Universal Express Pass Guide 2025: Pricing, Ride Access, and Time-Saving Tips

***Updated 10/17/25

⚡ Universal Express Passes: Skip the Lines & Maximize the Magic

Universal Express Passes make your day more magical by letting you bypass the regular standby lines at most attractions across Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure, Epic Universe, and Volcano Bay. Whether you're a first-timer or a seasoned park pro, they can save hours of waiting time—especially during busy seasons. Each guest age 3 and up will need a separate Express Pass.

🧚‍♀️ Pixie Dust Pro Tip: Want to make the most of your Express Pass strategy? Download our Universal Studios Cheat Sheets to keep ride availability, height requirements, and Express access at your fingertips.

🌀 New: Universal Testing Single Attraction Express Pass

Universal Orlando is currently testing a brand-new Single Attraction Express Pass at Universal Studios Florida. This new option allows guests to skip the regular line for individual rides — perfect for visitors who don’t want to purchase a full-day Express Pass but still want to save time on one or two must-do attractions.

During the test phase, the Single Attraction Express Pass is available for select rides — currently Revenge of the Mummy and Skull Island: Reign of Kong — at around $24.99 per use. Pricing may vary based on the day and attraction demand.

This new system works similarly to Disney’s Lightning Lane Single Pass, offering a flexible pay-per-ride option that could make Express access more accessible for guests on a budget or those with limited park time.

🧚‍♀️ Pixie Dust Pro Tip: If you only have a few hours in the park or want to guarantee a spot on your favorite attraction without the full Express upgrade, this Single Attraction option could be a great value — especially on busy weekends or holidays.

💳 What Exactly Is an Express Pass?

🎢 For Rides:

Express Pass gives you access to a separate, shorter queue for most attractions—reducing wait time significantly.

🎭 For Shows:

Enter early for better seating—but be sure to arrive 10–15 minutes before showtime. Once Express and standby merge, the advantage is lost.

🧾 Types of Universal Express Passes

Pass Type	Use Limit	Parks Covered	Starting Price
Standard Express	Once per ride	1–3 parks (excl. Unlimited/Epic)	$99.99+
Express Unlimited	Unlimited per ride	Universal Studios & Islands of Adventure only	$129.99+
Epic Universe Express	Once per ride	Epic Universe only	$129–$149+
Volcano Bay Express (Standard)	Once per ride	Volcano Bay only	$19.99+
Volcano Bay Express PLUS	Once per ride (includes all attractions)	Volcano Bay only	$49.99+

🧚‍♀️ Pixie Dust Pro Tip: Express pricing fluctuates based on crowd forecasts. Prices are usually lowest when purchased early or outside of peak periods.

🎟️ Multi-Park Express Options Explained

You can purchase your Express Pass as a:

• One-Park Pass – For a single park

• Two-Park Pass – For Universal Studios Florida + Islands of Adventure

• Three-Park Pass – Adds Volcano Bay (but separate Volcano Bay passes are often cheaper)

Multi-day tickets? You can choose to add Express for only certain days of your trip—no need to purchase for every day.

🏨Do any Universal Orlando Resort Hotels offer Express Passes for free?

Yes! Guests staying at these Premier Universal Orlando hotels get Unlimited Express at Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure included with their stay:

• Loews Portofino Bay Hotel

• Hard Rock Hotel

• Loews Royal Pacific Resort

📝 This perk does not cover Epic Universe, Volcano Bay, or special events like Halloween Horror Nights.

🧚‍♀️ Pixie Dust Pro Tip: Even though it is a Premier Universal Resort Hotel, Grand Helios Resort does not offer free Express Passes

🌊 Volcano Bay Express Passes

Universal’s premier water park, Volcano Bay, has an Express system that works a bit differently from the dry parks. Instead of waiting in a Virtual Line via TapuTapu, you’ll use your Express band to head straight to the entrance of select slides.

🛑 Important Update: The TapuTapu Virtual Line system will be discontinued as of October 1, 2025. After that, all guests—Express or not—will use traditional standby lines.👉 Learn more in our Volcano Bay News & Updates post.

🎟️ Volcano Bay Express (Standard)

• Skip the line once per eligible water slide

• Does not include premium rides like Ko’okiri Body Plunge or Kala & Tai Nui

🎟️ Volcano Bay Express PLUS

• Includes all Express-eligible attractions, including:

  • Ko’okiri Body Plunge

  • Kala & Tai Nui Serpentine Slides

  • Ohyah & Ohno Drop Slides

  • 
    

🧚‍♀️ Pixie Dust Pro Tip: Express PLUS is the way to go during busy seasons. It covers the most popular thrill slides and often sells out first.

👉 Learn more in our full Volcano Bay Guide

🎢 Express-Eligible Attractions by Park

Universal Studios Florida:

• Production Central

  • Despicable Me Minion Mayhem

  • Transformers: The Ride – 3D

• Illumination’s Minion Land

  • Illumination’s Villain-Con Minion Blast

• Hollywood

  • The Bourne Stuntacular

• New York

  • Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon

• San Francisco

  • Fast & Furious – Supercharged

• The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley

  • Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts

  • Hogwarts Express (park-to-park admission required)

• World Expo

  • Men in Black Alien Attack

• Springfield: Home of the Simpsons

  • The Simpsons Ride

  • Kang & Kodos’ Twirl ‘n’ Hurl

• Woody Woodpecker’s KidZone

  • E.T. Adventure

Islands of Adventure:

• Marvel Super Hero Island

  • The Incredible Hulk Coaster

  • Storm Force Acceleration

  • Doctor Doom’s Fearfall

  • The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man

• Toon Lagoon

  • Popeye & Bluto’s Bilge-Rat Barges

  • Dudley Do-Right’s Ripsaw Falls

• Jurassic Park

  • Jurassic World VelociCoaster

  • Jurassic Park River Adventure

• The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade

  • Flight of the Hippogriff

  • Hogwarts Express (park-to-park admission required)

  • Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey

    
    

Epic Universe

• Celestial Park

  • Constellation Carousel

  • Stardust Racers

• Dark Universe

  • Curse of the Werewolf

  • Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment

• How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk

  • Fyre Drill

  • Hiccup’s Wing Gliders

  • The Untrainable Dragon

• The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic

  • Le Cirque Arcanus

• SUPER NINTENDO WORLD

  • Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge

  • Yoshi’s Adventure

  
  

🧚‍♀️ Pixie Dust Pro Tip: Express PLUS is your best bet if you want to skip all lines

🚫 Attractions That Do Not Accept Express Pass

Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure (Islands of Adventure)

• Ollivanders Wand Shop (both parks)

• Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry (Epic Universe)

• Dragon Racer’s Rally (Epic Universe – How to Train Your Dragon)

• Mine-Cart Madness (Epic Universe – SUPER NINTENDO WORLD)

• Pteranodon Flyers (Islands of Adventure)

• Horror Make-Up Show (Universal Studios Florida)

🧚‍♀️ Pixie Dust Pro Tip: These rides are best tackled early in the morning or during parades/fireworks when lines are shortest.

✨ Final Notes

Universal Express Passes are the ultimate way to save time and ride more during your visit. They're an optional add-on, but on high-crowd days, they can make the difference between a magical day and a long wait.

Still deciding? Check our latest:

• 👉 Volcano Bay Planning Guide

• 👉 Universal Resort Hotel Guide

Pixie Dust Hugs,

Lyn, Bren, and Kim

Planning a Universal Orlando Vacation? Click here for our planning guide with all the must-knows. Want all the latest deets on Epic Universe? Need tips for accessibility travel for Universal Orlando?  Click here  Planning a Walt Disney World Vaca?  Click here for our tailored Disney planning guide. Looking for an expert to help plan your Practically Perfect Vacation? Need help navigating all the details? Click here to Book with Bren.