In this guide we explore the paid for Universal Express Pass offering at Universal Orlando including: The different options, what attractions you can and can’t use it for, and make our recommendation on whether or not it is worth buying.
What is Universal Express Pass?
In a nutshell, Universal Express pass is a paid version of Disney’s FastPass system, allowing you to skip the lines at participating attractions at both Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure. Keep in mind that even with Express Pass, you are still likely to be waiting between 5-10 minutes until you board the attraction.
Although the service is paid for, depending on the type of Express Pass you purchase, you are able to go on the attractions as many times as you like throughout the day. Considering the price point, it is absolutely crucial you get your money’s worth by riding the available attractions as many times as you can.
What Attractions are Included in Universal Express Pass?
Lets take a look at what attractions are included at all three parks at Universal Orlando.
Universal Studios
- A Day in the Park with Barney
- Animal Actors on Location
- Despicable Me Minion Mayhem
- E.T Adventure
- Fear Factor LIVE
- Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit
- Men in Black Alien Attack
- Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon
- Revenge of the Mummy
- Shrek 4-D
- Terminator 2: 3-D
- The Simpsons Ride
- Transformers: The Ride-3D
- Universal Orlando’s Horror Make-Up Show
- Woody Woodpecker’s Nuthouse Coaster
- Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts
- Hogwarts Express – London
Islands of Adventure
- Caro-Seuss-el
- Doctor Doom’s Fearfall
- Dragon Challenge
- Dudley Do-Right’s Ripsaw Falls
- Flight of the Hippogriff
- Jurassic Park River Adventure
- One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish
- Popeye & Bluto’s Bilge-Rat Barges
- Poseidon’s Fury
- Skull Island: Reign of Kong
- The Cat in the Hat
- The High in the Sky Seuss Trolley Train Ride
- The Incredible Hulk Coaster
- The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man
- Storm Force Accelatron
- The Eighth Voyage of Sinbad
- Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey
- Hogwarts Express – Hogsmeade
Volcano Bay
- Ko’okiri Body Plunge
- Kala & Tai Nui Serpentine Body Slide
- Honu ika Moana
- Taniwha Tubes
- Maku Puihi Round Raft Ride
- Punga Racers
- Ohyah and Ohno Drop Slides
What Attractions are Excluded from Universal Express?
Naturally, some of the busiest attractions aren’t included within Express Pass. There are also some other attractions in the list to be aware of.
Islands of Adventure
- Pteranodon Flyers
Volcano Bay
- Krakatau™ Aqua Coaster
Universal Express Pass Types
While there are different passes available, all of which we will go into detail on in a minute, there is one thing to keep in mind for all of them. Theme park tickets are always separate and the Express Passes come at an additional cost unless staying at select resort properties.
There are also two main types of Express Pass available, unlimited and what we will call standard. Unlimited will allow you to use Express Pass on attractions included as many times as you like in a given day and comes at a higher price than the standard Express Pass. Standard is cheaper but will only allow for one use per attraction in a day.
Keep in mind that prices are all per person, per day. Now, lets explore the different options:
Universal Express Unlimited Pass To Universal Studios Florida – $74.99 per day
- Allows you to bypass the regular lines by providing Express Access to participating attractions at Universal Studios only
- Express Access is a separate line with a shorter wait time at each valid attraction
- Valid for unlimited use at each participating attraction
- Valid only for a single day
Universal Express Unlimited Pass To Universal’s Islands of Adventure – $54.99 per day
- Allows you to bypass the regular lines by providing Express Access to participating attractions at Islands of Adventure only
- Express Access is a separate line with a shorter wait time at each valid attraction
- Valid for unlimited use at each participating attraction
- Valid only for a single day
Universal Express Unlimited Pass to Universal’s Volcano Bay – $39.99 per day
- Skip the virtual queues at Volcano Bay by touching the totems and receiving an instruction to walk straight on instead of getting a time to return
- The Unlimited Pass will be loaded onto your individual TapuTapu device
- Valid for unlimited use at each participating attraction
- Pass valid starting May 25th 2017
Universal Express 2-Park Unlimited Pass – $84.99 per day
- Allows you to bypass the regular lines by providing Express Access to participating attractions at Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios
- Does not in include Universal’s Volcano Bay
- Express Access is a separate line with a shorter wait time at each valid attraction
- Valid for unlimited use at each participating attraction
- Valid only for a single day
Universal Express Pass to Universal Studios Florida – $59.99 per day
- Allows you to bypass the regular lines by providing Express Access to participating attractions at Universal Studios only
- Express Access is a separate line with a shorter wait time at each valid attraction
- Valid for a single use on participating attractions
- Valid only for a single day
Universal Express Pass to Universal’s Islands of Adventure – $49.99 per day
- Allows you to bypass the regular lines by providing Express Access to participating attractions at Islands of Adventure only
- Express Access is a separate line with a shorter wait time at each valid attraction
- Valid for single use on each participating attraction
- Valid only for a single day
Universal Express Pass to Universal’s Volcano Bay – $19.99 per day
- Skip the virtual queues at Volcano Bay by touching the totems and receiving an instruction to walk straight on instead of getting a time to return
- The Unlimited Pass will be loaded onto your individual TapuTapu device
- Valid for single use on each participating attraction
- Pass valid starting May 25th 2017
Universal Express 2-Park Pass – $64.99 per day
- Allows you to bypass the regular lines by providing Express Access to participating attractions at Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios
- Does not in include Universal’s Volcano Bay
- Express Access is a separate line with a shorter wait time at each valid attraction
- Valid for single use at each participating attraction
- Valid only for a single day
FREE at Select Universal Orlando Hotels
That’s right, if you are staying at select hotels within Universal Orlando you will be able to get your hands on the Unlimited Express Passes as part of your hotel stay. The Express Passes will be valid for your entire stay, including both check-in and departure dates. These are the resort properties that currently include Universal Express Unlimited:
- Hard Rock Hotel
- Loews Portofino Bay Resort
- Loews Royal Pacific Resort
Though staying at any other hotel won’t grant you Express Passes, other hotels still offer early access to the parks.
Should You Purchase Universal Express?
This is quite a difficult one to answer as it depends on what time of year you are travelling. Generally speaking, if crowds are a bit quieter then it isn’t worth investing the money into Universal Express.
If you are looking to travel during a time like Spring Break or during the Holiday Season, it may well be worth considering. I have personally never paid for the passes but would always recommend taking advantage of the passes if you are staying at any of the Universal hotels that offer it as part of the package.
If you do purchase Express Pass and your budget stretches, go for the unlimited pass, for the extra $20 or so it is worth it.
Universal Express Pass FAQ
This section covers off some of the burning questions asked by readers wanting to know more about Universal Express.
Do Universal Sell an Infinite Amount of Express Passes Per Day?
In short, the answer is no. On a really busy day at the parks the Express Passes can sellout fairly quickly so keep that in mind if you are looking to purchase one.
Does Universal Express Get Cheaper Later in the Day?
Yes, this does happen from time to time at the parks. Usually from 4pm onwards the Unlimited Pass for both parks will drop to around $40. Keep in mind that this usually only happens on days when the parks are a little quieter as when the parks are busy Express Pass sells out.
Any further questions?
If you have any more questions about Universal Express then just hit us up in the comments below and we will add our answer to the guide!
Ryan has been attending theme parks since as long as he can remember and his first proper memory comes from when he was just three years old sitting in Main Street USA drinking a Nesquik milkshake from a carton while the piano was being played outside Casey’s Corner.