You can purchase tickets for Universal Studios Hollywood both online and at the park. Buying tickets online in advance is often the easiest and most convenient option, but walk-up tickets can also be purchased at ticket booths outside the park entrance. There are some key differences between online and in-person ticket purchasing that are good to keep in mind when deciding how to buy your Universal Studios Hollywood tickets.
Buying Tickets Online
Purchasing Universal Studios Hollywood tickets online ahead of your visit provides a few advantages:
- Guaranteed admission – Buying online guarantees you admission to the park for the date selected, without having to worry about tickets selling out.
- Bypass ticket lines – With your online tickets, you can go directly to the front entrance and security check-in, skipping the long lines at the ticket booths.
- Mobile tickets – Many online ticket purchases allow you to get mobile tickets on your phone, for added convenience.
- Discounts and deals – Online tickets sometimes come with exclusive discounts or bundled deals that may not be available at the gate.
- Upgrade options – When purchasing online, you can often upgrade your ticket to add on features like Front of Line passes or VIP experiences.
You can buy Universal Studios Hollywood tickets on the official Universal Studios website, authorized third-party sellers like Undercover Tourist, or resellers like Viator. Make sure to purchase from an authorized seller to ensure you receive valid ticket media that will work at the park entrance.
When buying online, you’ll select your visit date and can choose either print-at-home tickets or mobile tickets. Printed tickets must be brought to Universal Studios Hollywood to be scanned. For mobile tickets, you’ll show your phone screen at the park entrance. You’ll also need to choose your ticket type online – options range from single day general admission to multi-day park-to-park tickets and annual passes.
Purchasing Tickets at the Park
You can also purchase tickets in-person when you arrive at Universal Studios Hollywood. Park tickets are sold at booths located just outside the entrance, as well as inside the Front Lot. Here are some key things to know about buying tickets on-site:
- No need to pre-plan – You don’t have to pick your visit date ahead of time and can decide to visit that same day.
- Availability not guaranteed – Buying at the gate runs the risk of tickets selling out, especially during peak seasons.
- Longer wait times – You’ll need to wait in the ticket booth line before entering the park, which can take 30+ minutes during busy days.
- Fewer discounts – There are typically fewer deals or discounts offered when purchasing at the park entrance gates.
- No upgrade options – Any upgraded experience add-ons like Front of Line or VIP passes must be purchased separately inside the park.
At the on-site ticket booths, you can purchase general admission tickets for the same day only. Unlike online tickets, you cannot pre-purchase dates in advance when buying at the park entrance. Tickets can be purchased using credit/debit cards, cash, traveler’s checks, and sometimes foreign currency.
Once purchased, you’ll receive a printed ticket to scan at the park turnstiles. Multi-day tickets are issued as print-at-home tickets so you’ll need to go to the ticket booth on subsequent visit days to receive your dated ticket for that day.
Comparing Online vs. On-Site Ticket Prices
Below is a comparison of online vs. gate ticket prices at Universal Studios Hollywood:
Ticket Type | Online Price | Gate Price |
---|---|---|
1-Day General Admission | $109-$129 | $134 |
2-Day General Admission | $179-$219 | N/A |
VIP Experience | $349-$419 | Must be purchased separately inside park |
Annual Pass | $179-$599 | Cannot be purchased at gate |
As you can see, buying single or multi-day tickets online is cheaper than buying at the gate. For 1-day tickets, you’ll save $5-$25 per ticket by purchasing online. The savings are even greater for multi-day park-to-park tickets bought online in advance.
Other ticket options like VIP Experience passes and Annual Passes can only be purchased online and not at the park entrance.
Getting Discounts on Tickets
If you want to get discounted tickets to Universal Studios Hollywood, buying online is the way to go. Here are some ways to save:
- Buy early – Tickets tend to get more expensive closer to your visit date, so book early to lock in lowest prices.
- Look for sales – Universal Studios periodically offers sales and specials like buy one day, get one day free.
- Find coupon codes – Retailers like Undercover Tourist offer coupon codes for Universal Studios tickets, usually 5-10% off.
- Consider multi-day tickets – Per-day costs drop when you buy 2-day or longer park-to-park tickets.
- Travel package deals – Bundling your tickets with a hotel stay often affords extra savings.
- AAA, military, senior discounts – If eligible, take advantage of special discounted ticket rates through organizations like AAA, military, or senior citizen associations.
At the park entrance ticket booths, there are virtually no discounts available. Multi-day and other discounted ticket options can only be purchased online. To maximize your savings on Universal Studios Hollywood admission, always buy tickets online in advance.
Using Tickets Purchased Online
Once you’ve purchased your Universal Studios Hollywood tickets online, here is how you’ll use them to access the park:
- Printed tickets – Bring your printed ticket to the park entrance turnstiles. Scan your printed barcode and you’ll be admitted. Keep your ticket handy as you may need to show it again later.
- Mobile tickets – Open your ticket barcode on your phone and a team member will scan your screen to admit you. Make sure your battery is charged so your mobile ticket is accessible all day.
- Hotel key card tickets – If tickets are linked to your Universal hotel key, present your hotel key at the turnstiles to be admitted.
- Voucher tickets – Redeem any voucher codes associated with your online purchase at the ticket booths to receive printed ticket media for admission.
If you run into any trouble using your online tickets, visit the ticket booth outside the park entrance for assistance. The ticket agents can look up your ticket purchase, reprint tickets if needed, or help resolve any other issues getting into the park.
With your tickets ready, you can proceed directly to the security checkpoint queue when you arrive at Universal Studios Hollywood. This allows you to bypass the LONG ticket purchase lines and start enjoying your day faster.
When to Buy Tickets Online vs. On-Site
As a summary, here are some guidelines for when to buy Universal Studios Hollywood tickets online vs. at the park entrance:
Purchase tickets online when:
- You are visiting on a peak attendance day/season and tickets may sell out
- You want to take advantage of discounts and deals only offered online
- You want to skip the long on-site ticket booth lines
- You want to purchase multi-day tickets or annual passes
- You want the flexibility to add on VIP/Front of Line upgrades
Purchase tickets on-site when:
- You are visiting on a low attendance day that is unlikely to sell out
- You decide last minute to visit the park that same day
- You don’t mind waiting in long lines at the entrance
- You only need single-day tickets
During peak seasons like spring break or summer weekends, buying tickets online in advance is highly recommended, as gate ticket availability is limited each day. For less crowded shoulder season or off-peak dates, you may be fine purchasing at the park – just be prepared for longer wait times.
Conclusion
While buying Universal Studios Hollywood tickets on-site is an option, purchasing online in advance offers the best experience and savings in most cases. You’ll bypass ticket lines, have guaranteed entry on busy days, and can take advantage of online-only discounts and deals not available at the gate.
Buying online is especially recommended during peak seasons when gate tickets often sell out. For visits on slower days or when deciding last minute, you may be able to get away with walk-up tickets – though you’ll still save by buying online.
To maximize convenience and ensure you lock in tickets for your chosen date, your best bet is purchasing Universal Studios Hollywood admission online ahead of your visit whenever possible. This will save you time and money in the long run.