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 you need to know about the free unlimited express pass included with the hotel 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.
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.
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.
Which Universal Hotels Include Express Pass
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.
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 is the best value (least expensive) of the three signature resorts that include express pass. 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.
This is for 2 nights, September 29-Ocotober 1. Room cost for the Signature Resorts would include 3 days of unlimited express pass.
| Royal Pacific | $890.00 |
| Hard Rock Hotel | $1234.00 |
| Portofino Bay | $1,110.00 |
| Cabana Bay (No Express) | $533.00 / $2769.35 |
| Dockside (No Express) | $466.00 / $2702.35 |
One Day Express Pass: $745.45. Total with 3 day express is bolded. I was actually shocked as I ran the numbers to see what a difference the value of staying at a Signature Resort is compared to saving on hotel and staying at a value.
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.
People in the theme park community have been a bit frustrated, myself included, that Helios does not include Express but has premium pricing. This is solely due to location and that Helios has a designated entrance to Epic Universe. We are staying at Helios this summer and I will report back on if it is worth the high cost.
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 then moved to Dockside Inn & Suites for the rest of our trip.
We did this because Hard Rock is not very spacious for a family of 5 and Dockside has suites that fit us better. If you are traveling with 4 or less guests you might not even need to switch depending on the cost and if you planned to purchase express pass every day of your trip.
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
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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.
