Read this first. Dec 28 falls in Universal's holiday season and is one of the busiest days of the year. Ride lengths and wait times below are approximate estimates (Universal does not publish them on its site); heights, ride types and descriptions come from Universal's official pages. Ticket prices were read from the official ticket calendar on Nov 7, 2026 (before tax) and can change. Always re-check hours, closures and showtimes in the Universal Orlando app before you go.
1 · Check what she can ride
2 · The four options
3 · Help her decide: pick her must-dos
Tick everything she would be sad to miss. The tool shows which ticket covers the most of her list (ties go to the cheaper ticket).
4 · Side-by-side comparison
5 · Good to know
- Hogwarts Express needs Park-to-Park admission. Universal's site says you can board with a Park-to-Park ticket; one-park tickets do not include it.
- Epic Universe is a separate day. A 1-day ticket for Epic does not let you move to the other parks the same day, and the Hogwarts Express does not go there.
- Hagrid's has the longest line in the classic parks. Per reports of Universal's announcement, it stopped accepting Express Pass on July 1, 2026, so go there first thing.
- Forbidden Journey is scheduled to close for refurbishment Feb 8–19, 2027 (not your date).
- Residency: each guest 18+ must show a Florida driver's license or ID (or an ID with a Florida address) when buying the Florida Resident ticket, picking it up and entering.
- Other ideas for the day: Butterbeer costs roughly $9.50–$10 depending on the source; wands cost more (interactive wands are listed on Universal's wand page); eat before or after the 11:45–2:00 lunch rush.
Official links: park hours · park tickets · Express Pass · The Wizarding World of Harry Potter hub