A bit annoyed, FL resident AP

[ilovefh]

I'm a bit annoyed because we renewed my pass this morning with the expectation to get the 3 months free and they said it was only for new passes. I'd be less annoyed if they would have added that restriction on their ads and the cup from McDonalds. Everything says 3 months free with purchase of ANY 2 park annual pass. Last I checked a renewal fell in that category.

A few years ago when they offered the same type of deal I was able to take advantage of it with a renewal.

I still renewed, but it just annoyed me that this was not posted as a restriction. Or that it wasn't advertised as 3 months free with the purchase of a NEW 2 park annual pass.

 

[Metro West]

I'm a bit annoyed because we renewed my pass this morning with the expectation to get the 3 months free and they said it was only for new passes. I'd be less annoyed if they would have added that restriction on their ads and the cup from McDonalds. Everything says 3 months free with purchase of ANY 2 park annual pass. Last I checked a renewal fell in that category.

The ads I've heard on the radio all stated new passes only...which is the purchase...renewals are not. You've already made your purchase of the AP years ago. I think you lucked out when you were able to renew and get three months...I've never been that lucky. I'm more annoyed that you got three months free and I didn't.

 

[ilovefh]

The ads I've heard on the radio all stated new passes only...which is the purchase...renewals are not. You've already made your purchase of the AP years ago. I think you lucked out when you were able to renew and get three months...I've never been that lucky. I'm more annoyed that you got three months free and I didn't.

I'm looking at the cup from McDonalds with the code and it says on "any" 2 park annual pass. I'm not being snarky, but swiping my card for $170 is a purchase in my opinion. (a good deal, but still a purchase)

The extra 3 months was 2008 or 2009. Before HP for sure!

 

[damo]

When they say "any", I'm sure they mean preferred, premier or power.

 

[PammyK]

When they say "any", I'm sure they mean preferred, premier or power.

Yes, but they should explicitly state new passes only because the word any is a broad enough term that it can justifiably be interpreted to include renewals. Unless perhaps there is a asterisk or and an additional disclaimer somewhere on the cup to clarify that the offer includes NEW passes only.

 

[Metro West]

Yes, but they should explicitly state new passes only because the word any is a broad enough term that it can justifiably be interpreted to include renewals. Unless perhaps there is a asterisk or and an additional disclaimer somewhere on the cup to clarify that the offer includes NEW passes only.

While it might be a "purchase" it's not a new purchase so renewals are not included for the three month extension. I guess I'm having a hard time understanding why this is an issue. I never thought this special included renewals but if renewals were included, they would have said something like "any two park annual pass...including renewals"...but they didn't mention renewals so therefore...renewals are not included. Sorry...I just don't see the confusion.

 

[Bluer101]

I don't get this either. I renew my pass each year, not a purchase. I wouldn't expect a deal on renewal.

The only time I did not renew was when they offered buy one year get the second free a few years back.

 

[ilovefh]

While it might be a "purchase" it's not a new purchase so renewals are not included for the three month extension. I guess I'm having a hard time understanding why this is an issue. I never thought this special included renewals but if renewals were included, they would have said something like "any two park annual pass...including renewals"...but they didn't mention renewals so therefore...renewals are not included. Sorry...I just don't see the confusion.

I think the confusion lies in the fact that we interpret the ad differently.

If the ad says "ANY" pass....

I take that at face value, any pass. I don't assume something is excluded unless it's specifically excluded (as in "not valid for renewals" in the ad) or it's specifically not included ( as in "good only on purchase of new, full price annual pass" in the ad)

You look at it the opposite. You assume it's excluded unless it specifically states it's included, as you said in your post.

 

[PammyK]

I think the confusion lies in the fact that we interpret the ad differently.

If the ad says "ANY" pass....

I take that at face value, any pass. I don't assume something is excluded unless it's specifically excluded (as in "not valid for renewals" in the ad) or it's specifically not included ( as in "good only on purchase of new, full price annual pass" in the ad)

You look at it the opposite. You assume it's excluded unless it specifically states it's included, as you said in your post.

And therein lies the rub. In this conversation we have demonstrated that Universal cannot assume that all their guests and existing passholders will conclude that the offer is valid for new purchases only based on the offer verbiage. By not stating that the extra 3 months offer applies only to the purchase of a NEW 2 Park Annual Pass, excluding renewals, they are leaving themselves open to multiple interpretations and if someone really wanted to push the issue I think they could have a case because no matter what the INTENTION of the offer is, Universal's choice of verbiage could be considered insufficent in conveying that intention.

 

[Metro West]

And therein lies the rub. In this conversation we have demonstrated that Universal cannot assume that all their guests and existing passholders will conclude that the offer is valid for new purchases only based on the offer verbiage. By not stating that the extra 3 months offer applies only to the purchase of a NEW 2 Park Annual Pass, excluding renewals, they are leaving themselves open to multiple interpretations and if someone really wanted to push the issue I think they could have a case because no matter what the INTENTION of the offer is, Universal's choice of verbiage could be considered insufficent in conveying that intention.

Yeah...I'll go along with that logic and you're right...we saw it two different ways and that will probably cause some problems for the folks at Guest Services when they explain renewals are not included.

I think the confusion lies in the fact that we interpret the ad differently.

If the ad says "ANY" pass....

I take that at face value, any pass. I don't assume something is excluded unless it's specifically excluded (as in "not valid for renewals" in the ad) or it's specifically not included ( as in "good only on purchase of new, full price annual pass" in the ad)

You look at it the opposite. You assume it's excluded unless it specifically states it's included, as you said in your post.

Yup...as stated we both read the ad differently.

BTW...did you renew over the phone and they told you or did you go to the park to renew?

 

[ilovefh]

Yeah...I'll go along with that logic and you're right...we saw it two different ways and that will probably cause some problems for the folks at Guest Services when they explain renewals are not included.

Yup...as stated we both read the ad differently.

BTW...did you renew over the phone and they told you or did you go to the park to renew?

At the parks.

 

[Metro West]

At the parks.

Ah OK...just curious.

 

[RayaniFoxmur]

Unfortunately we don't have access to the 15 month passes as renewals in our system. While I agree that the advertisement should be more clear I believe that the reasoning will be that renewals are already at a discount which would be why the 3 free months is not offered.

I reccomend letting guest services know your displeasure or writing a letter to Universal about it. They will never know what things to fix or correct if we don't let them know!

 

[phamton]

So when you expressed your concern during renewal at the parks, did they give you the extra 3 months anyway? They are usually very good at making things right with their guests when there is a misunderstanding.

 

[ilovefh]

So when you expressed your concern during renewal at the parks, did they give you the extra 3 months anyway?

No, but as we were leaving tonight we stopped into guest services. She looked at the website and wasn't able to find where it specified that it was not valid for renewals. She agreed it was confusing. She said she filed a note to the website people to let them know that the website was misleading.

She did add 3 months to my pass which was nice, but not necessary. I just wanted them to know the ad was misleading.

God bless the people who work in guest services! As the woman and I were laughing about the lack of information the woman next to her was being cursed at by another guest. Her manager ended up coming out and ultimately gave him lots of free stuff to make him happy.

 

[phamton]

I'm glad it worked out for you and especially glad that you let them know about the verbiage on the website. The only way they can fix things is if people let them know there is a problem.

 

[DOOM1001]

I remember the first Universal AP I bought with a Burger King promo that was buy an AP get a second year free,this was like 12-13 years ago.If they came out with a deal like this I would just shell out the extra $60-$70 to get that second year free but I really don't see deals like this coming any time soon,Universal's gotten way too popular with Potter.I just renewed mine last month since the pass expired today (July 1),the others in my family are expiring early August so they need to be renewed this month.

This also reminds me of when Disney did their free on your birthday promotion,since we had seasonal passes they basically gave you a credit of a days admission you could use to credit to your pass renewal.Mine worked out fine since it's in October,but my mom's birthday fell on a summer blackout date which in a way kills the promotion as since she can't get in that day the only perk they would give her is to get in free,no days credit available,so she can get in but everyone else in her family who also happen to have seasonal passes can't so she doesn't have to pay for admission but everyone in her party does,it kind of works out kind of lame and not totally fair because you're born on a blackout date.Disney wouldn't budge,we talked to several CM's and a manager and it was going nowhere, eventually we talked to a second manager who did give her the credit to use to renew her pass,but it was not easy.It's not a good situation but the parks are the ones who came up with the promotion and they should probably be a little more lenient in how they handle it.

 

[PammyK]

God bless the people who work in guest services! As the woman and I were laughing about the lack of information the woman next to her was being cursed at by another guest. Her manager ended up coming out and ultimately gave him lots of free stuff to make him happy.

I have to agree with this. And despite the myriad of other frustrations I've experienced with Universal, I have to say that the Guest Services folks, both on the phone and in person at the parks locations, have all been pretty terrific. Citywalk Guest Services has been more hit-or-miss, but I think that is often more a case of poor communication with their partners in the parks.