Universal ticket prices, cheaper at Costco or Mousesavers?

[roliepolieoliefan]

We don't have a Costco membership, but could get one if we needed to. I heard somewhere Universal tickets were cheaper at Costco.
I looked through Mousesavers which saves us about $20 what it would cost if I bought them at the gate.

Are the Costco tickets cheaper? Are Universal tickets always sold at Costco?

 

[glocon]

I think that the reason people like the Costco tickets is that you get 3 days to use over a period of 2 or 3 years. That way if you go mostly to WDW you would not have to purchase the expensive 1 day ticket, but the Costco one, and use it again the next year when you go back to WDW.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[mousegear]

The current Costco's Universal Tix is 3 day park to park for next 3 years (which expires 12/31/2015). You could use a day hear and another next year so forth until you use it up. It's a good deal for our family since we are only planning to use it for a day this year. The current Universal's one day-two park tix is 122.95 for adults and 113.95 for child at UT. So people like me who only plan to visit for a day/trip it's a money saver. However, people who plan to visit all three days during their trip, Costco's ticket does not save especially for child's tix. By the way, the Costco's tix is $145. So basically you are only paying about $50 per one day 2 park.

 

[Hawk]

However, people who plan to visit all three days during their trip, Costco's ticket does not save especially for child's tix. By the way, the Costco's tix is $145. So basically you are only paying about $50 per one day 2 park.

Hi Rolie:

I am not sure I understand the above reasoning.

We bought the Costco tickets this year. The price per Costco ticket was $147.00 total (which included taxes) for 3 full days unlimited - meaning they can be used for any three days until 12/31/2015.

That is less than you would pay for regular park tickets for either an adult ($162.96) or child ($150.18) at the park. These are 3 day tickets which expire 14 days after first use.

Mousesavers using the undercover tourist code would be adult ($146.95) or child ($137.95) which expire 14 days after first use or the unlimited would be adult ($176.95) or child ($160.95).

An additional benefit is that you have the tickets in hand, which means "peace of mind" and - no voucher and no 8x11 piece of paper to produce each time you go to the parks.

To me it was worth getting them early. You don't need to be a Costco member to get these tickets. Go to the customer counter and get a guest pass for the day. It is no charge for the day. If that doesn't work, find a friend that is a Costco member and have them buy it for you.

Good Luck.

Tim/Hawk

 

[poeticdiabetic]

I bought the Costco tickets last year and went for two days in 2011. It was great because I went with extended family.

This year, we're going to WDW for 5 days, starting May 29th. But we live in the Atlanta area and we are planning on renting a car and driving down. That means we will be starting the rental on a Saturday, but will not arrive at WDW until that next Tuesday. That means we will have this rental car for 3 days before our WDW arrival.

So guess what we're going to do: We are looking at driving down early Sunday morning, booking a cheap hotel and spend one day at US/IOA and another day shopping, eating Giordano's pizza (the VERY, VERY best pizza in the entire world!!! ) and hanging out in Orlando. On early Tuesday morning, we will check out of that cheap hotel, ride the few miles to WDW by 8AM and be on a WDW bus headed to DHS by 8:30AM!

To me, it's the best of both worlds and without those Costco tickets, we couldn't have gotten it done. As a matter of fact, we're thinking about booking a cruise next year. If we do, we will purchase some Costco tickets and visit US/IOA before our cruise starts.

 

[TheWog]

Hi Rolie:

I am not sure I understand the above reasoning.

We bought the Costco tickets this year. The price per Costco ticket was $147.00 total (which included taxes) for 3 full days unlimited - meaning they can be used for any three days until 12/31/2015.

That is less than you would pay for regular park tickets for either an adult ($162.96) or child ($150.18) at the park. These are 3 day tickets which expire 14 days after first use.

Mousesavers using the undercover tourist code would be adult ($146.95) or child ($137.95) which expire 14 days after first use or the unlimited would be adult ($176.95) or child ($160.95).

An additional benefit is that you have the tickets in hand, which means "peace of mind" and - no voucher and no 8x11 piece of paper to produce each time you go to the parks.

To me it was worth getting them early. You don't need to be a Costco member to get these tickets. Go to the customer counter and get a guest pass for the day. It is no charge for the day. If that doesn't work, find a friend that is a Costco member and have them buy it for you.

Good Luck.

Tim/Hawk

What do you mean Undercover Tourist has 8x11 sheet of paper? They send actual tickets.

 

[Hawk]

What do you mean Undercover Tourist has 8x11 sheet of paper? They send actual tickets.

Where did I say that Undercover Tourist used 8x11 paper? Please read more carefully before making comments.

I have in the past, at least twice, had to use an 8x11 sheet of paper which was downloaded with the ticket and bar code on it as my ticket to enter the park or verify my ticket purchase.

Tim/Hawk

 

[Thumper_Man]

Where did I say that Undercover Tourist used 8x11 paper? Please read more carefully before making comments.

I have in the past, at least twice, had to use an 8x11 sheet of paper which was downloaded with the ticket and bar code on it as my ticket to enter the park or verify my ticket purchase.

Tim/Hawk

No offense, but I was going to post the same thing as TheWog. Common misunderstanding. The OP was asking about Costco vs. Mousesavers, which in this case Undercover Tourist. So it would be Costco v. UT. As I read your post, you first talk about the Costco tickets. Then you go on to talk about the UT tickets:

Mousesavers using the undercover tourist code would be adult ($146.95) or child ($137.95) which expire 14 days after first use or the unlimited would be adult ($176.95) or child ($160.95).

An additional benefit is that you have the tickets in hand, which means "peace of mind" and - no voucher and no 8x11 piece of paper to produce each time you go to the parks.

It can easily be interpreted that you are still talking about UT and that an 8x11 piece of paper is your ticket from them, as opposed to buying an actual ticket from Costco right away; because again, the comparison is Costco to UT. So you did mention an 8x11 paper; just the wording and how it's interpreted makes it sound like you referring to UT. KWIM. We're all here to help each other out.

 

[Hawk]

No offense. We're all here to help each other out.

No offense taken.

Tim/Hawk

 

[TheWog]

Where did I say that Undercover Tourist used 8x11 paper? Please read more carefully before making comments.

I have in the past, at least twice, had to use an 8x11 sheet of paper which was downloaded with the ticket and bar code on it as my ticket to enter the park or verify my ticket purchase.

Tim/Hawk

Looks to me to be right here:

Mousesavers using the undercover tourist code would be adult ($146.95) or child ($137.95) which expire 14 days after first use or the unlimited would be adult ($176.95) or child ($160.95).

An additional benefit is that you have the tickets in hand, which means "peace of mind" and - no voucher and no 8x11 piece of paper to produce each time you go to the parks.

I was asking if Undercover Tourist issues you an 8(1/2) x 11 sheet of paper that you have to redeem somewhere else and I get a read more carefully response? Since you purchased the Costco tickets I am assuming that is what you are referring to as the better option and they provided you real tickets vs. a paper sheet from UT.

I did read carefully and your comments weren't clear, maybe I should have posed my question a bit differently. Such as is that your experience? My bad.

 

[Hawk]

Looks to me to be right here:
I did read carefully and your comments weren't clear, maybe I should have posed my question a bit differently. Such as is that your experience? My bad.

Fair enough.

Tim/Hawk

 

[My2CrazyGirls]

How long do you think costco will be selling those tickets?

 

[goirish66]

Regarding Costco tickets for US/IOA. Does anyone know if those tickets are still available? If so, where? I cannot find them here in MN and have called a couple other locations out of state where I have family that could get them, but not there either?

Any thoughts/ideas would be great!

If they are not available, or I cannot get them in time (we leave this Sunday - 3/11), any other thoughts on discounted tickets for US/IOA and also for WDW-MK?

Thanks very much for your help!!

 

[HayGan]

We don't have a Costco membership, but could get one if we needed to. I heard somewhere Universal tickets were cheaper at Costco.
I looked through Mousesavers which saves us about $20 what it would cost if I bought them at the gate.

Are the Costco tickets cheaper? Are Universal tickets always sold at Costco?

Being that we are in the same area, here is what I do.

I buy Universal gift cards at Giant Eagle during double fuelperks. Then I buy my tickets at the gate using my AAA discount. Ends up being the best savings for me. We always get the 30 gallons with our fuelperks so it is $12 per $100 spent in savings. Plus then we earn foodperks as well

Now the Costco deal would be a better deal if you only plan on using a day or two and then want to save a day (or two) for another trip. The Costco tickets won't work for us since they are 3 day tickets and we go to "the Darkside" 2 days each trip.

 

[mieuxmew]

Has anyone used their Costco tickets for another visit outside the initial 14 day period?

My friend is interested in purchasing Costco Universal Studios 3 day tickets, but someone at Costco told her the tickets expire after 14 days of 1st use. She called Universal Studios ticketing and was told the same and that the tickets expired December 2013!

Anyone have any issues with these tickets?

 

[mieuxmew]

Has anyone used their Costco tickets for another visit outside the initial 14 day period?

My friend is interested in purchasing Costco Universal Studios 3 day tickets, but someone at Costco told her the tickets expire after 14 days of 1st use. She called Universal Studios ticketing and was told the same and that the tickets expired December 2013!

Anyone have any issues with these tickets?

 

[damo]

Has anyone used their Costco tickets for another visit outside the initial 14 day period?

My friend is interested in purchasing Costco Universal Studios 3 day tickets, but someone at Costco told her the tickets expire after 14 days of 1st use. She called Universal Studios ticketing and was told the same and that the tickets expired December 2013!

Anyone have any issues with these tickets?

The tickets have different expiry dates depending on when you purchase them. The expiry date will be on them. Some people who purchased them earlier will have the 2013 date on them. The ones purchased more recently will expire in 2015. There is no 14 day period for these.

 

[VLee]

The Costco tickets sound like a good deal if they do not expire until 2015. My son has a Costco in his city.

Can you tell me if the admission to Citywalk is included on the Costco tickets?

 

[Thumper_Man]

Can you tell me if the admission to Citywalk is included on the Costco tickets?

Admission to Citywalk is included.

 

[Metro West]

Can you tell me if the admission to Citywalk is included on the Costco tickets?

The only admission is to the clubs...not into CityWalk itself. There is no admission charge to just walk around the area...except the parking fee of course.