Theme Park Magic Meets Premium Pricing As Epic Universe Drives Up Orlando Travel Costs

Super Mario, Harry Potter: An inside look of Universal Epic Universe

Universal fans have new worlds to be fully immersed in as Epic Universe is unveiled with its five, unique worlds, ahead of its official opening.

• Orlando's newest theme park, Epic Universe, opens May 22, increasing travel demand and prices.
• Flights to Orlando average $209, up 17% from last year during the park's opening days.
• Hotel rates at Universal properties range from $177 to $257 per night during peak summer dates.

Theme park lovers eager to escape reality at Epic Universe this summer may be paying a premium to get there.

Orlando, Florida's newest and highly anticipated theme park is set to open its doors on May 22, transporting parkgoers to five immersive worlds. Guests can enjoy new thrilling attractions, shops, eateries and other experiences crafted with incredible detail.

Fans flocking to the new park this summer are set to drive up travel demand to Orlando, with an increase in flight capacity and ticket prices to the theme park hub compared to last year.

Here's what travelers should expect to visit Epic Universe this summer:

Airfare to Orlando during Epic Universe's opening averages $209, an increase from $179 at around the same time last year, according to travel platform Hopper. In the summer, the price goes up to $217, about 8% higher than flights last summer.

“Prices for flights to Orlando from U.S. cities for the first 10 days of Epic Universe are 17% higher than the same 10 days last year,” Hayley Berg, Hopper’s chief economist, said in a statement. “This is not surprising, as airfares to Orlando are higher for all dates in May compared to last year.” 

Travelers can still score some flight deals during the peak summer season if they do a little sleuthing and are flexible with their dates. Here are some low airfares, according to Expedia.com:

◾New York City to Orlando for June 4-8: $238 round-trip (40% less than typical).

◾Los Angeles to Orlando for June 1-7: $245 round-trip (40% less than typical).

◾Atlanta to Orlando for June 2-6: $217 round-trip (40% less than typical).

◾Chicago to Orlando for June 3-11: $217 round-trip (45% less than typical).

◾Dallas to Orlando for June 12-17: $258 round-trip (40% less than typical).

Here are the per-night hotel rates at Universal properties for the peak summer dates of July 7-10, according to Hotels.com:

◾Universal’s Loews Sapphire Falls Resort: $257.

◾Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort: $177.

◾Universal’s Endless Summer Resort: Dockside Inn and Suites: $190.

◾Universal’s Endless Summer Resort: Surfside Inn and Suites: $196.

Guests can purchase tickets for both single-day and multiday admission. Single-day tickets for May are only available to annual pass holders and guests who purchase a multiday package, which includes one day or more at Universal's other parks and one day at Epic Universe. Single-day admission for visits beginning June 1 costs between $139 and $199, depending on the day.

Contributing: Zach Wichter