Disney’s Fast Pass vs. Universal’s Express Pass Plus

If you hate long lines at the Orlando theme parks, both Disney and Universal have methods to reduce long lines at some of the most popular rides—standby riders might wait 45 minutes to an hour, while those who plan ahead can get on a ride within 15 minutes—but there are some key differences.

The Disney FastPass is FREE, but guests have to walk to the ride, insert their admission ticket to get a FastPass ticket, and return within the designated time frame printed on the Fast Pass. There is also a limit to one Fast Pass ride per time period, and there is a time printed on the FastPass that indicates when you can get another one. If you know that there is a ride that you absolutely want to ride when you arrive at one of the Disney theme parks, get your FastPass first, and plan the day accordingly.

Universal Studios/Islands of Adventure, on the other hand, charges a fee for their Express Plus Pass. In addition to the price of admission, a one day/two park Express Plus Pass can cost anywhere from $25.99 to $52.99 per ticket depending on the date (popular holidays and weekends tend to be more expensive). The main difference from the Disney system, other than the cost, is that the pass allows guests to hit all of their favorite rides without running across the park to get tickets ahead of time or blackout periods.

Of course, a lot of factors can figure into whether or not you want to pay for a shorter wait, such as the current temperature and how loudly your kids might be whining to get on the ride.