WDW vs US pricing

[SmithSmith]

On a now closed thread it was claimed that someone bought a Universal Studios 3 day park to park ticket with express pass for less than a WDW 3 day base ticket. I've been asking for clarification on Universal's pricing because it gets claimed here often that Uni is (much) cheaper than Disney. However, when I go to price out Uni tickets I never see them as cheaper. Comparable? Yes. But not cheaper. Anyway, I received this suggestion:


What you are doing wrong is pricing the base ticket and express separately. Go back to the U site and look at the bundled tickets. You'll see that a 3 day park to park with unlimited express is as low as $269 date dependant.

Now, the OP who made the claim never said they got the unlimited express pass bundle, but if they did, I still don't see how it's cheaper. A bundle for April (when they said they were going) will cost anywhere between $330 & $383. While the WDW base ticket is $291 (the ticket being claimed as more expensive), even with a park hopper add on the price comes to $344.

Can anyone help me with this? Is there a basic express bundle? If there is I can't find it. What am I missing?

 

[vicki_c]

You can get a 3 day park to park Universal ticket through Undercover Tourist for $189. I don't think Express costs $150-200 even for spring break dates, does it? So it seems like you are looking at something overpriced.

A 3 day park hopper from Disney is $344 gate price. The base 3 day is $291, or a $100 more.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I claim no personal knowledge--

But I wonder if maybe it was a deal for onsite guests?

We only did a one day ticket this year and that price is the same as Disney (non-MK, I think.)

Popping on line, the express unlimited alone is $80/day to $139/day in April.

The 2 day, get 3rd day free sale ticket is $176.

There is a cheaper express pass add on. That ranges from an add on price of $56/day to $120/day.

It seems the best deal has always been to splurge on the room and not pay for the add on.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

You can get a 3 day park to park Universal ticket through Undercover Tourist for $189. I don't think Express costs $150-200 even for spring break dates, does it? So it seems like you are looking at something overpriced.

A 3 day park hopper from Disney is $344 gate price. The base 3 day is $291, or a $100 more.

Per the universal ticket purchase calendar, the unlimited add on is $140/day during spring break. So the UT plus unlimited add on for spring break would be $329. Certainly less, but only by a few dollars and not the large amount quoted.

 

[bumbershoot]

I think it's really hard to figure out exactly what one person is saying without actually getting into a conversation with that one person. A PM to that person, asking specifically what they were seeing, might have been better. I'm not saying the conversation isn't good, it's just that you're trying to figure out specifically what one person got, and we didn't see what she saw.



That said, preferred AP was something like 259 plus tax when we bought it, and renewals have been $170 with tax, no blockout dates, since then. That's for a year of Universal.

And we stay onsite (upcoming trip is $155 plus tax per night which is less than the nightly rate for the 2 nights of AOA standard LM room we also have for WDW Marathon weekend purposes...) which gives us unlimited EP for free.



Now, I don't know what the poster was saying about looking at it bundled vs unbundled. As far as I know, bundled is the only thing you can see when looking at it online. Otherwise you have to be at the park to do it. As far as I know.

 

[vicki_c]

Per the universal ticket purchase calendar, the unlimited add on is $140/day during spring break. So the UT plus unlimited add on for spring break would be $329. Certainly less, but only by a few dollars and not the large amount quoted.

Thanks Lisa, you're making me feel a smidge better about our on-site Universal hotel price over Easter!

And Molly, you are right, APs are usually the way to go. If we were there more days AND our resort dates weren't blacked out, I would have bought an AP.

 

[mellyf]

And Molly, you are right, APs are usually the way to go. If we were there more days AND our resort dates weren't blacked out, I would have bought an AP.

We seriously considered the APs, since we're getting 4-day park hoppers, but we would've had to have bought the preferred passes to avoid the blackout dates. I'm a teacher, so the blackout dates pretty much coincide with when we could go. I'm taking my two personal days at the end of January for a long weekend, but I can't do that regularly.

 

[Brian Noble]

Yep, those blackout dates for APH rates are brutal. We always seem to be there during them as well.

I suspect the tickets in question might have been VIP tickets. They are park-to-park and include unlimited express. They are typically less expensive than buying two-park unlimited express for each day of a "regular" UO ticket.

 

[SmithSmith]

You can get a 3 day park to park Universal ticket through Undercover Tourist for $189. I don't think Express costs $150-200 even for spring break dates, does it? So it seems like you are looking at something overpriced.

A 3 day park hopper from Disney is $344 gate price. The base 3 day is $291, or a $100 more.

A. Undercover Tourist doesn't sell any express passes or express pass bundles. So that would be ruled out.

B. I'm pricing everything through the Uni website.

C. During spring break a basic 2 park express pass costs upwards of $120 per day. The unlimited costs upwards of $150 per day.

 

[SmithSmith]

I claim no personal knowledge--

But I wonder if maybe it was a deal for onsite guests?

We only did a one day ticket this year and that price is the same as Disney (non-MK, I think.)

Popping on line, the express unlimited alone is $80/day to $139/day in April.

The 2 day, get 3rd day free sale ticket is $176.

There is a cheaper express pass add on. That ranges from an add on price of $56/day to $120/day.

It seems the best deal has always been to splurge on the room and not pay for the add on.

The poster said they weren't staying onsite deluxe.

I agree. The best deal is to stay at a Uni deluxe. But, for someone like me who stays value at WDW, paying the deluxe prices at Uni is out of the question. I'm not going to pay more for Uni than I do for Disney.

 

[SmithSmith]

I think it's really hard to figure out exactly what one person is saying without actually getting into a conversation with that one person. A PM to that person, asking specifically what they were seeing, might have been better. I'm not saying the conversation isn't good, it's just that you're trying to figure out specifically what one person got, and we didn't see what she saw.



That said, preferred AP was something like 259 plus tax when we bought it, and renewals have been $170 with tax, no blockout dates, since then. That's for a year of Universal.

And we stay onsite (upcoming trip is $155 plus tax per night which is less than the nightly rate for the 2 nights of AOA standard LM room we also have for WDW Marathon weekend purposes...) which gives us unlimited EP for free.



Now, I don't know what the poster was saying about looking at it bundled vs unbundled. As far as I know, bundled is the only thing you can see when looking at it online. Otherwise you have to be at the park to do it. As far as I know.

I was in the middle of a conversation with the poster but the thread closed before they could answer. I decided just to start a new thread since the poster is a regular on the dis and because another poster expressed interest in the answer.

 

[HappyDaisy]

Was the poster a Florida resident or looking at resident rates by any chance? That might explain the difference in price.

 

[SmithSmith]

Was the poster a Florida resident or looking at resident rates by any chance? That might explain the difference in price.

I believe they're from Arizona. Of course, that doesn't mean they don't have a residency in FL. So maybe. But if you can get a FL resident discount for US then surely you can get one for WDW... that would make both discounts a wash, right?

I'm sure they'll be along soon (once they notice the new thread) so we can continue the conversation.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Thanks Lisa, you're making me feel a smidge better about our on-site Universal hotel price over Easter!

And Molly, you are right, APs are usually the way to go. If we were there more days AND our resort dates weren't blacked out, I would have bought an AP.

My daughter is hitting me up for APs in addition to our Disney ones.
We don't fit in one room at Uni--so I would have to run numbers to see if there is value in 2 for a one time FOTL thing. Can't bring myself to pay those crazy prices for an express pass no matter what it gets you.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

The poster said they weren't staying onsite deluxe.

I agree. The best deal is to stay at a Uni deluxe. But, for someone like me who stays value at WDW, paying the deluxe prices at Uni is out of the question. I'm not going to pay more for Uni than I do for Disney.

For me, because expresss pass is a pp cost. I have always seen value in splurging on the hotel room, at least just once. Since we require two, it hasn't been practical, yet. But we found going during a slow time (for us, end if January earlier this year) made the FOTL mostly unnecessary. Girls rode Hulk 4x in a row and I am pretty sure that always their second go at it on our way out of the park.

While it is great that Uni offers that, I rather wish they had a free option. Insane that the Express pass at times exceeds the cost of a single day ticket or even like exceeds the daily price of a multi-day ticket. It's highway robbery! Folks can eschew FP+ all they like, but at least it is for everyone for free.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Was the poster a Florida resident or looking at resident rates by any chance? That might explain the difference in price.

Savings for the 2 day park ticket was minimal. Also, 3rd day free is not offered. But the Florids resident 3 day pass is $5 cheaper than the general ticket with the 3rd day free special.

 

[Brian Noble]

I rather wish they had a free option.

They used to, but got rid of it years ago---2006, I think.

 

[SmithSmith]

For me, because expresss pass is a pp cost. I have always seen value in splurging on the hotel room, at least just once. Since we require two, it hasn't been practical, yet. But we found going during a slow time (for us, end if January earlier this year) made the FOTL mostly unnecessary. Girls rode Hulk 4x in a row and I am pretty sure that always their second go at it on our way out of the park.

While it is great that Uni offers that, I rather wish they had a free option. Insane that the Express pass at times exceeds the cost of a single day ticket or even like exceeds the daily price of a multi-day ticket. It's highway robbery! Folks can eschew FP+ all they like, but at least it is for everyone for free.

It's nice to know that express pass might not be necassary during slower times. That may be my only option.

I agree. I prefer a "free" version, because the more crowded the park means the more you'll need an express pass, which means the more you'll pay. I understand why they price it that way, but I don't know, something about it doesn't sit well with me.

 

[SmithSmith]

Bump

 

[kbelle8995]

There are times when you can go to Universal and you don't need to use Express pass during certain times of the year.

We went in Late September and had no need for it. Also if you stay onsite in certain hotel (not Cabana Bay) you do get the express pass for free.

I have issues with FP+. But when you get up in price on the tickets. Universal does come out cheaper especially when you get into more days and AP.

Disney AP even on the seasonal level has become really expensive. And also FP+ may be free but when you can reserve your ride depends on where you are staying.