Updated October 2026
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Costco is famous for deals, so it's natural to check there before you buy Universal Studios tickets. But how Costco sells Universal tickets surprises a lot of families. Here's what Costco really offers for 2026 and 2027, what it costs, and when another option is the better deal.
Short answer: Costco doesn't sell Universal Orlando tickets on their own. Through Costco Travel, Universal Orlando tickets come only as part of a vacation package with a hotel. The current Universal package includes a 4-Day Park-to-Park ticket with Epic Universe, and you need a Costco membership to book. If you only need park tickets, an authorized discount seller like Undercover Tourist or Universal itself is usually the simpler and cheaper route.
Booking a package through Get Away Today? Use promo code FunParkGo for $10 off.
Yes, but probably not the way you'd expect. The answer depends on which Universal resort you mean.
The old advice to "grab a Universal ticket card at the register" doesn't apply to Universal Orlando. If you're planning a Florida trip, Costco Travel is the only Costco path.
As of October 20, 2026, Costco Travel's main deal is the "Universal Orlando Resort Promotional Package." Here's what it includes (Costco Travel):
That package was listed for travel through December 25, 2026, and January 3 to March 15, 2027, with stays of 5 or more nights. Costco Travel also sells Universal ticket packages at off-site hotels like Villatel, Caribe Royale, Hilton Orlando Buena Vista Palace and the Renaissance at SeaWorld, plus a package with Halloween Horror Nights tickets (Costco Travel).
A few rules to know before you book:
Costco doesn't post package prices publicly. You have to sign in, choose your dates and hotel, and click "Continue" to see a price. That's why a quote for your exact dates is the only fair way to compare.
Here's how the main ways to buy Universal Orlando tickets compare. Details were checked on October 20, 2026, and they change often.
| Costco Travel | Universal direct | Undercover Tourist | Get Away Today | Fun Park Go (travel agent) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tickets without a hotel? | No, packages only | Yes | Yes | Yes | Universal vacation packages (hotel + tickets) |
| Epic Universe | Included on every day of the current 4-Day Park-to-Park ticket | 1-day and multi-day tickets | Multi-day tickets with Epic | Multi-day tickets and 1-day Epic tickets | Included in Universal packages with Epic tickets |
| Express Pass | Only as the free Express Unlimited at the 3 Premier hotels (not valid at Epic) | Sold separately; free Unlimited at Premier hotels | Sold separately (add-on) | Sold separately (add-on) | Added to your package, or included with Premier hotels |
| Refunds and changes | No Costco cancellation fee; hotel, airline and other supplier penalties apply; no-shows aren't refunded | Tickets generally non-refundable (date changes may be allowed if you pay any difference); packages fully refundable 46+ days out, $200 fee after | 365-day return policy: 95% back on unused tickets (5% fee) | Refundable tickets; fees apply unless you add its $99 Peace of Mind Plan | Universal package terms: $200 fee inside 45 days, full refund before |
| Payment | Deposit or pay in full; final payment 45 days before; Visa or Mastercard only | Tickets paid in full; packages $50/person deposit, balance 45 days before | Paid in full | Paid in full (layaway is for other destinations) | Universal package deposit ($50/person), balance 45 days before |
| Membership needed? | Yes, Costco ($65 or $130/yr) | No | No | No | No |
| Extras | Digital Costco Shop Card on many packages; 2% Executive reward | Universal promotions, like Bundle & Save on longer stays | E-tickets within 24 hours; go straight to the gate | Adults at Kids' Prices on multi-day tickets (Oct 2026) | Free planning help; Disney World can be added to the same trip |
Prefer to book flights and a hotel together online? Funjet Vacations also sells Orlando theme park packages, including Universal hotels.
Universal prices every date separately, so these are "starting from" prices for adults (ages 10 and up) on the cheapest dates. Your dates will cost the same or more.
| Ticket (ages 10+) | Universal direct | Undercover Tourist | Costco Travel |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 day, 1 park (Universal Studios Florida or Islands of Adventure) | From $124.99 + tax | From $124.54 + tax ($136.45 with tax) | Not sold |
| 1 day, Epic Universe | From $139.99 + tax | Not checked | Not sold |
| 3-day Park-to-Park with Epic Universe | From $431 + tax* | From $381.17 + tax ($417.64 with tax) | Not sold alone |
| 4-day Park-to-Park with Epic Universe | From $446 + tax* | From $392.03 + tax ($429.54 with tax) | Built into the package price (shown only when you search your dates) |
| 5-day Park-to-Park with Epic Universe | From $461 + tax* | From $397.87 + tax ($435.94 with tax) | Not sold alone |
The catch with Costco: you can't compare ticket to ticket, because the ticket is built into the package price. To see whether Costco saves you money, price the same hotel and dates directly with Universal (or ask us for a quote), add a 4-day ticket from a discount seller, and compare the totals. Then take off the value of the Costco Shop Card and any Executive reward.
| Your situation | Best option | Why |
|---|---|---|
| You only need park tickets (staying with family, using hotel points, or hotel already booked) | Undercover Tourist, Get Away Today or Universal direct | Costco doesn't sell Universal Orlando tickets without a hotel |
| You're already a Costco Executive member and want 5+ nights at a Universal hotel | Price Costco, then compare a quote from Fun Park Go or Universal | The Shop Card and 2% reward can tip the scale, but only a same-dates comparison tells you |
| Short trip (3 nights or fewer) | Tickets from a discount seller plus your own hotel, or a Universal package | Costco's current promo needs 5+ nights, and several Universal hotels need 4 through Costco |
| You want Express Pass without paying extra | Book a Premier hotel (Portofino Bay, Hard Rock or Royal Pacific) any way you like | Free Express Unlimited at Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure comes with the hotel |
| Epic Universe Express is a must | Buy the Epic Express add-on separately | Express Unlimited and the hotel perk don't work at Epic |
| You might need to cancel | A Universal package booked 46+ days out, or tickets with a 365-day refund policy | Universal packages are fully refundable 46+ days out; Undercover Tourist refunds 95% on unused tickets |
| You're not a Costco member | Skip Costco | A $65–$130 membership eats into any savings |
| You want to pay with American Express or Discover | A Universal package, booked direct or through a travel agent | Costco Travel takes only Visa and Mastercard; Universal packages accept American Express and Discover |
| Disney World and Universal on one trip | Fun Park Go (College of Disney Knowledge graduate, Universal-trained) | We plan both parks on one trip at no planning fee for standard packages |
| You'd rather not compare it all yourself | Get a free quote | We'll price your dates and tell you honestly if Costco is cheaper |
Yes. The current Costco package's 4-Day Park-to-Park ticket includes Epic Universe on every ticket day, along with Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure. It doesn't include Volcano Bay, which Universal has closed for maintenance from October 26, 2026, with reopening planned on or before April 1, 2027. If you book Universal Helios Grand Hotel, you also get its dedicated entrance into Epic Universe (park admission still required).
Express Pass is not included in the standard Costco package. The exception is the three Premier hotels: Loews Portofino Bay, Hard Rock Hotel and Loews Royal Pacific. Universal gives their guests free Universal Express Unlimited at Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure, so Costco's packages for those hotels list it as a perk. That's a Universal hotel benefit, so you get it at those hotels however you book.
Two things to know:
For more on which Express option fits your trip, see our Universal Orlando Express Pass guide.
If your trip is to Los Angeles instead of Orlando, here's what Costco lists for Universal Studios Hollywood (Costco.com, checked October 20, 2026):
If you're flying in for one visit, compare it against a regular dated one-day ticket from Undercover Tourist or Get Away Today. On October 20, 2026, Undercover Tourist's one-day adult ticket started at $94.91, so the $179.99 season pass costs about as much as two of the cheapest one-day tickets. It only pays off if you'll go more than once, and you can't get your money back if your plans change.
Fun Park Go plans both Universal and Disney vacations, and Alan has completed Universal's travel agent training. Give us your dates and we'll price a Universal Orlando package (hotel, tickets and Express options) so you can compare it against Costco side by side. For standard commissionable packages, our planning is free. If Costco really is cheaper for your dates, we'll tell you. You can also add Disney World to the same trip.
Get a free Universal quote, or read more about how our Universal planning works.
Just need tickets? Undercover Tourist and Get Away Today both sell discount Universal Orlando tickets. See our honest reviews: Is Undercover Tourist legit? and Is Get Away Today legit? For more ways to save, read how to get cheap Universal Studios Orlando tickets.
Only inside vacation packages. Costco Travel says it doesn't sell theme park tickets only, so you need to book a hotel along with your Universal Orlando tickets.
Not for Universal Orlando. If you only need tickets, buy them from Universal, or from an authorized discount seller like Undercover Tourist or Get Away Today.
Sometimes, but there's no way to know without pricing your dates. Costco bundles the ticket into a package price and adds perks like a Digital Costco Shop Card. Compare the full package total against the same hotel booked direct or through a travel agent, plus tickets from a discount seller.
Yes. As of October 2026, Costco's Universal Orlando Resort Promotional Package includes a 4-Day Park-to-Park ticket with Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure and Epic Universe on any 4 days within 6 days.
Only with the Premier hotels (Loews Portofino Bay, Hard Rock Hotel and Loews Royal Pacific). They come with free Express Unlimited at Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure, but it doesn't work at Epic Universe. Other Costco packages don't include Express.
Yes. You can cancel online up to 1 hour before check-in. Costco Travel doesn't add its own cancellation fees, but hotel, airline or other supplier penalties may apply depending on timing, and no-shows aren't refunded. Check the cancellation timeline on your invoice.
Costco Travel emails them 7 days before you travel. You can then link them in the Universal Orlando app.
Yes. Costco Travel is for members. Executive members ($130 a year) also earn a 2% annual reward on qualified Costco Travel purchases, up to $1,250.
We didn't find Universal Orlando tickets sold in Costco warehouses or on Costco.com. Costco.com does list a Universal Studios Hollywood Season Pass ($179.99 as of October 20, 2026), but stock varies. Planning SeaWorld too? See our Costco SeaWorld tickets guide.
Buy the longest ticket you'll actually use, since the price per day drops with each extra day, and pick less busy dates. Compare Universal's own prices with authorized discount sellers. If you're also booking a hotel, compare a package from Costco, Universal or a travel agent.
