“I wish I spent more money at Universal Studios Hollywood!”
I can’t imagine anyone has ever said these words before.
Below, you will learn 6 ways to purchase discounted tickets to Universal Studios Hollywood.
We will explore many options, including authorized resellers and some lesser-known strategies. I only included reputable options you can trust, so don’t expect me to recommend Craigslist or eBay to find Universal Studios tickets!
Lastly, before you begin, let me temper your expectations slightly. You are not going to receive massive discounts from any of the options below, such as 20% off or more, as this just isn’t possible. But as you will see, saving a bit of money without putting in much extra effort is definitely possible.
Where to Buy Discounted Universal Hollywood Tickets:
#1. Undercover Tourist
One of the best places to buy cheaper Universal Studios Hollywood tickets is Undercover Tourist!
They are known for their incredible customer service and generous REFUND policy. Here is how it works:
- You can return your Universal Hollywood tickets up to ONE YEAR after you buy them. This is a huge benefit, as even Universal doesn’t offer refunds if you purchase directly from them.
Below, you will see my comparison of buying Universal Studios Hollywood tickets from Undercover Tourist versus if you got them directly from Universal. I used the following assumptions:
- Single-day base park tickets for Saturday, April 13th.
- A family of four, including two children between the ages of 3-9.
For almost no extra effort, Undercover Tourist saves $26.86 for these tickets to Universal Hollywood!
Undercover Tourist provides peace of mind with no hidden fees or additional taxes. I even made sure to get to the end of the checkout process to ensure the $557.14 was the exact amount, and it was!
How can Undercover Tourist offer tickets for Universal Studios at a reduced price?
I thought these deals seemed too good to be true when I first found them. I would often get nervous and pay full price on the Universal Website because of this!
To get more comfortable with discount sites (and hopefully help you), I learned how Undercover Tourist provides their savings. Their system makes perfect sense: they purchase theme park tickets in large quantities, which gives them a discount. From there, Undercover Tourist resells them and passes those savings on to us! đŸ™‚
One important point is that Universal Studios Hollywood tickets purchased from Undercover Tourist have all the same benefits as those bought directly through Universal. Once you buy the tickets, just log in to your Universal Account and enter the numbers off your tickets to make reservations, etc.
#2. Get Away Today
Get Away Today is an Authorized Reseller for Universal Studios Hollywood, meaning you get extra peace of mind when buying these tickets!
As an authorized reseller, Get Away Today prides itself on its customer service. If you need to make a last-minute change or have additional questions, their travel experts are ready to help.
Trusting where you buy your tickets is incredibly important, which is one big reason Get Away Today is highly recommended. They’ve been around for over 30 years and help thousands of people save money annually on admission to Universal Hollywood.
The big question is, how much money can Get Away Today save you?
Well, it depends on many factors, including the length of your stay, how many people are in your party, and the type of ticket you want to purchase.
For example, I compared the prices of tickets to Universal Studios Hollywood with Get Away Today and if you bought them directly from Universal. Here are the assumptions I used:
- Single-day base park tickets for Saturday, April 13th.
- A family of four, including two children between the ages of 3-9.
As you can see, buying the tickets with Get Away Today instead of directly with Universal saves you $24!
One of the best things about Get Away Today is that taxes and fees are included in their price. So, in the above example, $560 is exactly what you would pay.
Finally, Universal tickets have the same benefits whether you purchase them from Universal or Get Away Today. Once you buy the tickets, just log in to your Universal Hollywood account and enter the numbers off your tickets to make reservations, etc.
Click HERE to see how much your Universal Hollywood tickets with Get Away Today will cost.
#3. Buy discounted tickets directly from Universal Studios Hollywood
Although buying Universal Studios Hollywood tickets elsewhere can be cheaper, Universal’s website is sometimes the BEST place to find a deal!
Universal Hollywood has a page titled “Theme Park Ticket Deals.” There are always a few specials that might fit what you are looking for perfectly! For example, on the particular date of this writing, these were the offers:
If your dates are flexible, or the deal happens to fit what you need perfectly, these are great options! Just remember there are usually date restrictions on the special deals Universal offers.
#4. Purchase an ANNUAL Pass!
Purchasing an Annual Pass may make sense if you plan on visiting Universal Studios Hollywood multiple times. In exchange for an annual fee, Passholders can visit the parks as often as they want throughout the year!
Without getting into complicated math, a California Neighbor (the cheapest option) typically pays for itself in three visits.Â
There are FOUR different pass options available from Universal Studios Hollywood. Head to this site to learn the benefits of each and see how much they cost.
In addition to admission to the theme parks, here are a few other benefits of purchasing an Annual Pass:
- Free or discounted standard parking at the theme parks.
- Discounts on certain restaurants, activities, special events, and merchandise.
- Special rates on Halloween Horror Nights.
#5. Government, Membership, or Corporate Discounts
You should check with your employer or any groups you might be associated with to see if they offer discounted Universal Studios Hollywood tickets.
Especially in the case of large corporations, there is usually a long list of businesses where employees get discounts. This can include cell phone plans, restaurants, and, yes, even theme parks!
Regarding memberships, two popular options include buying tickets with AAA or Sam’s Club.
Honestly, though, the discount tickets you can buy through Get Away Today, Undercover Tourist, or Universal Hollywood are usually comparable or better in price. So, if you want to save time, I think it’s easier to buy your tickets through one of these options.
#6. Discounted tickets for members of the military!
As a thank you, Universal Hollywood offers people who served in the United States military discounts and specials.
To see the current savings and specials, you will need to head to this page on Universal’s website. They have a variety of ticket, package, and accommodation options that can work with any budget or vacation plan!
To purchase these tickets, you need to head to your nearest US military sales outlet.
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As you shop for discounted tickets to Universal Studios Hollywood, here are a few things to keep in mind:
- Make sure you compare the prices of tickets in a few different places. You never know who will have the best rates for the days you plan on visiting.
- When you compare the prices of Universal Hollywood tickets, it’s important that you use the EXACT same dates. This is because ticket prices vary by start date, depending on the time of the year and how busy the parks are expected to be.
- It’s also important to ensure you select the same TYPE of ticket as you compare prices. For example, it’s very easy to choose a standard park ticket in one place and then click on a Universal Express option elsewhere, which makes it impossible to know which tickets are cheaper!
- Children under the age of 3 are FREE, but think about the age your kids will be when you visit. Children between the ages of 3 and 9 qualify for a child ticket, while anyone ten or older requires an adult ticket.
- Typically, the more days you plan to visit Universal Studios Hollywood, the bigger the discounts you can expect.
- It is almost always best to buy tickets as far in advance as possible. Doing this allows you to lock in the current prices and avoid future increases. Trust me, decreases in ticket prices are incredibly rare, so you shouldn’t wait around hoping for a better deal.
- Buying tickets at the gate on the day of your visit will always be the most expensive.
Where is your favorite place to buy discounted Universal Studios Hollywood tickets?
Let us know what you think in the COMMENTS below!
