- Overview
- Types of Express Passes
- Universal Express Now
- Universal Hotels with Express Pass
- Epic Universe Express Pass
- FAQs
Universal Express Pass Explained: The Complete Guide for 2026
Thinking about adding a Universal Orlando Express Pass to your trip but not sure if it’s worth the extra cost? You’re not alone. We know a trip to Florida doesn’t come cheap, but there are some things that are just worth the extra pennies.
With three parks now open at Universal Orlando Resort, including the brand-new Universal Epic Universe, Express Pass has become more valuable than ever for guests who want to make the most of their time. But it also works differently across the parks, and some Universal hotels include it free with your stay, which could make a real difference to how you plan your trip.
What is the Universal Orlando Express Pass and how does it work?
The Universal Orlando Express Pass is a paid upgrade that lets you skip the regular standby queue and join a shorter, dedicated Express line at most major rides and attractions across Universal Studios Florida, Universal Islands of Adventure, and Universal Epic Universe, saving you up to 30 minutes of waiting at each attraction.
Express Pass is separate from your park entry ticket, so you’ll need both to enter the park and use the Express lane. It’s available as a paper ticket or a QR code on your phone, which park staff scan at the attraction entrance.
We sell Universal Orlando Express Passes alongside park tickets and hotel packages, so you can arrange everything in one place. Everyone in your group will need their own pass as they’re non-transferable.
Quick handy tips:
- Keep your pass in your pocket or a souvenir lanyard pouch. You’ll be getting it out regularly throughout the day, and the lanyard makes a great keepsake to take home afterwards.
- Express queues are not open during Early Park Admission, the early-entry benefit available to Universal hotel guests. If you’re planning to use both, treat them as separate strategies for different parts of the day.
- For shows and live entertainment, Express holders receive priority seating. Make sure you join the Express queue 10-15 minutes before showtime to take advantage of this!
The types of Universal Express Pass
In 2026, there are several versions of Express Pass available at Universal Orlando Resort, from a single-day pass for one park to multi-day passes covering all three.
1-Day Universal Orlando Express Pass
This gives you access to the Express lane once per participating attraction for one day at either Universal Studios Florida or Universal Islands of Adventure. A 2-Park option is also available, letting you skip the regular lines at both parks on the same day.
1-Day Universal Express Unlimited
This lets you use the Express lane as many times as you like on each participating attraction at Universal Studios Florida or Islands of Adventure. There’s no limit to how many times you can ride your favourites. A 2-Park option is available here too.
This is the version included free with stays at three Signature hotels (more on that below), and it’s the one that makes the most difference on a busy day. Express Unlimited is available at Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure only - it’s not offered at Universal Epic Universe.
1-Day Epic Universe Express Pass
This covers Universal Epic Universe specifically, giving you one-time Express access to each participating ride and attraction. This pass can be bought separately from a Universal Studios Florida or Islands of Adventure Express Pass.
Quick breakdown of each Universal Orlando Express Pass
Pass | Days valid | Parks covered | Uses per ride |
|---|---|---|---|
1 day | Universal Studios Florida or Islands of Adventure (or both with 2-Park option) | Once | |
1 day | Universal Studios Florida or Islands of Adventure only | Unlimited | |
1 day | Epic Universe only | Once | |
Any 2 days within 5-day window | Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure and Epic Universe | Once per day | |
Any 3 days within 6-day window | Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure and Epic Universe | Once per day | |
Any 4 days within 7-day window | Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure and Epic Universe | Once per day | |
Any 5 days within 8-day window | Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure and Epic Universe | Once per day |
Universal Express Now (NEW TO 2026)
This is a brand-new option that launched in April 2026. Rather than buying a full day’s Express access in advance, you can purchase skip-the-line access to a single attraction at a time via the Universal Orlando app while you’re already inside the park. Prices will vary by ride and demand. It’s a flexible option if you only need to skip the line on one or two specific rides, rather than committing to a full Express Pass.
Express Now is subject to availability on the day and cannot be guaranteed.
Which Universal Hotels include Express Pass free?
This is where Express Pass becomes an especially compelling part of your holiday planning. Three Universal Orlando Resort Signature hotels include free Universal Express Unlimited for every guest registered in their room, for every night of their stay, including check-in and check-out days.
Participating hotels:
Staying at any of these means your room key card acts as an Express Unlimited pass at Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure for the full duration of your stay. There’s no need to queue to collect a separate pass - it’s all linked to your room.
Do all Universal hotels include Express Pass?
No. Express Unlimited is included only with the three Signature hotels listed above. The other Universal Orlando Resort hotels don’t include Express Pass as part of your stay. Below is a table showing which hotels do and don’t include Express Pass:
Hotel | Tier | Express Unlimited included? |
|---|---|---|
Signature | Yes - Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure only | |
Signature | Yes - Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure only | |
Signature | Yes - Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure only | |
Signature | No | |
Signature | No | |
Prime | No | |
Prime | No | |
Prime | No | |
Value | No | |
Value | No | |
Value | No |
What’s the most affordable Universal hotel with Express Pass included?
If you want the free Express Unlimited benefit at the lowest possible nightly cost, Loews Royal Pacific Resort is typically the most affordable of the three Signature hotels that include it, usually around $100 per night less than Hard Rock Hotel or Loews Portofino Bay, while offering exactly the same Express Unlimited perk.
The check-in and check-out day benefit
Because the Express Unlimited benefit applied on both your check-in and check-out days, a two-night stay at one of the three Signature hotels gives you three full days of Express Unlimited. If you’re planning to spend the majority of your time at Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure, this is an exceptionally good-value way to include Express Pass across your whole trip!
Amy from the AttractionTickets.com team has visited Universal Orlando Resort seven times. On her last trip she only had one day there: "Getting the Universal Orlando Express Passes meant that we could do a few attractions in each of the three theme parks - of course, we couldn't do everything, but it really helped us make the most of our time there."
Does Express Pass work at Epic Universe?
Yes, but it works differently to Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure, and it’s worth understanding those differences before you book.
Express Pass at Epic Universe is single-use only (once per ride, per day). There is no Express Unlimited option at Epic Universe, and no Universal hotel currently includes Epic Universe Express Pass free with your stay - not even the Universal Helios Grand Hotel, which is located on the Epic Universe site.
This means that if Epic Universe is on your itinerary, you’ll need to budget for an Epic Universe Express Pass separately, regardless of which hotel you’re staying at. At AttractionTickets.com, we sell 1-Day Epic Universe Express Passes, with pricing varying by date.
Is the Universal Orlando Express Pass worth it?
Here’s the honest answer: it depends on when you’re visiting, how many days you’re spending at the parks, and how many people are in your group.
Express Pass is most worth it when:
- You’re visiting during busy periods - school holidays, summer, Easter, Christmas or bank holiday weekends - when standby wait times regularly exceed 60 minutes on popular rides.
- You’re visiting Epic Universe, where Express Pass can help you cover all five worlds in a single day.
- You’re travelling with children, where shorter waits mean happier kids and more time for experiences you’ll remember for years.
- You’re spending two or more days at Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure, especially if you’re staying at a Signature hotel where Express Unlimited is already included in your room rate.
Chris from the AttractionTickets.com team has been to Orlando eight times and has used the Express Unlimited Pass before: "My three kids are full of beans, so getting them to wait patiently to go on an attraction is a tricky task! The Express Unlimited Pass means we don't have to fall out!"
You may not need Express Pass if:
- You’re visiting during a quieter period - January, February and September tend to have shorter standby queues, and arriving at park opening (rope drop) can get you through several headliner rides before lines build.
- You’re travelling as a solo guest or couple, where the per-person cost is harder to justify.
- You’re happy to use Single Rider lines, which are free and can sometimes move faster than the Express queue on certain rides.
Danielle from the AttractionTickets.com sales team has been to Orlando ten times: "We decided not to go for Express Passes when we visited the theme parks around the 4th of July weekend, and unfortunately we didn't manage to tick off everything we wanted to do. Although it didn't ruin our day, I would definitely think about getting the Express Passes next time."
Top tips for making the most of your Express Pass
- Buy in advance. Express Passes sell out on popular dates, especially during peak season. Booking through AttractionTickets.com before you travel guarantees you won’t miss out and can save money over buying on the day.
- Use Early Park Admission for non-Express rides. Hotel guests can enter the parks before regular opening. Use this time to ride attractions without Express access, like Dragon Racer’s Rally at Epic Universe, then switch to Express as the crowds build through the morning.
- From 1 July 2026, plan ahead for Hagrid’s. With Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure leaving the Express programme, the best approach will be to ride it at rope drop or try the Single Rider line.
- Consider the Signature hotel route for Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure days. For families of three or four staying two or more nights, a stay at Loews Royal Pacific Resort with included Express Unlimited can work out comparable in cost to staying at a Value hotel and buying Express separately, with the added bonus of check-in and check-out day coverage.
- Budget separately for Epic Universe. No hotel Express benefit applies at Epic, so factor in the cost of an Epic Universe Express Pass if you’re planning a full day there.
- Consider a multi-day pass for longer trips. If you’re spending three, four or five days across the parks, a multi-day Express Pass covering all three parks can offer better value per day than buying single-day passes.
- Keep your pass handy. You’ll be presenting or scanning it multiple times throughout the day. Keeping it in your pocket or a lanyard pouch makes everything smoother.
Ready to plan your Universal Orlando holiday?
Browse our Universal Orlando Resort tickets and hotel packages on our site, including stays at Signature hotels with free Express Unlimited included, and start building your perfect trip today!