Getting the most out of day at Universal Studios Orlando can require the strategic planning skills of a great general going to war. Or you can buy a Universal Express Pass and save a boatload of time by skipping the long ride lines. But an Express Pass is expensive. And it isn't always the right thing to do. Find out when you should and shouldn't buy your Universal Express Pass online, how much it costs, what rides it covers and how you can get your hands on one for free.
The Universal Express Pass is a ticket add-on (as in, it costs an additional fee) to access privileges like skipping lines and accessing priority seating for shows.
Everyone in your party will need their own Universal Express Pass. It is not a group pass and is not transferrable.
The Universal Express Pass isn't free. Far from it. Universal Express Pass prices start at $79.99 per person for a one-park single-use pass. And that doesn't include fast access to the most popular rides and attractions, like Fievel's Playland at Universal Studios Florida or Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure and the Jurassic World VelociCoaster at Universal's Islands of Adventure.
Multiply that number by each person in your party and then multiply that by the number of days in the parks and you will end up looking at a very expensive package - on top of the admission ticket price.
So why would it be worth the splurge? In cases like these:
Read More: The Complete Guide to Planning a Family Vacation at Universal Studios Orlando
You can score free passes by staying at select Universal Orlando Hotels. Rooms at the three Universal Premier category hotels - Loews Portofino Bay Hotel, Loews Hard Rock Hotel and Loews Royal Pacific Resort - come complete with two-park unlimited Express Passes. Your hotel room key doubles as the Express Pass.
Even better, the Universal Express Pass is good on the day you check in and the day you check out. That means a one-night stay gets you two days of Universal Unlimited Express Passes. If there are 4 people in your family and you can snag a Universal Premier Category hotel room for $300 a night, you still would save money over the cost of a budget-friendly hotel like Loews Cabana Bay Beach Resort and two days of Universal Express Passes for everyone.
TravelingMom Tip: The least expensive Premier Hotel is the Loews Royal Pacific Resort. Here are our favorite hotels at and near Universal.
Staying at a Universal Orlando on-site hotel offers another perk in addition to your free Universal Unlimited Express Pass: early park admission. That means you might be able to ride all of the hot rides - like those at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - without an Express Pass because you get into the parks before the crowds arrive.
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Express Pass prices vary by date. Every member of your party must have their own Express Pass, regardless of age. Prices and details listed were accurate for March 2022.
Starts at $79.99 per person
The Universal Express entitles one person one-time express ride access at participating rides and attractions via an express access line with shorter wait times. This pass is good for only one (1) park. It does not include express access to Fievel's Playland in Universal Studios Florida or Pteranodon Flyers, the Jurassic World VelociCoaster or Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure at Universal's Islands of Adventure.
Starts at $109.99 per person
The Universal Express Unlimited Pass entitles one person unlimited express ride access at participating attractions and rides via the express pass line. This pass is good for only one (1) park. It does not include express access to Fievel's Playland in Universal Studios Florida.
Starts at $89.99
This ticket offers one-time express ride access at participating rides and attractions in both Universal Studios Florida and Universal's Islands of Adventure via the separate queue line with shorter wait times. It does not include express access to Fievel's Playland in Universal Studios Florida or Pteranodon Flyers, the Jurassic World VelociCoaster or Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure at Universal's Islands of Adventure.
Starts at $119.99
This Express Pass offers unlimited express ride access at participating rides and attractions in both Universal Studios Florida and Universal's Islands of Adventure via a separate queue line with shorter wait times. It does not include express access to Fievel's Playland in Universal Studios Florida.
This is the Express Pass that is complimentary to guests staying in one of the three (3) Universal Premier Resort Hotels.
$19.99
The Volcano Bay Universal Express Pass allows you to skip the "virtual line" one time at these rides and attractions at the water park:
It does NOT include express access to:
$39.99
The Universal Express Pass PLUS for Volcano Bay is good for the right to skip the "virtual line" one time for each attraction at the water park.
If you and the kids are OK riding separately, consider choosing the single rider queue. It often can be as fast at the Express Pass line and it's free.
Most, but not all, attractions at Universal are included in the Express Pass program, even some attractions in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Here's the list, as of March 2022.
One of our friends learned this the hard way. She spent $300 buying Express Passes for her family online the night before their first visit to the parks. Why? Because they only had one day and wanted to see as much of both parks as they could in the limited time they had.
It turned out to be a costly mistake. They were visiting in the off season - mid-week in February - on a rainy day. The parks were nearly empty, the lines were short and the Express Passes weren't needed.
So wait until you get to the parks to buy the passes. And don't even buy them at the entrance. Wait until you get inside and get a feel for the crowds. Express Passes are available for sale at gift shops throughout the parks. They'll be available if you need them.
If you did buy them ahead and don't need them, you may be able to get a refund if the passes have not been used.
The exception to this rule is visits during holiday weekends and Spring Break. In those cases Express Passes can and do sell out.
TravelingMom recommends purchasing your Universal tickets through Get Away Today. Not only does the company have the lowest prices, it offers a best price guarantee. If you ever find park tickets cheaper, Get Away Today won't just match the price, the company will beat it. (If you're wondering why we choose to partner with Get Away Today, read our review of the impressive customer service we got when we booked Disney tickets through Get Away Today.)
The post Why You Should (Almost) Never Buy a Universal Express Pass Online appeared first on Traveling Mom.