Is a Universal Studios Hollywood Annual Pass Worth It?

I have been a Universal Studios Hollywood Annual Passholder on and off for eight years. In fact, the only time I’ve not been a Passholder is between my Annual Pass ending and my next visit to the theme park.

There’s a misconception that a Universal Annual Pass is so expensive that it’s only worthwhile for regular visitors. However, that’s not the case.

In my experience, a Universal Studios Hollywood Annual Pass is worth it if:

  • You plan to visit Universal Studios Hollywood more than once in 12 months.
  • You live within a 1.5-hour drive of Universal Studios Hollywood.

That’s because the lowest tier Universal Studios Hollywood Annual Pass is often just $90 more than a one-day ticket. So if you plan to or can visit multiple times in a 12-month period, it’s worth the $90.

But that $90 difference only upgrades your park ticket to a Silver Annual Pass. Universal Studios Hollywood has four Annual Pass options available. So, when does it make sense to upgrade even further?

Universal Studios Hollywood Annual Pass Cost & Benefits

The cost and benefits of a Universal Hollywood Annual Pass vary depending on the pass you buy. The table below breaks down each type of pass currently available:

Platinum Annual PassGold Annual PassSilver Annual PassCalifornia Neighbour Pass
Cost$599$299$219$179
Visiting AvailabilityNo blackout datesOver 325 DaysOver 275 DaysOver 150 Days
Validity Period12 Months12 Months12 Months9 Months
Food, Drink & Merchandise Discount15%15%
Free Universal ExpressAfter 3pm
Free Halloween Horror Nights ticketAdvance reservation required.
Subject to capacity.
Selected nights only.
Free General ParkingEntry until 6pmEntry until 6pm
Discounted General Admission Tickets
Discounted Halloween Horror Nights Tickets

Upgrading a Universal Hollywood Park Ticket to an Annual Pass

You don’t have to commit to buying a Universal Studios Hollywood Annual Pass in advance. Instead, you can upgrade your Universal Hollywood ticket to an Annual Pass during your visit to the theme park.

To upgrade your Universal Hollywood theme park ticket to an Annual Pass you’ll just need to pay the difference in price. The exact price varies depending on:

  • The type of theme park ticket you have
  • The Annual Pass tier you would like to buy

All ticket upgrades and Annual Pass tier upgrades can be made at The Box Office. This is a small booth located in the Upper Lot across from The DreamWorks Theatre.

When to Upgrade to a Gold Annual Pass

If you plan to visit Universal Hollywood more than once in 12 months, then getting a Silver Annual Pass is a given. But when does it make sense to spend the additional $80 to upgrade to Gold?

There are two differences between a Silver and Gold Universal Hollywood Annual Pass:

  1. 50 Day increase in visiting availability
  2. Free General Parking before 6pm

General Parking at Universal Hollywood currently costs $35. As such, if you plan to visit and drive to the theme park three or more times in a 12-month period, then it’s worth upgrading.

If you don’t drive, then the only extra benefit you’ll have with a Gold Annual Pass is 50 extra available days. It’s hard to put a financial perspective on this benefit. It’s more of a personal decision as to what those extra 50 days are worth to you.

When to Upgrade to a Platinum Annual Pass

The Universal Hollywood Platinum Annual Pass is double the cost of a Gold Annual Pass, an extra $300. Given this, when does it make sense to spend the extra to upgrade?

There are three differences between the Gold and Platinum Universal Hollywood Annual Pass:

  1. No blackout dates
  2. Free Universal Express Pass (after 3pm)
  3. Free Halloween Horror Nights ticket (terms and conditions apply)

General Admission to Halloween Horror Nights costs between $77 and $107. As such, if you plan to visit Universal Hollywood for HHN, then you’ll save some money here. However, you’d still be paying roughly $200 extra for:

It’s hard to put a financial perspective on these two benefits. Universal Express Passes, for example, are only sold as a full day. However, if you did plan to maximise your Annual Pass, then an Express Pass would be very beneficial.

Ultimately, after this point, it would be a personal decision on how much you value:

  • Being able to visit Universal Studios Hollywood any day you want
  • Skipping the line on rides after 3pm

If you plan to visit once a month, it would work out an extra $25 a time, which isn’t bad. But, if you’re more likely to visit once a quarter, I’m not sure it would be worth it.

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