Is Universal Studios Beijing Express Pass worth it?

Chriss Chan

Last updated 2 Sep 2025

Universal Studios Beijing Express Pass

Experiencing Beijing Universal Studios with an Express Pass - Is It Worth It?

Universal Studios Beijing, the newest and largest Universal Studios theme park in the world, opened its gates in late 2021, bringing blockbuster magic to life with immersive lands like Transformers, Jurassic World, Harry Potter, and Kung Fu Panda. Even on a typical weekday, the park can be incredibly packed, with crowd sizes estimated at around 20,000 people. This often leads to significant wait times for popular rides and attractions, raising a crucial question: Is an Express Pass worth the investment? Based on our recent experiences, the answer is a resounding yes, especially if you aim to maximize your time and enjoy all the park has to offer in a single day!

Bring me to Universal Studios Beijing!

Understanding the Express Pass

An Express Pass at Universal Studios Beijing allows you to skip the often-long queues for top attractions, letting you experience more without spending hours waiting in line. You have the flexibility to purchase an Express Pass for a set of 3, 5, or all rides. It's important to note that Express Pass prices are dynamic, varying based on the day of the week and holidays, and they can sell out, particularly during peak seasons and weekends, so planning ahead is highly recommended!

Each Express Pass can be used once per eligible ride. For added convenience, Universal Studios Beijing utilizes facial recognition technology with its Express Pass system; after your ticket is scanned and photo taken, you simply scan your face at each Express Pass lane!

While a standard entry ticket on a weekday might cost around 450 - 650 Yen (about $90 USD), a full Express Pass can be nearly twice as expensive, costing approximately 900 - 1300 Yen (about $180 USD). This significant additional cost begs the question of its value, which becomes clear when facing the park's crowds.

The Challenge of Crowds and Long Waits

Even on a work day Wednesday, the Wizarding World of Harry Potter can be absolutely packed, with lines for Butterbeer being very long and ride waits often exceeding 30 minutes! Here are some popular attractions frequently have substantial wait times:

Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey: A typical wait can be 40 minutes, often stretching to an hour inside Hogwarts Castle.
Lanterns of Legendary Legends (Kung Fu Panda Land): Nearly 40 minutes.
Flight of the Hippogriff (Harry Potter): About 30 minutes.
Transformers Battle for the All-Spark: 30 minutes.
Minion Land Indoor Roller Coaster: Around 30 minutes.
5D Minion Ride: Up to 45 minutes.
Jurassic World Adventure: While listed at 35 minutes, the actual wait could be closer to an hour.
Jurassic Flyers: A 40-minute wait is common, but it can swell to two hours on weekends and holidays.
Three Broomsticks Restaurant (Harry Potter): Lines just to get into the restaurant can be up to an hour on weekends and holidays.

The only major attraction where the Express Pass cannot be used is the Ollivanders wand selection performance, which can surprisingly lead to the longest wait of the day.

The Express Pass: A Time-Saving Game Changer

The primary benefit of the Express Pass is the significant amount of time it saves, allowing us to experience many more attractions than we would otherwise. Here’s how it transforms our park experience:

Kung Fu Panda Land of Awesomeness: For the "Journey of the Dragon Warrior" ride, with a 5-minute standby wait, the Express Pass lane was even faster. For "Lanterns of Legendary Legends," which had a nearly 40-minute wait, the Express Pass allowed immediate boarding.
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter: For "Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey" with its 40-minute wait, an Express Pass is pretty essential even on a weekday. For "Flight of the Hippogriff" with its 30-minute wait, the Express Pass resulted in no wait at all.
Transformers Metrobase: For "Transformers Battle for the All-Spark," a 30-minute wait vanished with the Express Pass, allowing us to breeze through with not a single person in line. The Express Pass even allowed us to ride the "Decepticoaster," the park's most intense roller coaster!
Minion Land: An indoor roller coaster with a 30-minute wait, but with Express Pass we just walked right into the ride. For the 5D Minion ride, with a 45-minute wait, there were only a couple of other Express Pass users in line.
Jurassic World Isla Nublar: For "Jurassic World Adventure," which often has a 35-minute to hour-long wait, the Express line was empty! Similarly, for "Jurassic Flyers," with its 40-minute typical wait, only a few people were in the Express Pass line.

Without the Express Pass, we were unsure if we could have gotten through all the rides by the evening parade. The Express Pass makes it possible to fully experience all the themed areas and the major attractions within a single day!

The Verdict: A Worthwhile Investment

Given the extensive wait times, even on weekdays, and the sheer number of attractions at the largest Universal Studios in the world, the Express Pass for Universal Studios Beijing is indeed a worthwhile investment for us! It significantly enhances our experience by allowing us to bypass long lines, maximize our ride count, and truly immerse ourselves in the magic of the park without the frustration of constant waiting.

While it adds a substantial cost to our visit, the value it provides in saving time and reducing stress, especially during peak times, can be invaluable for a comprehensive and enjoyable day at Universal Studios Beijing. For those who prefer not to purchase an Express Pass, the park also offers 1.5-day and 2-day passes as an alternative to spread out the experience!

Bring me to Universal Studios Beijing!

Essential Tips for Your Universal Studios Beijing Visit

Whether you opt for an Express Pass or not, here are some additional tips to make your visit smoother:

Book in Advance: Purchase your entry tickets in advance for cheaper rates, especially during peak seasons and holidays.
Download the App: The Universal Beijing Resort App is essential for checking real-time queue times, live show schedules, ordering food to skip lines, and navigating the park map efficiently.
Arrive Early: Get to the park before opening time to get a head start on popular rides. The park typically opens at 9:30 AM, but they start letting guests in about 20 minutes earlier.
Don't Forget Your Passport: Foreign visitors must bring their passport for ticket verification and park entry.
Dine Strategically: Consider having dinner at Universal CityWalk Beijing after the park closes (around 7:30 PM), as restaurants and shops there stay open later (till 9:30 PM).
Check Operating Hours: Park hours can vary by season or special events, so always check the Universal Beijing Resort app for the most up-to-date information.