Hate waiting in lines? Of course you do – we all do! Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure, and Volcano Bay offer an Express Pass.
What are the Benefits of the Express Pass?
Guests with an Express Pass use a separate attraction line for only Express Pass holders. The Express Pass wait is advertised to be 50% of the standby line. For example, if Transformers the Ride 3D has a wait time of 30 minutes, an Express Pass holder should expect to wait 15 minutes. In our experience though the Express Pass line, is often much shorter.
What Attractions Accept Express Pass?
Universal Studios
- Despicable Me Minion Mayhem
- Transformers The Ride 3D
- The Simpsons Ride
- Animal Actors on Location
- Horror Make-Up Show
- Shrek 4D
- E.T. Adventure
- Revenge of the Mummy
- Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit
- Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon
- Fast & Furious Supercharged
- Hogwarts Express
- Harry Potter’s Escape From Gringotts
- Men in Black Alien Attack
- Kang & Kodos’ Twirl ‘n’ Hurl
- Fear Factor Live
- A Day in the Park with Barney
- Woody Woodpecker’s Nuthouse Coaster
Islands of Adventure
- The Cat in the Hat
- Hogwarts Express
- Poseidon’s Fury
- Caro-Suess-el
- The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man
- The Incredible Hulk Coaster
- Dudley Do-Right’s Ripsaw Falls
- Doctor Doom’s Fearfall
- Skull Island: Reign of Kong
- Jurassic Park River Adventure
- The High in the Sky Seuss Trolley Train Ride!
- One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish
- Storm Force Accelatron
- Flight of Hippogriff
- Popeye & Bluto’s Bilge-Rat Barges
- Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey
Volcano Bay
Volcano Bay’s Express Pass is broken down into a Basic Express Pass or a Plus Express Pass.
- Basic
- Krakatau Aqua Coaster
- Honu ika Moana
- Maku Puihi Round Raft Rides
- Tonga and Raki of Taniwha Tubes
- Plus
- Krakatau Aqua Coaster
- Ko’okiri Body Plunge
- Ohyah and Ohno Drop Slides
- Maku Puihi Round Raft Rides
- Tonga and Raki of Taniwha Tubes
- Punga Racers
- Honu ika Moana
- Kala and Tai Nui Serpentine Body Slides
How Much Does an Express Pass Cost?
Express Passes are an additional cost on top of the tickets to enter the park. Pricing of the Express Pass varies based on expected crowd levels for each specific day. See Universal’s Express Pass Page for pricing.
Where Do Get an Express Pass?
There are five ways to get an Express Pass at Universal:
- Purchase it at any Guest Services stand and many gift shops within the theme parks.
- Purchase online before arriving at the theme parks.
- Stay at select Loews resorts.
- Purchase a VIP Experience.
- Purchase a Premier level annual pass. This gives you a limited Express Pass good for after 4pm that allows you to ride each Express Pass attraction one time per day.
How Can You Get an Express Pass for Free?
Guests staying at Loews Portofino Bay Hotel, Loews Hard Rocks Hotel, or Loews Royal Pacific Hotel receive Express Passes as part of their on-site benefits. It’s important to note that on-site guests only receive Express Passes to Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure – not Volcano Bay.
The Unofficial Team Says…
Do we recommend the Express Pass? If you are visiting during a peak travel time like Spring Break, summer, Thanksgiving, Christmas, or 3 day holiday weekends, an Express Pass will allow you to see and do more during your vacation and we’d recommend buying one. If you are visiting during a slower season, skip it.