Universal Studios Hollywood Express Pass Ultimate Guide
Universal Studios Hollywood is a popular theme park destination in LA that has only received more attention since opening the United State’s first Super Nintendo World. Super Nintendo World joins a lineup of other popular attractions like those that are set in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and the Secret Life of Pets. Universal Hollywood Express Pass is a paid service that allows you to skip the line at Universal. This is Universal’s version of FastPass/Genie+ as it’s often referred to at Disneyland.
Keep reading for everything you need to know about Universal Express Pass including average prices, whether is it worth the cost, what attractions are included, and how to get access to Super Nintendo World.
Does Universal Studios Hollywood have an Express Pass?
Yes, Universal Studios Hollywood does have Express Pass! Sometimes guests think this is only exclusive to Universal Orlando but is also available at Universal Hollywood. There are two types of Universal Express Pass.
Universal Express
Universal Express includes one-time access per day to each ride, attraction, seated show, and one reservation-free entry into Super Nintendo World when reservations are required.
Universal Express Pass for Universal Hollywood is an additional purchase with your 1-day ticket.
Universal Express Unlimited
Universal Express Unlimited includes unlimited per-day express access to each ride, attraction, seated show, and unlimited reservation-free entry into Super Nintendo World when reservations are required.
Universal Studios Hollywood Tickets
Purchasing your tickets before you arrive eliminates the time you would’ve spent in line at the ticket booth and gets you into the park quicker. Another benefit to advanced ticket orders is the opportunity to save money. We partner with Universal Studio’s top travel partner to offer discounts on tickets exclusively for our readers.
For the best prices on Universal Studios Hollywood tickets and info on how to avoid scammy tickets, visit our guide to discount Universal Studios Hollywood tickets.
How Much is Universal Express Pass Hollywood?
Express Pass for Universal Studios Hollywood starts at $90 per person and will go up in price depending on the time of year. You can see Universal Studios Express Pass go up to $200 per person depending on how busy Universal expects the park to be. If you want to add Universal Express Unlimited and have unlimited access to the Express line for attractions, the upgrade is an additional $50 per person.
In the chart below, the cost of Express Pass is bundled with a 1-day ticket which typically starts at about $109:
If we look at the month of December, you’ll see the price fluctuates depending on the day of the week and goes up the week of Christmas at Universal. You notice that the cheapest we see in the month is $100 per person (after we subtract the 1-day ticket price) in the first week of the month. The most you can pay is $189 in the month of December. If you want to make that upgrade to Universal Express Unlimited then the cost would increase by $50.
If there are still remaining Express Pass tickets left at the end of the day, you also have the option of purchasing Express Pass for a discounted cost. Usually, you can get Express Pass for half off what the cost was for the day but the catch is you won’t be able to use this option until around 2PM each day.
So overall, you have a range of $99-200 per person for Express Pass depending on the day. Of course, the more expensive days will coordinate when Universal is anticipating seeing bigger crowds which will make that need for Express Pass (more below!) more justified.
Is it Cheaper to Buy Express Pass at Universal Hollywood?
Universal Studios Hollywood offers cheaper Express Pass than we often see at Universal Orlando. But over at Universal Orlando, you have the option of staying at Universal Orlando resort hotels which include access to Express Pass in your stay so that does balance things out a bit!
The nice thing about Universal Studios Hollywood Express pass is the price is typically set in advance and won’t change. This is different than what we see for Universal Orlando which will slowly start raising prices for Universal Express as the date gets closer.If we compare Express Pass at Universal Studios Hollywood to Disneyland’s version of a similar service, Genie+, then we will see a larger price difference. At Disneyland, Genie+ costs $25 per person for access to the shorter line option for popular attractions in their theme parks. The price can go up depending on peak travel days of the year but we have not seen it go higher than $35 per person so far. There is also just once per day access to the shorter lines with Genie+ while Universal’s Express Pass offers two different versions of once per day and unlimited.
This is a considerable difference in price as the lowest price for Universal Express Pass begins at $99 per person. However, Universal’s pricing method keeps the number of people purchasing Express Pass much lower than what you see at Disneyland. This means that the Express Pass line is literally, no wait. You typically walk right on to the attraction when using Express Pass at Universal Studios Hollywood.
In comparison at Disneyland, access to their shorter line (called the Lightning Lane) does not mean you walk right on the attraction. Most of the time the wait is usually not longer than 15-20 minutes but we have seen lines for the Lighting Lane get extremely long during busy points of the year as more people buy it. Universal’s higher price point naturally keeps the number of people buying it lower and so the Express Line remains much more efficient.
This is just one of those never-ending circle debates folks like to have: do we price something higher to make things less crowded or keep them affordable? This is a pretty highly contentious debate amongst theme park visitors and there are certainly pros/cons on both sides.
What Attractions at Universal Studios Hollywood Offer Express Pass?
You can use Express Pass for all the rides at Universal Studios Hollywood with one exception: Mario Kart Bowser’s Challenge.
These are the attractions included in Universal Express Pass:
- Despicable Me Minion Mayhem
- DreamWorks Theatre Featuring Kung Fu Panda
- Flight of the Hippogriff
- Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey
- Jurassic World- The Ride
- Revenge of the Mummy- The Ride
- Silly Swirly
- Studio Tour
- The Secret Life of Pets: Off the Leash
- The Simpsons Ride
- TRANSFORMERS: The Ride 3-D
Universal Hollywood Express Pass also includes priority seating to:
- Water World
And access to the Studio Tour, one of the most well-known attractions at Universal Studios Hollywood. The Studio Tour is unique to Universal Studios Hollywood and is a must-see experience.
You can also use Universal Studios Hollywood Express Pass to get access to the newly opened Super Nintendo World with no reservation required. This is one of the biggest perks of using Express Pass right now as the virtual queue access to this land fills up right away each day.
What About the New Mario Kart Ride?
Unfortunately, Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge is not included with Express Pass and there is only one standby queue for it. Eventually, we might see this attraction get added to the Express Pass list but it’s a bit hard to predict when.
Over at Universal Orlando, the most popular ride in the park (Hagrid’s Motorbike Adventure) still has not been added to Express Pass. Remember: Universal wants to keep their lines for Express Pass low and adding big hits like these newer rides to the lineup might interfere with the perfectly honed system they’ve worked out.
How Do I Get Into Super Nintendo World?
Currently, there are three ways to get into Super Nintendo World at Universal Studios Hollywood:
- Virtual Line- all guests with a ticket can access the virtual queue and enter Super Nintendo World for no additional cost but this queue has been filling up every day so there’s a chance you might not get a reservation.
- Universal Express Pass- purchase of Express Pass includes entry into Super Nintendo World. You either get one-time access or unlimited access, depending on the Express Pass option you pick.
- Early Access Ticket- you have the option of purchasing access to Super Nintendo World that begins one hour before the park opens.
Since we’ve covered how Express Pass for Super Nintendo World, let’s talk about the Early Access Ticket and Virtual Line,
Super Nintendo World Early Access Ticket
The number of tickets is limited so don’t hesitate to buy! They will not be available to purchase on the day of your visit as currently, they have been selling out 2-3 weeks in advance.
Right now, this is the BEST way to access Super Nintendo World. The land will be at a lower capacity and you will also have the chance of entering it first.
Virtual Line Universal Studios Hollywood
Virtual Line is an option that Universal Studios Hollywood has utilized for new attractions to help manage crowds. We have also seen a similar system over at Universal Orlando for their popular new rides. Keep in mind that Universal is not using this constantly, just as needed. You can check the app to see if the land is using a Virtual Queue or not.
You can only make a reservation using the Virtual Line with the Universal Studios Hollywood app and you need to be on the property to select a time.
Reservations are limited and based on space availability. They typically run out quickly.
To select a reservation using Virtual Line:
- In the app, select “Virtual Line reservation”
- Tap on the “Virtual Line Venues” tab and see the list of attractions/lands
- Click on the attraction you want and tap “Virtual Line Pass- Reserve”
- Select how many are in your travel party and the return time
- Tap “Reserve Virtual Line Pass” to complete the reservation
The app will send you a notification when it’s time to experience your attraction/land.
Currently, Virtual Line is being used for Super Nintendo World as needed. But it does not include automatic access/Express Access to Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge.
Is Express Pass Worth It?
As with any costly theme park experience, this question is pretty subjective. It’s no secret that Express Pass is extremely costly. Even at its lowest rate of $90 per person that would still be $360 for a family of four.
If you’re purchasing Express Pass during a peak time of year when the cost can skyrocket to $200 per person then you will be looking at a cost of $800 for a family of four. And peak times of the year are when you will see the wait times the longest for attractions making the concept of Express Pass much more appealing.
If money is no object then the answer is always, yes Express Pass is worth it! But if you hesitating on spending the money on Express Pass then you may want to consider if it is worth it. Here are a few reasons why Express Pass is worth it for many groups.
No Wait Times
Express Pass will allow you to walk on to nearly all the attractions at Universal Studios Hollywood and you often never wait more than 10 minutes. You can easily ride every single ride in the theme park and still have time to enjoy experiences, dining, and meeting characters.
Easy to Use
Express Pass is also incredibly easy to use at Universal Studios Hollywood. You do not need to book return times or plan your rides into your day. You simply just scan your Express Pass when you want to ride and go right in the line. The only thing to keep track of is if you purchase the one-time per attraction pass then you will need to remember which rides you have done and which ones you can still do. It’s so easy which is a huge plus when we compare it to more complicated systems like Genie+ at Disneyland.
See Everything at Universal
Express Pass is also ideal if you plan on only spending one day at Universal Studios Hollywood (which most guests do) and you want to see everything! If you have Express Pass, it is incredibly easy to ride all the attractions in the park in one day and still have time to enjoy the other experience. If you do not think you will be returning soon to Universal this is a good choice to make sure you get the most out of your day. Time is money and you will save a considerable amount of time using Express Pass.
So for many guests at Universal Studios Hollywood, purchasing Express Pass is a worthy investment and allows you to get the most out of your day.
Universal Hollywood Strategy without Express Pass
If you do not want to purchase Express Pass, you can still have a great day at Universal Studios Hollywood. Many guests visit the theme park often without ever purchasing Express Pass and it can absolutely be done with a good strategy in mind.
Here are some of my best tips to avoid using Express Pass at Univeral Studios Hollywood and still enjoy your day.
Arrive Early
You need to arrive at Universal Studios Hollywood before the park opens so you can get a good spot in line. You want to have as much time as possible to enjoy your day.
Purchase Super Nintendo Land Early Access Ticket
The most efficient way to experience Super Nintendo Land is to purchase the Early Access Ticket for $20-30 per person. This will allow you to experience Super Nintendo World an hour before the park opens and it also gives you Express Pass line access for the Studio Tour until 11AM. You can spend this hour enjoying the land before the park officially opens with lower crowd levels and ride Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge. Since it also includes that Express Pass access to the Studio Tour, this also increases the value of this ticket.
And then your next option is to follow a Universal Studios Hollywood touring plan to arrive with a set itinerary in place.
Universal Studios Hollywood Touring Plan
The best way to experience Universal Studios Hollywood is with a set touring plan so here are a few example itineraries to help you plan your day.
Universal Hollywood Without Express Pass OR Super Nintendo Early Access
This itinerary follows the assumption that you will arrive before park opening but are NOT purchasing a Super Nintendo Land Early Access Ticket.
- Arrive at the parks 30 minutes before opening.
- If you purchased a Super Nintendo Land Early Access Ticket then use this time to enjoy the land the hour before opening. Go straight to ride Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge and then book a reservation for Toadstool Cafe.
- If you do not have Early Access to Super Nintendo World, line up to head straight to The Secret Life of Pets. Zig while others zag! The park will be EMPTY in the first two hours as everyone is running to Super Nintendo World, keep an eye on the Universal app to see if they implement a Virtual Queue.
- Next head to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
- Ride Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey which is one of the best rides in the park. Do not skip this one!
- This ride offers Single Rider- use it to cut your way time to less than half the posted time, come back later to ride it twice!
- You can choose to ride Flight of the Hippogriff which is a must for Harry Potter fans to see a cool animatronic Buckbeak and Hagrid’s Hut. Otherwise, you can skip this one to save time.
- Head to the Lower Lot where Super Nintendo World is located.
- Ride Revenge of the Mummy- The Ride.
- This ride offers Single Rider- use it to cut your way time to less than half the posted time.
- Ride Jurassic World- The Ride.
- Ride TRANSFORMERS: The Ride- 3D.
- This ride offers Single Rider- use it to cut your way time to less than half the posted time.
- Head over to Super Nintendo Land!
- Go straight to Toadstool Cafe and scan the QR code located at the entrance of the restaurant to book your reservation if you’re interested in dining there.
- Get in line for Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge,
- Ride The Simpsons Ride which is located right near the entrance/exit to the Lower Lot.
- Ride the Studio Tour next as this ride is a priority for a true Universal Studios Hollywood experience. This ride is located not far from The Simpsons Ride.
- At this point, the main rides you have left are all the ones at the park that focus on the Dreamworks franchise. Before heading over to do those, you should prioritize getting a spot for the Waterworld show which is one of the most amazing experiences at Universal!
- Ride Despicable Me Minion Mayhem and Kung Fu Panda Adventure.
- If you have small kids, you will enjoy taking them to Super Silly Fun Land which is an interactive kid’s focused area based on the Despicable Me franchise and includes the Minion-themed Silly Swirly Ride.
Head back to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at dusk to enjoy the nighttime projections on Hogwarts Castle. This show changes themes throughout the year from a show based on traditional Harry Potter elements to a Dark Arts one that’s a bit more spooky. During the holiday season, the show will be holiday focused.
Universal Hollywood with Super Nintendo Early Access but NO Express Pass
This itinerary follows the assumption that you will arrive before park opening and are purchasing a Super Nintendo Land Early Access Ticket but you do NOT have Express Pass.
- Arrive at the parks one hour before opening.
- Enter Super Nintendo Land using your Early Access Ticket and go straight to ride Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge.
- After riding Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge, go straight to Toadstool Cafe and scan the QR code located at the entrance of the restaurant to book your reservation. Toadstool Cafe won’t open until the park officially opens so keep that in mind- do you want to grab the first reservation available at 8AM (the time the park usually opens) or reserve it for later in the day and come back? If you come back, you will need to make sure you can get into the land! I would recommend just getting breakfast there and booking the earliest time slot possible- just to see the interior of this cool restaurant!
- Enjoy Super Nintendo Land and if dining at Toadstool Cafe is a priority for you then hang out in the land until your dining time. If not and you are not called back to the cafe right away, proceed to the next step.
Note: this is why we recommend purchasing a Super Nintendo Land Early Access Ticket! As you can see, enjoying this area can eat up a lot of your park time and the crowds will only begin to build throughout the day. To re-enter the land, you will likely need to access Virtual Line and may not be guaranteed a second entry which is why staying in the land is essential.
- After you’re done in Super Nintendo Land, enjoy the rest of the rides in Universal’s Lower Lot.
- Ride Revenge of the Mummy- The Ride.
- This ride offers Single Rider- use it to cut your way time to less than half the posted time.
- Ride Jurassic World- The Ride.
- Ride TRANSFORMERS: The Ride- 3D.
- This ride offers Single Rider- use it to cut your way time to less than half the posted time.
- Ride The Simpsons Ride which is located right near the entrance/exit to the Lower Lot.
- Ride the Studio Tour next as this ride is a priority for a true Universal Studios Hollywood experience. This ride is located not far from The Simpsons Ride.
- Head to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter next which is located right near the Studio Tour.
- Ride Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey which is one of the best rides in the park. Do not skip this one!
- This ride offers Single Rider- use it to cut your way time to less than half the posted time.
- You can choose to ride Flight of the Hippogriff which is a must for Harry Potter fans to see a cool animatronic Buckbeak and Hagrid’s Hut. Otherwise, you can skip this one to save time.
- At this point, the main rides you have left are all the ones at the park that focus on the Dreamworks franchise. Before heading over to do those, you should prioritize getting a spot for the Waterworld show which is one of the most amazing experiences at Universal!
- Ride The Secret Life of Pets, Despicable Me Minion Mayhem, and Kung Fu Panda Adventure.
- If you have small kids, you will enjoy taking them to Super Silly Fun Land which is an interactive kid’s focused area based on the Despicable Me franchise and includes the Minion-themed Silly Swirly Ride.
Head back to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at dusk to enjoy the nighttime projections on Hogwarts Castle. This show changes themes throughout the year from a show based on traditional Harry Potter elements to a Dark Arts one that’s a bit more spooky. During the holiday season, the show will be holiday focused.
Universal Hollywood Touring Plan with Express Pass
This itinerary follows the assumption that will have Express Pass for the day but not Early Access to Super Nintendo Land.
So the beauty of Express Pass is you really do NOT need a set plan because you can utilize these shorter lines all day! If you want the ultimate convenience of a Universal Studios Hollywood trip, then having Express Pass is the way to do it. The main two considerations include the two most popular lands in the park: Super Nintendo World and the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
Super Nintendo World
Your purchase of Express Pass includes two ways to access Super Nintendo World depending on the pass. If you purchased the regular Express Pass you get one entry into Super Nintendo World. If you purchased the unlimited Express Pass then you get unlimited access to Super Nintendo World throughout the day.
When is the best time to enter Super Nintendo World?
Personally, if I have Express Pass I would NOT go there at rope drop since that is what the majority of the crowds are doing right now. I would wait and enter the land around 10AM when the first wave of crowds starts to disperse to other areas of the parks. Once inside, you should go straight to Toadstool Cafe and scan the QR code located at the entrance of the restaurant to book your reservation. You cannot eat at Toadstool Cafe without a reservation so keep that in mind. If eating here is a priority for you then you might want to head over to Super Nintendo World as early as you can. After that is done, ride Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge!
Wizarding World of Harry Potter
One of the biggest advantages of having Express Pass is that you can easily choose to save Super Nintendo World for later in the day and then prioritize enjoying the Wizarding World of Harry Potter before the crowds build in this land. This is a great time to play around with the interactive wands and enjoy the atmosphere before it gets too crowded to easily navigate.
And of course, take the time to use Express Pass for both Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey and Flight of the Hippogriff.
Head back to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at dusk to enjoy the nighttime projections on Hogwarts Castle. This show changes themes throughout the year from a show based on traditional Harry Potter elements to a Dark Arts one that’s a bit more spooky. During the holiday season, the show will be holiday focused.
How Does Universal Express Pass Work in Hollywood Studios?
Using Universal Express Pass is quite easy to figure out at Universal Studios Hollywood. There are no reservations to make or return times to keep track of. You will simply just experience attractions in whatever order you please. It’s really that easy!
You can either register your Express Pass in the Universal Studios Hollywood app and then you will be provided with a QR code on the app that you can scan in the park. If you don’t want to use the app, you will also be provided with a paper version of the Universal Express Pass which can be physically scanned at each ride.
The entry to the Express Pass line is clearly marked at most of the entrances to the rides at Universal Studios Hollywood. Simply scan your pass and enter the Express Pass line!
Do I Skip the Line with Express Pass?
The easy answer to this question is YES. The Express Pass line removes nearly all other wait for attractions and because Express Pass is priced higher we don’t see as many people with it so the lines move quickly. On average with my experience with Express Pass, I usually did not wait longer than 15 minutes, and most of the time the line was a walk on.
For some rides, there might still be a bit of a wait just because the line merges with the regular queue before the pre-shows so that way those in the Express Pass line can still enjoy the pre-show. This is true for the Simpsons and Minions ride as you will merge with the regular queue for the pre-show. But even then, you are still skipping the majority of the wait time.
Unfortunately, the one attraction that isn’t included in Express Pass is Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge. This is a common practice for new attractions as Universal wants to keep the number of guests purchasing Express Pass even with their usual trends. We might see Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge added eventually but even over at Universal Orlando, their two newest rides (Velocicoaster and Hagrids) are still not included in Express Pass.
The best way to get on Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge is to rope drop it right after the park opens when the line will be the shortest. Throughout the day the wait time for this attraction averages around 90 minutes.
VIP Experience Universal Studios Hollywood
If you want to really splurge on your day at Univeral Studios Hollywood then you can consider purchasing the VIP Experience. The VIP Experience includes escorted express access to rides, shows, and attractions.
The VIP itinerary includes:
- Begin the day in an exclusive VIP lounge with light snacks and refreshments.
- A gourmet meal in the private VIP dining room, prepared by Universal’s very own executive chef (alcoholic beverages excluded).
- Unlimited Universal Express access to all participating rides and priority seating for select shows.
- Complimentary valet parking and VIP entry to the Park.
An expert VIP guide will escort guess through the express line at rides and attractions and find you the best seats at seated shows.
The VIP Experience also includes exclusive access to Universal’s Backlot. Guests can tour the movie industry’s busiest sets in a special trolley where you can disembark to explore some of the famous outdoor sets.
To book the VIP Experience, you can book online at Universal Studios Hollywood’s website or (818) 622-8477 for price and availability.
Disclosure: We have used all the products recommended on Mickey Visit. We may receive compensation when you click on links to some products featured.
Is it worth it to get the express pass and Early access to nintendo world?
We are coming on October 12 ( thursday) and its a halloween horror night. Our kids are 10 I think the halloween night is too scary for them so Im not sure we will buy the night so will they kick us out at 5pm? There is some literature saying we might be able to go to one land until 7 on halloween night? Is that true or will they start rounding us up at 4:30 to kick us out at 5?
If we are kicked out I think doing express is needed early in the day. And possibly nintendo too? There is so much more info on orlando than hollywood. its challenging to figure it all out.