2+1 tickets vs Annual Pass

[elaine amj]

I have our first Universal trip planned for Saturday, May 16 - Monday, May 18 for my family of 4. Debating between a 2+1 ticket ($173 on Undercover Tourist) or a Power Annual Pass ($228.97 incl taxes). So $56/per person difference for all four of us.

I have been studying the benefits of each kind of annual pass and debating if it will be worth it to us to upgrade. Anything I should be considering?

I already have my hotel booked
- Hard Rock Hotel for $256 for Sat, May 16 and then an off-site next door for $25 for Sun, May 17
The Annual Pass rates are OK, but would be more expensive/similar for my dates right now.

I have an AAA and an Amex card so will get the 10% dining/shopping discount regardless.

I don't need parking (will cab it) for this trip but may for future trips.

We have no interest in HHN.

The blackout dates for the Power Pass is rather bothersome as there is a slight chance we might spend Christmas in Orlando. Then again, with a Power Pass, we would have an excuse to return to Orlando for 1-2 quick weekend visits over the next year.

Really looking for some pros/cons or anything else I should consider as I debate the upgrade. Of course, I could buy a Preferred Pass for one person and then get discounted tickets for the rest of us. But it doesn't look like the Preferred Pass discounts even match Undercovertourist's current price.

 

[Bishoparc]

We got our Universal passes for the first time last year. You're staying on property there so you are already getting their Express Pass. I wish I would've gotten the Premier pass vs. the Preferred pass so we could've at least gotten the express pass for free after 4:00PM because we've found there really is no good time to go to Universal. Even in off season times, lines still get over an hour long at the popular attractions. Premier also includes free valet parking which I would've also liked because I absolutely hate their parking lot and all the walking required before you even make it in to the park.

I would say if you think you're going to go back again that an annual pass would make sense.

 

[elaine amj]

I wasn't planning on returning - but will consider it if the price is right, kwim? Not sure if we return whether we would do onsite again. We might manage with an offsite stay during off-peak seasons. We're pretty ok with maneuvering around crowds as we are a RD family. e.g. we just did WDW during Christmas week and found it manageable.

Just got an idea from another thread and checked workingadvantage.com (similar to ticketsatwork). I can get 4 day park-to-park passes (2+2) for about $173. Does Universal offer price bridging for upgrading tickets like Disney does or will I only get the value of what I actually paid?

I want to get my tickets soon as I expect another price increase to follow Disney's announcement

 

[Bishoparc]

Not sure about their price bridging but anything's up for negotiation with them if you get the right person on the phone. If you stay off property for Universal, I recommend the Fairfield Inn & Suites Near Orlando Universal (that's the name.) We've stayed there numerous times, the price is usually good and they have a great breakfast.

 

[bumbershoot]

I wasn't planning on returning - but will consider it if the price is right, kwim?

Since you don't know if you'll want to be back, buy tickets for this trip (unless the AP rate drops). Budget to upgrade them to at least Power Passes, in case everyone likes the place so much they want to go back. And when doing so, budget as though they won't price bridge.

Budget to upgrade one Power Pass to Preferred in the future, because Power doesn't include themepark parking, if you go back and stay offsite and want to drive in.

 

[johde]

Just got an idea from another thread and checked workingadvantage.com (similar to ticketsatwork). I can get 4 day park-to-park passes (2+2) for about $173. Does Universal offer price bridging for upgrading tickets like Disney does or will I only get the value of what I actually paid?

I want to get my tickets soon as I expect another price increase to follow Disney's announcement

In general, Universal bridges tickets but every so often it gets a little strange. Universal will charge the difference between the gate price of what your turning in and the gate price of what your getting. Where things can get weird is with the buy X get X free tickets. I purchased the 4 day (2+2) from Best of Orlando.com before the last price increase. I got a 4 day ticket and they upgraded to a power pass for free. On the other hand, I've heard reports of people trying to upgrade the 2+1 passes that are currently being sold by Universal and only getting credit for the value of a 2 day ticket.

 

[keishashadow]

I have our first Universal trip planned for Saturday, May 16 - Monday, May 18 for my family of 4. Debating between a 2+1 ticket ($173 on Undercover Tourist) or a Power Annual Pass ($228.97 incl taxes). So $56/per person difference for all four of us.

I have been studying the benefits of each kind of annual pass and debating if it will be worth it to us to upgrade. Anything I should be considering?

I already have my hotel booked
- Hard Rock Hotel for $256 for Sat, May 16 and then an off-site next door for $25 for Sun, May 17
The Annual Pass rates are OK, but would be more expensive/similar for my dates right now.

I have an AAA and an Amex card so will get the 10% dining/shopping discount regardless.

I don't need parking (will cab it) for this trip but may for future trips.

We have no interest in HHN.

The blackout dates for the Power Pass is rather bothersome as there is a slight chance we might spend Christmas in Orlando. Then again, with a Power Pass, we would have an excuse to return to Orlando for 1-2 quick weekend visits over the next year.

Really looking for some pros/cons or anything else I should consider as I debate the upgrade. Of course, I could buy a Preferred Pass for one person and then get discounted tickets for the rest of us. But it doesn't look like the Preferred Pass discounts even match Undercovertourist's current price.

 

[keishashadow]

a hotel for $25? offsite or not, that's a low price...where & what rate may I ask?

buy the power pass, you can pay to upgrade it if you decide to re-visit during the blackout dates.

 

[elaine amj]

a hotel for $25? offsite or not, that's a low price...where & what rate may I ask?

buy the power pass, you can pay to upgrade it if you decide to re-visit during the blackout dates.

it was a specific promo that I booked on Cyber Monday with Orbitz. it only lasted a few hours and offered $100 any booking over $100. I did luck out with this one
It is right next door (walking distance) to Universal. This will be most convenient for me as I plan to cab from the airport and I don't want to use a vehicle while I am there.Its nothing fancy - sounds very basic. But location and price was key for us here since I much prefer to be walking distance to Universal.
Floridian Express International Drive (Formerly: Orlando Metropolitan Express)

I just looked up the price I paid again and it's even less - $15 plus a $5 resort fee. I used the same promo for my Hard Rock Hotel stay for $256.

 

[damo]

it was a specific promo that I booked on Cyber Monday with Orbitz. it only lasted a few hours and offered $100 any booking over $100. I did luck out with this one
It is right next door (walking distance) to Universal. This will be most convenient for me as I plan to cab from the airport and I don't want to use a vehicle while I am there.Its nothing fancy - sounds very basic. But location and price was key for us here since I much prefer to be walking distance to Universal.
Floridian Express International Drive (Formerly: Orlando Metropolitan Express)

I just looked up the price I paid again and it's even less - $15 plus a $5 resort fee. I used the same promo for my Hard Rock Hotel stay for $256.

Trip advisor reports are kind of scary for that place. It is about a miles from the hotel to the park gates, so don't expect it to be right next door. Good to be prepared!

 

[elaine amj]

Trip advisor reports are kind of scary for that place. It is about a miles from the hotel to the park gates, so don't expect it to be right next door. Good to be prepared!

Thanks like you said - lots of scary Tripadvisor reviews for the place. I sorted through a whole bunch of reviews and photos (always so much drama on Tripadvisor!) and it would appear that overall, it is a basic motel that is generally clean and recently refurbished. Service is so-so, and breakfast food isn't replenished through the morning very well. Several reports of incorrect credit card charges so I think I will use my prepaid credit card just to be on the safe side. I just plan to crash for the night and spend the rest of our time at Universal so overall, I think it will be fine for our needs. We are no stranger to basic accommodations.

As for tickets, my plan is to buy the 2+2 tickets from Workingadvantage.com for $173 (I am surprised that this is absolute cheapest price we have found anywhere). I will only be there for 3 days but I figure I might as well get the 4 day as it is the same price as the 3 day. Then while there, I will check into the price to upgrade all 4 tickets to Power Pass. At worst, it should be $41 pp to upgrade it. if we like Universal Studios, we will likely bite the bullet and pay for it. Hopefully, Universal will price bridge those tickets and we can upgrade to Power Pass for free (as some have reported).

The question we are still considering is if it will be worth upgrading to Preferred for 1 or more of us. The extra perks look like:
- Free parking (we may use this for future trips but not for this one. If we stay off-site, this may be helpful)
- Ticket discount; not sure if this will be helpful as we will already have tickets for all 4 of us.
- Food discounts; We already have AAA and Amex for get food discounts anyway.
- 365 day access; this is the key. We are considering a Christmas trip and would be hit with blackout dates.

My understanding is if we return during a blackout period, we can just upgrade our Power Passes to Preferred Passes (can't seem to find out what the cost would be). I imagine we can do this somewhere outside the gates (like Citywalk).

Based on all this, I can't see any reason not to stick with a Power Pass upgrade and consider Preferred Pass upgrade during a future trip if it meets our needs.

 

[damo]

We upgraded from some loyalty tickets to an AP and they did bridge the tickets. However, with the 2 plus 2, they might just give you value for the 2 and not the 4 to put towards your AP. It is all computerized at Guest Services. They just scan your ticket and the upgrade price comes up.

 

[elaine amj]

We upgraded from some loyalty tickets to an AP and they did bridge the tickets. However, with the 2 plus 2, they might just give you value for the 2 and not the 4 to put towards your AP. It is all computerized at Guest Services. They just scan your ticket and the upgrade price comes up.

Great to know. Sigh - I love to obsessively know everything down to the last detail. I guess this is one of those things we will have to play by ear. Thankfully our plans are quite loose so we will see how it all goes. If it is only a tiny amount to upgrade, we might just do it. We could manage a quick September overnight trip and maybe a trip during Christmas week.

 

[elaine amj]

Well - I did it. I bought four 4-day park to park passes on a gamble that I will upgrade to the Power Pass. It cost about $70 more total for the 4 of us than the 2+1 day pass. I ended up buying the passes on Cheaptickets - with the cashback from ebates, it worked out a little cheaper than Undercover Tourist. I'll find out what the actual upgrade price is when I get to the park since apparently it's hard to figure it out ahead of time. Guess it's time to work a few more Universal trips into the plans for the year.

 

[johde]

We upgraded from some loyalty tickets to an AP and they did bridge the tickets. However, with the 2 plus 2, they might just give you value for the 2 and not the 4 to put towards your AP. It is all computerized at Guest Services. They just scan your ticket and the upgrade price comes up.

The question seems to be whether free days are an official Universal thing or a "marketing gimmick" of the company selling the ticket. The tickets I purchased for Best of Orlando were listed as 4 day (2 days + 2 free). When I got to Universal I got 4 day tickets and they were upgraded like 4 day tickets although she did need to go to the back so I don't know if there was initially an issue or not. The 2 day + 1 free currently on the Universal site seems to be like you said, valued like a 2 day ticket.

 

[tstidm1]

You don't have to get Power Passes for all three folks. Only one of your group has to buy Power Pass to get the Annual Pass discount on Hotel rooms. If your saving more than $50 on the hotel rooms, that instantly offsets the cost of the Power Pass. I've stayed at a $60 a night room and ended up with Bed Bugs in my house when I came back. I'm more careful about those things and take reviews more seriously because of it.

 

[2forMe]

From what I understand there are 2 types of buy 2 get 1 free on mousesavers. One has an expiry date of June 2015 and those, I believe, count as 2 days when upgrading. The other non expiring, which costs a few $ more, counts as 3 days when upgrading.

I am not sure about the 2+2 day tickets.

 

[elaine amj]

From what I understand there are 2 types of buy 2 get 1 free on mousesavers. One has an expiry date of June 2015 and those, I believe, count as 2 days when upgrading. The other non expiring, which costs a few $ more, counts as 3 days when upgrading.

I am not sure about the 2+2 day tickets.

I found more additional fees hidden into the 2+2 tickets so I ended up buying a proper 4 day ticket from Cheaptickets. With the cashback from eBates, it ended up working out best (although a little more than the 2+1 tickets from UT which was only $173.99). So I will find out in May how much the upgrade to Power Passes would be.

The big question is whether they will use the price I paid ($205/ticket) to upgrade or whether they will bridge it to the current gate price ($215.99). Either way it won't be too much difference I suppose.

You don't have to get Power Passes for all three folks. Only one of your group has to buy Power Pass to get the Annual Pass discount on Hotel rooms.

I want all 4 as I'm looking for Power Passes to return for future trips as I already have a good discount on the HRH so don't need the hotel discount this time.