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Universal Rewards Visa vs. Universal Rewards Plus: Which Card Is Worth It?
July 1, 2025
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The content on this page is accurate as of the posting date; however, some of the offers mentioned may have expired.
Quick Answer
The Universal Rewards Visa Signature® Card has no annual fee and fits most occasional Universal visitors. The Universal Rewards Plus Visa Signature® Card costs $99 a year and pays off if you visit often or can put $6,000 a year on the card to earn its free anniversary park ticket.
Both cards are issued by First National Bank of Omaha (FNBO) and share the same 10% in-park discount. The difference comes down to earning rates and the Plus card's extra perks.
The Two Cards at a Glance
[[ SINGLE_CARD * {"id": "7446", "isExpanded": "false", "bestForCategoryId": "15", "bestForText": "Occasional Universal Visitors", "headerHint": "No Annual Fee"} ]]
The no-fee card earns 2X points per dollar on qualifying Universal purchases and 1X on everything else. FNBO markets this as 2% back in rewards at Universal.
[[ SINGLE_CARD * {"id": "7445", "isExpanded": "false", "bestForCategoryId": "15", "bestForText": "Passholders and Frequent Visitors", "headerHint": "Free Anniversary Park Ticket"} ]]
The Plus card earns 4X points per dollar on qualifying Universal purchases, 2X on travel, gas, and dining, and 1X on everything else. It has a $99 annual fee.
Booking tickets or Express passes on UniversalOrlando.com? Kudos is free and shows which of your cards earns the most at checkout.
What Both Universal Cards Offer
10% Off Food, Drinks, and Merchandise
Both cards get 10% off select merchandise, food, and beverage purchases at select Universal-owned locations in the theme parks and CityWalk, in both Orlando and Hollywood. To get it, mention the discount and pay with your Universal card. The discount comes off your total at checkout.
On select mobile food orders at Universal Epic Universe, the 10% is applied as a statement credit instead. You can also ask for it at a register when you pay in person.
Rewards You Redeem at Universal
Points from either card are redeemed through a Universal FUNds Visa® Prepaid Card. You can use it on Universal purchases like tickets, Universal Express passes, dining, and merchandise. FNBO also lets you use Universal FUNds for flights and hotel stays booked directly with airlines and hotels.
What the $99 Plus Card Adds
Double the Earning at Universal
The Plus card earns 4X points per dollar on qualifying Universal purchases, twice the no-fee card's rate. It also earns 2X on travel, gas, and dining, where the no-fee card earns 1X.
A Free Park Ticket Each Card Anniversary
Spend $6,000 or more on the Plus card within a 12-billing-cycle qualification period, and you earn one complimentary ticket on or shortly after your card anniversary. You choose between a Universal Orlando 2-Park 1-Day Park-to-Park ticket (Universal Studios Florida and Universal Islands of Adventure) or a Universal Studios Hollywood 1-Day General Admission ticket.
Blockout dates apply, and Universal Epic Universe is not included in the Orlando ticket. One-day Universal tickets typically cost $159 or more depending on the date and park.
Visa Everywhere Lounge Access
Plus cardholders can use the Visa Everywhere Lounges at Universal Studios Florida, Universal Epic Universe, and Universal Studios Hollywood. You need a valid card, photo ID, and separate park admission, and you can bring up to four people per card, including yourself.
Is the Universal Rewards Plus Card Worth the $99 Annual Fee?
It depends mostly on whether you'll earn the anniversary ticket. On rewards alone, the Plus card earns 2 more points per dollar than the no-fee card on qualifying Universal purchases and 1 more on travel, gas, and dining.
If Universal purchases were your only spending on the card, you'd need about $4,950 a year at Universal for the extra rewards to cover the $99 fee. Most visitors don't spend that much.
The ticket changes the math. Say you put $6,000 a year on the Plus card: $1,500 at Universal, $2,000 on dining, gas, and travel, and $2,500 on everything else. Compared with the no-fee card, you'd earn about $30 more on Universal purchases and $20 more on dining, gas, and travel, plus a free 1-day ticket we estimate at about $159. That's roughly $209 in extra value against the $99 fee.
Calculation formulated by Kudos, based on 1 point equaling 1 cent in rewards and an estimated 1-day ticket value of $159. Actual ticket prices vary by date and park.
If you won't reach $6,000 a year on the card, the no-fee version usually comes out ahead, since the 10% in-park discount is the same on both.
What Counts as a Qualifying Universal Purchase?
Qualifying Universal purchases are where both cards earn their highest rate. According to FNBO, they include:
- Theme park and CityWalk parking at Universal Orlando Resort and Universal Studios Hollywood.
- Purchases on UniversalOrlando.com, including theme park tickets and Universal Express passes. Vacation packages from Universal Parks & Resorts Vacations count, but hotel-only reservations do not.
- Purchases on UniversalStudiosHollywood.com, including vacation packages.
Check FNBO's current terms before a big purchase, since the list of qualifying merchants can change.
Which Universal Card Should You Get?
- Choose the no-fee card if you visit Universal once a year or less and mainly want the 10% in-park discount and a modest return on park spending.
- Choose the Plus card if you're an annual passholder, visit several times a year, or will put at least $6,000 a year on the card to earn the anniversary ticket.
- Consider neither if Universal is a small part of your budget. A general cash back or travel card may earn more on the rest of your spending.
If you do add a Universal card, Kudos can help you use it at the right times. It shows which card in your wallet earns the most at checkout, so you can use the Universal card on UniversalOrlando.com and another card where it earns more.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Universal Rewards Plus free ticket include Epic Universe?
No. The Orlando option is a 2-Park 1-Day Park-to-Park ticket for Universal Studios Florida and Universal Islands of Adventure. Universal Epic Universe is not included, and blockout dates apply.
Do I need a Universal credit card to get 10% off in the parks?
Yes. The 10% discount is a cardholder benefit for the Universal Rewards Visa Signature® Card and the Universal Rewards Plus Visa Signature® Card. You need to mention the discount and pay with one of those cards.
Do Universal hotel stays earn the bonus rate?
Vacation packages bought through UniversalOrlando.com qualify, but hotel-only reservations made there do not. Check FNBO's terms for the current rules.
How do I redeem Universal Rewards points?
Rewards are redeemed to a Universal FUNds Visa® Prepaid Card. You can manage redemptions by logging in to your Universal Rewards Visa account or calling the number on the back of your card.
The information for the Universal Rewards Visa Signature® Card and the Universal Rewards Plus Visa Signature® Card has been collected independently by Kudos. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
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Editorial Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are those of Kudos alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
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