25 Tips for Saving Money at Universal Studios Orlando

I have been visiting the Universal parks regularly since my first trip to 2008. I try to plan a trip every year or 2, unfortunately, my total trip cost seems to go up every year. Park tickets alone can easily add up to hundreds of dollars (over $800 for a 3 day park-to-park ticket for 2 based on my June 2025 visit), depending on the size of your party and how many days you plan to spend at the park. This doesn’t include additional vacation expenses like transportation, lodging, and food costs.

Without proper planning & research, costs can easily climb into the thousands. I’ve heard that many families go into to debt for “the vacation of a lifetime.” After many trips over the past decade, I have compiled a guide of my best money saving tips. I learn new ways to save with each vacation.

Fortunately, a little pre-planning and common sense is all it takes to save big on your trip. Following just a few tips from my guide can make your trip more fun and affordable, not to mention less stressful.

1. Consider driving as opposed to flying

Driving is much cheaper, especially if you split the costs amongst several people. You can also bring with as much luggage as you can fit in your vehicle as opposed to paying extra airline baggage fees and airport parking fees. Now that Southwest no longer allows checked bags for free, driving is an even better value. I usually pack a big case of water bottles and a lot of other extra necessities that I could never bring on a plane.

2. If flying, book your flight in advance

Book as far in advance as possible for the best savings. Also, try to book your flight during the middle of the week and preferably outside of peak season (June-August). I like to compare multiple airlines on a website like Kayak. Early September and November are the least crowded times at the park in my experience.

Not only will the park be less crowded during these periods, but more importantly, the temps will be much more tolerable! November would be my choice if you are seeking less crowds and cooler temps. I lived in Florida for several years and the temps in the fall are considerably cooler at morning and night.

3. Plan your trip during the slow season for the best rates

September and November are typically the slowest months, although September will still be considerably hot, humid, and rainy. In exchange for the less than ideal weather conditions, you will enjoy cheaper rates on hotels and airfare.

I like visiting in September because rates are cheaper and it is still warm enough to go on water rides. To me, these Islands rides are the most fun and I don’t like getting wet in temps under 80 degrees. Plus, the parks will be much less crowded. This means you will get on more rides, and thus, receive a better bang-for-your-buck experience.

Massive crowds during a holiday weekend…

Versus a nice relatively uncrowded spring day at Hogsmeade at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, which is completely packed to the brim during the summer season. By later afternoon, you can barely walk!

4. Research hotels several months beforehand to take advantage of the best deals

Universal offers numerous hotel and air vacation packages. You can also research individual hotels and see what type of deals they are offering. Sign up for their email list to receive special promotions.

Cabana Bay is a great on-site hotel with many perks. First off, it’s pretty affordable with rates often in the mid 100’s. Second, a free shuttle to the parks is available. This helps tremendously as parking is upwards of $30 per day and Lyfts are not cheap. Third, you get 1 hour early admission to the parks.

I love the convenient amenities here. I can pick between a Starbucks or the food court (open 7am-11pm). It’s nice that the cafeteria style dining is open late so you can enjoy a snack when getting home from the park. There’s also an old-school ice cream shop on-site which stays open late. Also, there are 2 big pools and an awesome lazy river. I usually plan at least a day just to relax around the property.

5. Plan park restaurants in advance

Definitely plan out restaurants in advance. This will give you time to look at the pricing and plan for dietary restrictions. Also, many restaurants require advance reservations (esp new Epic restaurants). On our first trip to Epic, all the restaurants were completely booked out except for this pizza place (Pizza Moon in Celestial Park). We still had to wait over an hour in line which wasted much of our time at the park. Definitely make reservations for any restaurants which allow you to do so.

I usually eat a big breakfast, pack my backpack with small snacks, and then treat myself to one big meal a day. I’m not a huge of chains, but a few of my favorite more affordable choices outside of the parks include: The Olive Garden, First Watch, Panera Bread, Chipotle, and Giordano’s (Chicago style pizza).

Also, there are also a number of fun touristy restaurants at City Walk including Hard Rock and Margaritaville. If it’s really hot, I might stop at one of these restaurants mid-day for an air conditioned break, otherwise we come here after park closing (it is open to Midnight).

If you are going to visit a park restaurant, I highly recommend Mythos at Islands, a beautiful cave designed restaurant which has won many awards over the years including best theme park restaurant. The Veggie Pad Thai is wonderful. For more fun dining experiences, also check out my list of fun themed dining around the region.

6. Purchase lanyards before your trip

We finally used lanyards on our most recent vacation after years of seeing many other people do so. Lanyards are so convenient as you can store your credit card, ID, cash, ticket, and early admission pass. I love that I don’t have to keep scanning my phone to open lockers. Plus, if your phone goes dead, it is insanely pricey to charge it in the park (like 80 bucks). I bought 6 lanyards for $10, whereas one at the park will cost you $10-20 bucks.

7. Stay at an on-site hotel for early admission to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter

If you plan on visiting The Wizarding World of Harry Potter (if you are a fan of the books and/or movies, then you should as it is awesome), you will want to stay at a Universal resort to take advantage of hour early admission.

This section of the park is split into Diagon Alley at Universal and Hogsmeade at Islands of Adventure. It’s massive with a lot to explore, so this early admission really is a great value, not to mention you can explore the park in peace without the normal shoulder to shoulder traffic.

I usually get on 2 rides and take tons of pictures before the park even opens. Harry Potter fans, this is definitely the way to go! You can check out my guide to Harry Potter attractions for the full scoop.

8. Book a hotel with a free shuttle to the park

A free shuttle will save on car rental, gas, and parking fees. All on-site hotels (and some partner hotels) offer complimentary shuttles to the parks. I consider this one of the main benefits as parking is so expensive. Also on park off days, I often take the shuttle over to Citywalk to dine and enjoy all the entertainment options.

On-site hotel options include the Hard Rock Hotel, Loews Portofino Bay, Loews Royal Pacific, and Cabana Bay Beach Resort. The budget friendly choice here is Cabana Bay with rates as low as the mid 100’s.

9. Keep in mind that the more days at the park, the cheaper your per day cost

While booking our summer 2025 trip, a 1 day park-to-park ticket cost $174+, while a 3 day ticket started at $150.67 per day. Obviously, part of the hassle is getting to Orlando. There is no point in getting all the way down here to spend only 1 day at the park. More days at the park is obviously a much better value considering the time and effort it took just to get here. You really need at least a few days to ride some of the best rides and see some of the best shows.

10. Florida residents, be sure to look into special deals

Universal offers fantastic deals for locals. On my last vacation in June of 2025, a Florida resident 3 day pass (which includes a 2 day park-to-park to Universal & Islands and a 1 day Epic pass) started at $117, while a non resident pass started at $137.

Check the website for updated pricing info. Be aware of Blockout Dates (basically the entire summer, spring break, and around major holidays). Some resorts also offer special rates for locals so check around.

11. Purchase tickets online as opposed to at the gate

Not only is it faster and more convenient, but you will also save a decent amount on multi day tickets. I recommend storing your park ticket in your lanyard and then you don’t have to scan your phone. Also you can conveniently scan your ticket to open lockers (which are required for many rides).

12. Check for coupons with your hotel concierge

When printing out our theme park tickets for our lanyard at our hotel, we received coupons for several Citywalk restaurants including Hard Rock and Margaritaville.

13. Check the Visitor’s Center for coupon booklets and brochures

The Visitor’s Center is a great place to find valuable coupons good for the theme parks and other attractions around the city like mini golf and themed dinner shows. Also check your hotel lobby for brochures. I’ve noticed all sorts of discounts on the back of these brochures. Hard Rock usually offers some free gift with a purchase.

14. Plan a few days to explore non theme park attractions

Take some time to explore the “other side of Orlando” on a theme park free day. If you are visiting all 3 parks, you absolutely need a day of rest. For our most recent vacation, we went to Universal, Epic, then Islands back-to-back and it was so exhausting.

I tracked 20,000-29,000 steps a day on my Fitbit. I am in good shape and I was totally annihilated. Typically, I take a day off in between parks days, but I was so excited to visit the new park. I wish we would have planned one extra night between the Epic and Islands. Unfortunately, our group was limited on time for this trip.

If you decide on a day off, I highly recommend a day to visit some of the beautiful preserves, interesting museums, and attractions around Orlando. Check out my guide to the best non theme park related attractions. It’s fun to play mini golf or visit the World of Chocolate and then spend the rest of your day enjoying the pool and other attractions at your resort. Your feet will get to relax a bit plus it’s so nice to escape those long lines for a day!

15. Download the free Wait Times app.

Plan your rides according to wait times. Get on more rides = more bang for your buck! Time=money! Download the Wait Times app before your visit. I basically try to go cell phone free while on vacation: this app is basically the only time I use my phone. I like planning my day around wait times. If Gringotts has a 2 hour wait, then I head over to E.T. or the Mummy where the wait is often only 30 min. Later in the day, if I see the wait time dropped, then I head over to Gringotts and see what else I want to do in that area of the park.

16. Bring with a set amount of cash for souvenirs and food

Stick to the budget and consider cash instead of a credit card. Credit cards tend to make you spend much more. Avoid the temptation to buy multiple unnecessary souvenirs which will end up in the trash when you get home. I recommend taking pics with characters for a free memento.

There are also tons of fun & free photo opps around both parks i.e. the Back to the Future Delorean, the Jeep from Jurassic Park, and all those funny signs in the Toon Lagoon area.

17. Bring your own water bottle and refill it throughout the day

I recommend wearing a convenient camelbak which holds a liter or more of water and has pockets for extra essentials, or bringing in 1 water bottle and refilling it.

Update: All Universal parks now have convenient Coke Freestyle stations throughout the park. It is free to get water at any of these stations, whereas a water bottle will cost upwards of 4 bucks. I like that you can get your own water now as opposed to waiting in a food stand line. They also offer an unlimited pop deal ($18.99 with discounts for more people), although I don’t really recommend drinking a lot of dehydrating caffeine.

18. Eat a big breakfast early before hitting the parks

I find that eating a hefty breakfast (like omelets and potatoes) holds me over for hours. It saves me money because I don’t need to snack for a few hours and I can usually hold off until dinner for my next big meal. I can run right over for early admission and get on a few rides without searching for a food stand.

I like staying at Cabana Bay because they have a big on-site cafeteria which opens early (7am) and also a Starbucks if you prefer a bagel or pastry. We usually get up early and eat a hefty breakfast before taking the shuttle to the park for early admission.

19. Purchase a bunch of snacks the 1st night of your vacation

Pack snacks in your backpack the night before your park visit. I typically pack snacks in my suitcase before my flight to save even more money. This will help you resist the temptation to buy pricey park snacks. Plus, it’s always nice to have something to munch on while waiting hours in line (and if you plan on going on popular rides like Hagrid’s and Veloci Coaster, you will be waiting!). Anything that can withstand the heat is a good idea (pretzels, trail mix, mini chip bags, crackers, cookies, etc). Avoid items that melt like chocolate.

If you do need a cool down, you can’t beat a Butterbeer or Dole Whip. I usually snack and treat myself to one butterbeer or ice cream and this holds me over until dinner. These drinks are relatively cheap compared to dining at a restaurant or buying an overpriced pretzel, nachos, or popcorn from an overpriced stand.

20. Bring your own lunch

Park food is really pricey, not to mention mediocre at best in quality. As an added bonus, packing your own lunch will save you from the long wait time at park restaurants. The line for the Harry Potter Three Broomsticks is sometimes longer than the wait for the rides! I usually skip lunch, but if you do plan on lunch, I recommend packing your own.

I recommend not wasting too much time in restaurant lines – most of them are average at best anyways. In my option, you are better off using this time for the rides & attractions you are paying good money for!

Please check Universal’s food policy to plan accordingly

21. Concentrate on the best rides

Realistically, you are not going to have enough time to see everything at all parks in a single visit. This is why I recommend at least 3 days if you are a first time visitor. For the new Epic, it’s hard to get on more than a handful of rides. I only got on 5 rides in an 11 hour period (although I have hard from people who only got on 1 or 2!). On a side note, this park is definitely ranked number 3 for me. If this is your first time, I recommend sticking to the 2 original parks.

Some of the rides are just not worth the long lines, while others are hidden gems that barely get any traffic. You can check out my handy guide to my most recommended rides. Basically, all of the Harry Potter rides, The Hulk Coaster, classics like The Mummy, Men in Black and E.T., and the water rides are worth putting first on your list.

22. Skip the alcohol & caffeine as much as possible

Not only are alcohol and caffeine based drinks pricey, but they also dehydrate you even more (not good when it is already in the 90’s and humid!). Also, alcohol and rides do not mix! The parks consists of mainly coasters and simulator rides which are already dizzying enough in themselves! I recommend sticking to water and lots of it to keep yourself well hydrated in the Florida heat.

23. Skip the pricey ride photos

If you want your photo by a ride, just take a picture of yourself standing next to the ride entrance. Or, have a non-rider take the group’s photo while you are all on the ride. I love this photo we took on Dudley Do Right’s Ripsaw Falls: one of the park’s best rides in my opinion.

You can also take free photos with your favorite characters. Truly one of the best souvenirs! We have never specifically set out to take character photos but they always seem to be around especially at the Knight Bus at Diagon Alley and in the Springfield Simpsons area. I really love this cute photo I got with Popeye!

24. Check Groupon for special deals

Sign up to receive Groupon & Living Social deals prior to your trip. Search for hotel, attraction, & restaurant deals in the Orlando area. I easily found deals for Pirate’s Cove and Gator mini golf and the World of Chocolate: 2 great off day activities for the whole family.

25. Pack hot weather necessities

All those little extras you need to deal with the Florida heat like sunblock, sunglasses, a water mister, a visor, a poncho, and a cooling towel will cost you so much more at a gift shop. Buy them at home and bring them with to avoid unnecessary charges. You can bring a backpack, fanny pack, or camelbak into the park and easily store all of these items for your convenience.

For a full ride and show list, current pricing info, and more visit the park’s webpage.