ORLANDO, Fla. — When a theme park touts "It's more than magic. It's real," it's probably a good idea for families to know the real cost of a Universal Orlando Resort vacation.
Universal sprang onto the scene in Orlando, Florida, decades after Walt Disney World but quickly billed itself as a direct rival to the "most magical place on Earth." Similar to Disney World, Universal Orlando currently has two main parks — Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure.
In the decades since, plus the additions of huge movie franchises, both Universal and Disney are heralded as top vacation spots for families and theme park enthusiasts. We found an average family of four could spend at least $800 for just one day at one of Universal's theme parks. For a full breakdown of the cost of a day at Walt Disney World, click or tap here.
But before hopping on the train to Diagon Alley or screaming your way through VelociCoaster, let's take a deep dive into the current average cost for a family of four to spend a day at the resort.
Tickets at Universal Orlando start at $119 for both Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure. However, prices vary depending on the day. That means a 1-day, single-park ticket to Universal Studios or Islands of Adventure could cost anywhere from $119 - $179.
For a family of four to enjoy a single day at one Universal Orlando park, tickets would cost between $476 - $716.
To encourage guests to stay longer, Universal Orlando currently has a promotion of two "free days" when buying three days, for a total of five days spent at Universal. There are multiple types of packages, including ones that include chances to visit the two main parks within the same day. For more details, click here.
Florida residents can potentially save even more on ticket bundles, so be sure to check.
Between the Universal CityWalk, the resort's two main theme parks and numerous hotels, there's no shortage of food options at Universal Orlando Resort. And that's a good thing because it's important to stay fed and hydrated, especially under Florida's hot sun.
Many of Universal's food options are themed to various film and TV franchises, including "Harry Potter," "Jaws," "Forrest Gump" and "The Simpsons."
When it comes to food, prices vary depending on the type of dining (quick or sit-down) and types of food. Menus on the Universal website show food items cost between $12 - $20 for most entrees, going up to $35 for the fancier, sit-down dining options. Drinks range between $4 - $9 for non-alcoholic and starting at $12 for alcoholic beverages.
According to travel blog MagicGuides, it's recommended to budget at least $60 per person for food.
Using that estimate, it would cost a family of four at least $240 to feed everyone for one day.
Perks of staying at a hotel or resort include early park admissions and complimentary transportation to and from the parks. Some resorts even include Universal Express Unlimited, a pass that allows you to skip the lines for certain rides.
There are about eight hotels and resorts on the Universal Orlando property, with two additional resorts slated to open in 2025. Depending on the hotel, standard rooms for four people range from $100 - $393 per night.
For those looking to stay off Universal property, hotel prices near the theme park start as low as around $100 per night.
If you're not staying at a Universal Orlando hotel or taking rideshare or public transportation, you'll need to factor parking into your trip.
Regular rates for parking are $32 for cars and $42 for RVs and buses. Drivers can also get prime parking, ranging from $50 - $60.
To guarantee the chance to ride on your favorite attractions at Universal, you may want to look at getting an Express pass. Depending on which pass you get, you can either skip the line once on each ride per day or ride as many times as you want.
Of course, that depends on if you want to add this optional cost to your budget. You'll have to buy a pass for each admission ticket.
If you opt for just the standard Universal Express pass, guests can skip the line of all included attractions once during the day. Prices start at $80 but can go up to $260. Four passes would range from $320 - $1,040.
For the Universal Express Unlimited pass, guests can skip the line as many times as they want for all included rides. Prices start at $110 but can go up to $290 per pass. Four passes would range from $440 - $1,160.
How much will a Universal Orlando vacation cost a family of four?
Adding all the lowest-option costs, here's how much an average one-day stay at Universal Orlando Resort would be for a family of four. This total does not include airfare.
- Tickets: $476
- Food and drink: $240
- Hotel: $100
- Parking: $32
- Universal Express (optional): $320
Average 1-day grand total: $848 without an express pass; $1,168 with four express passes