Universal Studios Hollywood has brought back their highest tier of Annual Pass, the Platinum Pass, after bringing back the California Neighbor Pass earlier this month. The Platinum Pass was available briefly from April to June this year, before going away. Though the pass has returned, it has gone up in the price.
With FlexPay, a Platinum Pass is now $26 per month instead of $19 per month, after a down payment of $249. Or guests can purchase it for a one-time amount of $529.
A Platinum Pass has no blackout dates, includes entry to Halloween Horror Nights, and includes Universal Express Pass, which allows guests to skip a line once per day, per attraction. The Express Pass was previously available to Platinum Passholders all day, but it will now only be available for use after 3:00 PM.
How do you feel about these changes? Let us know in the comments.
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Just saw this! Mind blown! Until now, I had been a huge advocate for Universal regarding their annual passes/perks. Does the 3pm rule for using Express apply to passholders who already had the Platinum pass ‘before’ August? If so, that was very sneaky & a little dishonest on Universal’s part. As, when we purchased the pass back in May, it was under the terms that we would have Express access ‘all day’ to ride each Express attraction once, not just from 3pm to park close. Glad we didn’t go a random morning expecting this perk and get turned away by a ride staff person. Kinda shady.ðŸ˜
I spoke to one of the reps over the phone about this to clearly. I was told if you purchased the platinum pass with the Express access ‘all day (once per ride)’ they will continue to grant that access. It’s only the individuals who purchase platinum pass with express access after 3pm that will have to abide by those conditions.
For those of you who are still curious as to whether or not the new Universal Express 3 pm rule applies to previous Platinum pass holders, it doesn’t! I received this response today from Universal Hollywood:
Thank you for contacting Universal Studios Hollywood.
All Platinum Passes that were purchased prior to 08/24/2021 will retain their all-day Universal Express privileges. For Passes on FlexPay, this will only apply for the duration of their first contract year. If you choose to keep your Pass on a month-to-month basis after that year, the Universal Express privilege will switch to After 3PM. Thank you for being a Pass Member.
We look forward to seeing you soon!
Kinzel Tijamo
Guest Communications
Universal Studios Hollywood
This is outrageous to discontinue the all day FRONT OF THE LINE PASS.
We hold Platium passes but I need to buy a 3rd for my son and his small children, who just came back from Afghanistan.
NOW WE WILL BE SEPARATED AND NOT BE ABLE TO GO ON RIDES TOGETHER! HORRIBLE!
UNIVERSAL CHANGE YOUR POLICY BACK TO ALL DAY FRONT OF THE LINE PASS FOR NEW PLATIUM PASS HOLDERS.
WHY ARE U DOING THIS?
Now we will have purchase another front of the line pass?
YOU ARE RIPPING US OFF!
THIS IS TERRIBLE FOR OUR FAMILY!
We thought UNIVERSAL WAS FOR FAMILIES!
OBVIOUSLY YOU CAN MORE ABOUT MONEY 💰
I AM DISCUSSED WITH UNIVERSAL
Thank you for reconsidering this bad policy for families.
I was going to renew my pass once again but the 3pm restriction is ridiculous as is moving to a Disneyland style reservation system. After many years as a Platinum pass holder I will simply let my pass expire without renewing and go once a year during HHN season.
Talked to a customer rep today and in fact this only applied to the new pass members. Unfortunately upon renewal they’ll go into effect with these terms. I don’t like it whatsoever. Will not likely renew as having a platinum pass in which you only have express access after 3pm no longer holds the charm in paying top dollar for such a pass.