Universal Tickets... Where to get the best deal?

[1stDisneyCruiseForUs]

We are going to spend a few days visiting Harry Potter before our cruise. Has anybody done research into the best place to buy Universal tickets (2 day park hopper)? I see pretty reasonable rates on the Dreams Unlimited site, but I figured that I'd ask around and see if there were any other ideas since you guys all seem to be so fantastically knowledgable about all things Orlando!

Thanks in advance for your ideas!
Steph

 

[mainegal]

I use Undercover Tourist for tickets

 

[Homemom]

We're planning the same thing for our cruise in November. We bought a package deal through AAA to stay at the Hyatt Place at Universal & tickets. It came out cheaper than going through Universal's website.

 

[HallsofVA]

OP - You may get more answers asking this in a more relevant thread/forum (non-Cruise.)

The Universal prices through the Mousesavers newsletter link are slightly cheaper than the AAA prices in most variations.

One question I have. AAA and Universal's website both advertise a coupon book that comes with the tickets when you buy multi-day park to park tickets. Does anyone know if you get that same book if you buy the same tickets through UT? Does anyone know what coupons are actually in the book? I ask because it mentions a coupon for a discount at the onsite hotel, and I was wondering if that was actually a room discount that could save us some money.

 

[Fatima1922]

I have seen three day Universal passes on sale in Costco. I have to tell you this was in November. I don't remember the exact cost but I think it was over $100.

 

[ldo]

some costcos have 3 day park to park tickets for $139. It appears that it can be any 3 days until 12/2013 (or 2014 for some tickets). So, about the same cost of the 2 day, but you get a free extra day--in case there is any chance you are going back to Univ in the next 2-3 years.

 

[ESN]

Not that you asked about hotel - but FWIW - we did Universal previoulsy and stayed onsite at one of their hotels -- Was a bit more expensive - but we got a package deal with tix - and it included a perk that lets you go thru an express line for most of the rides in US/IOA --Saved us enormous amount of time waiting in line

Does not work for the main Harry Potter ride - but if you are only at Universal for a short time - it really is a huge perk --

Just a thought

 

[RedSox68]

OP - You may get more answers asking this in a more relevant thread/forum (non-Cruise.)

The Universal prices through the Mousesavers newsletter link are slightly cheaper than the AAA prices in most variations.

One question I have. AAA and Universal's website both advertise a coupon book that comes with the tickets when you buy multi-day park to park tickets. Does anyone know if you get that same book if you buy the same tickets through UT? Does anyone know what coupons are actually in the book? I ask because it mentions a coupon for a discount at the onsite hotel, and I was wondering if that was actually a room discount that could save us some money.

We are doing the same thing post-cruise. Are you staying on site at Universal? We got a package deal at Royal Pacific with three-day park-to-park tickets. I did a lot of research on several discount ticket broker sites and could not find a better price for tickets. Some of them were maybe $60 cheaper, but by the time you add shipping, it evened out. AND because we ordered through Universal, we will be receiving the $150 coupon book. I know there are Blue Man Group discounts in it, but we've already bought our tickets through Universal and saved $15 per ticket for ordering on line rather than buying on site. However, there's gotta be a few tickets in there that will save us some money.

BTW, we have used both undercover tourist and orlandofuntickets for Disney multi-day tickets and both have good ratings and good service.

 

[HallsofVA]

We are doing the same thing post-cruise. Are you staying on site at Universal? We got a package deal at Royal Pacific with three-day park-to-park tickets. I did a lot of research on several discount ticket broker sites and could not find a better price for tickets. Some of them were maybe $60 cheaper, but by the time you add shipping, it evened out. AND because we ordered through Universal, we will be receiving the $150 coupon book. I know there are Blue Man Group discounts in it, but we've already bought our tickets through Universal and saved $15 per ticket for ordering on line rather than buying on site. However, there's gotta be a few tickets in there that will save us some money.

BTW, we have used both undercover tourist and orlandofuntickets for Disney multi-day tickets and both have good ratings and good service.

We are planning on going to Universal pre-cruise in August. We've actually reserved one night at an onsite hotel so we can get the express pass access for both days we plan to go to the parks. We plan to go to the hotel early the first morning, check in, get our keys then head to the park for that day and the next day. Haven't decided if we'll actually spend the night at the hotel or not, since it's a pain to move rooms, but it was still cheaper to book the one night and get the unlimited express pass for the 2 days than to buy it, and given we're only there for 2 days, and it'll be too hot to spend a lot of time in lines, it seems worth it to us.

I didn't find any packages that made it cheaper to buy the tickets with the room, they all came out to be the same price when we priced it, so we're likely to buy tickets separately, thus I've been looking at the cheapest options.

 

[Silly Little Pixie]

For our post-cruise Universal stay last year I used Maple Leaf Tickets. They were great and the price was less even with shipping than even Undercover Tourist through Mousesavers. We have always used UT for our WDW trips.

If you can swing the cost, getting a package and staying onsite might be worth it. That front of the line pass you get for staying onsite is a sweet perk. It's like Fastpass, but you can use it over and over and over with just your room key. We were staying Thanksgiving weekend and we waited more than those FOTL folks for sure! )Had free nights to use at the Doubletree so our hotel cost was zilch.) We had a BLAST though and would highly recommend the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. It's what got us out of WDW for the first time in Orlando, and we will for sure be back. LOVED IT.

 

[jilljill]

We are going to spend a few days visiting Harry Potter before our cruise. Has anybody done research into the best place to buy Universal tickets (2 day park hopper)? I see pretty reasonable rates on the Dreams Unlimited site, but I figured that I'd ask around and see if there were any other ideas since you guys all seem to be so fantastically knowledgable about all things Orlando!

Thanks in advance for your ideas!
Steph

OP - I've moved your thread to the Universal board in hopes you will get better responses than on the DCL board.

 

[SYDCOLEMOM]

Here is another vote for Costco. I bought our Universal / IOA tickets at Costco Yesterday. $139.99 each. They are 3 day hopper tickets that dont expire till 12/2014. I searched high and low and this was the best deal for my family.

 

[mott]

Here is another vote for Costco. I bought our Universal / IOA tickets at Costco Yesterday. $139.99 each. They are 3 day hopper tickets that dont expire till 12/2014. I searched high and low and this was the best deal for my family.

Which costco? I am wondering if we are able to get them here in Chicagoland or if we just get them in the orlando area or on the drive down?

Anyone know which stores have the tickets?

THX

 

[pktbMouse]

would also love to know whats in the coupon book other than blue man group of anyone knows??
I notice Universal are only 5 bucks more expensive than Cosco so Im not wasting my gas money or time going down there..Im just ordering them online direct from Universal.

 

[Leucky]

Has anyone tried the link you can buy on E-Bay for around $2 ?

It claims to save 30% off ticket prices. The seller gets good reviews. You pay the $2 and they send you a link to buy the tickets.

Seems like a good deal. Just wondering if anyone has tried it.