The main reason I am able to travel so often to Orlando is due to my annual pass through Universal. I will scream it from the rooftops how amazing the annual passes are. Yes, the initial spend is quite high, but if you think about how much you save in hotel rates and days in the park you gain more perks over time.

I always make sure to get an annual pass when I am going to Orlando because it truly is one of the best investments you can make. My personal choice is the 2-park Seasonal Pass because the blockout dates are NEVER times I would go to Orlando (March-July...absolutely not). However, it can be used during times I LOVE to go to Orlando: September-October (HHN time!), November, January, and February! I recommend checking out Universal's page on comparisons between the passes - they have a great chart that shows the differences between each pass. Here's the link: UOAP Comparisons

If you utilize my advice of saving for your trips using a HYSA (here is my recommended option: SoFi), you will find that your annual pass could be saved in a little under a month ($450 w/tax). That will likely be your largest expense during the whole trip. The other annual passes offered by Universal do have payment plans, so that may be a great option for a family not looking to spend so much upfront. If you ever decide to return to Orlando, the only costs you would have are hotel and flight typically - your tickets would already be taken care of!

A major perk of having an annual pass is the annual passholder rate for hotel rooms. I already mentioned how much I love staying on premises for Universal due to early park admission and the free shuttles! (Here is the page I wrote showcasing the perks: Recommendations)

The AP allows you to have access to rates up to 40% off the regular room rate - talk about savings! If you are interested in a fancier hotel with express passes included, this would be a great opportunity to use that discount.
Pro tip: you don't actually need to have a AP at the time of booking, you will just need to make sure that you have it when checking in. So, if a hotel has a kiosk to pick up your pass, grab it and activate and then head over and check in!