Comcast co-CEO Mike Cavanagh said Thursday that Universal will bring “three-park passes” to the market in Orlando. Cavanagh did not spell out Epic Universe Annual Passes, but Universal already sells three-park day tickets. Cavanagh’s phrase could really only point to an Epic Universe Annual Pass. So far, Universal has said only that it will share details on Annual Passes that include Epic Universe later. Here’s the latest.
Epic Universe Annual Pass Hint: What Comcast Said About Three-Park Passes
IN THIS ARTICLE:
- What Comcast’s co-CEO said about three-park passes on the third-quarter earnings call.
- Why an Epic Universe Annual Pass likely
- What Universal has said so far about Epic Universe passes, and the capacity work behind them.
Comcast reported third-quarter results on Thursday, October 22nd, and Orlando was a major theme park topic. After Universal’s difficult summer and soft outlook for the next 6 months, Goldman Sachs analyst Michael Ng asked when Orlando trends could start to improve. Cavanagh’s answer included a plan for a new pass and offers. That plan arrives as Universal works to bring more guests into its Orlando parks, Epic Universe included.
The plans for an annual pass can be traced back to a new head of marketing. In Cavanagh’s words, Universal has “a new head of marketing, so we are going to bring some promotional and product packages into the market, three-park passes and the like.” The same answer promised more media spending aimed at “high return opportunities to get people into our collection of parks in Orlando.”
That marketing push is a response to a slower stretch in Orlando. Cavanagh pointed to economic softness and to Universal lapping the May 2025 opening of Epic Universe. He expects the softness to continue at a similar pace next quarter and through the first half of 2027. Universal starts to lap those comparisons after that. Comcast’s quarterly filing says theme park revenue fell in the third quarter. Lower park admission revenue drove the drop, including increased promotional activity and discounts.
What Three-Park Passes Could Mean for Epic Universe
“Three-park” means two different things at Universal Orlando right now. Tickets with three parks cover Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure, and Epic Universe. We covered that lineup when Universal launched 3-, 4-, and 5-day tickets with unrestricted Epic Universe access last October. Annual Passes with three parks cover Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure, and Volcano Bay water park, because no pass includes Epic Universe today.
Universal marketing is adamant that Volcano Bay is a theme park, but the reality is that Cavanagh’s comment leans on the definition of three parks meaning Islands of Adventure, Universal Studios Florida, and Universal Epic Universe. Universal already sells three-park day tickets that include Epic Universe, so an annual pass with the same three parks would be the missing piece.
Cavanagh gave no date, but Comcast is expecting softness to continue into Summer 2027. It’s possible that an Epic Universe annual pass debuts before then to try and right the ship, but a safer bet seems to be next Summer.
Where Epic Universe Annual Passes Stand Today
Universal’s passholder FAQ says an Epic Universe-inclusive pass is not currently available for purchase. Passholders can buy specially priced 1-Day Epic Universe tickets instead. Universal says it will announce details on passes that include the park later. We reported earlier this year on a Universal passholder survey that floated multi-year passes, required reservations, and multi-day add-ons. Universal has not announced any of those options.
Ride capacity appears to be the main hurdle… still. At a March Morgan Stanley conference, Cavanagh tied more attendance possibilities to ride capacity reaching its potential. On Thursday’s call, he said Universal is making progress on Epic Universe capacity, including attraction reliability, throughput, and load times. He described that work as getting the technology settled and training staff to load and unload at the right speed.
KEEP READING:
- Universal’s passholder survey floated multi-year Annual Passes, required theme park reservations, and weekend-only options, and our full breakdown covers every option we heard about.
- Our look at why ride reliability may be holding back Epic Universe Annual Passes explains the capacity side of the story.
- Universal’s 3-, 4-, and 5-day tickets with unrestricted Epic Universe access show how the current multi-day lineup works.
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