Epic Universe Poll

[patm95]

Family wanted to add universal to our upcoming Disney trip. 1day universal. 1 overnight (2rooms royal pacific) 2nd day at Epic. The cost was just under $5k . I thought that was a lot....

Omg. That’s another thing. A lot of act like universal is cheaper but it really isn’t

 

[ML_LovesDisney]

Family wanted to add universal to our upcoming Disney trip. 1day universal. 1 overnight (2rooms royal pacific) 2nd day at Epic. The cost was just under $5k . I thought that was a lot....

Omg. That’s another thing. A lot of act like universal is cheaper but it really isn’t

Glad you both said this because sometimes I feel like missing something when people say Universal is cheaper and I've never found that to be the case.

 

[stat]

Glad you both said this because sometimes I feel like missing something when people say Universal is cheaper and I've never found that to be the case.

I think it depend on how close you are to booking and how many days you go. But for short trips in specific hotels, it's comparable to Disney as Jelly563 found out.

If you book well ahead of time, visit for 3-5 park days, and are flexible on hotels, it's almost certainly going to be cheaper than Disney.

• Tickets: 1-2 day tickets are around the same price as Disney but beyond that the pricing plateaus quickly especially when they run their "buy 2/3 days get 3/2 days free" deals. There's also way less of premium on park hopping for Universal tickets.
• Lodging: If you don't stay at a Premier hotel the rates are comparable or cheaper than Disney. Right now there's a room at Cabana Bay that sleeps 6 people for ~$230 a night in November. Regarding Premier hotels (the ones with express passes included), we've stayed at Royal Pacific for $400 a night for 2 nights. Great deal IMO- BLT level walking distance and unlimited express passes for 5 people for 3 days. You'd need to add in the cost of LLMP for a fair comparison to Disney; technically, you'd need to compare to the LLPP. In November we're staying at the Grand Helios which we booked several months ago for $440 a night. Current rates are $850+ for the same nights, so they've definitely jacked up their prices. Royal Pacific is even higher! Strangely, Hard Rock and Portofino Bay (the other two Premier hotels that include free express passes) were a few hundred cheaper per night (normally they're more expensive than RP), so always be sure to price shop.

 

[ML_LovesDisney]

I think it depend on how close you are to booking and how many days you go. But for short trips in specific hotels, it's comparable to Disney as Jelly563 found out.

If you book well ahead of time, visit for 3-5 park days, and are flexible on hotels, it's almost certainly going to be cheaper than Disney.

• Tickets: 1-2 day tickets are around the same price as Disney but beyond that the pricing plateaus quickly especially when they run their "buy 2/3 days get 3/2 days free" deals. There's also way less of premium on park hopping for Universal tickets.
• Lodging: If you don't stay at a Premier hotel the rates are comparable or cheaper than Disney. Right now there's a room at Cabana Bay that sleeps 6 people for ~$230 a night in November. Regarding Premier hotels (the ones with express passes included), we've stayed at Royal Pacific for $400 a night for 2 nights. Great deal IMO- BLT level walking distance and unlimited express passes for 5 people for 3 days. You'd need to add in the cost of LLMP for a fair comparison to Disney; technically, you'd need to compare to the LLPP. In November we're staying at the Grand Helios which we booked several months ago for $440 a night. Current rates are $850+ for the same nights, so they've definitely jacked up their prices. Royal Pacific is even higher! Strangely, Hard Rock and Portofino Bay (the other two Premier hotels that include free express passes) were a few hundred cheaper per night (normally they're more expensive than RP), so always be sure to price shop.

Thanks for breakdown. I just can't see myself ever staying there for 3-5 days. I don't like it enough to spend almost a whole trip there, so we're definitely stuck with the higher 1-2 day prices. I priced out a 2-3 day trip for 6 of us and it was well over $6000.

 

[disneydreamer1980]

We’re staying 3 nights at US (Royal Pacific) before our upcoming Disney trip (11 nights). We’re doing 1 day at each of the three parks, including Epic before moving over to the Poly for our Disney trip. We’re looking forward to Epic so much! That being said, it is expensive and we find prices to be very in-line with Disney. We get our tickets off the UK attraction tickets site (we’re American) which really helps with cost though.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Omg. That’s another thing. A lot of act like universal is cheaper but it really isn’t

Their tickets are usually where the biggest savings come into play, more like the number of days where you see a good amount of savings is lower at Universal than at Disney. Typically 6+ days are needed to get more value at Disney, at Universal about half that. Although Universal is actively trying to increase the number of days someone vacations there, it started with Volcano Bay and is more candid with Epic where they stated they are wanting longer trips by people.

Many, and I truly do mean many, posters who are primarily Disney people complain about the costs of Universal but are only going 1 maybe 2 days and then they wonder why the costs are so high. Like seriously that is how almost all parks are formulated that one to two days are much more expensive. It's just theses posters are used to their longer Disney trips and want to wade in the waters of Universal with most of the time giving far less days at Universal, hence the costs seem higher. This is also why people complain about Epic 1-day tickets but forget what a 1-day ticket to Disney would cost.

 

[AstroBlasters]

Omg. That’s another thing. A lot of act like universal is cheaper but it really isn’t

Disney is also ludicrously expensive for 1-3 days and then the cost curve per additional day starts to plummet…. so it makes a 5-7 day + trip seem not as bad when you already have the cost of lodging paid for. Adding on an additional 1-2 day Universal park with express pass is restarting at the bottom of that cost curve…. $$$$$

 

[JackosinDIS]

We’re staying 3 nights at US (Royal Pacific) before our upcoming Disney trip (11 nights). We’re doing 1 day at each of the three parks, including Epic before moving over to the Poly for our Disney trip. We’re looking forward to Epic so much! That being said, it is expensive and we find prices to be very in-line with Disney. We get our tickets off the UK attraction tickets site (we’re American) which really helps with cost though.

This is the way to do it… UK tickets are great value if you are going a 7+ day stay.

 

[Brian Noble]

when you already have the cost of lodging paid for

"Pay no attention to that five- (or six-)figure purchase behind the curtain!"

 

[zavandor]

Thanks for breakdown. I just can't see myself ever staying there for 3-5 days. I don't like it enough to spend almost a whole trip there, so we're definitely stuck with the higher 1-2 day prices. I priced out a 2-3 day trip for 6 of us and it was well over $6000.

Being DVC I haven't checked the cost of hotels in a while. How much would cost 2 rooms at the Poly for 2 nights + 3 days tickets + LLMP and LLSP for all attractions in 3 parks? I'd be surprised if it's not comparable. (And I'm not counting that unlimited express is much better than LL).

I guess the fact that Epic is not bundled with the other parks yet (and basically requires a single ticket or a huge premium over the parkhoppers for the other parks) helps to increase the total. Buying a 2 days tickets + 1 day at Disney would cost much more than one 3 days ticket.

 

[hardcorestitch]

I wonder if anyone happened to just cancel Epic altogether after that poor Kissimmee man’s coaster death on Stardust Racers…

 

[ML_LovesDisney]

Being DVC I haven't checked the cost of hotels in a while. How much would cost 2 rooms at the Poly for 2 nights + 3 days tickets + LLMP and LLSP for all attractions in 3 parks? I'd be surprised if it's not comparable. (And I'm not counting that unlimited express is much better than LL).

I guess the fact that Epic is not bundled with the other parks yet (and basically requires a single ticket or a huge premium over the parkhoppers for the other parks) helps to increase the total. Buying a 2 days tickets + 1 day at Disney would cost much more than one 3 days ticket.

That’s the thing though, being DVC I would not pay for rooms at Disney in cash, therefore for a DVC member, makes Universal wayyy more expensive. In 2017, we stayed at the Hard Rock at universal and the room was TINY. We said the we would never stay in a Loew’s hotel again (also stayed at another one in Cali, also tiny). I think the Loew’s hotels are the only ones that include EP? Could be wrong. I’ve only stayed at the Hard rock, but I would say not comparable at all to Disney resorts. I’m also perfectly happy with LL so not sure why Express Pass is better for the extremely high cost. You’re right though, adding the Epic adds cost because it’s not bundled. Adding express pass for $200 a day times 6 people is also astronomical any way I look at it.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I’m also perfectly happy with LL so not sure why Express Pass is better for the extremely high cost.

Because Unlimited EP (that which is included in Royal Pacific, Portofino and Hard Rock) allow for unlimited rides with no pre-planning involved. Once through EP the limitation is once through the attraction but is still with no pre-planning. You just walk up to the attraction or show anytime you want, unlimited version allows you to ride or see the show as many times as you want.

While you may be personally content with LL at Disney no product has been able to compare fully to Unlimited EP which provides the ultimate flexibility for guests. Even Disney's newest product of LLPP still doesn't allow for unlimited riding, it's still once through (and can absolutely be more expensive than Unlimited EP).

 

[zavandor]

That’s the thing though, being DVC I would not pay for rooms at Disney in cash, therefore for a DVC member, makes Universal wayyy more expensive. In 2017, we stayed at the Hard Rock at universal and the room was TINY. We said the we would never stay in a Loew’s hotel again (also stayed at another one in Cali, also tiny). I think the Loew’s hotels are the only ones that include EP? Could be wrong. I’ve only stayed at the Hard rock, but I would say not comparable at all to Disney resorts. I’m also perfectly happy with LL so not sure why Express Pass is better for the extremely high cost. You’re right though, adding the Epic adds cost because it’s not bundled. Adding express pass for $200 a day times 6 people is also astronomical any way I look at it.

It is absolutely true that DVC has spoiled us. I usually get a studio when I travel solo, but this time I got a 1BR because my sister and nephew visited with me. Going to Universal Dockside Inn after that was difficult
And I even got a 2 bedroom rormai at Dockside, but still wasn't comparable. However, it cost me on average $179 a night, which for a 2BR and an onsite hotel is not too bad.
Visiting a park with an unlimited express is a real VIP experience. And not it includes Hagrid!

My point is, it's not true that Universal is more expensive, if we compare similar things (same level of hotels, ticket type and services). Of course if one doesn't pay for the hotel* it's a different matter.

* ignoring the tens of thousands spent on the contract and the yearly MF.