Thrills! Action! Transformers! Butterbeer! We always look forward to hopping down to Universal Orlando Resort. Between Universal Studios Florida, Universal Islands of Adventure and Universal Volcano Bay — and of course, the newest theme park, Universal Epic Universe — we have plenty of places to play. One of the ways we experience more and wait in line less is with the Universal Express Pass. This awesome add-on is a big help in the parks, especially on crowded days. But it isn't free — unless you stay at select Universal hotels. Understanding how and when to use the Express Pass at Universal Orlando is your key to a great visit. This post explains everything you need to know! And in some hoppin' good news, you can save some green on Express Passes when purchasing through Undercover Tourist!
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FAQs
- What is a Universal Express Pass? Universal Express Pass is a paid add-on that gives you expedited line access during normal theme park operating hours.
- Are Universal Epic Universe Express Passes available? Universal Epic Universe Express Passes are available now for visits through 2026, including Epic Universe! Check out our guide on how to use Universal Express Pass at Epic Universe for everything you need to know about using this amazing add-on at the brand new theme park.
- What are the different types of Universal Express Passes? There are three types of Express Pass: Express Unlimited Pass (unlimited use!), Express Pass (one-time access per participating ride) and Universal Express Now (one-time, a la carte access per participating ride during a specific time window). At this time, Universal Epic Universe does not offer Universal Express Unlimited.
- Which Universal Orlando Resort hotels have Universal Express Unlimited included? Guests of select hotels get Express Unlimited for Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure included in their stays, a HUGE value: Loews Portofino Bay Hotel, Hard Rock Hotel and Loews Royal Pacific Resort.
- Which rides are new to Universal Express Pass? Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry and Mine-Cart Madness now accept Universal Express Pass.
What Is Universal Express Pass?
Universal Express allows you to enjoy shorter wait times at most Universal Studios Florida, Universal Islands of Adventure and Universal Epic Universe attraction, as well as access priority seating at shows, during normal theme park operating hours. (It is a separate purchase to include Universal Volcano Bay.) This means Express Lines are not open during Early Park Admission.
Have a question about utilizing Universal Express Pass at Universal Orlando's brand new theme park? We most likely have answered it in our guide to using Universal Express Pass at Epic Universe! Hop on over for everything you need to know.
Universal currently offers Universal Express Passes for all of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter rides, including Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts and even Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure (until June 30, 2026). The only attractions that currently don't have Express access are Pteranodon Flyers and Raptor Encounter at Universal Islands of Adventure and Dragon Racer's Rally at Universal Epic Universe.
How Express Pass Works at Universal Orlando
When you approach a ride with Universal Express, the attendant will validate that you have Express, usually just by seeing your physical Express Passes or room keys. You can also show it in the Universal Orlando app or via the QR code sent to your email. From here, the experience can differ depending on the ride, so we have two rules of thumb for you:
- Know that most rides utilize facial recognition technology, so be ready to say cheese at another checkpoint farther ahead in the queue
- Know that you may need to scan your Express Pass again, so keep your physical passes handy in a zipped pocket or lanyard or QR codes open on your phone
Some rides (mainly those with short, outdoor queues), such as Flight of the Hippogriff, will scan the pass right then and there as you arrive at the ride entrance. For other queues, the facial recognition system will do its thing and recognize you, and you will get the green light to proceed from the team member at that checkpoint without needing to provide your physical pass. In other instances, a barcode may not be recognized, or the facial recognition system may not work as intended, or may not be in place, and you will need to get your pass scanned again.
Some Universal Express queues will eventually merge with a ride's standby queue, such as Illumination's Villain-Con Minion Blast. On the flip side, other Express queues are entirely separated from a ride's standby queue, such as Skull Island: Reign of Kong.
Know that the Universal Express Pass is not a group pass. Everyone in your party will need their own Universal Express Pass. Also, the passes are non-transferable. If you're staying at a Universal hotel that offers the free Express Pass benefit, your hotel room key will act as the pass. Each person will have a personalised hotel key.
It's also important to note that for rides with metal detectors, such as The Incredible Hulk Coaster, Jurassic World VelociCoaster and Stardust Racers, all of your belongings must be stowed away in a locker except for your Express Pass (which you may need to get into the corresponding line, unless the lockers are inside the queue). Make sure at least one frog in your party has pockets or a place on their clothing to store your passes. Lockers at Epic Universe use facial recognition technology, so you don't have to hold onto your pass! Lanyards with pouches can go through the metal detectors but must be tucked into your shirt prior to boarding the ride vehicle.
Universal Express Pass Options
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.
There are three types of Universal Express Passes:
- Universal Express Unlimited Passes (available at Universal Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios Florida)
- Universal Express Passes (available at Universal Epic Universe, Universal Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios Florida)
- Universal Express Now (offered sporadically when availability opens with limited entry windows at participating attractions in Universal Epic Universe, Universal Islands of Adventure and/or Universal Studios Florida)
Universal Express Unlimited
You can use the Universal Express Unlimited Pass an unlimited number of times at participating rides and attractions each day that your pass is valid. You can use the Universal Express Pass one time per ride each day that your pass is valid.
While it is slightly more costly, the Unlimited option can be invaluable depending on your needs and priorities. We recommend opting for Unlimited if you:
- Want to ride the Hogwarts Express both ways and only have one day
- Struggle with screen rides and/or have a history of motion sickness, so you can get on the rides you better tolerate as many times as you want
- Are not particularly into roller coasters and want to re-ride attractions you love over and over again
- Have tadpoles attached to specific eligible Express Pass rides to avoid potential future meltdowns
- Have tadpoles at a restrictive height so they can enjoy the rides they can get on more than once
- Are visiting with a large group since it gives you the flexibility to split up and ride more or less of your favorite rides
Additionally, Florida is notorious for its thunderstorms — especially in the summer. Many outdoor Express-eligible rides will close if there's thunder or lightning in the area. If you went with Universal Express and didn't hold onto your one-time ride on an indoor attraction, you'll have to wait in the longer standby queue when the rain hits at rides you already utilized Express on. Opting for Unlimited allows you to re-ride to your heart's content!
Universal Express
On the flip side, we'd recommend Universal Express Passes if you:
- Want to hit all of the attractions
- Are limited on the time you can spend at the park(s) — for instance, if you are arriving later in the day or need to leave early
- Want to save some money and are not staying at Loews Portofino Bay Hotel, Hard Rock Hotel or Loews Royal Pacific Resort
Both types of Universal Express Passes are available for one park per day or both parks per day. They can be purchased online ahead of time through Undercover Tourist or Universal directly, or while you're at the parks. We like this flexibility. Sometimes, you don't know you want an Express Pass until you're already in the parks!
Universal Express Now
Brand new, Universal Orlando just rolled out Universal Express Now. This limited availability pass is based on capacity and wait times and 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).
All you have to do is open the 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. Simple enough! Only one return time option is available per attraction at a time. Note that you will be paying per person, per attraction.
Keep in mind that with this new option, not everyone in your party will be able to snag a pass. The number of people in your party may be more than what is currently available. (The app will inform you that you've reached the maximum quantity for this time slot and advise you to consider checking back later for other time slots and inventory.) Additionally, if you miss your Universal Express Now queue entrance window, you'll forfeit the use of your pass. Once you select your attraction and time, you can't exchange it for another participating ride or attraction.
If the attraction you have purchased Universal Express Now for has 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).
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 current wait time when you make your purchase may differ from the wait time during the timeframe your Express Now pass is valid for. This option is perfect if you don't want to pay the full price of a Universal Express and just want to shorten your waits at a handful of attractions to attempt to get on more rides throughout the day. You are taking a gamble, though, on which attractions, which times and how many passes are available, so know that nothing about this option is a guarantee until you've physically purchased your passes.
When we recently visited Epic Universe, we snagged one bright and early in the morning for Mario Kart: Bowser's Challenge (after grabbing breakfast at The Oak & Star Tavern, of course) and then another one less than hour later for Hiccup's Wing Gliders — knocking out two heavily trafficked attractions first thing in the morning. We also grabbed one a little later for Stardust Racers but never felt like we needed it because the wait for that ride does tend to run short throughout the day. Other attractions we saw passes pop up for were Fyre Drill and Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment. Passes for various attractions were available throughout the vast majority of the day, but we stopped seeing any pop up at around 5 p.m.
All in all, we recommend taking advantage of Universal Express Now if you:
- Are planning to spend a full day at Universal Epic Universe
- Have a small party
- Don't want to spring for Universal Express Passes
- Are flexible with your schedule
- Are okay just enjoying shorter wait times at a few rides to attempt to get on more rides throughout your visit
Universal Volcano Bay
Universal offers separate passes for Universal Volcano Bay. These are per day, and you have the option of enjoying shorter wait times at select rides and attractions, or you can pay more with an Express Plus Pass to enjoy shorter wait times for all rides and attractions inside the water park. Head to the ticket desk at the front of the park or any of the concierge huts inside the park to receive your Express Pass wristband. Show the wristband to the team member stationed at the entrance to each slide, and they'll direct you to the correct line.
Which Ticket Do I Buy If I Want to Use Express Pass at All Three Theme Parks?
Excellent question! Select multi-day Express Passes can be used multiple days at the same theme parks — so if you were to buy a 3-Day Universal Express Pass (with Epic Universe), you could divvy up your three days any way you'd like: all three Express days at Epic Universe, 2 days at Epic Universe and 1 at Islands of Adventure, etc. If you have at least one full day at each of the theme parks, and having Express Unlimited isn't a must for you, this is the Express option we recommend to maximize your time. (Plus, with one day at each of the theme parks, you'd get to ride the Hogwarts Express each way!). Likewise, if you're visiting Epic Universe for multiple days and want to add on Express Pass for multiple days at Epic, this is the way to do it (and you can save up to $38 per pass when you buy through Undercover Tourist!).
If you're staying at a Universal hotel that offers Express Unlimited, and you're just looking to add Express on to your Epic Universe day, adding on a one-day Epic Universe Express Pass directly through Universal Orlando is likely your most economical option.
How Much Is Universal Express Pass?
Ultimately, it depends.
If you are staying at Portofino Bay Hotel, Hard Rock Hotel or Royal Pacific Resort, Universal Express Unlimited is included with your stay for every day of your visit. That includes your dates of check-in and departure. As we stated before, this benefit only applies to Universal Studios Florida and Universal Islands of Adventure. It is not valid at Volcano Bay or Epic Universe.
The value of this cannot be underestimated, especially during busier times. Yes, hotels are priced based on expected crowds, but if you are already considering purchasing Express Passes, you should do the math and see if it makes sense to stay at one of these hotels. For larger groups of three or more, it is often still cheaper to stay at a hotel with Unlimited Express versus staying off property and purchasing Unlimited Express separately. You get the added benefit of being so close to the parks when you stay at Universal, plus access to all of the fabulous pools, plush rooms and other amenities. If you are staying at Portofino Bay, Hard Rock or Royal Pacific and are planning on hitting the parks on your arrival day, no worries! The front desk can help you get your Express Pass so you're ready to roll, while the Bell Desk safely stores your luggage.
Universal Cabana Bay Beach Resort, Loews Sapphire Falls Resort, Universal Aventura Resort, Universal Endless Summer Resort – Surfside Inn and Suites & Dockside Inn and Suites, Universal Stella Nova Resort, Universal Terra Luna Resort and Universal Helios Grand Hotel do not offer Universal Express Unlimited, but they do offer Early Park Admission to select rides inside Universal Volcano Bay water park and Universal Islands of Adventure, Universal Studios Florida and/or Universal Epic Universe. Keep in mind that you still need regular admission to enter the park.
If you are not staying at one of the three hotels and wish to purchase Universal Express Passes, the cost varies by day and expected crowds. So during peak times, prices will be higher. Keep in mind that Universal Express Passes could sell out, but this is likely only during the very busiest times. Universal Express is separate from regular admission. It doesn't matter which tickets you have purchased ... you can add on Universal Express as needed. If you aren't sure you will need or want the passes, we recommend you hold off purchasing until you arrive (though it will cost you more, as the price tends to increase as the date gets closer, leading up to the day of). Note that Universal Express is date-specific, so you will need to know what days you plan to be in the parks if you plan to buy the passes ahead of your visit.
As for Universal Express Now, on its first day available, Yoshi's Adventure was going for $19.99, plus tax, per person, whereas Mario Kart: Bowser's Challenge and Hiccup's Wing Gliders were going for $24.99, plus tax, per person. As always, prices are subject to change.
When to Use Express Passes at Universal Orlando
Finally, we get to the most important part of the post — when to use Universal Express. Our recommendations are fairly simple.
Anytime It's Free
OK, it's never really FREE, free, but if you are staying at Portofino Bay, Hard Rock or Royal Pacific, you don't need to purchase separately. Even if the parks aren't super crowded, you will still save time by using Universal Express Passes. And there is nothing better than spending less time in line! If you're a regular, the Premier Passholder level grants you unlimited Universal Express access after 4 p.m. at Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure.
When the Parks Are Expected to Be Busy
When our Crowd Calendar predicts crowds of 8, 9 or 10, these are prime times to consider Express Passes. You might even consider it on 7 if you are particularly crowd-averse. If you're visiting during the peak of summer or around the major holidays (especially the week between Christmas and New Year), you should give this serious consideration.
If You Only Have a Day and Want to See as Much as Possible
Do you have a short trip (or only a day for Universal) and want to experience one or more parks? Then Universal Express Passes are a good idea. If you are going during one of those super busy days, the pass is a must to get the most done during your time.
Super Nintendo World Is a Must for You
Over at Epic Universe, the world with the highest waits continues to be Super Nintendo World. While these attractions are sometimes offered during Early Park Admission, if these are must-dos for you, and you aren't willing to put in the standby wait time, we think it's worth it for these rides alone.
Is the Universal Express Pass Worth It?
No matter when you visit, having Universal Express will be a time-saver — how much time can depend on the ride and certain situations. If you do purchase an Express Pass, avoid using it (especially if you have the one-time-use pass) immediately after a ride reopens if it's been down. Many people will then get in line and inflate the wait time for both standby, Express and even Single Rider queues. Just come back to the ride later in the day.
Overall, though, we find Express to be incredibly beneficial. On a recent visit to Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios Florida, we only waited 20 minutes in the Flight of the Hippogriff Express line when it had a posted wait time of 75 minutes, 5 minutes in the Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey Express line when it had a posted wait time of 45 minutes, 10 minutes in the Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts Express line when it had a posted wait time of 50 minutes, 15 minutes in the Revenge of the Mummy Express line when it had a posted wait time of 65 minutes and ... drumroll, please ... 10 minutes in the Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure Express line when it had a posted wait time of 230 minutes.
The big question is really how much you value the time you save. During less busy times, we think it's nice to have, but not a must-have. You may feel differently. It's all about what you value!
Are There Other Ways to Save Time in the Parks?
If you don't want to spring for Express Passes, or they are just out of the budget, do not fret! There are still great ways to save time in the parks. If you follow us frogs often, you probably know these by heart.
Buy Your Tickets in Advance
You do not want to waste any of your precious time standing in line to buy tickets at the gate to start off your day. Plus, you will save more money if you buy in advance.
Arrive at the Parks Ahead of the Official Opening Time
The gates often open even before their official opening time, so you can get a hop on your day. This is the least busy the parks will be all day, so it is the best time to visit the most popular rides, such as Jurassic World VelociCoaster and Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry. If you are staying at one of Universal's hotels, take advantage of Early Park Admission to the parks. While it may just be an extra hour, we've been able to hop to three different roller coasters before the park officially opens using this epic benefit!
Follow a Universal Park Itinerary
We have several park plans for Universal that were created with families in mind. You can see them here or via our app (you can also tailor one of our preset plans to your own needs using the app).
Use the Single Rider Lines
The Single Rider line is often even faster than Universal Express. As long as you're fine with splitting up the group, Single Rider lines can be major time-savers.
Heads up! 2026 brought a truly frogciting change to Universal Orlando Resort vacations: You're now able to jump between Islands of Adventure, Universal Studios Florida and Epic Universe with a 3-Day or longer Park-to-Park ticket, making your vacation just a little more flexible. Rainstorms coming in the afternoon during your Epic Universe day? Hop on over to Universal Studios Florida to conquer the indoor attractions and head back to Epic Universe the next morning! Want the shortest lines for Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry and Toothless? You can now devote two separate mornings to those frog-favorite experiences!
Whew! We've covered a lot of ground here. Have questions about the Universal Express Pass that we haven't answered? Share them in the comments below!
Related: Top Tips to Maximize Your Time at Universal Orlando Resort
Keep hopping!
