Express Pass (Not) Now

One of our park testers was at Universal Studios Orlando this morning to test their new(ish) Express Pass Now option. Express Pass Now is a capacity based limited time Express Pass for single attractions. You can read more about the rollout here. 

Universal has three Express Pass options:

The Universal Express Unlimited and Universal Express can be purchased in advance and thus be “guaranteed” before you arrive. The Universal Express Now cannot be accessed until you have tapped in to the park. Once you have entered the park, you can check to see if there are any Express Now passes available.

• You’ll need the Universal Orlando Resort app downloaded on your phone & you’ll need to be signed in.
• Select the “Buy” button on the bottom of your home screen, as pictured above.
• Select “Express Pass” in the middle of your screen.

• Select the attraction you want for your Express Now pass. Our tester selected Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure, well, because it’s one of the best attractions in all of central Florida.
• Once you’re in the ride page, select the blue button, as shown above, that says “Check for Available Pass Options”.
• Sadly, all of the Express Now passes for Hagrid’s were gone for that time frame.

Similar to Lightning Lane availability drops in Walt Disney World, Universal may add new Universal Express Now passes at any time, so you’ll need to keep checking your app.

Had our tester been successful in obtaining her Express Now Pass, she would have received a return time to ride. This is similar to Disney’s Lightning Lane Single Pass return time process. The cost of an Express Now Pass is $20 – $30 per pass, but prices will not show unless the pass is available. You’ll want to make sure you have your credit card information linked and up to date in the app before your visit, too.

Have you purchased any of the Express options? What did you think? Was it a good use of your vacation dollars?