So, why you should never buy a Universal Express Pass online? Let’s start with a clarification to that extreme statement. I would buy a Universal Express Pass online in certain circumstances but highly recommend you read about our $300 mistake before you automatically do the same.
After reading about our $300 Universal Express Pass mistake, you will better understand why sometimes you shouldn’t buy a Universal Express Pass online before you arrive. Seriously no one wants to waste $300!
What is a Universal Orlando Express Pass?
Today I am specifically talking about the Universal Orlando Express Pass, not a Universal Studios Express Pass that applies to trips at Universal Studios Hollywood. Before we talk about whether you should buy a Universal Express online before your trip, let’s start with the basics.
Is it a Universal Fast Pass?
The Universal Orlando Express Pass is an add-on ticket to your Universal Orlando admission that lets guests skip the regular line at specific attractions. Instead, you wait in (typically) much shorter Express Pass lines. For Disney folks, you can think of it as a Universal Orlando Fast Pass, sort of. With a FASTPASS at Walt Disney World, you must schedule your rides ahead of time, you don’t have to do that with the Universal Express Pass. You just walk in the designated Universal Express Pass line and show your pass. The flexibility of the Universal Orlando Express Pass comes at a steep price though. The skip the line shorter line benefit is actually an add-on ticket that adds a significant cost to an already expensive trip.
Is a Universal Express Pass Worth It?
I think a Universal Express Pass is worth it most of the time but not quite always. In fact, we learned an expensive lesson on our first visit to Universal Orlando because we bought our Universal Orlando Express Pass online before we arrived. This was our $300 Universal Orlando Express Pass mistake because unlike at Walt Disney World a Universal fast pass (if you think of it like that) is not free.
What does the Universal Orlando Express Pass Cost?
To be clear you first must buy a regular admission ticket to Universal Orlando and then purchase an extra Universal Express Pass ticket for the dates you are visiting. The Universal Express Pass is an additional ticket and varies in price from about $60-$150 per person. The price varies for a few different reasons including by date of visit, validity at 1 park vs. 2 parks and also if you choose an unlimited or 1-ride option.
In our case, we got off pretty lucky with our $300 mistake. We only spent $300 on Universal Orlando Express Passes for 4 people. Even though we were on the lower end of the Universal Express Pass price, it was a complete waste of money because of the time of year we traveled and the weather on our day of the visit.
Consider the crowds when buying a Universal Express Pass
We opted to buy Universal Express Passes on our first visit to Universal Orlando because we had only one day to visit both parks. $300 was a lot of money but we weren’t sure when we’d visit Orlando again and wanted to make sure we rode all the rides on our wishlist. Our error in judgment was not realizing you can buy the Universal Express Passes in the park. Once we arrived we noticed that many rides had a sign advertising the Universal Express Pass in the gift shop as you exited.
Why should we have waited bought them at the park? Well, we purposely traveled during the offseason because we prefer low crowds. Our midweek visit in February wouldn’t likely result in big enough crowds to warrant the use of the Universal Express Pass. Plus on the day we visited, it rained heavily in the morning which kept the crowds even lower than projected. I loved the emptiness of the parks that day but we definitely wasted our money on the Universal Express Passes.
Would I buy a Universal Express Pass Again?
Yes! In fact, we did use Universal Express Passes on our next visit. The next trip was in late April with much higher crowds and worth every penny. It made a huge difference in our experience on that trip and saved us lots of time. So when I say never buy the Universal Express Pass online, I really mean never blindly purchase the Universal Express Pass online. There are some visits when a Universal Express Pass just isn’t necessary.
Is it worth buying the Universal Express Pass for little kids?
While there is a slight discount for kids tickets to Universal Orlando, there is no discount for kids when purchasing a Universal Express Pass. While the bulk of the rides included in Universal Orlando Express Pass are roller coasters and big-ticket rides, there are plenty of kid-friendly attractions included as well.
My kids are big fans of both the Universal Orlando water attractions and The Simpsons area. There was plenty of opportunities to use the Universal Express Pass on water rides and in Springfield, USA. It even includes several attractions in Suess Landing!
What attractions are included in the Universal Orlando Express Pass?
Universal Orlando Express Pass Attractions (valid as of 1/31/19)
Universal Express Pass Rides at Universal’s Islands of Adventure
- Caro-Seuss-el
- Doctor Doom’s Fearfall
- Dudley Do-Right’s Ripsaw Falls
- Flight of the Hippogriff
- Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey
- Hogwarts Express
- Hogwarts Express: Hogsmeade Station
- 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
- Storm Force Accelatron
- The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man
- The Cat in the Hat
- The High in the Sky Seuss Trolley Train Ride!
- The Incredible Hulk Coaster
Universal Express Pass Rides at Universal Studios Florida
- Despicable Me Minion Mayhem
- E.T. Adventure
- Fast & Furious – Supercharged
- Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts
- Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit
- Hogwarts Express
- Hogwarts Express: King’s Cross Station
- Kang & Kodos’ Twirl ‘n’ Hurl
- MEN IN BLACK™ Alien Attack
- Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon
- Revenge of the Mummy
- Shrek 4-D
- The Simpsons Ride
- TRANSFORMERS: The Ride-3D
- Woody Woodpecker’s Nuthouse Coaster
Can I get a discount on a Universal Express Pass?
It is important to note that Universal Express prices can increase as you get closer to your trip. If you are going to be visiting during a busy time, and will definitely want to use a Universal Express Pass then don’t wait to buy and chance the price going up.
The best way to get a deal on the Universal Express Pass is to stay at one of the select Universal Orlando Hotels that gives them free to guests. Yes, you can get a FREE Universal Express Pass if you book the right hotel!
Which hotels offer guests a free Universal Express Pass?
There are three Universal Orlando Hotels that include a free Universal Express Pass for their guests. The hotels are the Loews Portofino Bay Hotel, Hard Rock Hotel, and Loews Royal Pacific Hotel. These are Universal Orlando’s premier hotels and definitely cost more than the other on-site (and off-site) options but it’s important to do the math.
Staying at one of the premier hotels means that you get 2-park, Universal Express Unlimited Passes for all registered guests in the room. You receive this benefit on the day you check in and check out, so a one night stay actually gets you two days of the Universal Express Unlimited Passes. For a family of 4 that could be quite a savings and might make staying at a premier hotel a cheaper option than staying elsewhere and then buying a Universal Express Pass for each family member.
Universal Express Unlimited Pass
One last thing to note. Universal Orlando sells a regular Universal Express Pass and a Universal Express Unlimited Pass. The regular Universal Express Pass allows you to use it once at each participating attraction. The Universal Express Unlimited Pass allows you to use it as many times as you like at participating attractions.
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Universal Studios Express Pass
What about Universal Studios in Hollywood? Well, there is a Universal Studios Express pass for the theme park on the West Coast. The Universal Studios Express pass allows one-time express access to each ride and attraction and priority seating at select shows. Express access is a separate line with a shorter wait time at each ride and attraction and a priority seating area at select shows.
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