2 days ago
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When Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure opened in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando Resort on June 13, 2019, guests waited a painful amount of time for the opportunity to straddle an enchanted motorbike (or ride along in the sidecar) — as long as 14 hours, according to some accounts.
When I finally got to experience Hagrid's for myself in 2020, wait times had thankfully dropped significantly, but I still waited close to two hours for this practically perfect coaster. The long wait felt even longer because I usually skip the lines on most Universal rides with a Universal Express pass.
Most new Universal rides open without Universal Express access, but add it shortly after opening once the initial rush dies down. Not so with Hagrid's. Nearly six years after opening, the only way to get on the ride was by standing in line (or shelling out for a VIP tour).
Related: Here's how to plan an epic trip to Universal Orlando Resort this year
I'm happy to report that you can finally skip the standby line on Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure using Universal Express.
Now, guests have the option to stand in line or get a Universal Express pass and use the much shorter Express line. There are two versions of Universal Express: The standard Universal Express pass lets you skip the line one time per attraction, and the Universal Express Unlimited pass lets you skip the line an unlimited number of times.
There are a few ways you can get Universal Express. I have a Universal Orlando annual pass and get free Universal Express access after 4 p.m. daily, but you can also purchase it before or during your vacation.
Lastly, you can get Universal Express Unlimited included for all guests in your room for the entirety of your stay at select on-site hotels, including:
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I've long touted the value of this benefit, but now that you can use Universal Express to get on Hagrid's, it is even more valuable. Let's do the math to see just how much this perk is worth.
Pricing for standard Universal Express access ranges from $119.99 to $319.99 per person, per day (plus tax). Universal Express Unlimited starts at $149.99 per person, per day (plus tax) and goes up to $349.99.
This base pricing only includes one park per day. If you have park-to-park tickets for Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure, the price starts at $129.99 for standard Universal Express and $159.99 for Universal Express Unlimited. (None of these prices include Universal Epic Universe, which has its own tickets and Express passes.)
A one-night stay in mid-August at Loews Royal Pacific Resort is $546 per night (plus tax). That is $391 more than a one-night stay at Universal's least expensive hotel, Universal Endless Summer Resort — Dockside Inn and Suites. At Endless Summer, you would only pay $155 per night (plus tax) for your room, but if you wanted two-park Universal Express Unlimited passes for two adults and two children, you would pay $195 per person (plus tax).
That's nearly $800 on top of your nightly hotel rate just to skip the line, and that doesn't include the cost of your tickets. If you stay at Royal Pacific, you'll pay a higher nightly rate, but significantly less overall because your Universal Express passes are included. If you are set on skipping the line, you can actually save money by staying in a more expensive (and nicer) hotel.
Our favorite hotel for using this hack is Loews Portofino Bay Hotel. Portofino Bay participates in the American Express Fine Hotels + Resorts program. The Platinum Card® from American Express and The Business Platinum Card® from American Express cardholders can take advantage of additional benefits by booking through the Amex Travel portal.
I did this on my last stay, and in addition to our free Universal Express passes, we received an upgrade to a bay-view room, complimentary high-speed Wi-Fi, early check-in, late checkout, daily breakfast for two, and a $100 food-and-beverage credit to use during our stay. We also received a lovely welcome amenity in our room: a fruit and cheese platter, two bottles of water, and chocolates.
If you have enough guests staying in your room and plan on purchasing Universal Express anyway, there is an obvious monetary savings to staying in a hotel where skip-the-line passes are included, and the time saved in line can drastically change how much you get done on your Universal Orlando vacation. You can't put a dollar amount on that.
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Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
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