Planning a trip to Universal Orlando Resort? If so, you're probably wondering when to buy your theme park tickets - one of the most important elements of your Florida holidays. Well, you're in luck, as we've put together this article with all the information you need to get the best deals on your tickets.
With Universal Orlando Resort tickets, you can visit three incredible theme parks and a fantastic water park. We highly recommend that you book your tickets in advance of your holiday to save both time and money.
Read on for advice on when to buy Universal Orlando Resort tickets, plus our top tips for getting the most value for your money.
Quick summary:
- Best time to book: As soon as you've booked your holiday - tickets are typically released around 18 months in advance
- Why book early? Better prices, special offers, guaranteed admission, and no queuing at the gate
- UK ticket advantage: 14 consecutive days of park-to-park access, versus the shorter 1-5 day passes typically sold at the gate
- Express Pass: Covers Universal Studios Florida, Universal Islands of Adventure, and Universal Epic Universe (as separate pass types) - but the free version included with a stay at Hard Rock Hotel®, Loews Portofino Bay Hotel, or Loews Royal Pacific Resort only covers Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure
- Early Park Admission: Up to 1 hour before general opening for hotel guests, at a selected park (valid admission required)
- Cheapest months to visit: November, early December, January, and May
Where to buy Universal Orlando Resort tickets
You can buy your Universal Orlando Resort tickets directly through AttractionTickets.com, either online or over the phone by calling 085 208 9029. At AttractionTickets.com, we're the largest theme park specialist in Europe.
We sell over 1 million theme park tickets each year, helping families have their dream holiday. Buying your tickets through our website is easy, cheap, and quick.
When to buy Universal Orlando Resort tickets
There isn’t a right and wrong time to buy Universal Orlando Resort tickets, but we highly recommend buying them in advance of your stay, as soon as you’re able to.
Buying them as soon as possible means you’ll avoid any later price increases, plus it can help with your Universal Orlando budgeting. On top of this, it ticks another thing off your holiday to-do list, getting you closer to the excitement of your trip!
Tickets are typically released around 18 months in advance, so you may even be able to book them as soon as you book your holiday.
Can I buy Universal Orlando Resort tickets at the gate?
Yes, you can buy Universal Orlando Resort tickets at the gate when you arrive at Universal Studios Florida, Universal Islands of Adventure, Universal Epic Universe, or Universal Volcano Bay.
However, we wouldn’t recommend that you leave purchasing your tickets until the last minute for a few reasons:
- Tickets can sell out: Imagine the disappointment if you can't visit the park you've set your heart on - we don't even want to think about it!
- You'll have to queue for tickets: Getting in line at the ticket office will eat into your time in the parks.
- They'll be more expensive: Tickets are usually cheaper when you book them in advance, and you can take advantage of special offers. You won't get these at the gate.
- Gate tickets are far shorter: This is a big one for UK visitors. Tickets bought at the gate in Orlando are typically standard 1 to 5-day passes. Our Universal Orlando Resort tickets, on the other hand, give you 14 consecutive days of park-to-park access. That's two whole weeks to explore every park at your own pace, rather than racing the clock on a handful of days.
Benefits of buying your Universal Orlando Resort tickets in advance
1. Getting the best price
Universal Orlando Resort tickets often get more expensive the closer to the visit date you get, based on demand. Buying in advance means you’ll get the best price.
2. Special offers
When you buy Universal Orlando Resort tickets in advance, you can take advantage of special offers that aren’t available when you purchase at the gate. At AttractionTickets.com, we often have offers available to give you better value.
3. Helping you to budget
Buying your Universal Orlando Resort tickets before you travel can help you with budgeting for your holiday.
When you book your theme park tickets as part of a holiday and ticket package on AttractionTickets.com, you just need to pay a £100 deposit upfront. You can spread the rest of the cost in instalments or pay a lump sum, as long as it’s paid six weeks before your hotel check-in date.
4. Guarantee admission
Particularly during high season, there’s always the possibility that Universal Orlando Resort tickets can sell out for the day you want. If you leave buying the tickets until you’re at the gate, then you won’t be able to get in.
5. Saves time
If you don’t buy your tickets ahead of time, then you’ll need to visit the ticket office at the park. Often, there’s a queue here, which can take some time to get through and will therefore eat into your ride time, giving you less time in the parks.
6. You can book Express Passes
Express Pass is Universal Orlando Resort’s fast-track option. These time-saving tickets allow you to skip the regular lines at some of the most popular rides and attractions at the Universal Orlando Resort’s theme parks.
You’ll need valid Universal Orlando Resort tickets to book your Express Passes, so you can buy these once you’ve got your tickets.
A couple of things worth knowing before you book:
Not every ride is included. A handful of the most in-demand attractions are excluded from the standard Express Pass line-up, and this list can change. From 1 July 2026, for example, Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure at Islands of Adventure is no longer part of the Express Pass programme.
Epic Universe works differently. Express Pass at Epic Universe is single-use only - once per ride, per day - and is bought separately from Express Pass for Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure. There's no Express Unlimited option at Epic Universe, and no hotel currently includes it free, including Universal Helios Grand Hotel, which sits right on the Epic Universe site.
Top tip: Three Universal Orlando Resort hotels - Hard Rock Hotel®, Loews Portofino Bay Hotel, and Loews Royal Pacific Resort - include free Universal Express Unlimited for every guest registered in the room, for every night of the stay, including your check-in and check-out days, so there's no need to purchase these separately.
This complimentary benefit covers Universal Studios Florida and Universal Islands of Adventure only - it doesn't extend to Universal Epic Universe or Universal Volcano Bay. It's also worth knowing that not every Universal hotel in this tier includes it: Loews Sapphire Falls Resort and Universal Helios Grand Hotel are Signature-tier hotels too, but neither comes with free Express Pass as standard.
Universal Orlando Resort ticket options
There are two options for Universal Orlando Resort tickets at AttractionTickets.com.
Ticket | Ticket includes | Duration of ticket | Arrival Period |
|---|---|---|---|
Unlimited admission to Universal Studios Florida, Universal Islands of Adventure, Universal Epic Universe, and Universal Volcano Bay | 14 consecutive days from the ticket start date | 1 January - 19 October 2026, and 25 March - 31 December 2027 | |
Unlimited admission to Universal Studios Florida, Universal Islands of Adventure, and Universal Epic Universe | 14 consecutive days from the ticket start date | 20 October 2026 - 24 March 2027, while Universal Volcano Bay is closed for refurbishment |
Both tickets include park-to-park access for the included theme parks, so you can move freely between them on the same day.
The main thing to look out for is which dates you're travelling on. If your holiday falls between 20 October 2026 and 24 March 2027, you'll want the Three Park Adventure Ticket, since Universal Volcano Bay will be closed for refurbishment during this window and isn't included. Outside of those dates, the All Parks Ticket covers all four parks, including Universal Epic Universe and Universal Volcano Bay.
Why is Volcano Bay closed during this period? Universal Volcano Bay typically undergoes planned seasonal refurbishment over the winter months, which is why the Three Park Adventure Ticket exists as a like-for-like alternative that covers Universal Epic Universe instead of the water park during that window.
Universal Epic Universe is the latest addition to Universal Orlando Resort. The theme park has five incredible lands, awesome rides, and a must-visit for fans of the boy wizard - The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™️ - Ministry of Magic™️.
Universal Orlando Resort hotel and ticket packages
In addition to buying your Universal Orlando Resort tickets separately, you can also buy them alongside your Universal Orlando Resort hotel booking on AttractionTickets.com as part of a hotel and ticket package. Simply add the tickets as an extra during the hotel booking process.
The advantages of buying your Universal Orlando Resort tickets as part of a hotel and ticket package include:
- You’ll have all the booking confirmations in one place, so they’re easy to access
- You can cancel or change bookings for free
- It’s a straightforward booking process
- Bookings are fully protected by ABTOT
- You just pay a deposit upfront and then pay the rest in instalments, to help with budgeting
- You get early park admission when you stay at a Universal Orlando Resort hotel (valid park admission required)
- Stay close to the parks and enjoy free transport between the hotel and the parks
- Hotels with stunning theming, excellent facilities, and amazing service
- If you book a stay at Hard Rock Hotel®, Loews Portofino Bay Hotel, or Loews Royal Pacific Resort, you'll also get free Universal Express Unlimited Passes (with valid park admission) for Universal Studios Florida and Universal Islands of Adventure
- Most of our experts have stayed at Universal Orlando Resort hotels many times, so if you have any questions or need some advice, you can call, message or email us to ask before you book
How much are Universal Orlando Resort tickets?
The price of Universal Orlando Resort tickets depends on the type of ticket you buy and when you visit. Prices start from just £26 per day.
Ticket prices are more expensive during peak times. The cheapest times to visit are November, the beginning of December, January, and May. Prices can also increase if there are special events or new attractions are launched, as demand increases.
Do Universal Orlando Resort tickets go up in price?
You can often save money by booking your tickets in advance as the price of Universal Orlando Resort tickets can go up, nearer to the time you’re planning on visiting.
Prices are based on demand, so if you’re travelling during a busy time, your tickets will likely be more expensive. Some of the busiest times of year include spring break in the USA, Christmas, and school holidays. Quieter times include January and early September.
Top tips for buying Universal Orlando Resort tickets
Here’s some of our best advice for buying Universal Orlando Resort tickets.
- Keep an eye out for special offers
- Book as soon as you’re able to
- Avoid the busiest times of the year if you can
Other attractions in Orlando
In addition to Universal Orlando Resort, there’s plenty more to explore in Orlando. From learning more about space to meeting one of Florida’s most famous animal residents, there’s so much to do in the Sunshine State. Here are some of our favourites:
- Walt Disney World Resort in Florida - No trip to Orlando is complete without visiting the home of Mickey Mouse - Walt Disney World Resort. With four magical theme parks and two exciting water parks, there’s so much to do here, including incredible rides and attractions, Disney Characters, and unforgettable musical shows.
- Discovery Cove - Enjoy close-up animal encounters, snorkelling with tropical fish and stingrays, and relaxing on sandy beaches at Discovery Cove.
- SeaWorld Orlando - For sensational thrill rides and amazing marine animals, SeaWorld Orlando should be on your must-visit list.
- Busch Gardens Tampa Bay - Head outside of Orlando to Busch Gardens Tampa Bay. Here, you’ll find some of the world’s rarest animals, plus some of Florida’s wildest rides for an unforgettable day out.
- Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex - If you’d like to learn more about humankind’s exploration of space, talk to real astronauts, and take part in a simulated space launch, then a trip to Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex is for you.
- Gatorland - Gatorland Orlando is known as the Alligator Capital of the World and provides affordable family fun alongside thousands of alligators and crocodiles. There’s also an aviary, petting zoo, nature walk, and zipline. See you later, alligator!
Orlando Combination Ticket Packages
If you’re planning to visit more theme parks than just Universal Orlando Resort during your Orlando holiday, then it might be worth considering an Orlando Combination Ticket Package.
You can choose from combination tickets that include a couple of different theme park resorts or the Orlando Freedom Ticket™️ that gives you unlimited admission to all Disney Parks and four Universal Orlando parks, plus a single day at each of SeaWorld Orlando, Aquatica, and Busch Gardens Tampa Bay.
Start planning your trip to Universal Orlando Resort today!
Now you’ve got everything you need to know about Universal Orlando Resort tickets, it’s time to start planning your holiday. Browse our fantastic value Universal Orlando Resort tickets or book a Universal Resort hotel and ticket package to stay as close to the action as possible.
