3 day Christmas Trip to Universal Florida $7000- Are These Prices Normal?

[Anonymous]

Hello everyone,

I'm planning a 3-night, 3-day trip to Universal Studios in Florida this Christmas, flying out from DCA, and I'm experiencing some sticker shock with the prices. I don't recall it being this expensive in the past, even before the pandemic. I would love to get your opinions on whether these costs seem typical or if I might be overlooking more economical options.

Here's the breakdown:

- Accommodation: Either 2 hotel rooms for $1,800 total or an Airbnb for $1,400.
- Universal Tickets: $1,700 for 3 days.
- Express Passes: An additional $2,400.
- Airfare: $1,900 for regular economy.

This puts my total at $6,800 - $7,200, depending on whether we choose a hotel or Airbnb. Does this range sound about right for a trip like this during the holiday season? I'd appreciate any insights or tips on how to maybe reduce these costs without compromising too much on the experience.

Thanks in advance!

[Anonymous]

I'm surprised that prices are so high at such a quiet travel time like Christmas week.

$350/day/person to go to Universal, and going 3 days.

What there is worth that?

[Anonymous]

The hotel and airfare costs seem about right to me. The Express passes part is blowing my mind though. That’s more than the park tickets! And you haven’t added in food yet.

[Anonymous]

It's more economical if you don't buy the express passes.

[Anonymous]

Why do you need 3 days of express passes? If you have the pass 1 day that's more than enough time to get everything done. Why do you need 3 days?

[Anonymous]

Everything looks reasonable except the Universal and Express Passes. There is no way getting around the Universal tix. What are Express Passes? I assume it’s a go to the front of the line purchase? $2,400 is an awful lot of money for this.

Your airfare and hotel costs look pretty reasonable.

[Anonymous]

Is this price per person? Or for a group?

[Anonymous]

OP, why do you need two rooms for 4 people? For 3 nights, can't you squeeze into one room? Dh and I did that with our two teenage boys.

What's the cost for staying in one of the resorts where Express Passes are included? Bc those are also closer and easier to get to/from the parks.

[Anonymous]

This is one reason why I travel internationally for my vacations. It's too expensive to travel within the US, prices are insane. Cheaper to go overseas

[Anonymous]

Yes, Op, Universal has now become more expensive than Disney. It wasn’t this way 20- 30 years ago. They have priced themselves quite high after Harry Potter’s Wizarding World was built. To ride the Hogwarts train, you need to buy a 2-park admission ticket which is much more expensive. And who wouldn’t want to ride the train and take the whole experience when you aren’t going to US very frequently or maybe not again in the near future? You want the full experience. So, customers get conned into the higher price tickets. Moreover, who wants to stand in long lines on their measly 3 days in the parks? So, again we rationalize to get Express passes. It is, what it is. And, you will have fun. But, this year was the first year that I found staying at Disney to be cheaper than Universal. For decades Universal has been taking cues from Disney—slowing adding more parks, adding hotel/resort after hotel, connecting everything seamlessly with transportation, trying to convince the consumer to stay multiple days at their parks, etc. In fact, both parks become very cheap, you start spending 7 days there—that’s where the savings pops in, the savings is not in a 3-4 day trip unfortunately.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, Op, Universal has now become more expensive than Disney. It wasn’t this way 20- 30 years ago. They have priced themselves quite high after Harry Potter’s Wizarding World was built. To ride the Hogwarts train, you need to buy a 2-park admission ticket which is much more expensive. And who wouldn’t want to ride the train and take the whole experience when you aren’t going to US very frequently or maybe not again in the near future? You want the full experience. So, customers get conned into the higher price tickets. Moreover, who wants to stand in long lines on their measly 3 days in the parks? So, again we rationalize to get Express passes. It is, what it is. And, you will have fun. But, this year was the first year that I found staying at Disney to be cheaper than Universal. For decades Universal has been taking cues from Disney—slowing adding more parks, adding hotel/resort after hotel, connecting everything seamlessly with transportation, trying to convince the consumer to stay multiple days at their parks, etc. In fact, both parks become very cheap, you start spending 7 days there—that’s where the savings pops in, the savings is not in a 3-4 day trip unfortunately.

If your eyes are watering at paying for 3 days worth of express passes, it's a perk you can't afford. Wait in line like everyone else.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hello everyone,

I'm planning a 3-night, 3-day trip to Universal Studios in Florida this Christmas, flying out from DCA, and I'm experiencing some sticker shock with the prices. I don't recall it being this expensive in the past, even before the pandemic. I would love to get your opinions on whether these costs seem typical or if I might be overlooking more economical options.

Here's the breakdown:

- Accommodation: Either 2 hotel rooms for $1,800 total or an Airbnb for $1,400.
- Universal Tickets: $1,700 for 3 days.
- Express Passes: An additional $2,400.
- Airfare: $1,900 for regular economy.

This puts my total at $6,800 - $7,200, depending on whether we choose a hotel or Airbnb. Does this range sound about right for a trip like this during the holiday season? I'd appreciate any insights or tips on how to maybe reduce these costs without compromising too much on the experience.

Thanks in advance!

I don't find it shocking. Universal tickets are insanely expensive. We just went and did not get the Express Passes because the cost was simply too much. I'd see if you can find a package through AAA or Costco. You probably won't save a ton, but some. I'd also do as much Universal research as you can. We paid for the park to park tickets for two days, but could have done without that or paid for it for one day to ride the Hogwarts Express once.

Since we didn't get Express Passes I don't know the answer to this, but do you all need them? What are the rides you want to ride again and again? We are family of four and only my older child and spouse will ride all the roller coasters - and even then not all of them. Is everyone in your party going to ride Hulk, Velocicoaster, Hagrid multiple times?

One tip I will give you is that the Mythos restaurant is good and the prices are very reasonable for what it is. We were able to walk in, but you can do reservations there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, why do you need two rooms for 4 people? For 3 nights, can't you squeeze into one room? Dh and I did that with our two teenage boys.

What's the cost for staying in one of the resorts where Express Passes are included? Bc those are also closer and easier to get to/from the parks.

I was wondering the same about two rooms for four people. That said $1800 for two rooms for three nights isn’t bad for Orlando, at Christmas. We typically can’t afford two rooms, but will upgrade to a suite. The Express Pass is the cost I couldn’t stomach. For $2400, I’m ok with waiting in line.

[Anonymous]

We’ll be in Ca for Xmas-NYE. I priced Universal Hollywood and nope, not doing it. I figure there will be a long weekend sometime that isn’t a holiday and we can go back then.

[Anonymous]

Yes I’ve heard that universal is super expensive with the express passes. Your hotel actually sounds pretty cheap to me. $300/night?