Annual Pass Changes???

[Mom2Stitch]

Oh, no! Just when I'm about to arrive this change will be happening. I wonder how much more this is going to cost me.

We are also there in just 5 days, I went ahead and bought our Power Passes this morning just in case of a price increase. I have my room booked with an APH discount, so also didn't want to chance losing that. My guess is that if they are adding perks to the Power Pass they will also increase what it costs. I would think(hope) that they will honor the pass I purchased and not charge more when I get there. I admit that I was a bad puppy and didn't read the terms and conditions so I guess it's possible they would have that right.

 

[avic77]

I went ahead and ordered too. We get a Comcast employee discount on Annual passes. I bought 4 power passes and hope that if they add a lower tier the current power pass will be the 2nd tier not the bottom one. I am fine with black out dates as we do not go on vacation during peak times. I just dont want a price increase as I have already planned my budget!

I was planning to upgrade to the Preferred next week. Will wait and see what the details are.
It sounds like the following:
Premium - same
Preferred - same
Power - blocking summer and adding free parking
Seasonal - Blocking summer, spring and xmas

My guess is that the "new" bottom tier will be close to the current Power Pass cost and each of the others will increase in price. No matter what i expect prices to increase! When do they ever decrease?

 

[tinkerone]

I called this morning and bought 2 preferred passes which I will not be using until November. My question to them was, if the prices go up will I be charged more later. Answer was no, the price is set in stone even if they go up. The purchase has been made.
The other thing I wanted clarified was that if I purchase it today but don't go till November when does my year start and he was able to confirm for me that my year would not start until my first visit, which will be in November.

I knew I was going to purchase it anyways so might as well buy it in case the price does go up. Better safe than sorry.

 

[squirrel]

We are also there in just 5 days, I went ahead and bought our Power Passes this morning just in case of a price increase. I have my room booked with an APH discount, so also didn't want to chance losing that. My guess is that if they are adding perks to the Power Pass they will also increase what it costs. I would think(hope) that they will honor the pass I purchased and not charge more when I get there. I admit that I was a bad puppy and didn't read the terms and conditions so I guess it's possible they would have that right.

Unfortunately for me I am upgrading a ticket that I already have, so I have to wait until I arrive.

 

[Mom2Stitch]

Unfortunately for me I am upgrading a ticket that I already have, so I have to wait until I arrive.

Well boo on that....fingers crossed for you that you get to upgrade prior to the change!

 

[pigletto]

All of the passes are still a steal if you ask me, theyre easily undervalued, I wouldnt be suprised at a price increase, especially given the disparity in pricing with Disney AP's

I think they are a decent price..and Disney AP's are ridiculous.

 

[keishashadow]

RE power pass - If they're going to permanently eliminate the summer blackout dates and give free parking (along with the hotel APH rates), they're going to jack that price waaay up IMO.

I honestly don't get the wisdom of the power pass being eligible for the APH rates as it now stands as to the substantial pricing difference between the preferred pass. APH rates for dates I've checked have not been as substantially as 'good' last year or so and they seem to be in shorter supply. Not sure if others have experienced the same thing or not.

I have a WDW gold pass, wish I could qualify for the Silver (FL res only). Wondering if U will be following the same sort of pricing structure, additionally having the lower category with summer black out only for residents.

If I buy a preferred pass today, will it include access to the waterpark opening in 2017? What about the preferred pass after the changes? I was planning on buying a power pass for me and a preferred pass for my husband for our early December trip. Now I'm trying to decide if I should buy now to avoid a price increase or wait and hope they don't increase too much.

I'd like to think those who have valid preferred passes (especially if long-time AP holders who renewed based upon what was available at the time they did), would be grand-fathered into whatever benefits given to the 'new' APs

I called this morning and bought 2 preferred passes which I will not be using until November. My question to them was, if the prices go up will I be charged more later. Answer was no, the price is set in stone even if they go up. The purchase has been made.
The other thing I wanted clarified was that if I purchase it today but don't go till November when does my year start and he was able to confirm for me that my year would not start until my first visit, which will be in November.

I knew I was going to purchase it anyways so might as well buy it in case the price does go up. Better safe than sorry.

Yes, that's how it has traditionally worked out at both U & WDW

Unfortunately for me I am upgrading a ticket that I already have, so I have to wait until I arrive.

If it's non-expiring you could hang onto it and apply to renewal next year or just use as regular ticket. Akin to $ in the bank based upon the % tix increase vs what you could earn in a bank IMO.

 

[klacey1]

Ugh!! And I just spent $400 on Disneyland tickets today. Welp, I don't want to risk an increase before my September trip. There's more money out of my pocket to the theme park industry!

I do agree with PP, though, that Universal APs are a phenomenal value! I am happily repurchasing!

 

[squirrel]

If it's non-expiring you could hang onto it and apply to renewal next year or just use as regular ticket. Akin to $ in the bank based upon the % tix increase vs what you could earn in a bank IMO.

It is a non-expiring ticket but I already plan to take the oldest niece next year, just two weeks earlier than this trip to get two uses from the AP. I bought the Sea World/Aquatica AP to go with it and then an Orlando Flex Ticket for the younger niece.

 

[keishashadow]

It is a non-expiring ticket but I already plan to take the oldest niece next year, just two weeks earlier than this trip to get two uses from the AP. I bought the Sea World/Aquatica AP to go with it and then an Orlando Flex Ticket for the younger niece.

If from UT, believe they still take returns less the restocking fee if not opened out of plastic.

Sure wouldn't want to be the person who put it out on the blog prematurely.

Do wish I could find a screen shot of it lol

Did find this article

http://www.fool.com/investing/2016/08/30/is-universal-orlando-repeating-disney-worlds-mista.aspx

Interesting comment:

The premature post detailed a new "seasonal pass" that would have more restrictive blackout dates than the Power Pass. There was no pricing spelled out in the post, but it's worth noting that when Disney(NYSEIS)expanded its offerings late last year -- also expanding the number of pass tiers with blackout periods -- it did so with a significant price increase.

 

[damo]

If from UT, believe they still take returns less the restocking fee if not opened out of plastic.

Sure wouldn't want to be the person who put it out on the blog prematurely.

Do wish I could find a screen shot of it lol

Did find this article

http://www.fool.com/investing/2016/08/30/is-universal-orlando-repeating-disney-worlds-mista.aspx

Interesting comment:

The premature post detailed a new "seasonal pass" that would have more restrictive blackout dates than the Power Pass. There was no pricing spelled out in the post, but it's worth noting that when Disney(NYSEIS)expanded its offerings late last year -- also expanding the number of pass tiers with blackout periods -- it did so with a significant price increase.

And WDW has had an attendance drop since then....so hopefully Universal sees that.

 

[squirrel]

No mine is an old 7-day Airmile ticket.

 

[Mom3girls]

Can someone please tell me what the original blackout dates were for the power pass this year? Before they lifted the summer dates?

 

[damo]

Changes are here:

https://www.universalorlando.com/Theme-Park-Tickets/Annual-Passes/Non-FL-Annual-Passes.aspx

All passes still give you hotel discounts.


Seasonal pass is up $30 from the old power pass and summer (mid June to mid August, spring break and Christmas are blocked.

Power pass is up $90 and includes 50% off parking and summer not blocked but Spring Break and Christmas are.

Preferred is up $40 and gets early admission.

Premier is up $40

 

[Rash]

Whew! Just got in under the wire. Bought 4 Preferred passes last night around 10 pm. Today they are each $40 more, so saved $160. Thanks OP for posting this!

 

[tony67]

Changes are here:

https://www.universalorlando.com/Theme-Park-Tickets/Annual-Passes/Non-FL-Annual-Passes.aspx


Seasonal pass is up $30 from the old power pass and summer (mid June to mid August, spring break and Christmas are blocked.

Power pass is up $90 and includes 50% off parking and summer not blocked but Spring Break and Christmas are.

Preferred is up $40 and gets early admission.

Premier is up $40

Was expecting the seasonal pass to be a bit less...and the powerpass did go up more than I expected.
I guess I'm in the should've bought yesterday camp...damn

 

[kbelle8995]

I renewed my preferred pass in August now I am glad I did. The price increase I had wasn't great. But when I consider what I would pay for this at Disney, I feel much better. Even with the price increase Universal AP's is a deal.

And one more week and I will be in the parks. So excited.

 

[winstoda]

Fair to assume UT tickets can still be upgraded to passes in this new scheme? At greater cost of course...

Assuming that's the case, by my math the UT route still saves about $40 for an adult upgrading to the 'new' PowerPass versus buying the pass from Universal... Obviously more than it was but fewer blackouts and half-price parking.

 

[Starshine]

I just renewed our Power Passes online and they renewed at $10 more than last year, with no mention of the seasonal pass. They must not have updated the renewal site with the new tiers yet, sounds like I got lucky.

 

[only hope]

I don't think Universal passes are a deal. They aren't outrageous like Disney is now, but they are pretty expensive. Florida resident speaking here. Annual passes (and one day ticket) prices for Disney and Universal have increased a lot over the past decade.

We have flexpay. Do those rates go up to the current pricing once your initial contract is over?