Universal Express

Information Universal Express
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If you’re a Universal Orlando veteran then chances are you’ve heard of Universal Express – a pass that allows you to skip the lines at pretty much all of the attractions at Universal Orlando. If you haven’t heard about it then keep reading to find out about the best way to utilize your time when visiting the Universal Orlando Resort! Unlike FastPass+ at Walt Disney World, Universal Express is a paid add-on to the price of your admission. However, unlike FastPass+, Universal Express requires no pre-trip planning at all! Instead of waiting by a computer 60 days in advance to book a reservation slot for your favorite attractions, you can sit back and do what you want when you want.

So, how does Universal Express work? Well, the base pass allows you to skip the regular line once per participating show or ride. If you want to utilize Universal Express on your favorite attractions as much as you want then you’ll have to spring for the Universal Express Unlimited pass that comes at a higher cost. Universal Express can be purchased for for 1-Park per day at either Universal Studios Florida or Islands of Adventure or it can be purchased for both parks per day. Universal Express at Volcano Bay is separate from Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure.

Universal Express starts at $69.99 per person, per day, plus tax for the pass that allows you to skip each regular line at participating attractions once at either Universal Studios Florida or Islands of Adventure. During the busiest times of the year, this pass could cost up to $139.99 per person, per day, plus tax. Remember, this DOES NOT include your park admission! The 2-Park Express Pass for Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure that allows you to skip each regular line at participating attractions once starts at $79.99 per person, per day, plus tax and peaks out at $159.99 per person, per day, plus tax during the busiest times of the year.

Universal Express Unlimited starts at $89.99 per person, per day, plus tax for the pass that allows you to skip each regular line at participating attractions as much as you want at either Universal Studios Florida or Islands of Adventure. During the busiest times of the year, this pass could cost up to $169.99 per person, per day, plus tax. Remember, this DOES NOT include your park admission! The 2-Park Express Pass Unlimited for Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure that allows you to skip each regular line at participating attractions as much as you want starts at $99.99 per person, per day, plus tax and peaks out at $189.99 per person, per day, plus tax during the busiest times of the year.

Wouldn’t it be great if you could get Universal Express for free? Wouldn’t it be even better if it was Universal Express Unlimited? You can in fact get Universal Express Unlimited for no additional charge by staying at one of the Premier Hotels at Universal Orlando Resort! This offer is for Loews Portofino Bay Hotel, Hard Rock Hotel, and Loews Royal Pacific Resort! If you can get a good rate on the hotel, it is highly recommended that you take advantage of this perk, especially on short stays, because it can allow you to see everything you want at least once and during many times of the years it will allow you to ride your favorite attractions many times over and over.

Universal Express at Volcano Bay starts at $19.99 per person, per day, plus tax, but only allows you to skip the Virtual Lines at SELECT participating rides. Universal Express PLUS will start at $49.99 per person, per day, plus tax, but allows you to skip the Virtual Lines at ALL rides. During the summer months, this pass can become very expensive and, like regular Express Pass, does not include park admission.

Because the pass has a varying prices, Universal Express passes are only good on the days that they are purchased for. This means you have very little flexibility once you purchase your tickets and Express Passes. In addition, Express Pass can also sell out for the day, so if you think you are going to wait and see what the crowds are like first then beware. You will have no problem buying Universal Express on the day of your park visit 99.99% of the time.

Will the Express Pass really save me time? Absolutely. In some circumstances, Universal Express lines usually are much shorter than regular lines in terms of length and the amount of people queuing. Universal Express lines can become somewhat long during popular times of the year, but the line will certainly be shorter than the regular line.

Do most of the attractions take Universal Express? Yes! The only rides you can’t use Universal Express on are Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure, the slide at Fievel’s Playland, and Pteranodon Flyers at Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure, as wella s Kala & Tai Nui Serpentine Body Slides or Ko’okiri Body Plunge at Volcano Bay.

Also, it should be noted that Universal Express and Universal Express Unlimited DO NOT WORK for Halloween Horror Nights. Halloween Horror Nights does sell an Express Pass, but it is a separate pass for the hard-ticket event. To be clear, you do not get Universal Express for Halloween Horror Nights by staying at a Universal Orlando hotel. Universal Express for Halloween Horror Nights uses the same variant pricing that starts at $89.99 per person, per day, plus tax and allows you to access a shorter line for each house once.

The following Universal Studios Florida attractions offer Universal Express:

  • Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts
  • Hogwarts Express (Park-to-Park admission ticket required)
  • Despicable Me Minion Mayhem
  • TRANSFORMERS: The Ride-3D
  • Fast & Furious – Supercharged
  • MEN IN BLACK Alien Attack
  • Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit
  • Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon
  • The Simpsons Ride
  • Kang & Kodos’ Twirl ‘n’ Hurl
  • Revenge of the Mummy
  • E.T. Adventure
  • Woody Woodpecker’s Nuthouse Coaster

The following Islands of Adventure attractions offer Universal Express:

  • Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey
  • Hogwarts Express (Park-to-Park admission ticket required)
  • Flight of the Hippogriff
  • The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man
  • The Incredible Hulk Coaster
  • Storm Force Accelatron
  • Doctor Doom’s Fearfall
  • Jurassic Park River Adventure
  • Skull Island: Reign of Kong
  • Caro-Seuss-el
  • The High in the Sky Seuss Trolley Train Ride!
  • Dudley Do-Right’s Ripsaw Falls
  • Poseidon’s Fury

The following Volcano Bay attractions offer Universal Express:

  • Krakatau Aqua Coaster
  • Punga Racers
  • Maku of Maku Puihi Round Raft Rides
  • Puihi of Maku Puihi Round Raft Rides
  • Honu of Honu ika Moana
  • ika Moana of Honu ika Moana
  • Taniwha Tubes

The following Volcano Bay attractions are available with Universal Express Plus:

  • Kala & Tai Nui Serpentine Body Slides
  • Ko’okiri Body Plunge
  • Ohyah of Ohyah & Ohno Drop Slides
  • Ohno of Ohyah & Ohno Drop Slides