Today, we're walking you through all of the different ticket types and providing a few details to help you choose the best Universal Orlando ticket for your family. Whether you're looking for more information on Epic Universe tickets, Express Pass or even trying to figure out what park-to-park means, we've got you covered! Plus, we'll run through the best ways to save money on your Universal Orlando tickets (hint: we know some frogs that offer hoppin' savings!). Let's jump in!
Universal Orlando Resort is a whoa-worthy destination, where you'll come face-to-face with dinosaurs, fast cars, wizardry, minions and so much more! There is a ton to tackle at Universal Studios Florida, Universal Islands of Adventure, Universal Epic Universe and Universal Volcano Bay, which is why choosing the best Universal Orlando ticket for your family is so critical. We know it can be difficult to decide how many days and which ticket — or even which Universal park is best for your fam. But never fear, your resident theme park experts are here!
A Look at Universal Orlando Theme Parks
There is a lot to see and do — Universal Orlando just keeps growing and growing! Visitors can now enjoy a brand-new DreamWorks Land, which features family-friendly rides, character greetings and more. Plus, as of May 22, 2025, we've got an entirely new park to explore — Universal Epic Universe. When determining which ticket to buy, the first step is knowing which Universal Orlando theme parks you'd like to visit during your trip.
Universal Studios Florida
This park is home to some amazing thrill and family rides based on blockbuster movies such as Transformers the Ride: 3D, Revenge of the Mummy and Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem. It's also home to the amazingly detailed Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Diagon Alley, plus Knockturn Alley (one of our favorite Universal Studios Florida hidden gems). We have an entire guide dedicated to the rides, food and experiences you won't want to miss at Universal Studios Florida. This park also hosts seasonal events such as Halloween Horror Nights, Mardi Gras and Grinchmas.
Universal Islands of Adventure
There are multiple lands, or is-lands rather, to discover at this park that features epic attractions such as Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure, the Incredible Hulk Coaster, Jurassic World VelociCoaster and the Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man. The park is home to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Hogsmeade. Here's what not to miss at Islands of Adventure for even more information on this incredible park!
Universal Epic Universe
Universal Orlando's newest theme park welcomes you into five incredible worlds: Celestial Park, Super Nintendo World, How to Train Your Dragon - Isle of Berk, the Wizarding World of Harry Potter — Ministry of Magic and Dark Universe. Within these worlds, you'll find interactive experiences, new (and familiar) characters and of course, thrilling rides with top-of-the-line technology. If you want to include Epic Universe in your Universal Orlando visit, be sure to look for tickets that say "PLUS Epic Universe." Right now, multi-day tickets with Epic entitlements only give you access to one day at Epic — and there are a few other nuances to know about these tickets, so we've created a full guide to walk you through it, which you can find here.
Universal Volcano Bay
Last, but certainly not least, is Universal Volcano Bay Water Theme Park. If water slides, lazy rivers and all the tropical feels fit your vibes, you won't want to miss a stop at Volcano Bay. If you want your ticket to include Volcano Bay, you'll want to look for a three-park ticket (since Volcano Bay is that third park).
Universal Orlando Resort Ticket Types
There are a few ticket options for Universal Orlando Resort. As always, as an authorized theme park ticket seller for over 25 years, we're hoppy to offer savings on Universal Orlando tickets (pssst ... you can save even more when you bundle your Universal Orlando Resort tickets and hotel stay. Plus, Undercover Tourist now offers a flexible deposit option, so you can secure your Universal Orlando vacation for a refundable $200 deposit, then pay the remainder 30 days in advance of check-in). Once you know which parks you'd like to visit, the next step is determining ticket type.
- The Universal Base Ticket entitles you to admission to one park per day of your visit. Remember, if you'd like to visit Epic Universe, you'll want to choose a ticket that says "PLUS Epic Universe." If you'd like to include Volcano Bay in your ticket, you'll want to choose a ticket that says "3-park."
- The Universal Park-to-Park Ticket entitles you to admission at Universal Studios Florida AND Universal Islands of Adventure for each day of your ticket (giving you the freedom to hop back and forth between the two parks). If you opt for a 3-park ticket to head into Volcano Bay, you can also hop into the water park with a 3-park Park-to-Park ticket. A few other important notes about Park-to-Park tickets:
- If riding the Hogwarts Express is a must for you, you must have a Park-to-Park ticket to do so. Base tickets will not give you access to the Hogwarts Express.
- Epic Universe does not offer Park-to-Park access right now. That means even if you purchase a Park-to-Park ticket PLUS Epic Universe, you will not be able to hop in and out of Epic Universe.
OK, you know which parks you're visiting. You've decided whether you'll be opting for base tickets or Park-to-Park tickets. Now, you'll need to determine when you're going, and for how long. Most of Universal's tickets are date-based. That means you must pick a start date for your visit, and will be assigned a usage window. Need some help determining when to go? Check out our Crowd Calendar for estimated crowd levels, or jump over to our Best Times to Visit Universal Orlando Resort post for a more detailed overview by season. Ultimately, we recommend visiting Universal Orlando Resort for at least five days, with at least three days in the theme parks to see and do as much as possible.
You now have the option to choose from 1-Day, 2-Day, 3-Day, 4-Day, and 5-Day tickets for your vacation. Are you a Florida resident? We've even got you covered with the Florida Resident Power Pass! We also offer savings on Express Passes, which let you skip the regular lines, and VIP Experience tickets for the ultimate red carpet treatment.
More Hopful Ticket Info
- The expiration of Universal tickets is generally dictated by the number of days. You will activate the ticket upon entry to your first Universal Orlando Resort Theme Park.
- Parking for all four parks is not included with tickets. If you are staying at a Universal hotel, free transportation to the parks is included with your stay.
- The Universal Express Pass, which allows you to skip the regular lines on most of Universal Orlando's attractions, is a separate purchase and can be bought from us or directly from Universal, including in the parks. Don't worry — we have a whole post about when to use Universal Express. (And if you stay at select Universal premier hotels, Express Unlimited is included with your stay — a HUGE value!)
- Have you heard of Early Park Admission? Guests staying at a Universal hotel get access to the theme parks, including Epic Universe and Volcano Bay, up to an hour before the park opens to other guests each morning of their stay. It's one of the most helpful ways to maximize your time in the parks, but remember, this complimentary benefit is associated with your Universal hotel stay (not your ticket).
Universal Orlando Resort Ticket Deals
On top of our everyday Universal ticket savings (up to $88 per ticket, to be exact!) you can save even more on your vacation when you add in a Universal Orlando hotel stay. Bundle select Universal tickets with a 2-night Universal Orlando hotel stay to save an additional $10 per ticket! Hop over to our Hot Deals page to see all of our current promos.
Is Base or Park-to-Park the Best Universal Orlando Ticket?
Universal Studios Florida, Universal Islands of Adventure and Universal Volcano Bay are on the same property and within walking distance of each other, making the Park-to-Park Ticket a popular choice. Universal Studios Florida and Universal Islands of Adventure are right next door to each other, so it's super easy to hop between them.
While Epic Universe is not walking distance from the other theme parks, there is free transportation from the other parks (and Universal hotels) to Epic Universe. If you are not staying on property, Epic Universe has its own parking lot for easy access.
The Universal Park-to-Park Ticket type gives you more flexibility than the Base Ticket type. Plus the Park-to-Park ticket is the only way to experience the Hogwarts Express, which takes you between both Wizarding Worlds. It's also a different experience in each direction. The Universal Park-to-Park ticket is a good choice when one park closes earlier than the others. For instance, if Universal Studios Florida closes at 5 p.m. and Universal Islands of Adventure closes at 7 p.m., the Park-to-Park ticket allows you to leave Universal Studios Florida and have two hours to enjoy the rides at Universal Islands of Adventure.
The Universal Base Ticket is a good choice if you are traveling with little ones and one park per day is plenty, you don't care to experience the Hogwarts Express or you just want the lowest-priced ticket.
How Many Days Should We Stay at Universal?
With so many thrills to tackle, and so many great Universal hotel choices, it makes sense to stay and play longer at Universal Orlando. If you plan on visiting Volcano Bay, you may consider adding a day to your visit, or you could tack on water park time in the afternoons or evenings after a day in the other parks. How long to stay depends on many factors, including the ages and interests of your kids, your own interests, whether you are staying on property, how leisurely you like to tour the parks and how busy the parks will be during your visit. Most families visiting Universal Orlando Resort will want to spend three to four days in the parks, so we recommend five to seven days total to make the most of the property. If you're doing a combined visit to Walt Disney World, you would probably want to do three to four days at Universal.
Purchasing Through Undercover Tourist? Universal Orlando Ticket FAQs
Ready to make your discount purchase through Undercover Tourist? Woohoo — we're so hoppy to help! Here are some questions we get often. (Don't see your question answered here? Feel free to drop us a comment or give us a ring at 1 (800) 846-1302.)
How long will it take to receive my tickets?
Please allow up to 24 hours for delivery.
Are all tickets virtual?
Yes. All of Undercover Tourist's tickets are e-tickets, so they'll be delivered directly to your email.
Can I link my tickets in the Universal Orlando app?
Yes! Within the Universal Orlando app, select "Profile," then "Wallet." You'll then see an option to "Add Tickets & Passes." Tap "Scan" and you'll be prompted to scan the barcode from your email, or type in the numbers beneath the barcode manually. (You can also add Express Passes here.)
How long is my ticket valid?
This depends on your ticket type. You'll see your usage window on the ticketing page.
What if I need to cancel?
Check the individual ticket page for the cancellation policy (as this varies slightly from ticket to ticket).
Which Universal Orlando park do you love the most? Share in the comments below!
Related: Best Time to Visit Universal Orlando
Keep hopping!
