Skipping lines at Universal sounds great, right? What if I told you there is a “free” way to get Express Passes at Universal Orlando by staying at one of the Signature Resorts. In this post I am sharing what hotels include Express pass at Universal Orlando and if it is worth upgrading your stay.
Having Unlimited Express Pass for your Universal park days can save you time and allow you to tour the parks at a more leisurely pace. When you have express pass you don’t need to rush to be the first in line for select attractions and it makes for an overall easier park day.
Express Pass also comes at a steep additional cost to your park ticket. Guests that are looking to find a middle ground may find staying at a Universal hotel that includes express pass worth researching.
We have taken advantage of this on our trips to Universal and having access to the express pass rides maximizes our time at the parks, especially during busy times. Today I am sharing all the details and if it makes sense for you to book a Universal hotel that includes express pass for your Universal trip.
Insider Tip: Purchase tickets before you arrive to get the best deal and save time!
Which Universal Hotels Include Express Pass
Universal includes Unlimited Express Pass at 3 of their on property hotels that provides skip the line access for Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure, it does not include Epic Universe.
A select few Signature hotels at the Universal Orlando Resort include free express pass with your stay.
- Hard Rock Hotel
- Loews Royal Pacific Resort
- Loews Portofino Bay Hotel
Guests that book a stay at Hard Rock Hotel, Loews Royal Pacific Resorts, and Loews Portofino Bay Hotel will receive “free unlimited express pass” with their stay.
This starts on day of check-in and goes through end of the day at check-out day. We have used this to our advantage during a Universal trip by booking a split stay, more on that later in this post.
Hard Rock Hotel
Hard Rock Hotel is like stepping into a Hard Rock Cafe themed hotel. It has music and rock and roll memorabilia throughout the resort. Early entry to the theme parks is included with your stay and Hard Rock is a 5 minute walk to the Universal Studios Florida entrance.
We stayed at Hard Rock Hotel when we booked a split stay for our vacation. To do this we booked 2 nights at Hard Rock and 4 nights at Surfside Inn & Suites. On check-in day at Hard Rock we received our Unlimited Express Pass. We could use them for check-in day, full day, and check-out day of our vacation.
Express is included for everyone in the room. Check Hard Rock Hotel prices.
Loews Portofino Bay
Loews Portofino Bay Hotel is inspired by a seaside village of Italy. It is a relaxing spot away from the business of the theme parks. Guests staying at Portofino Bay can take boat transportation to the parks or walk. Early park admission is also included with your stay.
Free unlimited express pass is included for everyone in the room. Check Portofino Bay prices.
Loews Royal Pacific
Loews Royal Pacific Resort used to be the best value (least expensive) of the three signature resorts that include express pass, but has increased in nightly rate as of lately. It is themed to a South Seas paradise.
Guests staying at Royal Pacific Resort will have early admission into the theme parks, boat transportation to the parks or guests can walk (about 10-15 minutes) to the park.
Express Pass is included for everyone in the room. Check Royal Pacific Resort prices.
Cost of Express Pass vs. Staying at a Hotel with Free Express Pass
The best way to decide if it is worth it is to compare prices. This can be a bit complicated but I share a few examples for my family of 5 upcoming trip. All of these prices are from the Universal Orlando website and are subjected to change.
I priced out the following vacation: June 7th-9th 2026 (2 nights). 3 Park to Park Tickets that include Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure, 3 day Unlimited Express Pass.
| Resort (total cost) | Hotel Cost | Ticket Cost | Express Cost |
| Royal Pacific ($4266.95) | $1482.00 | $2784.95 | Included |
| Hard Rock Hotel ($4936.95) | $2152.00 | $2784.95 | Included |
| Portofino Bay ($4430.95) | $1646.00 | $2784.95 | Included |
| Surfside Inn & Suites ($7208.80) | $649.00 | $2784.95 | $3774.85 |
I am actually shocked as I ran the numbers to see that the savings you get staying at a value resort are not worth it if you are planning on purchasing an Express Pass.
If you are planning on purchasing a Express Pass for any of your days it is worth the upgrade in hotel. I strongly suggest upgrading to a signature resort instead of purchasing a Unlimited Express Pass and staying at a Value Inn & Suites resort.
Prices are all valid from when post was published but are not guaranteed.
What you Need to Know About Hotels at Universal with Express Pass
The Unlimited Express Pass from the hotels are only valid at Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure. They are not valid at Epic Universe. Guests need to purchase an Express Pass specifically for Epic Universe.
Helios Grand is the newest Signature Hotel located at the entrance of Epic Universe. It is one of three Epic Universe Hotels, but it does not include Express Pass in your stay. You can read about our stay at Helios to decide if it is a good choice for your trip.
My Final Thoughts
I don’t think it is worth purchasing an Express Pass when you could upgrade your stay and spend way less for a family. We did a split stay and spent 2 nights at Hard Rock Hotel, which gave us 3 days of Express Pass, and it was worth it. We also received an Annual Passholder rate at Hard Rock, saving us even more money.
My best advice is to take the time to research and compare the prices of your trip. You also want to consider if express pass is worth it for your entire Universal trip. For my opinion after testing visiting the parks with and without express pass many times, read this : Is Express Pass at Universal Worth It
Thank you for reading my post! This post may contain affiliate links at no extra cost to you. Although we try to provide the most up-to-date prices, we do not guarantee prices listed on our site. At times we are compensated or hosted by destination and brands. All opinions are honest and my own. If you would like to learn about how I work with affiliate partners you can read more here.
Leah has been planning and writing about Universal trips since 2016. She loves finding the best places to eat and stay during her visits to the park. Leah enjoys the little details that make visiting the parks so immersive and special, and sharing that with her readers.
