Should You Buy Universal Express Passes when Visiting Universal Studios Orlando?
Kevin Payne
January 8, 2018
Our Decision
We made the decision to get Universal Express Passes based on 2 key factors:
Money: Normally when we take vacations to Orlando, we do Disney World and we do 4-5 days at least. This trip was about relaxing and about going to Universal Studios. With only 2 days of the trip at theme parks, we decided to use the money we would normally spend on extra days at Disney to get these passes.
Timing: We visited Universal Studios in mid June, which is one of the busier times of the year so we knew it would be crowded. Also, June in Florida is rather hot. Waiting in lines for long periods of time in the summer isn’t fun. If we were visiting in the fall when school was in session and the weather was cooler, we would have just purchased regular tickets. Timing matters when visiting Universal Studios, Walt Disney World or any of the theme parks in Florida.
Final Thought
Theme Parks are so stinking expensive, but I love them so much! Are they worth the price of admission? I don’t know. Were the Express Passes a good idea? For this trip? Absolutely! We saved tons of time and were able to ride our favorite rides over and over, especially the new Jimmy Fallon ride, which was the kids’ favorite ride. I don’t know if I would buy them again. It all depends on the specifics of the trip I guess. it’s a matter of cost vs convenience and whether it is worth it to you to spend more money and spend less time in lines. It’s a tough call either way.
What do you think about Theme Parks offering ticket options, like Express Passes, to shorten your time standing in lines? Let us know in the comments below!
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Kevin Payne is the co-founder and budgeting and family travel enthusiast behind FamilyMoneyAdventure.com.
Kevin is a freelance writer specializing in personal finance and travel. He is a regular contributor to Forbes Advisor, Credit Karma, Fox Business, Credible, CreditCards.com, and Student Loan Planner.
