Universal Studios: The Ultimate Guide to Saving with Reward Points

Families looking for a Disney-themed vacation sometimes combine it with a day or two at Universal Studios, especially to experience The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. This is particularly common for trips to Orlando or Los Angeles, as these cities are home to the most iconic theme parks.

However, these trips to Universal Studios or Disney parks around the world can be very stiff, as in the expenses quickly add up with entrance tickets, accommodation, plane tickets, express passes, meals, souvenirs and so on.

There are 5 Universal Studios parks around the world:

• Universal Studios Hollywood (Los Angeles, USA)
• Universal Orlando Resort (Orlando, USA)
• Universal Studios Japan (Osaka, Japan)
• Universal Studios Singapore(Singapore)
• Universal Studios Beijing (China)

As its name suggests, Universal Orlando Resort is different from other Universal Studios parks. The resort features eight on-site hotels with exclusive benefits, as well as two theme parks( Universal Studios and Universal Islands of Adventure).

The rides are varied and full of twists and turns, featuring characters from Transformers, King Kong, Harry Potter, Jurassic Park, Hulk, The Simpsons and the Fast & Furious.

To find out more about the different parks, see our guide to Universal Studios parks around the world.

Some theme parks have a shopping and entertainment district right next door, called Universal City Walk. Getting in is totally free. You’ll find restaurants, cinemas, souvenir stores and boutiques.

It’s an excellent way to stroll around, unwind, and wrap up a day at the parks.

What surprised me most at Universal Studios is the presence of “child swap” rooms, allowing adults to take turns on all the rides without having to wait in line again if their child does not meet the height requirements.

In my opinion, Universal Studios is best suited for adults and older children, but the child swap rooms are excellent if you still want to visit the park with babies or young kids.

I personally loved Universal Studios because I am a movie buff and the Wizarding World of Harry Potter alone made my day.

First and foremost, look for Universal Studios ticket deals and special offers. There are often bonus days included when you purchase a ticket.

Universal Studios also offers the Universal Express Pass to avoid queues.

This Express Pass allows you to skip the line once per ride, while the Universal Express Unlimited lets you do so as many times as you want.

AIR MILES Dream Miles are always a great way to save on admission to Universal Studios in the U.S.

The BMO AIR MILES World Elite Mastercard offers you 3,000 miles (exclusive offer for Milesopedia readers) after you spend $3,000 on the card. AIR MILES are transferred to your AIR MILES Collector Account on the statement date.

Take advantage of this offer by combining it with other AIR MILES promotions like the Shop the Block event to earn up to an extra 775 miles.

You can also simply use flexible travel reward points to earn a credit.

Although you can use American Express Membership Rewards points for any purchase, I’d favour using the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card and redeem Scene+ points. This card will allow you to save on the 2.5% foreign currency conversion fee and redeem the points for a statement credit.

Buying a ticket directly on the Universal Studios website is coded as “entertainment”. To use your points, the expense must be coded as “travel”.

To solve the problem, I recommend buying your Universal Studios tickets on a travel website such as Undercover Tourist, as the expense will be coded as “travel” instead of “entertainment”. This way, you can redeem your points for a Statement credit and reduce or even erase the cost of your tickets.

It’s easy enough to get to Universal Studios Hollywood in Los Angeles or Universal Studios Resort in Orlando, as both are well served by numerous airports around the country. The strategy is the same for both locations.

Airfares fluctuate greatly depending on the time of year, and you can find some very good deals on Google Flights . When the valuation of points is not excellent, it’s best to pay in cash and use your travel points to obtain a credit.

For example, NBC Rewards points on the National Bank World Elite Mastercard^® allow you to redeem points at a rate of 10,000 points per $100 when you use their reservation platform (which is the best redemption rate for this program).

You can see here that the amount is almost identical to booking directly with the airline; the small difference comes from the platform acting as a travel agency and the addition of an OPC commission.

On the other hand, you can use Aeroplan points, which are sometimes worth more than the cash price. If you plan ahead, you can get away with a lot during the high season.

For more in-depth strategies to get to Los Angeles and Orlando with reward points, here are our detailed guides:

From Canada, you can travel directly to Tokyo on award flights using Aeroplan points.

Although Air Canada flights booked with Aeroplan points are subject to dynamic pricing, they are not always out of reach and it is still possible to find good deals.

In addition, All Nippon Airways serves Vancouver, and United serves Japan from numerous U.S. hubs. So there’s no shortage of itinerary options from Canada on the partners’ fixed-fare roster. As long as you can find availability, it will work. If not, set up alerts on ExpertFlyer for your preferred dates.

Alaska Mileage Plan is also a great program to use when travelling to Japan, especially if you’re looking for a premium product such as Japan Airlines first class for just 70,000 miles one-way.

Although you can take a direct flight to Osaka to get to Universal Studios Japan, you’ll most likely have a connection in Tokyo. You can take advantage of this opportunity to discover a wonderful country, from Tokyo to Hiroshima, for example, and slowly make your way to Osaka with Japan’s efficient transportation system.

For more information on how to get to Japan with points and miles, check out these guides:

From Canada, you can travel to Universal Studios Singapore using the Aeroplan program. Aeroplan offers attractive redemption rates; for just 60,000 points, you can fly from Canada to Singapore with partner airlines.

If you’re lucky, you may even be able to get away with less, thanks to Air Canada’s dynamic fares. Indeed, sometimes that works in our favour! Here’s a one-way ticket to Singapore for just 48,000 Aeroplan points:

For the full immersive experience in Orlando, you’ll need to stay at a Universal Studios Resort hotel. You’ll then be able to enjoy exclusive park benefits, such as entry before everyone else, and discounts on souvenirs and food.

Holders of the American Express Platinum Card^® and the Business Platinum Card^® from American Express can book hotels on the Universal Studios website using the benefits of the American Express Fine Hotels + Resorts program. In addition, you can apply your annual $200 travel credit to this purchase.

Furthermore, you can redeem your Membership Rewards points for a statement credit towards your Universal Studios hotels.

There are many Marriott hotels near Universal Studios parks in the United States where you can use your Marriott Bonvoy points or your annual Free Night Award from the Marriott Bonvoy^® American Express^®* Card or the Marriott Bonvoy^® Business American Express^®* Card.

Around Orlando, rates for Marriott hotels aren’t that high so you might not get the best valuation for points redemption but this is an opportunity to receive elite nights to reach a status without breaking the bank.

A very affordable option at reasonable points rates exists with the Fairfield Inn & Suites Orlando, Near Universal Orlando Resort. You get a free shuttle to the parks, plus free breakfast every morning for everyone.

The same goes for Universal Studios Japan in Osaka, where you’ll find a good number of the chain’s affordable hotels. As Osaka is also a good starting point for exploring Japan’s Kansai region, you could benefit from a 5th night free if you book your stay with points. That translates into a 20% discount!

Having covered park admission, airfare and accommodations for a trip to Universal Studios, here are some additional tips to help you save even more money.

While it’s easier to get to Universal Studios Japan and Universal Studios Singapore by public transport, it’s less convenient in the United States.

When I went to Universal Studios Hollywood, we decided to park on-site and near the front gate to beat the crowds. The rate was US 60 (compared to US 30 for the regular rate), but we were in the park before the hoard.

It’s money very well spent, as it allows you to do one or two attractions before it gets too crowded; we didn’t see many lines for nearly an hour after the park opened on a Saturday. We then used travel reward points to reimburse our expenses.

You can also look for hotels with free shuttles to Universal Studios parks, but you probably won’t be dropped off near the front gate.

For seat selection and checked baggage fees on flights, you can use your annual credits from the National Bank World Elite Mastercard to cover these costs, if you’re not eligible for a free checked bag with an Aeroplan credit card.

Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite is the best credit card for saving on foreign currency transaction fees. It’s worth 2.5% on all your Universal Studios related expenses.

This outstanding credit card comes with an annual fee of $150, but this cost is more than justified by the savings on foreign transaction fees and six free airport lounge visits.

Most theme parks excel at making us spend money, and Universal Studios is no exception. Mastering the art of points and your credit card benefits can make a big difference to your budget. Getting and using the right credit cards for your everyday purchases will determine how many trips you can take for less.

If you’re planning to visit both Universal Studios and Disney World during your stay in Orlando, your wallet will definitely need a little help! So don’t hesitate to use your points to offset the costs.