One of the ways you can experience more and wait in line less at Universal Orlando is with the Universal Express Pass. Universal's skip-the-line access is a huge help in the parks, especially on busy days.

As you plan your family’s exciting vacation to Universal Orlando, it’s important to understand the available Express Pass options and how to purchase them without breaking the bank.

Did you know there’s a way to get the Universal Express Pass for free?

Guests staying at one of Universal’s Premier Hotels receive complimentary Universal Express Unlimited Passes as part of their stay. The value of these passes is nearly equivalent to the total cost of a hotel stay.

In this post, I will explain how Universal Express Pass works, and how price matching a hotel with Express versus buying Express separately can save you a ton of money.

What is an Express Pass at Universal Orlando?

Universal Express Pass allows you to skip the regular lines at participating rides and attractions - no reservation needed! Universal Orlando states Express Pass will cut wait times in half.

Ex: An 80 minute wait for Revenge of the Mummy will be 40 minutes or less.

2 Universal Express Pass Options

There are two types of Universal Express Passes. The first allows you to skip the line once per ride or attraction. The second is an Unlimited version that allows you to skip the line as many times as you’d like — even for the same ride.

1. Standard Express Pass

   • Valid only once per attraction

2. Express Unlimited Pass

   • Offers unlimited access for each attraction

How Much Does Unlimited Express Pass Cost?

 The cost of Express Pass will depend on several factors, including:

• Whether you’re purchasing the Express or the Express Unlimited version.

• When you’re visiting.

• Which park you’re visiting.

• How many Express Passes remain.

• How many parks you’re visiting

Universal Express Passes are available in two different formats: one-park and two-park options. 

The one-park pass allows express entry to either Universal Studios Florida or Islands of Adventure – your choice. The two-park pass grants express access to both parks on the same day.

1 Park Express Pass:

•  A one park pass starts at $89.99 and goes as high as $259.99.

1 Park Unlimited Express Pass:

• A one park unlimited pass starts at $119.99 and goes up to $289.99

2 Park Express Pass:

• Two park passes start at $104.99 and goes up to $279.99

2 Park Unlimited Express Pass:

• A two park unlimited pass starts at $134.99 and goes up to $299.99

During holidays and weekends, these prices can really skyrocket – during Christmas week the one-park Express Pass can reach $349.99 per person!

Note-- None of the Express Pass options include general admission to any park.

How Does Universal Express Pass Work?

Each Express Pass is valid for a single day’s use. Every person in your group, including children aged three and older, must have a separate Express Pass.

For a multi-day trip to Universal Orlando, you would need to factor in whether Express Pass is needed for each day of your trip.

Express Passes are date-specific. This means you have to select the exact date of your visit at the time of purchase.

When you approach a ride with Universal Express, show your pass to the attendant. Some rides (mainly those with short, outdoor queues), such as Flight of the Hippogriff, will scan the pass right then and there as you arrive at the ride entrance.

Express Pass Hack – Stay at a Universal Orlando Premier Hotel Instead

All you have to do is stay at one of the three on-site Universal Premier hotels. Guests staying at one of Universal’s Premier Hotels receive complimentary Universal Express Unlimited Passes as part of their stay. 

The value of these passes is nearly equivalent to the total cost of a hotel stay. Keep in mind it’s the highest tier, two-park, Unlimited Express that starts at $134.99 per person per day. 

Universal’s Premier Hotels:

• Loews Portofino Bay

• Loews Royal Pacific

•  Hard Rock Hotel

Depending on your party size and when you’re visiting, booking a Premier Hotel with Express, rather than buying Express Pass separately is the most cost-effective way to make the most out of your Universal vacation.

The complimentary Express Passes are valid for each person in the room for every day of the stay, INCLUDING check-in and check-out days!

Doing the Math Between Buying Express Separately vs a Premier Hotel Stay

Let's say you’re a family of 4, and you plan to spend three days and two nights at Universal Orlando. I went with the month of August as an example because it's the month a lot of familles visit right before school starts back.

When checking the cheapest Premier Hotel, Loews Royal Pacific wins. 

For 3 days and 2 nights at Loews Royal Pacific, it comes to a total of $1,088.37 (with taxes and fees included).

Now let’s compare that to what the 2-park Universal Express Unlimited Pass costs for 4 people.

2-park Universal Express Unlimited Pass comes up with an average of $170 per person per day, then multiplied that by 4 people ($680 pre tax).  Multiply that by 3 days worth of passes (since you can use passes on the day we check-in and the day we check out).

The 3 day total for Universal Express Unlimited passes comes out to $2,172 for 4 people. (with taxes and fees included). 

That’s WAY more expensive than what the Premier hotel stay would cost. You would save roughly $1,088.63 if you stayed at a Premier Hotel vs buying 3 day's worth of Express Pass Unlimited for 4 people!

How to Maximize Your Premier Hotel Express Pass

If you’re visiting the parks on check-in and check-out day it is way cheaper to book a room at a Premier resort rather than purchase Express separately, even if you are not paying for lodging while in Orlando.

If you time your day of arrival flight/drive time right:

• You can actually check-in and get your Express Pass card as early at 6:00AM on the day you arrive. You’ll just have to leave your bags with the front desk until the room is ready. You can then head to the parks to utilize Early Park Admission.

If you time your departing flight/drive right:

• If you book the latest flight home/drive at the end of the day, you can leave your bags with the front desk after checking out, and still utilize your Express Pass all day in the park. 

What Rides Can You Use Universal Express Pass?

Attractions Accepting Express Pass at Universal Studios Florida

• Despicable Me Minion Mayhem

• Minions Villian Con

• Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts

• Hogwarts Express Kings Cross Station (park to park ticket required)

• Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit

• The Bourne Stuntacular

• Race Through New York starring Jimmy Fallon

• Revenge of The Mummy

• The Simpsons Ride

• Transformers: The Ride 3D

• Fast & Furious Supercharged

• ET Adventure

• Kang & Kodos wire n Hurl

• Men in Black Aliens Attack

• TrollsCoaster

• Imagination Celebration show

Attractions Accepting Express Pass at Universal Islands of Adventure

• Jurassic World VelociCoaster

• The Incredible Hulk Coaster

• Storm Force Acceleration

• Doctor Doom’s Fearfall

• Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man

• Dudley Do-Right’s Ripsaw Falls

• Popeye & Blutto’s Bilge-Rat Barges

• Skull Island: Reign of Kong

• One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish

• Jurassic Park River Adventure

• Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey

• Hogwarts Express Hogsmeade Station (park to park ticket required)

• Flight of the Hippogriff

• Caro-Seuss-el

• The High in the Sky Seuss Trolley Train Ride!

Rides not included

• Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure located in Universal Islands of Adventure

Is Universal Express Pass Worth It?

To decide whether the Universal Express Pass is worth it, consider these factors:

• How many days are you visiting?

  • Could you come back multiple days to knock out rides

• How busy will the parks be when you visit?

  • Express Pass will help you make the most of your time during peak visiting seasons.

• Who are you traveling with?

  • Can your kiddos wait in line? Express Pass is a game changer if you have young children who aren’t too patient when waiting in long lines.

  • Older adults / Grandparents can they stand for extended periods, sometimes in the direct sun?

• How many days are you visiting?

  • If visiting 1-2 days and you want to experience the most, Express Pass is invaluable 

• How likely are you able to come back to Universal Orlando after this trip?

• Is purchasing Express Pass in your budget?

Once you’ve considered these factors, you’ll know whether or not having Universal Express Pass will be worth it for you.

Benefits of Staying at a Universal Premier Hotel

FREE Universal Express Unlimited Passes

Guests of your party will receive FREE Universal Express Unlimited for every day of your day (including check-in and check-out).  This perk allows you to skip the regular lines for the entire day. You can ride the same attraction as many times as you’d like.

Early Park Admission

Premier hotels guests can get inside the theme parks an hour before the other guests. This means you’ll have more time in the park than regular guests, and fewer crowds to compete with (for an hour, at least). 

Close Proximity to the Parks

Premier hotels have a short water taxi ride to and from the parks.  You can easily go back and forth between the park and your hotel room quickly and for free. This is a game changer if you have a baby or little ones who need to go back to the hotel for nap time.

The Big Take Away:

If you plan on buying the Express Pass anyway, it makes the most sense to stay at one of the three Premier Hotels.

Note— You always need to price match Express Pass bought separately vs a Premier hotel stay. The cost of buying Express Pass separately might not always be higher than the cost of your Premier Hotel stay!