Doing the Math on Universal Orlando’s Hotel Complimentary Express Pass
Universal Express Pass is a popular splurge purchase for theme park fans who despise lines. But we are here to tell you there’s a better way: stay on-site at a Universal Signature Collection hotel. In this article, I will explain Express Pass, its variants, and show you how to price out a hotel with Express versus buying Express separately. (Last updated August 25, 2025)
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What is an Express Pass?
Express Pass is Universal’s skip-the-line offering for attractions and shows. Universal promises Express Pass will cut wait times in half – a 90-minute wait for Jurassic World VelociCoaster will be 45 minutes or less.
There are two Express Pass versions: a standard Express Pass, valid only once per attraction, and an Express Unlimited Pass, which offers unlimited access for each attraction. Passes come in one or both theme park options. Express is valid only for one day and for one person; each party member must have an Express Pass. Valid theme park admission is still necessary for entry.
Unlike Disney’s Lightning Lane, no reservations or return times are required.
How Much Does an Unlimited Express Pass Cost?
Express Passes start at $119.99 per person plus tax for a base one-park Express Pass and $149.99 per person for a one-park Express Unlimited Pass. Universal now offers a two park, two day Express Pass starting at $270 per person plus tax (or $135 per day). We will be comparing this two-day pass to staying at an Express hotel later in this post. During holidays and weekends, these prices can inflate to astronomical amounts—during Christmas week, the two-park Unlimited Express Pass swells to an eye-watering $360 per person!
Vacation Hack – Stay at a Signature Collection Hotel Instead
Three of Universal’s Signature Collection hotels (Loews Portofino Bay, Loews Royal Pacific, and Hard Rock Hotel) include a complimentary Express Unlimited Pass. You heard that right–this isn’t just any Express, it’s the highest tier, two-park, unlimited Express that costs $150 to $380 per person per day. The complimentary Express Passes are valid for each person in the room for every day of the stay, including check-in and check-out days. Note that the complimentary Express offered at these three hotels is valid only for Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure, Volcano Bay, Epic Universe, and Halloween Horror Nights are not included.
Doing the Math
Let’s take a look at this example, a long weekend trip from November 21-23, 2025, and December 5-7, 2025. We are assuming you will spend three days and two nights at the parks for two guests. We will be looking at the lowest-priced Signature Hotel that includes an Express Pass for these comparisons.
Compare this to the price of an Express Pass on its own. Using Universal’s ticket site I found the prices for the same two-park, two-day Unlimited Express Passes.
Two days of Express Unlimited for two people with tax is $745.48. Compare that to the $2263 total for the hotel room, and you get a delta of $1518. That means if we can find a hotel under $759 per night with tax, we will be saving money. Now let us compare December:
Two days of Express Unlimited in early December are $617.68 with tax. When you factor the cheapest room at Royal Pacific is $2053 with tax for two nights, and find the delta between the two prices, you discover that the break-even point is $717.66 per night.
For parties of two, the complimentary Express offering is not a big enough perk anymore to always suggest staying on site over buying Express separately. Most hotels that offer similar amenities, like Sapphire Falls, are routinely cheaper than the price delta between buying Express and staying at a hotel that includes it. Because of this you will now need to do some price shopping on how many days you plan to need Express at USF and IOA, plus the cost of other Universal hotels. It becomes even more complicated if you are visiting Volcano Bay or Epic Universe, as you won’t be able to use the hotel’s complimentary Express at those parks. We find that, depending on price, splitting a room with four is still more affordable than buying separate Express tickets for the whole party. If you have an Annual Pass or are a Florida resident, the savings could be even greater. Annual Passholders and Florida Residents can save up to 30% off rack rates, although inventory is limited.
Do I REALLY Need an Express Pass?
No.
Express is a nice luxury and creates a more relaxed, stress-free vacation. Express does not make or break a vacation. Showing up thirty to sixty minutes before the park opening, with a Touring Plan in hand, will also let you experience the parks at a fraction of the cost.
Do you stay at Signature Collection resorts to save money on Express? Leave your thoughts in the comments below!
(Originally published December 19, 2020)
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I agree that the express is usually not even needed. However, you’re comparing 2 days worth of separately purchased express passes to 3 day passes since it’s a 2 night stay. Just an observation.
For a family of 4 (used to be 5) in a room then the room is a good deal. We’ve only done it twice for birthdays but it was pretty cool because of the water taxi to the parks as well as the private hotel guest only security.
A few times at the parks with the express passes it was funny to see transformers at a 10 minute wait time. At that point we just went through the regular que as to see everything you miss when you’re in the express lane.
“Express Passes start at $119.99 per person plus tax for a base one-park Express Pass and $119.99 per person for a one-park Express Unlimited Pass.” Same price? No. The Universal website says Express Unlimited starts at $149.99.
“Two days of Express Unlimited for two people with tax is $745.48. Compare that to the $2263 total for the hotel room, and you get a delta of $1307. That means if we can find a hotel under $654 per night with tax, we will be saving money.” You seem to be using the term “delta” for what I would call “difference.” If so, your math doesn’t work. $2263 minus $745 equals $1518, divide by 2 and you get $759. For the other example, the math does work out right.
Can we still get those free express passes even if booking from other travel portals (not through the universal website)?
Yes, Express Passe is included with reservations through 3rd parties.
Great thanks!
Does this apply to Halloween horror nights for the passes.
Yes you can get your passes in the morning and store your bags.
Can you acquire your passes before you actually get your room? If checkin isn’t until 4. Can we get into the park before that on check in day?
Yes. They will even hold your bags at the lobby until you come retrieve them when you get back to the hotel. So if you get to the hotel at 10 am, check your bags, grab your passes & head to the park.
Can we use the check-in date express pass on Universal Studio and check-out date express pass on Island of Adventure?
Yup! Passes are valid at both parks.
What about hotel hopping – staying at the Premier hotel for one night, then moving to a lower-tier hotel. I assume the Express Pass is good for the day you check in and the day you check out of the Premier hotel, and not while staying at the other hotel?
Do you have to purchase the hotel through Universal directly to get the perk of express pass or can you purchase through other travel sites?
You can purchase through anyone. The pass is through your key card.
Do they have this at universal Hollywood also? If so, which hotels? I’m super unfamiliar with this and google isn’t helping much
We have three children staying in our room, but one won’t be riding any rides. Would her pass be able to be used by an adult not staying in the hotel with us?
Officially it’s for people only in the room.
…but they won’t know…. 😉
Hello. I’m planning to stay only 1 night but does that mean we can get a pass for 2 days (checkin and check out day?)
Yes. Your express pass is your room key
I’m staying at the Lowe’s Sapphire Resort Dec 19-22. Do I get the Express pass?
No you don’t, only early park admission. Only Loews Portofino Bay and Hard Rock Hotel offer free universal express unlimited. Try to change hotels to get it. You can call to get the right info.
How many express unlimited passes can you get per room? We have 2 adults and 3 14 year old girls going
I feel like this is a silly question but everyone keeps talking about check in and check out days so it’s concerning me. We are flying in on a Tuesday but don’t want to go to the park on that day. We don’t check out until Thursday. Will we be able to use the Express passes on Wednesday and Thursday even though we checked in on Tuesday? Or do you only get to use the passes on the check in and check out days?
Hey Jessie, complementary express is valid every day of your stay including check in and check out dates. So your express pass would be valid for Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursdays. This comes up a lot as people would stay one night and use the express pass on two days.
Awesome, Thanks so much for the VERY quick reply!!!
Thank you!!!
One more question. Check-out time is 11AM. Will my Universal Express will work after that time?
Thanks again!!
It’s valid the full theme park hours the day of your check out.
Hi!!
I will be staying at a Premier Resort to get the Universal Express perk. I just found out that I can use this perk on check-in and check-out day!! I read that I can check-in early to use it on that day. How can I use this perk on check-out day if I have to turn in my room keys?
Thanks in advance!
You don’t have to turn in your room keys. *looks at drawer filled with UOR room keys*
Awesome!!! Thank you for the info!!!
Thank you Joseph for this very useful information. So my understanding is that we can clear out from the room on the check out day, leave the luggage in the luggage services before 11am and run to the parks with the room key card for that day. Is this correct.
Once you’ve done this, do you need to link your park tickets to the hotel room? How do you actually get the express unlimited passes? I booked our hotel room and park tickets separately (both directly through the universal website), and we plan to use the express unlimited benefit on our check-in day starting in the morning.
The hotel room key card is your Express Pass. Just scan at the attraction.
Thanks for the quick response! Can we get our room key cards before the official check-in time? I was hoping we could use the express passes starting the morning of the day we check-in, but usually you can’t check in until the afternoon.
last time I stayed at an express hotel they’d give you the keys to use for express then activate them for your room once it was ready
If my sister and her husband who live in Florida are going to meet us for one night at the end of our 4 day trip can I get express passes for them for the next day after they spend the night with us? Was not sure since they would not be there for the entire trip just one night/day. Cannot seem to find this info anywhere 🙂
Thanks!
They would need to be on the hotel reservation and get their own key, the room key is how Express is accessed. There is a fee for more than two adults in a room, FYI.
Does a child need a room key to use their express pass? Also do you know if we could add a friend visiting us to our reservation for just one night (not the full 4 night stay)?
What we had noticed pre-Covid was that the parks were virtually empty before noon. Using a touring plan and rope dropping we could hit all the headliners multiple times (sometimes using single rider lines…again, pre-Covid). Starting around 1:00, the late arriving express pass users would show up and the lines would increase drastically.
We did this or our 2 day universal detour from Disney world. We loved staying so close to the park, and it ended up being a lot cheaper than buying the express passes seperatly!