Your Guide to the Universal Express Pass

If you're planning a Universal trip and wondering whether the Express Pass is worth the extra cost, I'm going to save you some time: for most families, yes. Here's the full breakdown so you can decide what makes sense for your trip.

What Is the Universal Express Pass?

The Express Pass lets you skip the regular standby line at most rides and attractions across Universal Studios Florida, Universal's Islands of Adventure, Universal Volcano Bay, and the new Universal Epic Universe. You just show your pass at the attraction entrance and step into a separate, shorter queue. That's it.

More riding, less standing around. That's the whole idea.

Two Options to Know About

Universal Express Pass: skip the regular line one time per participating attraction.

Universal Express Unlimited Pass: skip the regular lines as many times as you want at participating attractions. Note that as of June 2026, the Unlimited Pass is not available at Epic Universe.

One thing worth knowing: if you're staying at Loews Portofino Bay, Hard Rock Hotel, or Loews Royal Pacific, Universal Express Unlimited is included with your hotel stay. Your room key works as your pass. If you're staying somewhere else, you can add either version to your tickets.

How it works

When you get to a participating attraction, show your Express Pass to the attendant. Depending on the ride, it gets scanned either at the entrance or closer to the loading area. Everyone in your group needs their own pass, so make sure you've got one for each person.

What Does It Cost?

These aren’t cheap. Often, the express passes can cost more than your tickets. The cost varies depending on the day and crowd levels. Prices are dynamic and increase as the date gets closer and availability decreases. Expect a range between roughly $120–$380 per person, per day.

Advance purchase is always recommended since Express Passes can sell out, especially during busy times like holidays and summer break.

Is It Worth It?

If you're visiting during a busy season or you only have one or two days in the parks, the Express Pass can completely change your experience. Instead of spending half your day in line, you're actually riding things. For families with kids especially, that flexibility is huge.

If you're going during a slower time and you have several days, you might be able to get away without it. But when in doubt, I always recommend it.

Participating Attractions

Here’s a full list of rides where you can use Universal Express access.

• Universal Epic Universe

  • Constellation Carousel

  • Curse of the Werewolf

  • Fyre Drill

  • Hiccup’s Wing Gliders

  • Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry™

  • Le Cirque Arcanus™

  • Mario Kart™: Bowser’s Challenge

  • Mine-Cart Madness™

  • Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment

  • Stardust Racers

  • The Untrainable Dragon

  • Yoshi’s Adventure™

• Universal Studios Florida

  • Animal Actors on Location!

  • Despicable Me Minion Mayhem

  • DreamWorks Imagination Celebration

  • E.T. Adventure

  • Fast & Furious – Supercharged

  • Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts™

  • Hogwarts™ Express (Park-to-Park Admission required to board the Hogwarts™ Express)

  • Illumination's Villain-Con Minion Blast

  • 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

  • Trolls Trollercoaster

  • Universal Horror Make-Up Show

• Universal Islands Of Adventure

  • The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man®

  • Caro-Seuss-el™

  • The Cat in the Hat™

  • 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!™

  • Hogwarts™ Express (Park-to-Park admission ticket required)

  • The Incredible Hulk Coaster®

  • 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®

• Universal Volcano Bay

  Universal Volcano Bay will begin a seasonal closure on October 26, 2026, with a current planned reopening on or before March 24, 2027.

  • 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 Rides Available 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

Note: At Volcano Bay, Express Pass works by skipping the Virtual Line and sending you straight to the ride entrance. Express Plus covers all participating Virtual Line attractions.

Want the Full VIP Experience?

If you really want to go all out, Universal also offers VIP Tours. You get a guided behind-the-scenes experience, Express Unlimited access to everything, and a handful of exclusive perks that make the whole day feel seamless. It's a bigger investment but if you're celebrating something special or just want a truly stress-free day, it's worth looking into.

Questions about whether the Express Pass makes sense for your specific trip? That's exactly what we’re here for. Reach out and let's talk through it.