You can finally skip the line on Universal's most popular coaster — and these hotels let you do it for free
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:
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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There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
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- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
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- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
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- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
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You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.