Most theme parks in Orlando, Florida, offer an add-on ticket option that allows guests to skip the line for popular attractions. Universal Orlando‘s version of this service, Universal Express Passes, just added a new option for guests looking to avoid waiting in long lines. This follows a similar test late last year.
This change reflects a similar product offered nearby at Walt Disney World, and could affect the way guests approach their day at any of Universal’s three theme parks. We get into the details, fine print, and what’s still up in the air about this Express Pass change. This is also similar to a recent Universal Hollywood Express offering. Mickey Visit brings you the latest theme park news and planning resources, including Universal considering a discount for Disney World annual passholders and changes coming to Halloween Horror Nights 2026.
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New Universal Express Pass Option
Until now, Universal Express Passes were only offered as a bundle. Guests could purchase an all-inclusive add-on, the Express Pass, for access to all eligible attractions at the park(s).
A standard Universal Express option provided one-time access to each eligible ride, while Universal Express Unlimited let guests experience each eligible attraction as many times as they wanted. Both the standard Universal Express and Universal Express Unlimited options still exist for guests to purchase. Price varies by date and by park.
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As of April 13, 2026, there’s a new option called Universal Express Now, which grants skip-the-line access to one attraction of the guest’s choice instead of all eligible attractions. This seems to be a version of a product that was tested last year.
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Crucially, guests must be inside the park to purchase Universal Express Now, and the purchase is only valid for that same day.
Universal says this new option will only be available “sporadically.” Sales aren’t guaranteed to be live every day, and availability on live sales dates is subject to demand. Let’s get into how this works.
Finer Details of New Universal Express Now Pass
Universal has not shared the list of attractions eligible for Universal Express Now, nor has it revealed the cost of this service. However, at least one attraction will offer Universal Express Now at all three theme parks: Universal Studios Florida, Universal Islands of Adventure, and Universal Epic Universe.
Reddit user RedHeadBruno reported Stardust Racers, Yoshi’s Adventure, and Hiccup’s Wing Gliders were all available as Universal Express Now purchases at Epic Universe on April 13, 2026, for $25 each. Commenters in the Reddit thread say attraction selections may rotate, but we’ll have to wait until the product has been around for a few days to know for sure.
If Universal follows the pattern of Disney’s similar product, Lightning Lane Single Pass, the attractions offered for Universal Express Now at each park may either be the newest or most popular rides. However, A key component of Disney’s version of this service is that attractions offered as a Lightning Lane Single Pass are not offered in the bundle version of the product, Lightning Lane Multi Pass.
Based on Universal’s language so far, it seems like Universal Express Now will not follow this same protocol. In other words, we expect the attractions offered through Universal Express Now to remain as eligible options for the standard Universal Express and Universal Express Unlimited. We won’t know for sure, though, until Universal reveals the full list of attractions eligible for Universal Express Now.
Universal Express Now can only be purchased on the day of the guests’ visit. No advanced sales are available at this time.
Additionally, guests can only purchase Universal Express Now via the Universal Orlando app. Purchases are not available through the traditional Universal Orlando website for this new product, but the other Universal Express Passes still are.
Unlike other Universal Express options, when guests purchase Universal Express Now, they reserve a specific time to access the attraction. This differs from Universal Express and Universal Express Unlimited, which both allow guests to access attractions whenever they want.
The new Universal Express Now pass is only listed on the website for Universal Orlando in Florida, not Universal Studios Hollywood in California.
Plan your visit to Universal Orlando with our ultimate guide to the resort and our ranking of every ride at the new Epic Universe theme park, which includes worlds based on Nintendo, Universal Classic Monsters, Harry Potter, and How to Train Your Dragon.
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