Hollywood Drift Express Pass: Universal's New $19.95 Single-Ride Option Explained

Quick answer: Starting Sunday, November 2, 2026, Universal Studios Hollywood will sell a single-use Universal Express pass for Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift. Prices start at $19.95 per person, it's good for one ride in the Express line, and you still need regular park admission. You don't have to buy it. The ride is still included with your ticket through the standby line.

Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift is the most talked-about new ride of 2026, and since it opened on September 16, one of the top questions I hear is "Does Hollywood Drift have Express Pass?" Now there's an answer. Here's how it works and whether it's worth it for your family.

What is the Hollywood Drift single-ride Express pass?

It works like Disney World's Lightning Lane Single Pass. You pay once to skip the regular standby line on one ride, one time.

• Starts: November 2, 2026
• Price: from $19.95 per person, per ride. Universal calls this a "starting at" price, so expect it to cost more on busy days.
• What it covers: one trip through the Express line on Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift
• What it doesn't cover: park admission or any other ride

For a family of four, that's at least $79.80 to skip the line once on one coaster. So know your other options first.

Quick refresher: what is Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift?

Hollywood Drift is Universal Studios Hollywood's first high-speed outdoor roller coaster, and the fastest coaster at any Universal park. A few things to know before you go:

• Top speed of 72 mph, with four launches, three inversions and cars that spin 360 degrees to feel like you're drifting
• Height requirement: 51 inches. There's no posted maximum, but there's a test seat by the entrance. Measure your kids at home before you promise them a ride.
• It's on the Upper Lot, across from The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
• Phones, keys and loose items go in free lockers before you ride

Is the $19.95 Express pass worth it?

Here's how I'd think about it.

It can be worth it if:

• You only have one day at Universal Studios Hollywood
• You're visiting on a weekend, a holiday week or during Christmas break, when standby waits run long
• Hollywood Drift is the ride your family came for, and you'd rather spend that time on the Studio Tour or in Super Nintendo World

You can probably skip it if:

• You're visiting on a quieter weekday
• Your group is OK splitting up. Hollywood Drift has a Single Rider line, and it's usually much faster than standby.
• You head to the ride first thing in the morning or later in the evening, when lines are often shorter
• You're already planning a full-park option like the VIP Experience. Ask what it includes for Hollywood Drift on your date before you buy anything extra.

Universal hasn't said whether the regular multi-ride Universal Express ticket covers Hollywood Drift on every date, so check the details for your date before you pay for both.

What this could mean for Universal Orlando

If you're heading to Florida instead, pay attention to this. Universal Studios Florida is building its own version of Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift on the old Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit site, and it's set to open in 2027. Universal hasn't announced a single-ride Express pass for the Orlando version, but Hollywood is often where Universal tests new ideas first. I'll keep watching this one.

For now, my Universal Orlando Express Pass guide covers how Express works in Florida, including the rules at Epic Universe. If you're still deciding which park to visit, check out Is Epic Universe worth it? Going this winter? See my Universal Orlando holidays guide.

Want a taste of the original Fast & Furious ride in Orlando? Here's a short from my YouTube channel: Fast & Furious: Supercharged at Universal Orlando. You'll find more ride and hotel videos on the Fun Park Go YouTube channel.

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Let me help you plan your Universal trip

I've been planning theme park vacations for families since 2010. I've completed Universal's travel agent training and hold the Universal Orlando Resort Specialist certificate, and my planning is free. I can help you pick the right tickets and hotel and decide if Express is worth it for your dates. Fun Park Go doesn't book airfare, but I'll handle your hotel, tickets and package details.

Prefer to book yourself? You can book a theme park vacation package with Funjet or check out Apple Vacations.

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Photo: "Universal Studios Hollywood (4)" by Daniel from Glasgow, United Kingdom, via Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 2.0. Resized from the original.