UniversalParksBlog News for July 9th, 2023
Universal Orlando Resort just struggled through an odd July 4th holiday.
So, management did what any smart company would. Yes, they offered some deals!
This is a happy edition of UniversalParksBlog News.
The July 4th Struggle
I don’t think anyone expected this topic to come up right now, but here we are.
According to TheStreet.com, Walt Disney World registered its slowest July 4th holiday since 2014.
That sounds like excellent news for Universal Studios, right? Sadly, that’s not the case.
Photo: touring plans.com
As the article notes, Universal Orlando Resort also tracked its worst July 4th in a decade.
We can debate the why of this all we want. Still, I think the average Universal fan would acknowledge several aspects.
First, July 4th was an absolute scorcher in the area, with the heat index hitting 110 degrees at times.
Photo: Universal
That is NOT outdoor ride weather. For that matter, any sort of theme park walking sounds intense in that heat, doesn’t it?
Also, the calendar configuration wasn’t the theme park industry’s friend in 2023.
When July 4th falls on a Tuesday, nobody quite knows what to do. Should you take a vacation the week before, the week during, or the week after the holiday?
Finally, I think we can all agree that the post-pandemic era of “Revenge Travel” has ended, which has led to a regression of sorts this summer.
Demand isn’t as high at various theme parks because of the fact that we all got our cabin fever tourism out of our systems.
Still, the lack of holiday crowds comes with an unexpected benefit.
Let’s Make a Deal
Universal Orlando Resort officials must believe that the post-Revenge Travel era will drain attendance for a while.
I say this because anyone who follows the theme park industry understands the system.
Whenever park strategists anticipate lesser demand, they cut prices or offer deals.
Photo: Universal Orlando
Nobody likes to cut prices these days, as business experts believe that establishing a firm line of demarcation on cost is important.
If something has a base price of $100, nobody wants to say it’s $80. Instead, they’ll offer a short-term 20 percent discount.
In some instances, they’ll even raise the base price by a few dollars and then offer an even bigger percentage discount.
Photo: Universal Orlando
That may sound strange as a business tactic, but it’s a way for clever companies to boost margins via math tricks.
Another strategy involves targeting the diehards with better deals. And that’s what Universal Orlando Resort has chosen.
For a limited time, Universal will offer passholders an incredible deal.
Photo: Universal Orlando
When you purchase or renew an annual pass, Universal will throw in three months for free.
In other words, you’re paying for 12 months, but your annual pass will last for 15 months. Folks, that is a DEAL!
Remarkably, this Three Months Free offer applies to two-park and three-park passes. Also, you can use it for seasonal passes!
Photo: Universal Orlando
Right now, you can get the absolute best possible pass for $1,094.99…and it’ll be good for 15 months after the first usage!
You should speak with an agent at Let’s Adventure Travel to learn the best way to maximize the value of this offer. It’s legitimately incredible!
Universal Parks Miscellany
The holidays are always a bit slow for park news, but this year has still had some surprises.
For example, the beloved Mel’s Drive-In has closed for refurbishment, which is frankly a bold move for the busy July period.
Generally, parks experience the most traffic from July 1st until around August 15th. I’m a bit surprised Universal is doing this.
On the plus side, the stylish entrances to E.T. Adventure and its companion Toy Shop have reopened after a multi-month refurbishment.
In other great news, Café La Bamba has returned after a brief absence as well.
We kinda love this restaurant, which is fancy on the outside but humble on the inside.
On a different annual passholder note, there’s this:
We've been waiting for this one. 🤩
Passholder Night returns on August 26 at Universal Islands of Adventure. Stay tuned for more details! #UOAPDAYS #UOAPNight pic.twitter.com/AF45YPqBwh
— Universal Orlando Resort (@UniversalORL) July 6, 2023
Yes, Universal Orlando Resort Annual Passholder Night will return on August 26th.
On this night, you’ll gain exclusive park access plus the ability to purchase event-only merchandise.
Photo: Universal
Universal hasn’t tipped its hand on what else is involved yet, but these activities are usually exceptional.
Finally, in case you haven’t seen them yet, the Death Eaters are running amok at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios Hollywood.
This isn’t a scheduled show per se. It’s more of a character interaction that’s spiritually similar to Scareactor greetings.
The Death Eaters will try to terrify you muggles because that’s what they do! But there’s also a sort of impromptu show. And all of it is fun!
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Feature Photo: Universal Orlando
