How to Get Cheap Universal Orlando Express Passes

How to Get Cheap Universal Orlando Express Passes

How to Get Cheap Universal Orlando Express Passes

This article is your complete guide on how to get cheap Express Pass tickets for Universal Orlando! 

That’s why we are breaking down all of the best tips and tricks we have picked up while helping over 10,000 clients buy the cheapest Universal Orlando tickets below. We hope you find this post helpful! Our goal at The Park Prodigy has always been to help you save time and money on your next Universal Orlando vacation!  If you are planning a trip to Universal Orlando, be sure to check out the latest deals on Universal Orlando vacation packages and our discounted Universal Orlando multi-day tickets, which include EARLY PARK ADMISSION to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter!

SPECIAL NOTE: If you’re looking for the best time to visit Universal Orlando, check out our Universal Crowd Calendar!

 Universal Crowd Calendar

How to Get Cheap Universal Orlando Express Pass Tickets?

Universal Orlando Express Passes

We’re going to start this guide with the most popular question we receive: how do I get cheap Universal Express pass tickets? As a general rule of thumb, we find that upgrading and staying at a Universal Orlando premier resort which offers Express Pass tickets for free, purchasing your tickets as far in advance as possible, taking advantage of Universal Orlando combo tickets, and making sure that you are purchasing the right fit Universal express passes are the easiest ways to buy cheap express pass tickets.

And as you’ll see this is one of my favorite topics here at The Park Prodigy, as one of the main reasons I started the business was that I realized how confusing buying theme park tickets can be during my time selling tickets as a Walt Disney World cast member. This is especially true when it comes to the different skip-the-line passes that are offered at all of the Orlando theme parks. In this article, we are going to provide some of the easiest ways to ensure that you are purchasing the cheapest Universal Express Pass tickets.

How do you get discounted Universal Express Pass tickets for Universal Orlando?

  • Purchase Universal Orlando Express combo tickets
  • Stay at a Universal Orlando Premier Hotel
  • Always buy your Universal Orlando Express Pass tickets in advance vs. the park gates
  • Purchase a discounted Universal Orlando Vacation package
  • Take advantage of the validity window on the Express Pass combo tickets
  • Make sure that you’re purchasing the right fit Universal Express Pass for your family

Related Page: Is the Universal Orlando Express Pass Worth it? 

Purchase Universal Express Pass Combo Tickets

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The Universal Orlando Express pass combo tickets are essentially a bundle and save and can be one of the easiest ways to get the cheapest Universal Orlando Express passes. In many cases, we have seen our clients save up to a couple of hundred dollars per person just by purchasing the combo tickets vs the Express Passes one day at a time. 

2-Day Universal Orlando Express Pass Combo Ticket example 

Here is how you can buy cheap 2-Day Universal Studios tickets by the numbers: 

  • Average cost of 2-Day Universal Orlando Park-to-Park tickets with purchasing Express Passes each day = $700.92 
  • Average cost of a 2-Day Universal Orlando Park-to-Park Ticket with Unlimited Express Pass combo ticket= $549.00
  • You will save over $150.00 per person by purchasing the Universal Orlando Express Pass combo tickets

3-Day Universal Orlando Express Pass Combo Ticket example 

Here is how you can buy cheap 3-Day Universal Studios tickets by the numbers: 

  • Average cost of 3-Day Universal Orlando Park-to-Park tickets with purchasing Express Passes each day = $899.09 
  • Average cost of a 3-Day Universal Orlando Park-to-Park Ticket with Unlimited Express Pass combo ticket= $604.00
  • You can save over $295.09 per person by purchasing the Universal Orlando Express Pass combo tickets

Related Page: Discount Universal Orlando Express Pass Tickets

Stay at a Universal Orlando Premier Resort

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Did you know there is a way to get free Universal Orlando Express Pass tickets? Guests who stay at one of the three Universal Orlando premier resorts will receive a free Universal Express Unlimited pass for each day they stay at the hotel. The following hotels offer guests an Express Pass for each day they stay at the hotel, including check-in and departure days.

  • Loews Portofino Bay Hotel at Universal Orlando
  • Universal’s Hard Rock Hotel
  • Loews Royal Pacific Resort

When helping our clients at The Park Prodigy book discount universal vacation packages we have found the premier resorts will typically cost between $550-$650 per night. However, if you have three or four people in your family and you purchase the express passes separately, each Express Pass could cost an average of $175 per person per day (the price fluctuates during the year based on anticipated park attendance). So you can see that guests could potentially spend $700 on just the Universal Express Pass tickets per day, which is why getting the Express Pass tickets for free is such a great deal especially when you still need a hotel for your vacation. Remember that you do not receive a free Universal Express Pass for Volcano Bay for staying at these resorts. That will need to be purchased separately if you want it. 

Always Buy Your Universal Orlando Express Pass Tickets in Advance vs. the Park Gates

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Very similar to buying the cheapest Universal Orlando tickets, another one of the best ways to get discount Express Passes for Universal Orlando is to buy your tickets in advance. We would also add that buying your tickets as far in advance as possible is beneficial, mainly because Express Passes tickets fluctuate and will increase as you get closer to your travel date. We have found that most families will book their Universal Orlando tickets within 30 days of their travel date. However, from our experience, the price change for Express Pass tickets can be significant, and guests can end up paying hundreds of dollars more compared to when the Express Pass ticket price is typically released around November or December of the previous year. 

It’s also important to note that the Universal Orlando Express Passes can sell out during the busier times of the year. So not only will this tip save you money but it will also guarantee that you will be able to take advantage of the Express Pass benefits during your vacation.

Related Page: How Much Does the Universal Express Pass Cost?

Purchase a Discount Universal Orlando Vacation Package

Another great way to get a great deal on Universal Express Passes is to book an official Universal Orlando vacation package! This is true for a few reasons, one of the main ones being that guests can often book official Universal Orlando vacation packages at one of the Universal premier resorts before express pass prices for the next year are even released. We also find that Universal will also run special deals and promotions throughout the year, which allow guests to save up to 30% off their entire vacation package, which would allow you to get an even better deal on the express pass tickets included in that package.

It’s also important to note that not only will guests save money on the express pass, but booking an official Universal Orlando package through a Universal-preferred travel agency like The Park Prodigy will allow each family to put as little as $50 per person down and pay their vacation package off over time. This is different from buying Universal express passes on their own, as they would have to be paid in full at the time of purchase.

Related Page: Discount Universal Orlando Hotels With Free Express Passes

Take Advantage of the Validity Window on the Express Pass Tickets

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Another one of the cheapest ways to get universal express pass tickets is to take advantage of the expiration windows. Now, this is going to be true for guests who are purchasing Universal Orlando Express Pass combo tickets as well as staying at one of the Universal Orlando premier resorts.  Here’s how it works. All multi-day Universal Orlando combo tickets have expiration windows of 5 -8 days from the selected start window. However, you do not have to use your first day in the parks on the first day of your start window. So, if you plan to visit Universal Orlando for two days on Tuesdays and Thursdays, you have flexibility on your start date. If Universal Express pass combo tickets starting on that Monday are cheaper, you can purchase those express pass tickets. Just make sure that you use all admission days before your tickets expire.
Guests staying at a Universal premier resort should also remember that they will receive an unlimited Universal Orlando express pass ticket for their check-in and check-out dates. So, staying at an official Universal Orlando hotel can be a great way to get two days’ worth of the Express Pass for the price of one.

Purchasing the Right Fit Universal Express Pass

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Just like in most cases in life, sometimes the easiest way to save money is to make sure you understand your options and purchase what best fits your family. There are currently four variations of the Universal Express pass for the two main theme parks, Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios Florida. If you’re only looking to go to each attraction one time or you’re trying to get everything done within one day at Universal Orlando, you might want to consider purchasing the basic Universal Express Pass. This will always be the cheapest option for only one day when compared to Universal Express Unlimited. However, if you plan to use the Universal Express Pass for multiple days, we suggest looking at our tips and tricks above and going with the combo tickets. 

As discussed in this article, guests do need to be mindful that Volcano Bay does have a completely separate Express Pass for their parks, so it’s important to budget that in as you are getting ready for your next Universal Orlando vacation!

Related Page: Do You Need a Reservation for Universal Orlando?

How to Get Cheap Universal Express Pass Tickets FAQ

f-a-q

What is the cheapest Universal hotel with Express Pass?

Based on our experience helping our clients book their Universal Orlando packages, we typically see the Loews Royal Pacific resort to be the cheapest Universal hotel with free express passes. Nightly rates can range between $405 per night to $835, and we typically see Express Pass prices fluctuating in that same range compared to the average family of four.

How do you get a free express pass to Universal Orlando?

Guests can get free Universal Express Pass tickets at one of the three Universal Orlando premier resorts, including the Hard Rock Hotel, Loews Portofino Bay Resort, or Loews Royal Pacific Resort.

Is Express Pass more expensive at Universal?

As a general rule of thumb, it really all depends on the travel dates for your Universal Orlando vacation. As discussed above, the Universal Orlando Express Pass tickets can sell out during some of the busier times of the year. During those same periods, the prices for the Express Passes will go up as you get closer to your trip and will be more expensive at the park gates.

When Is The Best Time To Visit Universal Orlando?

Our Universal Orlando Crowd Calendar is the best tool to help you get the most out of your time in the parks. We break down the park crowds, park hours of operation, ticket prices by day, and average temperature.

Are You Ready to Plan Your Next Universal Orlando Trip?

If you are planning a trip to Universal Orlando, be sure to check out our discounted multi-day Universal Orlando tickets and Universal Orlando vacation package deals which include EARLY PARK ADMISSION to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter!

And to stay up to date on everything going on inside the theme parks be sure to check out our partners at Themeparktoday.com!

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Michael Belmont

Michael Belmont is the owner and chief editor at Theparkprodigy.com, an authorized Disney and Universal travel agency which has won the award for the fastest growing online travel agency by Travel Quest Network. He specializes in Disney and Universal theme park tickets and vacation packages, as well as daily park plans to help optimize vacation time. Michael and The Park Prodigy have been featured on ABC’s Florida affiliate, WTFV, as well as over 10 Disney focused blogs. As owner, Michael manages The Park Prodigy blog and social media, a Disney themed podcast, and a Disney and Universal focused YouTube channel. Prior to starting The Park Prodigy, Michael was a long time Disney and Universal enthusiast, frequent visitor of the parks, and even served as a Walt Disney World Cast Member in Orlando, Florida!