Universal express pass purchase question

Question

Dear all. Thank you so much in advance. One member of our party is flying separately from us and only spending one day at Universal on the Sunday of presidents day weekend (February 16)other family members including myself will have been at the park a day before and already have passes. I was thinking about waiting until I knew she was on her flight to buy her ticket and park hopper (1 day) before doing so as flights can be delayed/cancelled in winter. Is there any chance express passes could sell out for that day by 9am ( I would know by then if there were flight issues)

Thanks for your help

Answer

Universal Express Passes can be a crucial addition for visiting Universal Orlando, especially on busy dates like Presidents’ Day weekend. They allow you to skip regular lines at most attractions, significantly reducing wait times.

Regarding your question about purchasing the Express Pass for a single-day visitor while waiting for flight confirmation, here are some important points:

1. Express Pass availability is date-specific and can sell out, particularly on peak days like weekends, holidays, and school vacation periods. Presidents’ Day weekend is historically very busy.

2. Express Passes are often still available in the early morning, but there is a risk that they could sell out, especially for the most popular day passes. Waiting until 9am may be okay, but it is not guaranteed — delays in purchasing could limit options or require purchasing a more expensive version.

3. If the person flying is delayed or you want to be certain of availability, a safer approach is to purchase the park ticket first (which is essential for entry) and consider reserving the Express Pass as soon as possible, even a day or two in advance if online purchase is available. Universal allows purchasing Express Passes up to the day of the visit, but popular dates may have limited availability.

Option 1: Buy both the park ticket and Express Pass as soon as you know the flight is confirmed, ideally a day or two before the visit. This ensures Express Pass availability without overcommitting if flight changes occur.
Option 2: Buy the park ticket first and check Express Pass availability online the morning of the visit. If still available, purchase immediately. This carries some risk of limited availability or higher cost.
Option 3: Consider contacting Universal’s guest services to discuss the situation. They can provide guidance on availability and may hold options or suggest alternative solutions for single-day visitors arriving late.

In summary, there is a real possibility that Express Passes could sell out by 9am on a busy Presidents’ Day weekend, but early morning purchase still often works. To minimize risk, purchasing as soon as flight confirmation is received, ideally online in advance, is the most reliable strategy.

Universal express pass purchase question

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