Universal Studios Hollywood Adds $999.95 Diamond Annual Pass

Universal Studios Hollywood has added a new top tier to its annual pass lineup. The Diamond Annual Pass costs $999.95 and bundles a free VIP Experience, one round of Universal Express access from park opening and tickets to two of the park’s separately ticketed evening events, according to the fan news site Inside Universal.

Families who would rather not pay the full price at once can use a FlexPay plan, which starts at $50 per month after a down payment. The size of that down payment was not disclosed.

Where Diamond sits among Universal’s passes

Until now, the Platinum and Gold Annual Passes were the park’s options for frequent visitors. Diamond goes above both of them. Inside Universal did not report any price changes to the existing tiers, and it did not say when the new pass goes on sale or whether it is already available.

What the Diamond pass includes

Inside Universal listed these benefits for Diamond holders:

• No blockout dates, so the pass works on any day the park is open.
• One-time Universal Express access to every attraction, Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift among them, starting when the park opens.
• One free VIP Experience, available on select dates.
• One free ticket to Universal Fan Fest Nights.
• One free ticket to Halloween Horror Nights.
• Free general parking for the whole day, except during select timeframes.
• 20% off food, drinks and merchandise inside the park.
• A discount of 10%-15% at participating Universal CityWalk locations.

The Express benefit is described as one-time access, and the VIP Experience is limited to one visit on select dates. Inside Universal did not list which dates qualify.

How Diamond differs from Platinum

The gap between the two highest tiers comes down to three things, as Inside Universal described them. Diamond adds the VIP Experience and a Fan Fest Nights ticket, and its Express access starts at park opening. Platinum holders get Express access only after 3 p.m.

The source did not say which perks the Diamond and Platinum passes share beyond that comparison, and Universal’s price for Platinum was not part of the report.

What it means for families

For a household weighing a year of park visits, the Diamond pass puts most of the premium extras into one purchase. Express access from opening applies to the start of the day, when Platinum holders have no Express benefit at all. Free all-day parking and the 20% in-park discount on meals and souvenirs add up for families who visit often, while the CityWalk discount applies to the shopping and dining area outside the park gates.

Not every extra will suit every family. Parents of young children may get less use out of the Halloween Horror Nights ticket than of the parking or the food discount. The VIP Experience is limited to select dates, so families with fixed school-break travel windows should check which dates qualify.

The monthly plan lowers the upfront cost, but the full price of the pass stays at $999.95 per person, according to the report. Inside Universal did not say whether children’s versions of the pass are priced differently.

What parents can check before buying

Families comparing tiers can line up their likely number of visits against the extras they would actually use. The main questions are whether the household needs entry on blockout dates, whether a morning Express pass is worth more than the after-3 p.m. version and whether anyone in the family would attend Halloween Horror Nights or Fan Fest Nights. The select timeframes when free parking does not apply were not detailed in the report.

Source: Inside Universal