Universal Orlando reveals one-day ticket, AP prices for Volcano Bay

March 30, 2017, 7:00 AM · All tickets are now on sale for Universal Orlando's new Volcano Bay park, including one-day tickets and annual pass upgrades.

That's right — I said annual pass upgrades. Current annual passholders will not be able to get into Volcano Bay unless they upgrade their current, two-park annual pass into a three-park pass. (Or buy a daily ticket, of course.) Universal Orlando now is selling two- and three-park versions of its four annual pass tiers, making a total of eight annual pass options for the resort.

Here's the price list:

One-day ticket: $67 (compared with $110-124 for on day at Universal Studios Florida or Islands of Adventure. Volcano Bay prices do not vary by day.)

Universal Express Pass: $29.99-49.99 (Skip the Virtual Line once per ride. Express pass prices do vary by day. These the published prices are for days in May and June, which are the only specific days now available on the UOR website. Universal says that the lower price point will go down to $19.99 at some point.)

Universal Express Unlimited: $49.99-79.99 (Skip the Virtual Line for everything, as much as you'd like. The lower price point will go down to $39.99 at some point after June.)

Three-park annual passes:
Premier: $688.99
Preferred: $483.99
Power: $443.99
Seasonal: $383.99

Only the Premier pass has no blockout dates. Other passes are blocked out of Volcano Bay for the entire month of July.

Two-park annual pass prices remain the same.
Premier: $539.99
Preferred: $384.99
Power: $344.99
Seasonal: $284.99

That makes the upgrade to a three-park cost $99 for the lower three, blocked-out tiers and $149 for the top, unblocked tier.

Three, four and five-day multi-park tickets also are available, with the three-park option selling for $40 more than the two-park ticket that does not include Volcano Bay. The price difference is the same for one park per day and Park-to-Park tickets.

Volcano Bay opens officially on May 25. We will be in Orlando for the grand opening and will bring you full coverage here on Theme Park Insider.

Update: To compare with the other Orlando-area theme park resort water parks, regular, one-day tickets to Disney's Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon cost $62, with park-hopping privileges between the two water parks on the day of your visit. Tickets cost $57 for "off-season" dates, before May 27 and after August 27. SeaWorld's Aquatica costs $59.99, with a $10 discount to $49.99 if you buy at least one day in advance online via SeaWorld's website.

Update 2: Universal Orlando has clarified that the Universal Express Unlimited benefit enjoyed by guests at the original three on-site hotels (Portofino, Hard Rock, and Royal Pacific) will not extend to Volcano Bay.

Replies (12)

Jeff D

March 30, 2017 at 7:29 AM · I'm confused. So even though there are no lines because everything is a virtual queue, you can still pay an extra $30-$80 to skip the virtual queue? Ouch! I'm assuming you can't queue for everything at the same time. Are they really thinking the virtual queues are going to be that long?

More importantly, do the deluxe resorts include Express Passes for Volcano Bay too?

72.239.45.89

March 30, 2017 at 10:47 AM · All Express does is allow you to bypass making a virtual reservation for an attraction. So for example if you don't have express you go to ride entrance, make a reservation to come back later with a less than 15 min wait. But again no express means you may have to wait 45 to 90 mins in a virtual queue. Now if you have express this will allow you to walk right up to an attraction and bypass making a virtual reservation. You will then join those who are already waiting in line that made virtual queue reservations. There will be one line and one line only. Express will not bypass those whose times are ready for virtual queues. This is the same program that is now effective at Jimmy Fallon. This is also why express is so "cheap". If your willing to wait in most cases 25 to 30 mins for a return time Express is essentially pointless. Hope this helps -HTF

Doug Jenkins

March 30, 2017 at 10:49 AM · Much more reasonable and kind to the AP holders, than I thought. You have to upcharge for an investment like this. We won't be going often, so I will stick with my 2 park AP and pay the occasional (2-3 years) $67 to go and look.

TwoBits

March 30, 2017 at 11:41 AM · So...Universal's "third THEME park' (not water park) isn't included in the annual pass without upcharge. Makes sense...??

Rob McCullough

March 30, 2017 at 2:28 PM · I'm a member of the UOAP Facebook group. People are going Bat S#it crazy over there because of the pricing structure. It seems like the AP holders thought they'd be getting access to the new park without any additional cost.
I'll admit I was a bit blind sided by the addition of Universal Express at Volcano Bay. I had assumed (dangerous) that the use of the virtual queue would have made UE obsolete. Thing is, you can't make money off of an obsolete way to skip the line.

99.13.228.85

March 30, 2017 at 4:04 PM · Far out!

50.154.35.127

March 30, 2017 at 6:33 PM · Do they just have annual pass to Volcano bay

96.47.156.42

March 30, 2017 at 9:31 PM · People really thought that just because they have an annual pass, that they were going to get in free to the new park once it opened? Lol. There is zero logic in that. I mean, you don't get a new addition iphone for free just because you already own one. Its A whole new park. To think you would get it for free on an annual pass that states "2 park annual pass" is just beyond ridiculous. Lol.

jeremygary

March 31, 2017 at 8:31 AM · How could any annual passholder actually think that they would be getting access to a brand new theme park for no additional cost?! That's the reason I no longer participate in the UOAP Facebook group ... too many unreasonable opinions over there.

I agree. It is actually much better for APs than I originally expected. And yet, endless complaints on the UOAP FB page. If they do a rumored "passholder event" during the soft opening period, the UOAP Facebook group will completely melt down when it is announced that they have to buy a (maybe discounted) ticket for that event. Anyway, not all UOAPs are unreasonable. There are some of us with reasonable expectations.

As always, very concise presentation of the pricing update!

98.5.180.251

March 31, 2017 at 10:36 AM · So, if you are a premium season pass holder, do we still have to buy tickets to go to volcano bay? Or do we just purchase the fast pass if we want it? Thanks

Holger Halfmann

April 1, 2017 at 6:13 AM · What is about the Orlando Flex Ticket?

@ Doug Jenkins: What Sense it makes to pay 67 $ Upcharge twice (or more) a year if you can get unlimitted Acess for 101 (not 99 Robert!) moore?

@50.154: Read Roberts Article again...

@ Jeremygary: I'm in Tears I was denied Acess at 6F with an CF Platinum Season Pass .-:)

176.24.34.55

April 2, 2017 at 6:33 AM · Where can I but day tickets for VB? Do you know which ticket providers are selling them? Thx

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Universal Orlando reveals one-day ticket, AP prices for Volcano Bay

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