Universal Epic Universe at Universal Orlando Resort is made up of five frogtastic worlds — each containing mouthwatering food, colorful characters, immersive interactive experiences and, of course, thrilling attractions. As this brand-new park opened, naturally one of the questions we got most was, "Does Epic Universe have Express Pass?" Not only does Epic Universe have Express Pass, but also, it's one of the best ways to truly maximize your day portal hopping.
While it is possible to hop on all of the attractions in one day (especially if you're utilizing Early Park Admission), Universal Express Pass allows you to spend less time waiting in line and more time soaking in the majestic worlds around you. We love the Universal Express Pass because it helps us feel like we don't have to spend our whole day running from ride to ride or constantly checking wait times and can take it a little bit slower. For example, if we're in Super Nintendo World, we feel confident we can knock out all three attractions back-to-back without worrying about catching a lower wait time elsewhere. Got questions about using Express Pass at Epic Universe? We have answers! Here's everything you need to know about Express Pass at Epic Universe.
Frequently Asked Questions About Express Pass at Epic Universe
Do I need Express Pass at Epic Universe?
Much like using Express Pass at the other Universal Orlando parks, the answer to this question is no! Express Pass is a toadally optional add-on — separate from your general admission — and you can still have an incredible day without it. However, there are some times when we think it may be worth considering Express Pass at Epic Universe if you can swing it:
- You're going during a busy time (Not sure if this is true? Head over to the Undercover Tourist Crowd Calendar to see!)
- You only have one day at Epic Universe
- Mine-Cart Madness or Battle at the Ministry are must-dos for you (especially if the above two points are also true!)
- You don't have Early Park Admission
How do I purchase Express Pass for Epic Universe?
Head to Undercover Tourist's Universal Orlando Resort tickets page and filter "Universal Orlando: Universal Express Passes with Epic Universe (FL)." Here you'll find 2- through 5-Day Universal Express Passes (starting from $264.52) that include Universal Epic Universe, along with Universal Studios Florida and Universal Islands of Adventure (psst ... that'll also save you up to $43 per Express Pass!). You can also purchase 1-Day Express Passes for Universal Epic Universe (starting from $199.99) directly through Universal Orlando Resort if you just need an Express Pass for Epic Universe and not the other two theme parks.
You can even purchase a Universal Express pass once you're at Universal Epic Universe, but be aware, they may sell out (or already be sold out) for the day.
Which Epic Universe rides accept Express Pass?
Universal Express Pass works for every attraction at Universal Epic Universe — including the two stage shows, Le Cirque Arcanus and The Untrainable Dragon — except for Dragon Racer's Rally in How to Train Your Dragon - Isle of Berk. Express Pass also doesn't work for character meet-and-greets, which includes the meet with Toothless and Friends.
How many times can I ride each attraction at Universal Epic Universe with a Universal Express Pass?
Right now, you can Buy 3 Days and Get 2 Days FREE at Universal Orlando Resort (including Epic Universe!)! Valid for visits through Dec. 16, 2026, excluding blockout dates.
Because Universal Epic Universe doesn't offer Universal Express Unlimited (which allows you to enjoy shorter wait times multiple times at participating rides and attractions), you can only scan your Universal Express Pass one time at each attraction at Epic Universe. That being said, you can still use the standby or Single Rider lines as many times as you want!
What is Universal Express Now?
Brand new to Universal Orlando Resort, Universal Express Now allows you to enjoy a shorter wait once at the participating attraction you've selected during a specific time window by entering the Express queue (instead of the regular line). Universal Express Now is exclusively available through the Universal Orlando Resort App in the park on the day of your visit (location services must be enabled).
Keep in mind that with this new option, not everyone in your party will be able to grab a pass. The number of people you have with you may be more than the number of passes currently available. (The app will let you know that you've reached the maximum quantity for this time slot and ask you to check back later for other times.)
How do I purchase and utilize Universal Express Now at Epic Universe?
When you're in the park, all you have to do is open the Universal Orlando Resort app, tap the Buy tab, navigate to Express Pass, hit Passes and select Universal Express Now. (You can sort offers by Recommended, Wait Time, Distance and even A-Z.) From there, you'll choose an available attraction and time window, select the number of passes and complete your purchase and then enter the Universal Express queue during your selected time window. Easy enough! Only one return time option is available per attraction at a time, however. Additionally, note that you will be paying per person, per attraction. On the purchase page, the app will show you what the current wait time for each available attraction is so you can decide whether you want to pay to enjoy a shorter wait time or not. Note that the wait time during your return window may differ from the wait time when you purchase your Express Now pass.
Once your return window arrives, simply show up to the attraction and present the QR code in your app's wallet to the attending team member to enter the Express queue.
If you miss your Universal Express Now queue entrance window, know that you'll forfeit the use of your pass. Plus, once you select your attraction and time, you won't be able to exchange it for another participating ride or attraction. If the attraction you've purchased Universal Express Now for temporarily closed during your entrance time window, you'll receive a notification that your experience window has been extended through the end of the day (during regular park hours).
What Epic Universe attractions are Express Now passes appearing for?
When we recently visited, we mainly saw passes pop up for Mario Kart: Bowser's Challenge and Hiccup's Wing Gliders. We also saw a few appear for Stardust Racers, Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment and Fyre Drill. While it's definitely worth it for Mario Kart and Hiccup's Wing Gliders as they tend to see higher wait times throughout the day, we'd say save your money for Stardust Racers and Monsters Unchained as those rides normally post lower wait times. For Fyre Drill, it depends on the season. In the heat of summer, wait times for that attraction can get fairly high and having access to a shorter could be a life-saver, but on the day we went in April, the wait for it was about five minutes all day.
Team members informed us that — at this time — Express Now passes won't be offered for Mine-Cart Madness and Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry.
We saw passes popping up throughout the vast majority of the day (and were able to snag our first one for Mario Kart as soon as we scanned into the park just minutes after opening), but passes stopped being offered for the day at around 5 p.m.
Are the Universal Express wait times shorter than Single Rider wait times?
While we absolutely love the Single Rider line because, more often than not, you will enjoy a shorter wait time than the standby queue, Universal Express guarantees that you will have a shorter wait time. Express Pass riders are boarded onto every vehicle, whereas Single Rider boarding depends on where space needs to be filled. Also, because of the added cost, less guests are using Express Pass than hopping into the Single Rider line. Lastly, each party is boarded together in the Express Pass line, but in the Single Rider line, only one guest is boarded at a time.
It's also important to note that a) the Single Rider line opens and closes throughout the day based on capacity — so it's not always a guarantee you'll be able to utilize it — and b) not every attraction has a Single Rider line.
How do I use the Universal Express Pass at Epic Universe?
When you purchase a Universal Express Pass, you'll receive a QR code in your email. (This process is the exact same when you purchase through Undercover Tourist.) You can either have team members scan the QR code on your phone, or you can go to a Concierge hut in the park where a team member can print out a physical Express Pass card.
Simply head to the attraction you want to use it at and present your QR code or card to the team member to get into the Express queue. Each attraction differs as to the number of times throughout the queue you'll need to present your QR code or card for the team members there to scan. Additionally, while Universal Orlando Resort uses facial recognition software to get guests through queues faster, sometimes the software may not recognize your face, and you'll be asked to present your QR code or card to scan.
What do I do with my Universal Express pass on rides with lockers?
Three rides at Universal Epic Universe utilize lockers: Stardust Racers, Hiccup's Wing Gliders and Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment. For each of these rides, the Express queue merges with the standby queue either at or before the lockers — meaning you don't need your Express pass after the lockers. You can safely store it in the locker and not worry about it during your ride!
Do you have a rule of thumb for utilizing Universal Express at Universal Epic Universe?
We're so glad you asked, traveller! Because you can only scan your Universal Express pass one time at each attraction, we try to not use it when a wait time is below half an hour, so if a ride is posting a higher wait time later in the day, we can ride again utilizing the Universal Express queue.
On our last visit, we got to ride both Curse of the Werewolf in Dark Universe and Constellation Carousel in Celestial Park twice — utilizing the standby line in the morning and the Universal Express line later at night when both rides really shine and more people want to ride them!
How much time will I really save with a Universal Express pass at Universal Epic Universe?
We here at Undercover Tourist take great pride in our research. We know that two of the most popular attractions at Universal Epic Universe are Mine-Cart Madness in Super Nintendo World and Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Ministry of Magic. These two rides consistently post the highest wait times throughout the day. Well, we're hoppy to report that, on our most recent visit, we only waited 20 minutes with Express at Mine-Cart Madness with a posted wait time of 145 minutes at 1:30 p.m. and 15 minutes at Battle at the Ministry with a posted wait time of 90 minutes at 3:30 p.m. Universal Express really does give you so much time back in your day! If either of these rides are must-dos on your list, and you don't have Early Park Admission, Express is a really great option to check them off of your list in less time.
What is the advantage of Universal Express Pass at shows?
Universal Epic Universe has two jaw-dropping stage shows in the forms of Le Cirque Arcanus in the Ministry of Magic and The Untrainable Dragon in Isle of Berk — both of which accept Universal Express Pass. The advantage of using it at either of these attractions is that you're let into the theater first — meaning better seats (although, there really are no bad seats in either house).
Le Cirque Arcanus does have a five-minute pre-show that guests need to stand for before being let into the theater proper, and both the Express and standby queues merge before the pre-show. If you waited in the Express queue, you'll ideally be more toward the front for the pre-show and therefore, closer to the door of the theater.
For The Untrainable Dragon, we actually like a seat a little further back in the theater. We think it offers a better view during the show's most jaw-dropping moment!
Do you have any advice for experiencing the attractions that don't take Universal Express?
As I mentioned above, Dragon Racer's Rally is the only attraction at Universal Epic Universe that doesn't take Universal Express. Fortunately, we rarely see this ride post a wait time of more than an hour. On our last visit, we only waited 25 minutes for it at 5:30 p.m. If you head there early in the morning or later in the afternoon, your wait should be minimal.
While you're in the Isle of Berk, however, you definitely don't want to leave without meeting the Alpha dragon himself, Toothless! Our favorite strategy is to visit him first thing in the morning. However, currently, that strategy only works if you are utilizing Early Park Admission, as his line builds very quickly and will be fairly lengthy by the time you're allowed to enter the portal otherwise. Normally, if you wait until later at night, that line will also begin to die down. On our last visit, we only waited 30 minutes for him at 7 p.m. We've even noticed that our favorite rambunctious twins, Ruffnut and Tuffnut, tend to visit Haddock Paddock frequently at the end of the day — which makes for some hilarious interactions!
What about the Express Unlimited benefit select Signature hotel guests get? Does that benefit apply at Epic Universe?
Since Epic Universe Express Pass is not Unlimited at this time, the Express Unlimited benefit only extends to Universal Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios Florida at this time.
Which Express Passes include Epic Universe?
Earlier in this post, we talked a little about how to find and buy Express Passes for Epic Universe — but to make things easy, we'll link Undercover Tourist's current Express Pass offerings that include Epic Universe access below! The best part? You could use multiple days of your Express Pass at Epic Universe if you wanted to — and now that you can use multiple days of your 3+ day Universal Orlando Resort tickets at Epic Universe, you just might want to!
- 2-Day Universal Express Pass (including Epic Universe)
- 3-Day Universal Express Pass (including Epic Universe)
- 4-Day Universal Express Pass (including Epic Universe)
- 5-Day Universal Express Pass (including Epic Universe)
Do you have any other questions about Express Pass at Epic Universe? Let us know in the comments below!
Keep hopping!
