Is the Epic Universe Express Pass Worth It on a Holiday Weekend?
Before you spend hundreds on the line-skipping pass at Universal's new park, read this. The answer for right now might surprise you.
ORLANDO, FL – For anyone planning a trip to Universal's new theme park, the question of whether to purchase an Express Pass is a critical one, capable of adding a significant cost to an already expensive day. With prices for the 1-day Epic Universe Express Pass starting at $130 per person (and rising much higher on busy weekends), guests need to know what they are actually getting for their money. After a close look at the fine print, the answer for most people right now is surprisingly clear: save your money.
The system at Epic Universe is different from what many Universal veterans might expect. The pass grants expedited, one-time entry to each eligible attraction. Crucially, Express Pass Unlimited is not offered for Epic Universe at this time. Furthermore, in a major departure from the resort's other parks, the Express Pass perk is not included with a stay at any Universal Orlando hotel, not even the top-tier ones. It is a completely separate purchase for every single guest, every single time.
But the most important factor in the pass's value is the list of attractions that are not included. While the pass does grant access to many of the park's excellent rides, it notably excludes three of the absolute biggest headliners:
Mine-Cart Madness in Super Nintendo World
Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry in The Wizarding World
Dragon Racer’s Rally in the How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk
These three attractions are arguably the most popular and in-demand experiences in the park, and they regularly command the longest wait times. The fact that the Express Pass does not grant access to them is a potential dealbreaker. You could spend hundreds of dollars on the pass and still find yourself waiting in a two-hour standby line for the park’s marquee Harry Potter and Donkey Kong attractions.
The Express Pass does grant one-time access to a solid lineup of other rides, including Stardust Racers, Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge, and the excellent Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment. It also includes family rides like Hiccup’s Wing Gliders and the park’s two major shows. While skipping the line for these is certainly a benefit, the current operational state of the park makes it less essential than you might think.
With a still-manageable number of total attractions and an intentionally limited daily guest capacity in these opening months, a guest who arrives for rope drop and follows a smart touring plan can still experience most of the major attractions with reasonable waits. The value of the Express Pass is significantly diminished when its primary function—skipping the longest lines—doesn't apply to the very longest lines in the park.
Of course, this advice comes with a major asterisk. On days with bad weather that closes outdoor rides or significant technical downtime for a major attraction, the park’s crowd flow can be thrown into chaos, leading to nightmare-inducing delays. On one of these "bad" days, an Express Pass for the rides that are open would undoubtedly be a lifesaver, but it’s a gamble on something you can't predict.
For now, the math doesn't add up for most guests. The combination of major ride exclusions and the lack of any hotel or annual pass perks makes the Epic Universe Express Pass a luxury item with questionable utility. Our recommendation is to save that significant amount of money and put it towards a world-class meal at one of the park's new restaurants or some of the incredible merchandise instead. Rely on a good touring plan, arrive early, and you can still have a truly epic day.
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