I\u2019ll cover the advantages of the Universal Express Pass here to help you decide if it\u2019s worth investing in (or upgrading to a premium resort). I\u2019ll also provide tips for using your Express Pass to maximum advantage, along with alternative strategies to avoid the queues. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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What is the Universal Express Pass?<\/h2>\n An Express Pass allows you to jump the general queue at most rides at Universal Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios; you\u2019ll experience shorter wait times, fit more into your day and spend less time stressing with your family in a queue. There are two types:<\/p>\n
Universal Express<\/strong> \u2013 This allows you to skip the regular line once on each ride for either Universal Studios OR Islands of Adventure. Pricing starts from $89.99USD++ per day<\/p>\nUniversal Express Unlimited<\/strong> \u2013 You can ride all participating rides unlimited times at both parks. Pricing starts at $119.99USD++ per day<\/p>\nPricing varies by day, season, and availability. In peak demand times, Unlimited can climb up to a staggering $300USD pp.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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NB The Universal Express Passes I\u2019m discussing here do not operate at Volcano Bay; they have a completely separate system for queueing for rides using Tapu Tapu and Volcano Bay Express- I\u2019ll be covering this soon in another article!<\/em><\/p>\nHow Do you Get Your Universal Express Pass?<\/h3>\n The Express Pass is a purchase that needs to be made ON TOP OF YOUR PARK TICKETS. You can do this when you buy your tickets as an add-on or, through the Universal App, or if they\u2019re still available, on the day at the parks. <\/p>\n
They do sell out on busy days, so don\u2019t bank on this as a last-minute time-saving strategy; you need to go in with a budget and a game plan. <\/p>\n
Whichever type you buy, remember you need your theme park tickets first\u2014these start at a base price of $119 USD per adult ticket, per day (but you can get these cheaper, too; keep reading below!<\/em>).<\/p>\nRegular entry ticket \u2013 your Express Pass is an additional pass or ticket you\u2019ll need to show on rides<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n
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If you\u2019ve bought your tickets online, you still need to collect a physical ticket on arrival; Universal resort hotels have Guest Services ticket counters, or you can collect at the Will Call window at either theme park gate.<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/div>\n<\/ul>\nIf you are staying at a Premium Universal Resort (that is, Hard Rock Hotel, Loews Portofino Bay Hotel, and Loews Royal Pacific Resort), you must still buy your Universal theme park tickets separately, but your UNLIMITED EXPRESS PASS will be automatically connected to your room key, which doubles as your Express Pass. <\/p>\n
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Good to know!<\/strong> You can check in to your hotel and get your Express Passes early on your day of arrival and leave your luggage in the hotel baggage hold, even before you\u2019re fully checked in! <\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/div>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n
What Rides Don\u2019t Have Express Pass?<\/h2>\n If you\u2019re like me and enjoy a bit of strategising, you might be thinking, what rides do I need to hoof it to at the opening to be first in the queue on non-Express Pass rides? <\/p>\n
The good news is, that nearly every ride at Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure has Express Pass<\/strong>, with two exceptions at Islands of Adventure; <\/p>\nHagrid\u2019s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure<\/strong>\u2014The queue for this gets CRAZY long. We weren\u2019t exactly dawdling, but we entered with the flow of the early park admission crowd at 8 a.m. By the time we got to the Wizarding World, which is the furthest point from the entrance (of course!), the waiting time was already 120 minutes. I kid you not. <\/p>\nIt went down to 90 minutes around an hour later, but we never saw it lower than that all day. <\/p>\n
(I had heard of Virtual Lines which can be used whilst in the park, but saw no way of doing this on our Universal App; unless I was totally missing a trick, I think they\u2019ve been completely abolished in 2024) <\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n
Pteranodon Flyers\u2014<\/strong>This ride is found in Jurassic Park. You need to make it at the general park opening time (9 a.m.) to nab it queue-free, as it\u2019s not open during early park admission. But please note that the height limits on this one are quite different from those on other rides!<\/p>\n\n\n
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Your first rider MUST be between 36\u2033 and 56\u2033 (91cm to 142cm), and only then can you have a second rider over 56\u2033; if both riders are over 56\u2033, it\u2019s a no-go, so make sure your littlest family members have their trainers ready to sprint to this one!! Queues are long by 10 a.m. <\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/div>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n
Express Pass is quicker but does NOT offer instant access<\/h2>\n Setting expectations here is essential; getting around the key attractions when you have an Express Pass is undoubtedly quicker, but it does not mean you go to the front of the queue every time. What it does is put you in a shorter queue.<\/p>\n
As the day goes on, lines will form at the most popular rides, both the general line and the Express Line\u2014you are not the only ones with a golden ticket! When you get to the front, and the rides are loaded, operators will take riders from both lines. <\/p>\nIt can also depend on how quickly Express and general queues are merged on some rides. On rides like The Simpsons, you only save a few minutes using Express Pass; on others, it will pop you basically to the front every time. <\/p>\n
For anything that is a set show time, like Minions or Jimmy Fallon, you\u2019ll still have to wait until the next show starts, but they\u2019ll let Express Pass holders through first.<\/p>\n
On some of the most popular rides, the Express line may even be closed off; this happened to us several times on Velocicoaster. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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Can I Get By Without an Express Pass and Still Do Lots of Rides?<\/h2>\n Now, I know staying at a premium hotel isn\u2019t in everyone\u2019s budget (and our family actually LOVES some of the value resorts, too!), but can you still have an enjoyable trip to Universal packed full of action without an Express Pass?<\/p>\n
It depends. Peak season, on a weekend, forget it. Mid-winter on a weekday, you might get away with it. <\/p>\n
\nStrategize and use Single Rider<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\nYou could strategize your way through the parks, arriving early in the day to beat the crowds at the most popular rides. You could also take advantage of Single-Rider queues,<\/strong> another brilliant way to cut down on lining (even faster than Express Pass on many rides!).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n
If you intend to visit both parks on a Park-to-Park ticket in one day (the best option for those who can only dedicate one day in their Orlando itinerary to Universal), you\u2019d be very hard-pressed to see even half the attractions without an Express Pass. <\/p>\n
Even taking the Hogwarts Express between the parks, by midday, you\u2019re looking at 60-90 minute queues; the Express Pass should cut this to 10-15 minutes with luck. <\/p>\n
You\u2019d have to be happy with only seeing a selection of rides if you\u2019re trying to achieve everything in one day (though it IS possible with young kids too short for many rides or if you suffer motion sickness and are skipping the biggest coaster queues).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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\nMulti-day passes and pace yourself <\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\nYou could also plan to be an early bird. If you\u2019re on a multi-day pass (e.g. pay-for-3-get-5 types of deal), you could easily fit everything in across both theme parks and Volcano Bay in five days. <\/p>\n
I\u2019d still recommend you take advantage of Early Park Admission and be there for rope drop (that\u2019s where guests staying at any Universal Resort or select partner hotels can get into one of the parks an hour early, only select attractions are open early). <\/p>\n
Get to the most popular rides early in the day then relax your way into the afternoon at CityWalk or back at your resort pool. <\/p>\nHit the theme parks hard in the morning then retreat to your resort pool when the crowds build<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
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