A year at Universal?

[CaliforniaAdventurer]

With Transformers and the Potter expansion, I'm considering buying an annual pass to Universal next year.

Universal Orlando's annual Preferred Pass for Florida residents:

• $234
• Free parking
• Discounted food, merchandise, theme park tickets, hotel stays, and admission to special events
• No block out dates
• A year of unlimited admission to two theme parks

But I'm tempted to buy WDW's seasonal pass, which has around 100 blackout dates during peak periods (including all of July and most of June and August) and is a bit more expensive at $318. It offers significantly less discounts than Universal's pass and does not include parking, but there is of course more theme parks and attractions to enjoy at WDW. There's also more to do and discover that doesn't revolve around rides at parks like Animal Kingdom and Epcot, whereas Universal's parks are mostly all about rides, and there's less rides to begin with. Been there, done that when it comes to all 6 parks in question, but there's more new attractions to see at Universal in 2014.

Has anyone had either annual pass? Which would you buy?

 

[truck1]

We have both. We have the Preferred from US, and the AP from Disney that does not have the block out dates. We do the flex pay, and the way we look at it is that if you use Disneys AP about 5 or 6 times, its paid for itself.Same with US except its 3 times.

 

[kneedeep]

We have alternated US/IOA and WDW passes. By the time we switch passes, there have usually been new attractions/updates that keep things interesting.

 

[Metro West]

I'm not too much of a Disney fan anymore...I let my Disney AP expire several years ago and have not been back. I keep my Universal AP because of the discounts and special events like Mardi Gras and Halloween Horror Nights. Plus the renewal rate is under $200 for the year.

 

[Herbie]

We currently have US/IOA passes, and just left our Disney ones expire. Frankly, we always thought it would be awesome to actually live in Florida and get Disney passes....well, we do and we did. Yes we enjoyed our disney time, but i never imagined that after a year we would be "over it". Disney is just busy all the time, and a bit of a hassle. We are now trying US/Ioa, and quite frankly loving it......why?
1) its much easier to do in a weekend. far less hassle getting in and out of the parks.
2) no where near as busy...strollers and ECV's are non existant compared to disney
3) the passes are WAY less expensive, and we dont feel like we have to go every weekend to make the passes pay off.
4) quite frankly, i think the people visiting US/IOA are nicer.

 

[bumbershoot]

I live all the way across the country, and this year we have PAPs for WDW and have continued our Preferred APs for UO. And we don't get the benefit of FL resident prices (though the PAP happened because of the amazing end-of-year special DVC offered owners).

If I lived there, you bet I'd have APs for both...

My cousins live there, and right now they have let their WDW passes slip because they are focusing on UO. Alas they didn't realize how much they would love UO and just got the Power Passes, so don't have parking included. To upgrade means to lose their Flex Pay and pay everything at all once, which they aren't willing to do, so they are paying parking each time.

 

[torinsmom]

We live in NC and get the Universal AP every two years. We use one for at least two trips and it more than pays for itself. Then the next summer when we go again, we do it again for the next year. This year, we plan to do at least 3 trips and catch Rock the Universe in September.

 

[CaliforniaAdventurer]

Universal Orlando markets itself as having "over 25 of the world's most amazing rides and attractions." So after about 3 days at Universal, do you really feel the need to go back throughout the year for the same 25 rides and attractions? Do the AP discounts, perks, and special events make it worth it despite this? Magic Kingdom alone has 40 rides and attractions. I'm guessing it takes a lot longer for the novelty to wear off at Disney, then, where there are (edit) more themed areas and experiences to enjoy outside of rides (especially at Epcot and Animal Kingdom).

 

[damo]

Universal Orlando markets itself as having "over 25 of the world's most amazing rides and attractions." So after about 3 days at Universal, do you really feel the need to go back throughout the year for the same 25 rides and attractions? Do the AP discounts, perks, and special events make it worth it despite this? Magic Kingdom alone has 40 rides and attractions. I'm guessing it takes a lot longer for the novelty to wear off at Disney, then, where there are also themed areas and experiences to enjoy outside of rides (especially at Epcot and Animal Kingdom).

It all depends on what kind of rides and attractions you like. I find that there are only a handful of rides at MK that I am drawn to, and only a couple at each of the other 3 parks, much fewer than at UO.

It is very much a personal preference.

Also, the next 5 years will see many new rides at UO where at WDW there really aren't many new attractions planned.

 

[bumbershoot]

Universal Orlando markets itself as having "over 25 of the world's most amazing rides and attractions." So after about 3 days at Universal, do you really feel the need to go back throughout the year for the same 25 rides and attractions? Do the AP discounts, perks, and special events make it worth it despite this? Magic Kingdom alone has 40 rides and attractions. I'm guessing it takes a lot longer for the novelty to wear off at Disney, then, where there are also themed areas and experiences to enjoy outside of rides (especially at Epcot and Animal Kingdom).

You *know* that there are plenty of people out there who buy and use annual passes. So I don't understand the question. YES we "feel the need" to go back again and again. It's a heck of a lot of FUN. 3 days is just getting started, for us. Alas we haven't yet been to Universal for more than 4 or 5 days, but that'll come in time.

where there are also themed areas and experiences to enjoy outside of rides

Have you yet been to Universal, especially Islands of Adventure? If so, how can you basically say that there are no themed areas or experiences to enjoy outside of rides? I love just BEING in Islands of Adventure, even without doing anything. Just standing or sitting, listening and looking.

 

[CaliforniaAdventurer]

You *know* that there are plenty of people out there who buy and use annual passes. So I don't understand the question. YES we "feel the need" to go back again and again. It's a heck of a lot of FUN. 3 days is just getting started, for us. Alas we haven't yet been to Universal for more than 4 or 5 days, but that'll come in time.

Have you yet been to Universal, especially Islands of Adventure? If so, how can you basically say that there are no themed areas or experiences to enjoy outside of rides? I love just BEING in Islands of Adventure, even without doing anything. Just standing or sitting, listening and looking.

(previous post edited for clarification)

Several people with annual passes (including on this thread) talk of getting sick of it after so many visits. That might not be a possibility for the most committed theme park zealots but it's a legitimate question.

 

[Bluer101]

Yep, we feel the need to keep going back. We just returned from 9 days onsite. We only left to Seaworld one day. We make at-least 6 trips a year.

It's not about riding the same rides over and over but the whole resort experience.

 

[atricks]

We too had disney passes and let them expire, we had the 100 day pass last year, but got nothing this year (we did have a cast member friend that let us in to check out New Fantasyland), nainly because Disney isn't really adding all that much new. (We did go to Disneyland and California adventure this year)

Universal, on the other hand, is just adding so much right now (and major things at that), there's virtually something new every time we go, and the team members general excitement seems to mirror that (The Transformers ops were on fire the few times we went) The simpsons area, when finished, is going to be a cool hangout spot (It already became the best counter service in either park with the food blvd area that has some really unique stuff). The hotels have stuff going on too, Portofino has some nice events and Hard Rock Hotel has Velvet Sessions the last thursday of every month.

The events like Mardi Gras (which between the concerts, parade, which gets changed up every year some, and the food area is pretty nice), Christmas Concerts, and Horror Nights (which is quite different every year) make it worth it.

We still love Disney, but the value just isn't there for locals right now, I hope that'll change. Universal is undergoing a change that likely will rival or surpass the California Adventure redo.

 

[DOOM1001]

I have the Universal Preferred AP,the Disney Seasonal pass and the Busch/Sea World Platinum pass,I couldn't live without all of them.Also remember there are discounts on those prices when it's time to renew them a year later.The only one I pay all at once for the year is the Universal pass (which I just renewed yesterday,$159,$171 with tax),the Disney Seasonal and the Sea World/Busch Platinum pass I pay monthly.The good thing about doing the EZ Pay with the Sea World/Busch Platinum pass is they don't raise how much you pay monthly even if the price of the pass increases,I'm paying like 2002 prices.

 

[DOOM1001]

Universal Orlando markets itself as having "over 25 of the world's most amazing rides and attractions." So after about 3 days at Universal, do you really feel the need to go back throughout the year for the same 25 rides and attractions? Do the AP discounts, perks, and special events make it worth it despite this? Magic Kingdom alone has 40 rides and attractions. I'm guessing it takes a lot longer for the novelty to wear off at Disney, then, where there are (edit) more themed areas and experiences to enjoy outside of rides (especially at Epcot and Animal Kingdom).

This is why I have I have passes for all the parks in the area except Legoland,I can guarantee you I will never get tired of going to the parks.I mean I pretty much have my year lined up to include the special events at the parks,for example I'll do my trips done or scheduled for this year.If I was a local I would be there constantly but living in Miami I always schedule around the special events.

Jan. Ran the Disney marathon,along with a few days at Disney

Feb. Bands,Brew and BBQ at Sea World,Mardi Gras at Universal and a day at Disney.Beach Boys,Styx,Steve Miller band in concert.

Mar. Another early March trip to Bands,Brew and BBQ in Sea World and Busch Gardens and Mardi Gras.Concerts were Hermans Hermits,Hall and Oates,Demi Lovato and Goo Goo Dolls.

April Did Disney for Flower and Garden and Universal for Mardi Gras.Concerts were Village People and All American Rejects

June went two weeks ago to Universal,Sea World and Aquatica.Rode the new Transformers and Antarctica rides,went to Aquatica even though rain cut our day short and saw Earth Wind and Fire in concert.

July-Sept no scheduled trips but you never know,might only do our closest waterpark in Palm Beach

October early October trip to run Tower of Terror ten mile race and for Food and Wine.Concerts scheduled for trip are Air Supply and Sister Hazel

October mid October trip for Food and Wine and Halloween Horror Nights.Likely concerts at F&W are Wilson Phillips and Pointer Sisters

Dec. Usually early December trip to all the Disney and Universal parks,some years I'll do Sea World as well,probably will this year as they had good Christmas events last year.Busch Gardens also has a new event but it's a hard Ticket event,Not likely to have time for it but it looks good.

 

[PrincessV]

Right now, I have the US FL resident AP and the WDW PAP - but I only have the PAP because it was a better price than renewing my regular WDW AP (one-time DVC special price.) I plan to downgrade to the FL Seasonal Pass for WDW when my PAP expires.

For us (me and my 11yo son), neither IOA nor US is a full-day park. In fact, if we get there at park opening, or near to it, we're done within a couple hours. I wish they were full-day parks, because I frankly find US to be far more guest-friendly than WDW lately! But since they aren't and it's a 2-hour drive to get there, we'll keep some sort of WDW pass for the foreseeable future.

Still, we go to US/IOA often enough that the annual pass makes good sense, even if we don't spend a lot of time there per visit, KWIM?

 

[2girlsmom]

I too have platinum pass for SW/BG parks, Preferred for US/IOA, and Disney passes. We keep my husband with the full AP at Disney so we get the free parking, the girls and I have the seasonal. We have all on EZ pay (well, not the kids' US passes, my sister works for US and gets their passes through their charity fundraiser and give them as their christmas presents). We are in Tampa, so close enough to go with some frequency, and my sister lives there, so we can and do stay some of the time with her when we go up for an extended visit. This year we went in Feb to SeaWorld and Universal, we went in March to AK, SW and IOA, in April we went to Epcot and HS, in May we went twice, first to Epcot and Seaworld, second trip was MK, HS, and USF. Went in June over Father's Day and ONLY went to USF/IOA. We have also been to Busch Gardens 4 times this year and Adventure Island twice. Next trip to Orlando will be SeaWorld, Aquatica and Universal parks.

 

[CaliforniaAdventurer]

The same hotel discount they're offering to annual passholders is available to any Florida resident without an AP

 

[Metro West]

The same hotel discount they're offering to annual passholders is available to any Florida resident without an AP

Florida resident rates do not require an AP...only a FL state issued ID. Sometimes they are the same but sometimes...like on HHN tickets...the AP discount is much better.

 

[Misha5454]

This is why I have I have passes for all the parks in the area except Legoland,I can guarantee you I will never get tired of going to the parks.I mean I pretty much have my year lined up to include the special events at the parks,for example I'll do my trips done or scheduled for this year.If I was a local I would be there constantly but living in Miami I always schedule around the special events.

Jan. Ran the Disney marathon,along with a few days at Disney

Feb. Bands,Brew and BBQ at Sea World,Mardi Gras at Universal and a day at Disney.Beach Boys,Styx,Steve Miller band in concert.

Mar. Another early March trip to Bands,Brew and BBQ in Sea World and Busch Gardens and Mardi Gras.Concerts were Hermans Hermits,Hall and Oates,Demi Lovato and Goo Goo Dolls.

April Did Disney for Flower and Garden and Universal for Mardi Gras.Concerts were Village People and All American Rejects

June went two weeks ago to Universal,Sea World and Aquatica.Rode the new Transformers and Antarctica rides,went to Aquatica even though rain cut our day short and saw Earth Wind and Fire in concert.

July-Sept no scheduled trips but you never know,might only do our closest waterpark in Palm Beach

October early October trip to run Tower of Terror ten mile race and for Food and Wine.Concerts scheduled for trip are Air Supply and Sister Hazel

October mid October trip for Food and Wine and Halloween Horror Nights.Likely concerts at F&W are Wilson Phillips and Pointer Sisters

Dec. Usually early December trip to all the Disney and Universal parks,some years I'll do Sea World as well,probably will this year as they had good Christmas events last year.Busch Gardens also has a new event but it's a hard Ticket event,Not likely to have time for it but it looks good.

Now that's what I call getting your bang for your buck. I really love how you use the events to determine how to maximize your passes . I currently have 2 passes, SeaWorld/Aquatica and Disneyworld Seasonal passes. In few weeks I will be adding USF/IOA annual passes too. Still trying to decide if I want the premier of preferred one's. For my passes that I have I opted for the payment plans on both and between both passes only paying less than $200 a month with no interest. Since I paid of my SUV which was a staggering $700 a month . I still come out ahead, I also live only 2 hours away in Palm Beach, so getting to the parks is very easy. A lot times I plan last minute spare of the moment trips.