Universal Express at Universal Orlando Overview
Universal Express passes allow park goers to skip the lines at Universal Orlando Resort and fit more fun into the day. The passes are advertised as cutting the wait time in half, but often reduce the wait time significantly more. Plus, they can be a great option for guests with limited time at the resort or during peak crowd seasons such as spring break season, summer, and holidays.
However, the passes aren’t necessary for less busy days at the parks. Park goers can also use our free touring plans found on our Universal Orlando Vacation Planning Guide page to experience as many attractions as possible without splurging on express.
Also, separate theme park admission is required; or guests can choose to purchase a bundle that includes park-to-park admission and express.
Page Contents: Universal Express Types | How to Get Universal Express | Daily Pricing | Bundle Pricing | Participating Attractions | Volcano Bay Express | Explore More Resources
Universal Express Types
Everyday Express Options for the Theme Parks
Universal Orlando Resort offers two types of skip the line passes including Universal Express and Universal Express Unlimited for the Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure theme parks.
The traditional Universal Express pass allows guests to skip the regular lines once per participating ride for each day of the pass. On the other hand, Universal Express Unlimited allows guests to skip the regular lines an unlimited number of times per participating ride for each day of the pass.
Also, these express passes can be purchased for one park at a time (for example, only Islands of Adventure) or purchased as a 2-Park option for guests who plan to visit both theme parks that day. Multi-day express can also be purchased as a bundle with park tickets for stays between two and five days.
Other Express Types
Volcano Bay offers separate express pass options that we highlight further down in this guide. You can click here to skip down to that section.
Also, Halloween Horror Nights, a special event in the Fall, sells express passes only valid at the event to skip the lines at haunted houses and select attractions.
How to Get Universal Express
Guests can acquire Universal Express passes by purchasing them individually or bundling with park tickets, staying in a Universal Premier Hotel, or by purchasing a Premier Annual Pass.
Purchasing Express Passes Individually
Daily express passes can be purchased in advance online on Universal Orlando’s website or purchased day of at the ticket booths or at one of many locations that sell express passes inside the parks.
*Prices last updated in July 2022.
Single Day 1-Park Universal Express (Either theme park)
Price ranges from $80 to $230 plus tax
Single Day 1-Park Universal Express Unlimited (Either theme park)
Price ranges from $110 to $260 plus tax
Single Day 2-Park Universal Express
Price ranges from $90 to $240 plus tax
Single Day 2-Park Universal Express Unlimited
Price ranges from $120 to $270 plus tax
If you are not sure about how long the lines will be when you visit, we recommend waiting until you arrive at the parks to purchase. Although, express can sell out on the busiest days. You can also use our free Universal Orlando Crowd Calendar to see our forecast for how crowded the parks will be.
Bundling Universal Express with Park-to-Park Admission
Express passes can also be bundled with park-to-park admission for stays between two and five days. Bundling the two together is a great way to save on busier days of the year, since the package price is a flat amount instead of dynamic pricing based on the date.
*Prices last updated in July 2022.
2-Park – 2-Day Ticket + Universal Express Pass
Adult (10+) – $552 plus tax ($276 per day)
Child (3-9) – $542 plus tax
2-Park – 3-Day Ticket + Universal Express Pass
Adult (10+) – $609 plus tax ($203 per day)
Child (3-9) – $599 plus tax
2-Park – 4-Day Ticket + Universal Express Pass
Adult (10+) – $648 plus tax ($162 per day)
Child (3-9) – $638 plus tax
2-Park – 5-Day Ticket + Universal Express Pass
Adult (10+) – $687 plus tax ($138 per day)
Child (3-9) – $677 plus tax
Universal Express Unlimited through Universal Premier Hotel Stays
Universal’s three premier onsite hotels (Loews Royal Pacific, Loews Portofino Bay Hotel, and Hard Rock Hotel) offer 2-Park Unlimited Universal Express passes included in the standard price of any room. These express passes are provided to each guest on the room reservation and are valid each day of the hotel stay, including check-in and check-out days. Also, the express pass is the hotel room key so the perk begins once guests check in to the hotel.
Plus, staying in a premier onsite hotel to receive this express pass benefit is one of the best tips for guests visiting Universal Orlando, especially for the first time.
For example, the 2-Park Unlimited Universal Express included with the stay begins at $119 a day per person on the least busy days of the year and can jump significantly in price. Rooms at the cheapest premier hotel, Loews Royal Pacific Resort, begin at $272 per night for a 4-night stay. That means that a few express passes can easily equal the cost of a room when purchased the traditional way.
Premier Annual Passholder Express Access
As an included benefit, Universal Orlando Premier Annual Passholders receive 2-Park Universal Express access after 4pm that includes one use per participating attraction each day of the year.
Participating Attractions & Shows
The following attractions and shows below accept Universal Express passes.
At Universal Studios Florida
- Animal Actors on Location!
- Despicable Me Minion Mayhem
- E.T. Adventure
- Fast & Furious – Supercharged
- Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts
- Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit
- 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
- The Bourne Stuntacular
- The Simpsons Ride
- Transformers: The Ride-3D
- Universal Orlando’s Horror Make-Up Show
- Villain-Con Minion Blast
At 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 – Hogsmeade Station
- Jurassic Park River Adventure
- Jurassic World VelociCoaster
- One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish
- Popeye & Bluto’s Bilge-Rat Barges
- 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
Author’s Note: Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure does not accept Universal Express passes. All riders must enter the standard queue or use the single rider lines to potentially save time.
Volcano Bay Express Passes
Volcano Bay offers its own two express pass options that allows guests to skip the posted virtual wait time once per slide. This just leaves the short in person wait at each slide.
The basic Volcano Bay Express Pass allows guests to skip the line on most family raft rides at the water park and the Krakatau Aqua Coaster. The Volcano Bay Express PLUS Pass allows guests to skip the previously mentioned slides and also includes the thrilling individual slides. We’ve broken down the participating slides below.
Participating Slides & Attractions
- Honu of Honu ika Moana
- ika Moana of Honu ika Moana
- Krakatau Aqua Coaster
- Maku of Maku Puihi Round Raft Rides
- Puihi of Maku Puihi Round Raft Rides
- Punga Racers
- Taniwha Tubes
Additional Slides Included with Express PLUS
- Kala & Tai Nui Serpentine Body Slides
- Ko’okiri Body Plunge
- Ohno of Ohyah & Ohno Drop Slides
- Ohyah of Ohyah & Ohno Drop Slides
Volcano Bay Express Pricing
*Prices last updated in July 2022.
Volcano Bay Express Pass
Price ranges from $20 to $120 plus tax
Volcano Bay Express PLUS Pass
Price ranges from $40 to $130 plus tax