Adding Unlimited Express

[scbeth]

October 2015 will be our first visit to Universal. At what point can we add Unlimited Express to our park to park tickets and is it more cost effective to do 3 days vs 1 day?

We are going during a "moderate" week and not sure we will need them.

Thanks!

 

[damo]

You don't need to buy them until you are actually inside the park. They are for sale all over the place.

 

[scbeth]

You don't need to buy them until you are actually inside the park. They are for sale all over the place.

So are they less expensive bought ahead of time? Do you know the costs?

Thanks damo!

 

[HM]

Yeah, I'd wait until I got there and see what the lines are going to be like.
We've had trips during busy times (spring break twice) when we were able to do everything we wanted without the passes. If you decide it's just too much for you, then you buy the passes.

 

[twins4disney]

Looking for advice on this issue too! Traveling with a group of about 5-10, Presidents Day weekend. Plan is to buy 2 day get third day free tickets. One person can get these thru her employer for 136$. Another group member suggested we just do the one day with express pass for 186$. Citing busy weekend due to school breaks. I've already offered up my opinion that it will be busy, have done WDW during this time, so I realize people flock to FL this time. So do we pay for the express and just buy one day, or stick with the plan? I'm used to WDW long lines, not sure about the others. Are we talking some kind of wait times at Universal/Islands?

 

[dmunsil]

You don't need to buy them until you are actually inside the park. They are for sale all over the place.

Are you sure they have the Unlimited Express? I thought at the park they only sold the regular Express, with one express entry per ride, but I wasn't looking too carefully because we were staying at Portofino and got it that way.

As far as I can tell if you buy in advance you can only get the Unlimited as a bundle with a ticket, or of course you can get it by staying at a Deluxe resort.

Edit: I see - they make it non-obvious how you can buy Unlimited Express separately, but it is available as a separate purchase online. Never mind!

 

[johde]

Are you sure they have the Unlimited Express? I thought at the park they only sold the regular Express, with one express entry per ride, but I wasn't looking too carefully because we were staying at Portofino and got it that way.

As far as I can tell if you buy in advance you can only get the Unlimited as a bundle with a ticket, or of course you can get it by staying at a Deluxe resort.

Edit: I see - they make it non-obvious how you can buy Unlimited Express separately, but it is available as a separate purchase online. Never mind!

Being able to buy unlimited express one day at a time in advance is a recent thing. With the unlimited express you have 2 options, you can upgrade the ticket and get unlimited express every day or you can buy unlimited express one day at a time. Buying 1 day at a time is more expensive.

To the OP question. Universal can change the price of express passes at any time depending on expected crowd levels. If they sell a large number of express passes, prices can go up. If they don't sell many express passes, prices can go down.

 

[glocon]

If you do the three days then you will have more time to try all the different restaurants, (Three Broomsticks, Leaky Cauldron, Mythos, ice cream at Florean Fortescues) and see all the shows (I think 3 at Diagon Alley and 2 at Hogsmeade).

And time to explore Jurassic Park and the kids area there as well.

Most of Harry Potter does not accept express pass, but just about everything else outside of it does.

 

[twins4disney]

So I just saw that some of the Harry Potter attractions do not allow the express pass? Also you can buy the express while in the park? Just trying to gather info for our group, these two parks are out of my planning element

 

[johde]

So I just saw that some of the Harry Potter attractions do not allow the express pass? Also you can buy the express while in the park? Just trying to gather info for our group, these two parks are out of my planning element

None of the "headlining" Harry Potter attractions take Express Pass. Forbidden Journey, Gringotts, Hogwarts Express, or Olivanders. Only the rethemed attractions from Lost Continent Dragon Challenge and Flight of the Hippogriff have express pass. Single day express passes can be purchased numerous places around the park. Upgrading your ticket to park to park with unlimited express can only be done at Guest Relations at the front of the park and I'm not sure about at Hogwarts Express. I know you can add Park to Park at the Hogwarts express but I'm not sure what else those team members can do.

 

[scbeth]

Appreciate the responses!

 

[GeorgiaPeach74]

None of the "headlining" Harry Potter attractions take Express Pass. Forbidden Journey, Gringotts, Hogwarts Express, or Olivanders. Only the rethemed attractions from Lost Continent Dragon Challenge and Flight of the Hippogriff have express pass. Single day express passes can be purchased numerous places around the park. Upgrading your ticket to park to park with unlimited express can only be done at Guest Relations at the front of the park and I'm not sure about at Hogwarts Express. I know you can add Park to Park at the Hogwarts express but I'm not sure what else those team members can do.

Appreciate the responses!

Just to save you the time, the Universal Express Unlimited pass can be purchased as a standalone through this link: https://www.universalorlando.com/Theme-Park-Tickets/Universal-Express/Express-Passes.aspx. It may also be purchased via phone at (407) 224-7840. They can have it setup for the Will Call Kiosk machine at the front of the parks for easy pick-up.