Cost of Universal for 1 day

[AR81]

So we currently have a 6 day package at Disney booked in August. I tentatively planned to go to Universal for one day. I know we wont be able to see everything and starting to question the cost. I assume the park to park tickets are a must if you want to see the highlights of both parks. It will cost over $600 for our tickets not counting the cost of the uber or taxi. Do you feel its worth it? I keep going back and forth because I am not sure when we will be back, possibly 2018 but not sure. And I really feel like we are missing something amazing by not going. We have been to Universal once before many years ago. Anyone else find themselves trying to fit in Universal despite the extra cost?

 

[nacho113]

It's $155 for a one day park to park ticket and if your visiting in the summer, you probably won't even have time to "hit the highlights" let alone enjoy what Universal has to offer.
For an August visit a 2 or even 3 day Universal ticket would be needed to really enjoy the parks.

If it were me I'd drop a Disney day and spend a couple of days at Universal
OR
forget Universal on this trip altogether, since one day isn't enough at this time of the year

 

[Upatnoon]

So we currently have a 6 day package at Disney booked in August. I tentatively planned to go to Universal for one day. I know we wont be able to see everything and starting to question the cost. I assume the park to park tickets are a must if you want to see the highlights of both parks. It will cost over $600 for our tickets not counting the cost of the uber or taxi. Do you feel its worth it? I keep going back and forth because I am not sure when we will be back, possibly 2018 but not sure. And I really feel like we are missing something amazing by not going. We have been to Universal once before many years ago. Anyone else find themselves trying to fit in Universal despite the extra cost?

The Universal parks are great, especially the Harry Potter areas. Have you considered doing a Universal trip and skipping Disney? The reality is, the way these parks charge for admission they want you to pick one or the other.

 

[100AcreWood]

The Harry Potter area is totally worth it. We did not enjoy the other park and will not return.

 

[StitchesGr8Fan]

The Harry Potter area is totally worth it. We did not enjoy the other park and will not return.

There is a Harry Potter area in both parks.

 

[pcstang]

I would skip Universal on this trip. As a few have already suggested, plan a Universal only trip and stay onsite at one of the three deluxe hotels. You get express passes and it is a much more relaxed vacation.

 

[nacho113]

When we stay onsite at WDW we usually purchase length of stay tickets, but really when you look at it, there are only 4 parks.
Ticket prices reflect this, each additional day beyond the first 4 is a very minimal upcharge (4 day hopper is $394, 5 day - $409, 6 day $424).

Universal is similar, 2 day park to park cost is $220, 3 day is only $230 and 4 day $240

With your 6 day package, you are basically doing the 4 parks then revisiting 2 of them just because you have the tickets.

We are big Harry Potter fans and like Universal's style of rides/simulators so we usually spend 2 or 3 days at Universal and cut back on our WDW days.

If you haven't done Universal since the Harry Potter areas opened, I'd definitely pencil in a couple of days even if it means giving up one of those extra (re-visit) days to a Disney park.
It's not like you are loosing tons of money if you drop one of your Disney days.
Unless you need the full Disney fix

 

[kohlby]

If you can only do one day and want to save money, then you can pick one side and not go over to the other side. It will be tough to do a lot in both sides with the crowds and being off-site at a hotel without express. Years ago, we did do one day at IOA, as we couldn't stay away and it was supposed to be a Disney-only trip. That was back when Harry Potter was only on one side - but it being on both doesn't mean you need to do both. I'd do one day at Universal - look up both sides to see which one interests you more - and plan on making some time for both sides (and hopping to use the train) on a later trip.

 

[KnittingMom]

When we stay onsite at WDW we usually purchase length of stay tickets, but really when you look at it, there are only 4 parks.
Ticket prices reflect this, each additional day beyond the first 4 is a very minimal upcharge (4 day hopper is $394, 5 day - $409, 6 day $424).

Universal is similar, 2 day park to park cost is $220, 3 day is only $230 and 4 day $240

With your 6 day package, you are basically doing the 4 parks then revisiting 2 of them just because you have the tickets.

We are big Harry Potter fans and like Universal's style of rides/simulators so we usually spend 2 or 3 days at Universal and cut back on our WDW days.

If you haven't done Universal since the Harry Potter areas opened, I'd definitely pencil in a couple of days even if it means giving up one of those extra (re-visit) days to a Disney park.
It's not like you are loosing tons of money if you drop one of your Disney days.
Unless you need the full Disney fix

It depends on how much down time your family needs. I we did 6 straight dawn to fireworks in a day, my family would be nuts. We're in the parks when they open, gone for at least 4 hours to swim and relax, and then back in the evenings.