Universal Tickets. Cards, bands, etickets?

[Kidd McFluff]

How do tickets work for the Universal parks? We've never been to Universal but are staying onsite (ish) at the new Endless Summer resort at the end of August this year. We are used to the magic bands and credit card style tickets at WDW but not sure what to expect at Universal.

Can you get magic band type thingies?

Can you buy lanyards for them?

Any advice?

[lizzie145]

You have a ticket that you scan on admission along with a finger print. You can keep it in a lanyard.

It looks like your room key can be used for charging purchases to your room

[fredflintstone]

And if you have a voucher that needs exchanging for a ticket there is normally a desk at the hotel where you can exchange it for a ticket (some companies supply a barcode that can be used at the gata others a voucher that needs exchanging).

You can end up queuing for over an hour in the morning if you need to exchange it at the ticket desk by the front entrance so my advice is to get it done at the hotel. They can normally also do the conversion to annual passes or upgrades if you need them also.

Yes you can buy lanyards for them at the ticket desk and in the park. That is my biggest bugbear. At the ticket office by the gate the queue moves so slowly because they are trying to flog you lanyards and 'waste time' showing the options slowing down the queue. Would be much quicker if they only sold tickets and had kiosks as you entered the park, but of course they know you are more likely to say yes when you have that card out for the tickets and are more gung-ho.