Universal Studios Hollywood has released their highest tier annual pass, Inside Universal has learned.
Featuring much of the same features as Universal’s now-discontinued Premium Star Annual Pass, the Platinum Annual Pass features 365 days of admission, free parking before 5 PM, a 15% discount on food and merchandise, Front of Line access to the Studio Tour and one admission ticket to Halloween Horror Nights. Priced at $589 (with a list price of $599 if you purchase at the park’s main front gate), the new Platinum Pass is among Southern California’s most expensive pass, reflecting the impact of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter on the park’s perception of value. The previous Premium Star Annual Pass was priced at $179 with a list price of $199, reflecting an increase of $400. For comparison, Disney’s highest tier pass dedicated to the Disneyland Resort is priced at $1049 with 15% discount on select dining, and 20% off merchandise.
The new Platinum pass comes at time where Universal’s previous annual pass program did not include full 365 admission or parking despite the substantial increase in prices. Most notably, the Gold Annual Pass – Universal’s previous highest tier pass – included over 50 blackout dates.
These substantial changes to the annual pass program come at a time where Universal Studios Hollywood is undergoing its largest transformation in over two decades. With several new attractions added in the past five years, Universal has undergone a rapid redevelopment project aimed at revitalizing the park’s infrastructure in preparation of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, which is set to open on April 7. The pass program has also undergone a rapid change, with a substantial price increase for the highest tier, a rollback of benefits and discounts and the introduction of a season pass option.
Universal Studios Hollywood has also raised the lowest ticket price to $90 if you purchase online. Tickets can now fluctuate up to $115 for AnyTime Tickets or purchases made on the day of.
Please stay tuned to Inside Universal for more on this and other stories originating from Universal Studios Hollywood.
Correction: A previous version of this article stated that the Platinum Annual Pass allowed pass holders to gain priority access to all rides and attractions two hours before park closing. This is an error on our part – priority access is only given to the Studio Tour. We apologize for the error and the inconvenience.
