Universal Studios Hollywood introduces new California pass
Two weeks after Disneyland reintroduced a popular annual pass for Southern California residents, rival Universal Studios Hollywood has launched a pass targeting California visitors.
The new pass, which went on sale Monday, costs $119 and gives access to the park for 219 select days, including 54 weekend days during a rolling nine-month period, depending on the day it is purchased.
The theme park will not require pass holders to be California residents, but the new California Neighbor Pass is designed to attract locals who will want to visit the park on a regular basis.
The movie-based theme park already offered a season pass for $119, but it gave access to the park for only 130 days, including 33 weekend days. Universal representatives said that pass eventually would be phased out.
Neither of the season passes includes free access to Universal Studios’ popular Halloween Horror Nights events but offers discounts to the night-time celebration and other special events.
Universal Studios Hollywood representatives said the new California pass was not introduced in response to Disneyland’s popular annual pass for Southern California residents.
Walt Disney Co. temporarily stopped selling the Southern California pass in 2014, amid concerns that the parks in Anaheim were too crowded. In September, the entertainment giant began to sell the pass again at the front gate for $459, with access to Disneyland and Disney California Adventure for 227 days a year. It will be offered on the park’s website later this year.
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