burger
• Minion Cafe

4. Buy a Refillable Cup

Refillable cups are a great way to save money on drinks while at Universal Studios Hollywood. These cups cost $19.00 each and provide unlimited refills (every 10 minutes) all day.

Since a regular dispensed drink currently costs $5, you only need four refills in a day to have saved money. Plus, with 100 different drink combinations to choose from, there’s no way you’re going to get bored.

If you’re a regular visitor to Universal Hollywood, be sure to keep a hold of your refillable cup. That way, you can reactivate it upon a return visit to the park. Reactivating an existing refillable cup is cheaper than buying a new one. Saving you even more money on drinks at Universal.

5. Book a Hotel Close to Universal Studios Hollywood

If you need to book a hotel for a trip to Universal Hollywood, book one within walking distance of the theme park.

These hotels may cost $20 extra per night for the convenience of the location. However, they’ll save you upwards of $40 daily on parking or Uber costs. Not to mention how much time you’ll save given the chaos of LA traffic.

6. Compare the Cost of Uber & Parking

If a trip to Universal Studios Hollywood is part of a larger trip to LA, it may not be worth staying close to the theme park. Depending on your itinerary, you may want to stay somewhere more central.

However, you’ll still need to consider how you’ll get from your hotel to the theme park. The cost of hiring a car, gas, parking at a hotel in LA and parking at Universal isn’t cheap. Therefore, in some cases, it can be more affordable to take an Uber or Lyft instead.

7. Only Pay for General Parking

If you do drive to Universal, you’ll find a variety of different parking options:

• General Parking
• Preferred Parking
• Front Gate Parking
• Valet Parking

The cost of parking at Universal varies widely, yet the difference between the different parking options isn’t much at all. Therefore, if you are driving to Universal, I’d recommend the cheapest option: general parking.

8. Avoid the Universal Express

The Universal Express Pass is an add-on to your Universal Hollywood theme park ticket. This pass allows you to skip the line on eligible rides within the park.

The Universal Express Pass costs between $60 and $130 on top of your regular theme park ticket.

However, you don’t need a Universal Express Pass to enjoy your day at the park. I mean, sure, it enhances the experience. But with the right amount of planning, you can still enjoy a day at Universal without one, even if you’re visiting during peak season.

9. Skip the Arcade & Carnival Games

Rides and attractions at Universal Studios Hollywood are free with theme park admission. However, some experiences cost extra.

Two of the most popular additional experiences are carnival and arcade games. These games can be found across the park, namely in Super Silly Fun Land and Springfield.

Each game costs money and allows you to win a souvenir. However, I’d avoid these since there’s only a chance of winning a souvenir. Instead, save your money to buy the souvenirs you want from the parks’ stores.

10. Buy Souvenirs in Advance

Speaking of souvenirs, much like food, Universal Studios Hollywood souvenirs can be expensive. If you’re on a strict budget, I recommend buying souvenirs outside the theme park.

Some of the best places to buy Universal Studios Hollywood souvenirs include:

• Walmart
• Target
• Goodwill
• eBay

11. Check Out a Universal Hollywood Annual Pass

It’s hard to believe, but buying a Universal Hollywood Annual Pass could save you money. Even if you only plan to visit the theme park once.

That’s because the benefits of the Gold & Platinum Universal Hollywood Annual Pass include:

• Free Parking
• 15% Discount on food & drink
• 15% Discount on merchandise
• $5 Saving on friends & family park tickets

In addition, the theme park offers free entry throughout the year. Selected blackout dates apply.

If a family of four visits Universal, and one person buys the Gold Annual Pass at $299, then you could save:

• $35 on parking
• $15 on $100 of food
• $15 on $100 of merchandise
• $15 on general theme park tickets

Plus, the passholder themselves gets free entry to the theme park valued at between $109 and $149. Even at the lowest ticket price, that’s a total saving of $189.

It’s therefore easy to see how, with two days at the park, a splurge on souvenirs, or a few extra meals out, you could quickly save money being an Annual Passholder.