Are Express Passes Worth it at Universal?

Are Express Passes Worth it at Universal?

Are Express Passes Worth it at Universal?

This article is your comprehensive guide to finding out is the Universal Express Pass worth it. While the answer really depends on your specific style of vacationing, we think the Express Pass at Universal Orlando is worth the extra cost. In this article, we’ll explore some of the most popular options for securing discounted Universal Express passes and help you determine if this feature aligns with your family’s needs and preferences. So, if you’re wondering – “Is the Universal Express Pass Worth It?” – keep reading!

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 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!

Universal Orlando Crowd Calendar

Is the Universal Express Pass Worth it?

We think the Universal Studios Express Pass is worth it. But if it’s worth it for you will depend on how you like to vacation and whether you value time in the parks or saving as much as possible when in Orlando. We’ve used the Express Pass multiple times and found it extremely helpful to get through all of the attractions in a short amount of time.  Before we get too far into the ins and outs of the Universal Studios Express Pass, let’s go over what the Express Pass is. We also have a complete guide to the Express Pass, where you can learn all there is to know about it. For now, we are just going to go over the basics of the Universal Express Pass.

What does the Express Pass do at Universal 2024?

The Universal Express Pass is a ticket you can purchase which allows you to skip the regular lines at participating attractions. The Universal Express Pass can be purchased for Universal Studios Florida, and Islands of Adventure, each with different tiers and prices. The Express Pass is very similar to the Genie+ Lightning Lane where guests enter a separate queue line and skip the regular stand-by line.

Things to Consider When Deciding, is the Universal Express Pass Worth it or Not?

• Which rides would you like to go on?
• What time of year are you visiting
• How much time do you have to spend in the parks
• Are you only visiting for the Wizarding World of Harry Potter
• Will you use early park admission 

What is Not Included with the Universal Express Pass?

At this time the Universal Express pass does not include access to Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure or Pteranodon Flyers.

Related Post: Discount Universal Express Passes

When is Express Pass at Universal Worth it?

Determining whether the Universal Express Pass is worth it hinges on various factors. You should keep in mind your budget, what hotel you stay in, what season you’re visiting, and how long your visit is! It’s important to note that booking a stay at a Premier Universal Orlando Resort gives you complimentary Express Unlimited passes! For those not staying on-site, exploring discounted Universal Orlando Express Pass combo tickets can be a helpful option to cut the cost of adding the pass on to your ticket.

Visiting During Peak Season

We suggest pre-planning your trip as far in advance as possible. A helpful tool to use is our Crowd Calendar to help try and predict what crowds are going to be like during your visit. If you want to/can only visit during peak times we can definitely say that the Universal Express Pass is worth it. These peak times will include school breaks, holidays, and spring break weeks.

You’re Only Visiting for One or Two Says

If your group is looking to maximize your time and experience as much as possible in a limited timeframe, the Universal Express Pass can be a game-changer and is definitely worth considering. This is especially true for those aiming to ride all of the attractions at Universal Orlando in just one day. By bypassing the standby lines, the Express Pass allows you to save time in the parks. Getting the most out of your day and money spent on your ticket.

Booking Your Hotel Stay

Booking your stay at one of Universal Orlando’s Premier Resorts will allow you to save on the cost of the Express Pass. Take into consideration how much the Express Pass is for when you plan on visiting. If the cost of the Express Pass and an off-site hotel is more expensive than staying at one of the Premier Resorts, you’re better off staying on-site and getting the pass for free!

Related Post: Discount Universal Express Passes

How Much is the Universal Express Pass at Universal Studios?

What a lot of Universal Orlando Resort guests don’t know is that there are different tiers when it comes to the Express Pass. This is important to keep in mind when trying to figure out are Express passes at Universal Studios worth it. Below we are going to compare the starting prices for the Universal Express Pass by type. If you’re looking for a more in-depth layout of all Express Pass prices, you can see them here!

• Basic Express Pass Price – Starting at $99.99 per ticket/per day
• Unlimited Express Pass Price – Starting at $109.99 per ticket/per day (or included with your stay at a Universal Premier Hotel)
• Universal Volcano Bay Express PLUS Pass – Starting at $39.99 per ticket, per day
• Universal Volcano Bay Express Pass – Starting at $19.99 per ticket, per day

At Universal Hollywood, you’re going to be paying between $199 – $369 depending on what day you visit.

Why is the Pricing on the Universal Website More for Express Passes?

One of the reasons why so many people debate over whether the express pass is worth it at Universal Orlando is because the prices do fluctuate based on the time of year you visit. That means that if you are deciding to visit during one of those peak seasons the Universal express pass prices will be significantly more than the starting prices shown above.

Do Universal Express Passes Sell Out?

Yes, there are only a limited number of express passes that are sold each day and they can sell out! So it’s important to understand that buying in advance might be the only option you have, especially when visiting during peak seasons. However, the fact that the Universal Express Passes are only sold in limited quantity is one of the main reasons why they really can help you avoid long lines which we will cover next!

Related Post: Complete Guide to the Best Harry Potter Rides

Is Express Pass Worth it at Universal By The Numbers

The Universal Express Pass can be discounted when paired with a single-day, two-park ticket, which on average costs $200. When you break down the cost over a 12-hour day at Universal Orlando, you’re essentially paying around $16 per hour for the experience. The first crucial question to address is: Is the Express Pass worth it at Universal when considering the number of rides you can enjoy if you opt for the regular standby lines? For this analysis, we’ll assume that the average wait time for each ride is approximately 45 minutes.

We’ll also compare this to the significantly reduced average wait time of 15 minutes when using the Universal Express Pass. This comparison aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of whether or not is Express Pass worth it at Universal, especially when time is of the essence.

Breaking down if the Express Pass at Universal Orlando is Worth it?

• Without the Express Pass: Assuming an average wait time of 45 minutes per ride, you would be able to go on approximately 16 rides during a 12-hour day.
• With the Express Pass: If the average wait time is reduced to just 15 minutes per ride, you could potentially enjoy up to 48 rides in the same 12-hour period.

Results: The Express Pass allows you to experience 32 more rides within a single day compared to using the regular standby lines.

It’s important to note that Universal does not even have 48 rides in the main two theme parks and these average wait times would be during the busy season but you get the point! The Universal Express pass can be worth it if used the correct way and if you get a good deal. We always suggest checking out our discounted Universal Orlando combo tickets which include the Universal Express Unlimited!

Related Post: Complete Guide to the Universal Superstar Shuttle

Create a Park Plan To Help Figure Out if the Universal Express Pass is Worth it

Every family’s experience at Universal Orlando is unique, which is why the Universal Express Pass may be a valuable investment for some but not for others. So, how can you determine if are Express Passes worth it at Universal for your family? We highly recommend utilizing The Park Prodigy Universal Orlando park planning tool. By inputting the specific day of your visit and selecting the rides that are top priorities for your group, the tool generates a customized park plan. This plan includes estimated wait times based on historical data, giving you a realistic overview of what you can accomplish during your visit. The tool also provides insights into whether you’ll have sufficient time to experience all your must-do attractions.

If the tool indicates that you won’t have enough time to cover all your desired rides within a single day, upgrading to the Universal Orlando Express Pass could be a wise decision. This is especially true if you’re asking the question, is the Universal Studios Express Pass worth it?

Rides to Use the Universal Express Pass On

• Revenge of the Mummy
• Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts
• Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit
• The Incredible Hulk Coaster
• Jurassic Park River Adventure
• Jurassic World VelociCoaster
• Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey

Related Post: Guide to all Universal Orlando Roller Coasters 

Is the Universal Express Pass Worth it for Harry Potter?

You’ll be happy to know that 4 out of the 5 Harry Potter rides at Universal Orlando accept the Universal Express pass. These rides include some of the most popular rides in the park including Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, the Hogwarts Express, and Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts. However, Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure is the only Harry Potter Ride not included with the Universal Express Pass.

Do I need the Express Pass for Harry Potter World?

If you’re only visiting Universal to experience the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, we do not believe that you need the Universal Express Pass. We believe the most important thing to consider is making sure that you are taking advantage of early park admission. Specifically, try to visit Universal during a time when they do have early admission at the Islands of Adventure theme park in which you can use your time to go on Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure and then Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey right after.

The main reason is that most guests who take advantage of early park admission can get onto these two rides within the first hour and a half. This will allow for plenty of time to explore the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and get on the remaining 4 Harry Potter rides. and even grab a Harry Potter Butterbeer. So if visiting the Wizarding World of Harry Potter is your only objective we would say that the Universal Express Pass is not worth it.

Related Post: Complete Guide to Early Park Admission

Additional Factors to Determine if the Express Pass Is Worth it

While there are so many different factors as to what makes Universal Express Passes worth it or not, we are going to pick a few categories to go through to help you make that decision. As a general tip, if this is your first time visiting Universal Orlando and you don’t plan on coming back for a long time, you will want to highly consider the Express Pass.

Express Pass Wait Times

You have to take into consideration the time of year that you are visiting. During non-peak times, which you can find on our Universal Crowd Calendar, wait times are not going to be long and the Express Pass line could be just as long as the stand-by. But, for peak times like Spring Break, Thanksgiving, Christmas, or Summer vacation, the wait times can average at least an hour for most popular rides.

With the Express Pass, you typically will not be waiting more than 10 – 12 minutes per ride, but can fluctuate depending on how busy the parks are.

Universal Express Pass Line Queues

The Express Pass queue is a completely separate queue from stand-by. Most ride attractions are engineered for stand-by lines to experience intricately designed storytelling experiences in the line queues. The Express Pass line tends to bypass all of the immersive theming and lead straight to the attraction.

If experiencing the entire storyline of a ride is important to you, or you want to see how beautiful some of the details of stand-by lines are, the Universal Express Pass might not be worth it.

Universal Express Pass Pricing

Universal Orlando parks are usually open between 8-12 hours a day, with a lot of fun to pack in. You have to decide if it is worth it to risk waiting in stand-by lines and only being able to ride a handful of rides or if you want to purchase an Express Pass and ride them all!

There are 14 Express Pass attractions in Universal Studios Florida and 13 in Islands of Adventure, meaning, you will have to ride more than one ride an hour to do them all! That can be very possible if you visit during a slow season, but impossible if you visit during a moderate-peak time of year. With the basic Express Pass, you are guaranteed you can ride the majority of all attractions in either theme park, and with Express Unlimited, you can ride them as many times as you want.

Related Post: How Does The Express Pass Work at Universal?

What Rides are Included in Express Pass?

The biggest and most obvious perk of the Universal Express Pass is the ability to skip the lines get on more rides and wait less! If you’re wondering is it worth it to get a Universal Express Pass and you’re a ride enthusiast, this section is for you. First, it is important to note that not all rides are included in the Universal Express Pass. The most popular Universal Orlando rides are actually not included in either of the Express Passes: Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure

Universal Studios Florida Express Pass Rides

• MEN IN BLACK Alien Attack
• Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon
• Revenge of the Mummy
• The Simpsons Ride
• TRANSFORMERS: The Ride-3D
• Woody Woodpecker’s Nuthouse Coaster
• The Bourne Stunt-acular
• Despicable Me Minion Mayhem
• E.T. Adventure
• Fast & Furious – Supercharged
• Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts
• Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit
• Hogwarts Express (Park-to-Park admission ticket required)
• Kang & Kodos’ Twirl ‘n’ Hurl

Universal Islands of Adventures Express Pass Rides

• Hogwarts Express (Park-to-Park admission ticket required)
• The Incredible Hulk Coaster
• Jurassic Park River Adventure
• Jurassic World VelociCoaster
• Poseidon’s Fury
• Skull Island: Reign of Kong
• Storm Force Accelatron
• The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man
• Caro-Seuss-el
• Doctor Doom’s Fearfall
• Dudley Do-Right’s Ripsaw Falls
• Flight of the Hippogriff
• Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey
• The High in the Sky Seuss Trolley Train Ride!

Related Post: Complete Guide to all Universal Orlando New Rides!

Universal Express Pass Additional FAQ

Q: Is Universal Express Unlimited worth it?

A: Universal Express Unlimited is the most expensive tier of Express Passes, so it is totally fair to wonder if it’s worth it or not. Our favorite part of Universal Express Unlimited is that if you book a Universal Premier Hotel vacation, each member of your party receives a Universal Unlimited Express Pass. We also love that you can ride participating attractions as many times as you want since the Universal Express Pass does not have return times. If you’re wondering about the two, we think for unlimited rides, it is definitely worth it to spend the extra $30 for the Express Unlimited. 

Q: Can you do both Universal parks in one day with Express Pass?

A: If you only want to do the main rides and attractions at Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure the express pass will help you in one day. It becomes tougher when you add all of the shows and character meet and greets that both Universal Orlando parks have.

Q: Is Express Pass or Early Park Admission More Worth it?

A: All multi-day Universal tickets and ticket packages come with Early Park Admission, which allows guests into the parks one hour before the park opens. While there are only a few attractions open during this time, you can get a lot done in the time you’re in the parks with Early Park Admission.

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!