2 day + 2 day free ticket blackout dates?

[bbeagle]

Universal says that I can buy the 2 day + 2 day free tickets up until December 17. And I can use the tickets for up to 4 days in a 7 day period.

December 18-31 are blackout dates.

Does this mean I can select the ticket for December 17, then go to the parks for 4 days: Dec 19, 20, 21, 22?

Or Can I only use it December 17, then it expires, since December 18-31 are blackout dates? It seems confusing. This is what is written on Undercover Tourist:

 

[ruthies12]

I don't know, that would seem risky to me. I would call and ask someone over the phone. I'd hate to show up at the park in the morning ready to go and be told my ticket wasn't valid, that would suck.

 

[sami66]

Hi OP!
Curious as to whether you got an answer to your question.

 

[starry_solo]

You can’t use it on blackout days so if you go December 17th, you’re done.

 

[sami66]

You can’t use it on blackout days so if you go December 17th, you’re done.

As long as you activate it on December 17th you’re ok!

Found this on Universal site:
“Pricing is determined by the first date of your visit. Unavailable dates are not valid for first day of visit. If 7-day use period falls within dates showing unavailable, you can still use them to visit days 2-4 of your ticket.
Once first date of visit is selected, ticket use is valid for any four (4) calendar days during a seven (7) consecutive calendar day period which commences on and includes the date selected.”

 

[starry_solo]

As long as you activate it on December 17th you’re ok!

Found this on Universal site:
“Pricing is determined by the first date of your visit. Unavailable dates are not valid for first day of visit. If 7-day use period falls within dates showing unavailable, you can still use them to visit days 2-4 of your ticket.
Once first date of visit is selected, ticket use is valid for any four (4) calendar days during a seven (7) consecutive calendar day period which commences on and includes the date selected.”

Dates showing as unavailable is different than blackout dates.
However, what is really odd is that the information from the original post doesn't show on USO's website, at least not easily.

 

[sami66]

Yes, OP is talking unavailable dates not blackout.
I found the info when putting in order to buy tickets. Calendar comes up to choose your start date and the message comes up that I posted.
I think that OP posted message from another website.
Perhaps undercover tourist?

 

[Minnie1222]

Does this mean I can select the ticket for December 17, then go to the parks for 4 days: Dec 19, 20, 21, 22?

When you select Dec 17, this will be considered Day 1. Your ticket then expires on Dec 23 (Day 7). The ticket can be used for any 4 days within this period, but your first park day must be the 17th.

So if you choose Dec 17 as the start date, you can go to the parks on 17, 19, 20, and 21. Not 22.

If you want to go on 22, then you need to drop either 19, 20, or 21.

 

[sami66]

When you select Dec 17, this will be considered Day 1. Your ticket then expires on Dec 23 (Day 7). The ticket can be used for any 4 days within this period, but your first park day must be the 17th.

So if you choose Dec 17 as the start date, you can go to the parks on 17, 19, 20, and 21. Not 22.

If you want to go on 22, then you need to drop either 19, 20, or 21.

Correct!

 

[bbeagle]

Hi OP!
Curious as to whether you got an answer to your question.

I tried calling Universal twice in the past few days. Both times were long waits on hold, and I gave up after 40 minutes each time.

And right now, it's a bad time to call them because of the Hurricane Nicole coming through. I'll wait until next week to try to call again.

I might just buy a regular 4-day ticket instead of the 2-day + 2-day free. It's only about $30 more per person, has no blackouts, and would ease any worries.

 

[sami66]

Save your money! Universal’s explanation is clear. Just choose an available date as your first park day.

“Unavailable dates are not valid for first day of visit. If 7-day use period falls within dates showing unavailable, you can still use them to visit days 2-4 of your ticket.”

 

[musika]

For what it's worth I am not loving this promo. It's not really saving me 2 days "free" when the price is jacked for that promo. For my dates I really only save $50 pp over the cost of the regular 4 day ticket.

 

[bbeagle]

Save your money! Universal’s explanation is clear. Just choose an available date as your first park day.

“Unavailable dates are not valid for first day of visit. If 7-day use period falls within dates showing unavailable, you can still use them to visit days 2-4 of your ticket.”

We're not going until December 19. We'll be in Disney December 17. Plans that can't change.

Just 'checking in' to the Universal parks would cause us to lose a couple of hours plus $30 parking fees. So is $60 ($15 saved per person) worth 2-3 hours of our time wasted on our vacation? And in effect, would make these tickets 3-day tickets? I don't think so.

So, if the tickets require us to go 'Day 1', we can't.

We will choose the 4-day 4-park option (not the special) starting December 17, which is cheaper than 'starting' after December 17.

 

[Minnie1222]

We're not going until December 19. We'll be in Disney December 17. Plans that can't change.

We will choose the 4-day 4-park option (not the special) starting December 17, which is cheaper than 'starting' after December 17.

To clarify, you're going to buy a 4-day regular ticket with the start date of Dec 17, and planning to go on 19, 20, 21, and 22 as mentioned in a previous post?

If you choose 17 as your start day, this will be your Day 1 regardless of whether you show or not. You then only have 3 days left on your ticket.

Yes, you can ask at arrival to have 19 become your Day 1, but then you will be charged for the difference in starting date, which you already know won't be cheaper.

 

[bbeagle]

To clarify, you're going to buy a 4-day regular ticket with the start date of Dec 17, and planning to go on 19, 20, 21, and 22 as mentioned in a previous post?

If you choose 17 as your start day, this will be your Day 1 regardless of whether you show or not. You then only have 3 days left on your ticket.

Yes, you can ask at arrival to have 19 become your Day 1, but then you will be charged for the difference in starting date, which you already know won't be cheaper.

Why? Disney tickets don’t work that way. You don’t have to go on your first day.
Nothing I see on the Universal site says I have to go the first day either. All it says is:

'Get four days total. Visit both parks each day. Valid for any four (4) calendar days during a seven (7) consecutive calendar day period which commences on and includes the date selected.'

it doesn’t say I must go day 1.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Why? Disney tickets don’t work that way. You don’t have to go on your first day.
Nothing I see on the Universal site says I have to go the first day either. All it says is:

'Get four days total. Visit both parks each day. Valid for any four (4) calendar days during a seven (7) consecutive calendar day period which commences on and includes the date selected.'

it doesn’t say I must go day 1.

The key part is "which commences on and includes the date selected"

If you view the details of the ticket it says the same thing. The whole point of the date based tickets is for this reason. You get to choose which date you want the tickets to start as, this is the same promo or no promo.

I'd def. call again next week to get confirmation on this, just so you have the peace of mind.

 

[bbeagle]

I'd def. call again next week to get confirmation on this, just so you have the peace of mind.

yeah, I’m definitely going to call Universal after this hurricane goes away to figure this out.

'commences' to me, means the week starts. If I have a ticket which commences on a Sunday, and is valid until Saturday…. And I can use any 4 days in that 7 day period, I would think any does not mean that I must go on Sunday… that’s my interpretation.

Because that’s Disney's interpretation too.

But I'll call and confirm, and let this thread know when I do.

 

[Windbreeze]

I’m in the exact same scenario (visiting starting on 12/19), and called to check before buying. The rep confirmed it was any four days within the window. Plus, when you add the tickets to the Universal site, it also states in the wallet, “valid any four days from 12/17-12/23.”

 

[Minnie1222]

What is the point of disclosing "which commences (begins) on  and includes the date selected" if we can choose any random dates during the 7 day period?

They should just say "the ticket is good for a week from your start date, choose any 4 days you want".

Oh well!

 

[SCSabresfan]

I emailed them about this exact same question for an upcoming trip. There email response stated:
"With the Buy 2 Days, Get 2 Days Free Promotional Ticket Offer, the ticket is valid for any four (4) calendar days during a seven (7) consecutive calendar day period, which commences on and includes the date selected. If you indicated the date of 01/22/2023 as the start date, the four (4) days of admission would be valid for any four (4) days between 01/22/2023 and 01/28/2023; your parents would not have to enter the park on 01/22/2023 if they choose not to."