Am I missing something?

[patm95]

Hello. I’ve never been to universal but have always heard it’s cheaper than Disney. I have a work trip scheduled so I thought I would check it out. I go on the app to purchase tickets and for a single 2 park day they want 200 bucks! On top of that if I want to add on an express pass it is another 270!

is there another place to get tickets or are they just generally that expensive? Perhaps Bob Chapek recently got a job there? Lol.

 

[buzzrelly]

Hello. I’ve never been to universal but have always heard it’s cheaper than Disney. I have a work trip scheduled so I thought I would check it out. I go on the app to purchase tickets and for a single 2 park day they want 200 bucks! On top of that if I want to add on an express pass it is another 270!

is there another place to get tickets or are they just generally that expensive? Perhaps Bob Chapek recently got a job there? Lol.

That seems to be the narrative about UO, but in my experience, I’ve always found them to be at least as expensive and sometimes more expensive that Disney because they don’t offer as many discounts.

For example, I was pricing a vacation for April and RPR was 800-900/night. That same time frame at WDW, Beach Club is 609/night with my AP discount. It was an easy choice.

 

[DoryGirl1963]

Just like with Disney, the longer you go/the more days you go the more economical it is - the one day tickets at either are a killer .

 

[keishashadow]

Just like with Disney, the longer you go/the more days you go the more economical it is - the one day tickets at either are a killer .

Especially, if you add on park to park

is there another place to get tickets or are they just generally that expensive?

not that I personally recommend swimming with the sharks…

Do believe some TS operators still give promotional tix as ‘an incentive’ for sitting thru their spiel

 

[maverik85]

Hello. I’ve never been to universal but have always heard it’s cheaper than Disney. I have a work trip scheduled so I thought I would check it out. I go on the app to purchase tickets and for a single 2 park day they want 200 bucks! On top of that if I want to add on an express pass it is another 270!

is there another place to get tickets or are they just generally that expensive? Perhaps Bob Chapek recently got a job there? Lol.

This still overall comes out cheaper than Disney depending on day. Looking over the next few months, single day park hoppers at Disney start around $237.00. Disney doesn't really have an equivalent option to the Express Pass to do a true comparison, but considering it can be $20+ to skip a single ride, I'd imagine an unlimited lightning lane pass to skip a vast majority of rides wouldn't be any less at Disney than an Express Pass.

Overall I do still find Universal to be a cheaper option, it's just not drastically cheaper. I big part of the allure for some people is the ease and relaxing nature of a visit compared to Disney versus just price difference.

That seems to be the narrative about UO, but in my experience, I’ve always found them to be at least as expensive and sometimes more expensive that Disney because they don’t offer as many discounts.

For example, I was pricing a vacation for April and RPR was 800-900/night. That same time frame at WDW, Beach Club is 609/night with my AP discount. It was an easy choice.

Not really a fair comparison for most as you are comparing a normal rate versus a discounted rate that many wouldn't have. Doing a quick search, the cheapest night I could find for a basic, standard view room at Beach Club was over $730 on a Tuesday night, and most nights were in the $800-$950 range for that. So similar to RPR, except the only real perk is the pool there versus free Express Passes (which OP stated can run over $250 a piece) for your entire stay at RPR. So if looking at it that way Universal still comes out the better deal.
But as I said while cheaper, it's still not a cheap trip either way.

 

[georgina]

That seems to be the narrative about UO, but in my experience, I’ve always found them to be at least as expensive and sometimes more expensive that Disney because they don’t offer as many discounts.

For example, I was pricing a vacation for April and RPR was 800-900/night. That same time frame at WDW, Beach Club is 609/night with my AP discount. It was an easy choice.

And I can get Portofino Bay in March for $347/night with an AP discount. Not really relevant. Disney resorts are generally not a good value for me, unless I am using Marriott free night certificates at the Swan.

Single day tickets are always expensive. Express pass for one person is generally not needed with all the SR lines.

 

[patm95]

All very good points from everyone. Especially about the SR line. I guess all these YouTubers that bash Disney with comparison to Universal gave me some unreal expectations. I've never been to Universal so I would like to give it a go and just get my own opinion of it. Then I can make a decision if it is worth bringing my family here sometime in the future. Although when Super Nintendo World comes online, I am sure my son will want to go regardless. lol

 

[Jrb1979]

Universal does offer the buy 2 days get 2 days free option a lot and that I find worth it.

 

[Jrb1979]

The biggest reason I like Universal more is that you don't have to reserve your park, reserve any rides and rarely have to reserve dinner plans.

 

[patm95]

Universal does offer the buy 2 days get 2 days free option a lot and that I find worth it.

Yes, I wanted to do that originally, as I could go there in the evenings after the meeting. But of course with my luck that promotion is not available the weekend I will be in town.

 

[wdwrule]

I find UO can be more conveniently ‘cheaper’ especially if you take the route: at least one in the party gets a UO annual pass for hotel/food/merch discounts (or at least for just the hotel discounts alone) and also staying at RPR or similar hotel that includes unlimited EP for everyone in the room check-in AND check-out days (or split stay to get some days with EP).

 

[buzzrelly]

And I can get Portofino Bay in March for $347/night with an AP discount. Not really relevant.

Good for you, but I'm not sure how you say my point is "not really relevant," when we are comparing costs of Disney and Universal. It's factual information and very relevant to this discussion.

 

[Skywalker3]

1-2 day tickets are so pricey at both parks. We did 2 day park hopper tickets at Disney last Oct, and they were almost $400 (still waiting on APs to go back on sale.......)Savings start really showing up at both parks the more days you add. And when figuring cost for Universal, I think it's good to factor in 1 person buying an AP, even if just seasonal, if the dates aren't blacked out. Hotel discounts for AP rates may become available, and could save a lot of money. The AP we had last year for Universal for the kids started as seasonal, cost less than the 2 day tickets we paid at WDW. We've never considered packages at Universal, as they were always more than getting tickets/room separately.
Hope you can find a deal that works though, Universal is so much fun!!!

 

[wdwrule]

Good for you, but I'm not sure how you say my point is "not really relevant," when we are comparing costs of Disney and Universal. It's factual information and very relevant to this discussion.

I think the poster meant not really relevant as far as comparing fairly: if one is comparing Disney AP hotel rate with UO hotel rate, then it’s only fair to compare with UO AP rate… apples to apples. I don’t believe UO AP April rates have been released yet.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

ANY theme park you go to 1 day is often cost prohibitive. Adding more days starts to bring the costs down.

Yes EP can be quite pricey (which I would probably go with the Unlimited personally) but there is a reason for that. And you're not going to find Universal different than other parks out there in terms of their skip the line pricing in relation to what the park tickets cost.

There are 3rd party resellers you can purchase through.

If you were going more than one day for at least the cost of the EP I would have suggested checking into the availability and pricing of one of the Premier hotels as EP (Unlimited) is included in that for those staying in the room from check in to check out day. 1 night therefore nets you 2 days of EP. That doesn't solve the ticket cost portion but just putting that out there if you were going more than 1 day.

 

[Rick195275]

I think the poster meant not really relevant as far as comparing fairly: if one is comparing Disney AP hotel rate with UO hotel rate, then it’s only fair to compare with UO AP rate… apples to apples. I don’t believe UO AP April rates have been released yet.

AP rates are out through April, unfortunately the weeks around Easter have still seen no discounts. I think thats the week @buzzrelly is looking at too since we’ve been in the April thread and are going the same time. I’ve been looking at rates for both the 2 weeks around Easter and while both are insane for standard rooms universal has been more on most deluxe categories. I do agree in that I usually do find much more reasonable AP rates through universal over Disney but that wasn’t the case this go round.

 

[buzzrelly]

AP rates are out through April, unfortunately the weeks around Easter have still seen no discounts. I think thats the week @buzzrelly is looking at too since we’ve been in the April thread and are going the same time. I’ve been looking at rates for both the 2 weeks around Easter and while both are insane for standard rooms universal has been more on most deluxe categories. I do agree in that I usually do find much more reasonable AP rates through universal over Disney but that wasn’t the case this go round.

You are correct. I was looking at a few days before Easter and would have bought an AP at UO if it had made sense, but since there were no discounts, I didn't and added on to our stay at Disney.

 

[wdwrule]

AP rates are out through April, unfortunately the weeks around Easter have still seen no discounts. I think thats the week @buzzrelly is looking at too since we’ve been in the April thread and are going the same time. I’ve been looking at rates for both the 2 weeks around Easter and while both are insane for standard rooms universal has been more on most deluxe categories. I do agree in that I usually do find much more reasonable AP rates through universal over Disney but that wasn’t the case this go round.

Oh ok. I was wondering why I didn’t see any available AP April rates for a quick check in. I didn’t look at the whole month though. AP rates are typically better than the Be a Savvy Traveler rates.

 

[Rick195275]

You are correct. I was looking at a few days before Easter and would have bought an AP at UO if it had made sense, but since there were no discounts, I didn't and added on to our stay at Disney.

Completely understand, I had the APs already or probably would have done the same. I’m currently holding 1 night in a deluxe and haven’t dropped the night from our Disney reservation.... having a hard time justifying the price of the room just for the express.

Oh ok. I was wondering why I didn’t see any available AP April rates for a quick check in. I didn’t look at the whole month though. AP rates are typically better than the Be a Savvy Traveler rates.

Yeah I saw some rates for the last 2 weeks of April but nothing for any days the first 2 weeks because of Easter. Really disappointed especially because there seems to be a ton availability across all rooms so I keep checking and hoping lol. Seems to be a lot of availability across most room types and we are getting pretty close so maybe they will add some late

 

[keishashadow]

Doing a quick search, the cheapest night I could find for a basic, standard view room at Beach Club was over $730 on a Tuesday night, and most nights were in the $800-$950 range for that. So similar to RPR, except the only real perk is the pool there versus free Express Passes (which OP stated can run over $250 a piece) for your entire stay at RPR

I’ve always championed the deluxe properties at U as true deluxe resorts. grit my teeth when people complain about Cabana Bay not being the same as a WDW deluxe…apples to apples needs to apply

Not sure I’d compare RPR (which oddly has different classification by Loews vs HRH & PB) or even the other WDW deluxe resorts with the Beach Club. It’s always been ‘a hot property’. Difficult to book both thru DVC & CRO. However, it’s true That the base rooms in deluxe properties at WDW are generally at least $200 more a night than U’s equivalent properties (which also have FOTL perk).

As in all things, value is in the eye of the beholder

PS if you look at previous AP rates, rarely have they included the holidays. Just too many last minute guests booking, as no need.