Universal’s new credit cards reward you with free theme park tickets and more

Whether you are headed to Universal Orlando Resort in Central Florida or Universal Studios Hollywood in Southern California, a few things are certain. One, you will be transported to exciting lands based on some of your favorite movies, TV shows and video games. Two, you will create lifelong memories. Three, the costs for theme park tickets, a hotel stay, restaurants and souvenirs will add up quickly.

This is why we are big proponents of using the best credit card for your Universal vacation here at TPG — one that lets you earn (and burn) valuable rewards, thereby making your travel budget a bit more manageable.

Universal's Wizarding World of Harry Potter — TARAH CHIEFFI/THE POINTS GUY

Now, Universal launched its own duo of credit cards that will make earning rewards from your theme park vacations even easier. As part of a partnership with First National Bank of Omaha and Visa, the Universal Rewards Plus Visa Signature® Card and Universal Rewards Visa Signature® Card will provide Universal theme park guests with an all-new way to rack up theme park perks, including financing on Universal vacations, rewards on qualifying purchases and free theme park tickets.

The information for the Universal Rewards Plus and Universal Rewards cards has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

“By forming this partnership with Visa, we can offer unique theme park benefits to cardholders and further enhance our guest experience,” said Alice Norsworthy, president of global marketing for Universal Destinations & Experiences. “Even more exciting is the launch of the Universal Rewards Plus Visa Signature® Card with FNBO. This will put the thrills of Universal in the hands of our fans and provide a new way to earn rewards and get exclusive benefits.”

The cards have individual benefits, but both come with access to perks like 10% off select merchandise and food and beverage purchases at Universal theme parks. You can apply for both cards now, but here is a bit more information about each to help you decide if these cards make sense for you.

Universal Rewards Plus Visa Signature® Card

The Universal Rewards Plus Visa Signature® Card has a $99 annual fee, which you can effectively wipe out in the first year since you can earn a $100 statement credit when you spend $100 within the first billing cycle after you open an account.

You can further justify the annual fee with the one single-day theme park admission ticket to Universal’s Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios Florida or Universal Studios Hollywood that you’ll earn on your annual card anniversary when you spend $6,000 or more in a year. Soon, Universal parks on both coasts will also open a Visa lounge that cardholders will have access to when they visit the parks.

You can also offset the sticker shock of a theme park vacation with 0% annual percentage rate financing when you spend $1,000 or more on a qualifying Universal vacation purchase.

This card earns 4% rewards on qualifying Universal purchases; 2% on travel, gas and dining purchases; and 1% on all other purchases. You can redeem rewards via a Universal FUNds Visa® Prepaid Card, which you can use for Universal theme park purchases, and flights and hotel stays booked directly through the airline or hotel.

The information for the Universal FUNds Visa® Prepaid Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Click here to learn more and apply.

Universal Rewards Visa Signature® Card

The no-annual-fee Universal Rewards Plus Visa Signature® Card has fewer benefits than its sister card but still earns 2% in rewards on qualifying Universal purchases and 1% on all other purchases, also paid out via a Universal FUNds Visa® Prepaid Card that you can use to offset the cost of your vacation.

Click here to learn more and apply.

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