Universal Orlando deals: Buy 2 days, get 2 free or get up to $1,000 in free dining
There are plenty of ways to save money no matter what time of year you visit Universal Orlando Resort. You can stay at one of the park's Value resorts — like Universal's Endless Summer Dockside Inn and Suites — or use credit card points to purchase your theme park tickets in a travel portal like Bilt Travel, Chase Travel℠ or Citi Travel.
Related: Here's how to plan an epic trip to Universal Orlando Resort this year
In addition to these tips and tricks, you can also take advantage of the limited-time hotel and ticket discounts Universal offers throughout the year. All of these have specific eligibility requirements, so let's take a closer look at the current offers that can help you save on your next Universal Orlando vacation.
Up to a $1,000 dining card with select vacation packages
One thing that's inevitable when you visit Universal Orlando is that you've got to eat. With this offer, you can get a free dining card worth up to $1,000 when you book an eligible ticket and vacation package. To be eligible, you must purchase a vacation package that includes a minimum four-night hotel stay at one of Universal Orlando's hotels and a minimum four-day park ticket for stays through April 10.
The amount of your dining card is based on which hotel you choose and the length of your vacation. For example, if you choose a five-night stay at Loews Portofino Bay Hotel, Hard Rock Hotel or Loews Royal Pacific Resort, you'll receive the maximum $1,000 dining card to use during your stay. These are the most expensive hotels at Universal, but they also come with a free Universal Express pass for every guest staying in the room.
The cost of Universal Express can surpass $100 per person, per day, so when you combine this freebie with the dining card, you might find Universal's top-tier hotels more affordable than they seem at first glance.
At the other end of the spectrum, if you book a four-night stay at one of the budget-friendly Endless Summer resorts, you'll receive a $300 dining card.
You can use your dining card at most food and beverage locations inside Universal Studios Florida and Universal Islands of Adventure, Universal CityWalk and Universal's hotels. If you are planning on visiting Universal this winter or spring, it's worth evaluating if this free dining offer applies to your travel dates and length of stay.
Keep in mind that the dining card does not expire. Even if you don't use the full amount during this visit, you can save it for future vacations.
You can book this package and get full terms, including excluded dining locations, on Universal's website.
Get 2 days free when you buy 2 days
Currently, you can get two days free when you purchase an eligible two-day, two-park ticket. A two-park ticket grants you access to Universal Studios Florida and Universal Islands of Adventure, but you can only visit one park per day. This package allows you to upgrade to a three-park ticket that includes access to Volcano Bay, or you can add the Park-to-Park option that gives you access to multiple parks per day.
Remember that you can only visit both portions of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and ride the Hogwarts Express if you purchase a Park-to-Park ticket. Take the time to be sure you choose the right ticket type before making your purchase.
Related: These are the best rides at Universal Orlando
In terms of savings, it's pretty much a no-brainer to take advantage of this offer if you are planning to spend four days at the park. A regularly priced four-day, one-park-per-day ticket for early February 2025 would cost $419.99 (plus tax). With this offer, you would pay just $271.99 (plus tax) for a four-day ticket. That's a savings of $148 per person. How much you save will vary based on your travel dates and the number of adults and children in your party. (Children ages 3 to 9 receive a small discount.)
There is no expiration date listed on the offer page, but we only found availability through late March. Get full details and book this package on the Universal Orlando website.
Bottom line
If you are ready to book now, take a few minutes to do the math on which of these offers will save you the most money. If your travel party is only one or two people, you may not use the full amount of the dining card, making the hotel discount more lucrative. But, if you have a family of four, you may prefer to take advantage of Universal's generous dining discount.
Related: Universal's credit cards reward you with free theme park tickets and more
Of course, both of these offers only apply in the early months of the year before Epic Universe opens. Universal probably won't have to do much work to woo guests when the new park opens, but keep checking back because we will keep this story updated with the latest Universal Orlando deals.
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