Picture this: You've made it to Universal Studios Orlando, after months of planning and prepping. You go through security, have your ticket scanned, and you're making a mad dash to your first ride of your vacation--Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, the ride in Hogwarts Castle. You get there, but the line is already an hour long. It's not so bad, the queue is interactive and cool to look at. You make it to your next ride. This line is an hour and half. And so is the next one. And so on, and so on.
Lines like that can make or break a park day. But what if I told you there's a way to rewrite this narrative, transforming your visit into an uninterrupted odyssey of excitement? Buckle up as I unveil today's game-changing advice, offering you a shortcut that turns waiting time into winning time. Say goodbye to queues and hello to a journey where every moment is a thrill waiting to be embraced!
Universal Express
Universal Orlando Resort's response to their lines are the Universal Express passes. These passes are good for one day only and differ based on which tier you select. They are priced per person. You can buy single-park passes or passes that are good in Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure.
Universal Express passes allow you to skip the line one time per participating ride at Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure. They typically range from $79.99 to $289.99 per person per day.
Universal Express Unlimited passes allow you to skip the regular lines an unlimited number of times at participating rides at Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure. They typically range from $109.99 to $319.99 per person per day.
Volcano Bay Express passes allow you to skip the line one time per participating ride at Universal Volcano Bay. These passes typically range from $19.99 to $149.99.
Notably, rides that do not participate are Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure and Pteranodon Flyers. So if you're planning to rope drop Universal Studios, you and everyone else will likely be heading to the same place.
Now, here's the thing about these passes - they are wonderful, but the price tag typically isn't. Yes, they range in price and the starting point of the range may not sound that bad to you, but looking at the price calendar from February 2024 through June 2024, I counted eleven total days that had the $109.99 price tag for a one-park Universal Express pass; and only two consecutive days at a time. Meaning, for one person to have a one-park Express pass each day of their 4-day trip, two of those days at most will cost $109.99. Days 1 and 4 would cost more.
Or, for another example, a family of two adults and two tween children is going for five days, three of which will be park days. They want to have the Universal Express pass for each of the three park days. Knowing that it is only possible to have 2 consecutive days that cost $109.99, at the very least, this is going to cost this family $1359.88.
[($109.99 x 2 days) + ($119.99 x 1 day)] x 4 people = $1359.88
The Hack
Here's the trick to this, and I'm sorry, but it involves some more math.
Universal, not unlike Disney, has their own series of resorts around their theme park properties. They come with certain perks, including early theme park admission to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, complementary transportation from the hotel to the theme parks, resort-wide charging privileges with room keys, and complementary delivery of merchandise purchased throughout the resort to your hotel.
Universal Orlando Resort boasts four categories of hotels:
Value ($) | Prime Value ($$) | Preferred ($$$) | Premier ($$$) |
|---|---|---|---|
Universal’s Endless Summer Resort – Surfside Inn and Suites | Universal's Cabana Bay Beach Resort | Loews Sapphire Falls Resort | Loews Portofino Bay Hotel |
Universal’s Endless Summer Resort – Dockside Inn and Suites | Universal's Aventura Hotel | Hard Rock Hotel® | |
Loews Royal Pacific Resort |
Those premier resorts also have a few added benefits, including priority seating at certain restaurants and the Universal Express Unlimited pass.
This is a huge deal. It can save you literally thousands.
Let's price it out. Universal values this pass at $164.99 per person, per day, but in reality, it could be worth more or less depending on the day.
Let's assume a family of four is going to Universal for spring break. For a six-night stay, April 7th-13th, a family of four can stay at Loews Portofino Bay Hotel for $2,783.59. Loews Portofino Bay, being a Premier hotel, includes the Universal Express Unlimited pass every day of the stay, even check in and check out day, for every person staying at the resort. If you were to include your park tickets in that package, the price would be $4,079.38.
If that same family were to stay off-site, the Universal Express Unlimited pass alone for the same number of people for six days between 4/7 and 4/12 would be [($224.99 x 2 days) + ($234.99 x 2 days) + ($244.99 x 2 days)] x 4 people = $5639.76. That's just for the Express Unlimited pass, not including your hotel or tickets.
For theses dates, staying at a Premier Universal Orlando Hotel can save you $2,856.17 over buying the Unlimited Express tickets outright. That means that the cost of staying at a Premier Universal Orlando Resort may actually be less than the cost of just buying the Express passes.
The cost of staying at a Premier Universal Orlando Resort may actually be less than the cost of just buying the Express passes.
So the next time you're planning your vacation to the Universal Orlando Resort, really consider your costs. Is it worth it to your family to upgrade your stay and skip the lines? Price it out.
Feeling overwhelmed or simply not in the mood to tackle this on your own? No worries – I've got you covered! When you choose to book your Universal Orlando Resort vacation through me, I'll handle the entire process, breaking down the costs and presenting all your options. It's about making your decisions easier and more informed. Plus, here's the best part – my services come at no cost to you! Email me today at s.mattoon@keytotheworldtravel.com to get started.
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