Annual Pass Changes???

[Toy Story Fan]

This was a second trip to Orlando this year for us. What happened was I bought the Buy 2 get 1 free tickets from Undercover Tourist to give the kids for Christmas with plans for a 2017 trip. Then I found an awesome rate on a flight/car/Cabana Bay package AND it was in Canadian funds which makes a huge difference with the state of our dollar right now.
I convinced DH to move the trip up sooner because we already had tickets and this great package was available. We planned to upgrade our passes to power passes for peanuts and use them again next year.

Then the add ons started.. why not do HHN for two of us? Why not add Express to that so it's actually enjoyable? Why not take younger ds over to MNSSHP, why not stay over at Pop that night so DH and DD don't have to come get us? Then the Dollar tanks some more. Now.. it's going to be more for tickets. At some point you have to stay STOP. Especially given how much it cost for one night at HHN for two people.

Bottom line, we will just get four day tickets, we will spend our other two days enjoying the pools, most of our meals have to be quick service or offsite, and we won't be back in 2017 because we aren't getting AP's. like we planned.

I understand that Universal has added some amazing attractions and I know they have to pay for it somehow, but it feels like both they and Disney have hit my threshold. My vacation budget is stretched thinner and thinner and it's got to give at some point.

I feel your pain!!! We too were going to get annual passes, but now I'm not sure. The last time I exchanged Canadian $ for American, $1000.00 cost me $450!! (March this year, dollar around the same as now). It is getting too costly for us here in Canada to visit the States. We were going to return next year to use the annual pass before it expired, but now that is probably not going to happen.

 

[keishashadow]

I feel your pain!!! We too were going to get annual passes, but now I'm not sure. The last time I exchanged Canadian $ for American, $1000.00 cost me $450!! (March this year, dollar around the same as now). It is getting too costly for us here in Canada to visit the States. We were going to return next year to use the annual pass before it expired, but now that is probably not going to happen.

I remember feeling exactly the same when we crossed out northern border when the exchange rate was 'backwards' and Ca was valued so higher. It got so bad we quit visiting.

I do think the price increases will force many to eliminate 'split trips' and run an AP at one or the other major park.

 

[goNDmay9]

interesting. i just got off the phone with Universal and was told that the "new benefits" are not activated until you renew. AKA - if you have a power pass that you purchased in May, you are not eligible for the 50% off parking until you renew at the new price. She said for preferred, the only benefit missing is the early entry until we renew at the new price. she did mention that they lifted all of the summer black out dates for the power pass though.

not sure how accurate this is - but she had me on hold for a while to check.

 

[macraven]

That makes sense

Until a person activates a renewal on the current AP, would they get the benefit of the chances

 

[Annchristine65]

I have a package booked at RPR. It came with a 4 day park to park ticket. My plan was to upgrade to annual pass when I got there as it was basically the same price. So now can I upgrade to the seasonal pass and still have EE and unlimited express pass because I'm staying at RPR? And I don't see the block out dates, would Columbus Day weekend be blocked out? I'm really confused.

 

[Gillbob316]

interesting. i just got off the phone with Universal and was told that the "new benefits" are not activated until you renew. AKA - if you have a power pass that you purchased in May, you are not eligible for the room discount or the 50% off parking until you renew at the new price. She said for preferred, the only benefit missing is the early entry until we renew at the new price. she did mention that they lifted all of the summer black out dates for the power pass though.

not sure how accurate this is - but she had me on hold for a while to check.

Assuming for a second this is correct:

Why would a Power Pass not get the room discount? Didn't a Power Pass always get the room discount, even before the new rates?

I thought the lifted summer dates & the parking discount were the only things new to the Power Pass level. The room discount should apply regardless. (Again, assuming the person you talked to on the phone is even correct which... frankly seems unlikely to me.)

 

[pcstang]

I have a package booked at RPR. It came with a 4 day park to park ticket. My plan was to upgrade to annual pass when I got there as it was basically the same price. So now can I upgrade to the seasonal pass and still have EE and unlimited express pass because I'm staying at RPR? And I don't see the block out dates, would Columbus Day weekend be blocked out? I'm really confused.

I have never done a ticket upgrade to an AP. There are a lot of threads about doing it though. EE and EP are benefits are tied to your hotel.

 

[macraven]

I have a package booked at RPR. It came with a 4 day park to park ticket. My plan was to upgrade to annual pass when I got there as it was basically the same price. So now can I upgrade to the seasonal pass and still have EE and unlimited express pass because I'm staying at RPR? And I don't see the block out dates, would Columbus Day weekend be blocked out? I'm really confused.

If you stay at one of the three deluxe hotels all get the hotel perks of unlimited ep and EE

Your park ticket is not connected to it


I looked at the new chart and Columbus Day not on it

Only saw a small handful of dates involved for preferred pass

 

[damo]

interesting. i just got off the phone with Universal and was told that the "new benefits" are not activated until you renew. AKA - if you have a power pass that you purchased in May, you are not eligible for the room discount or the 50% off parking until you renew at the new price. She said for preferred, the only benefit missing is the early entry until we renew at the new price. she did mention that they lifted all of the summer black out dates for the power pass though.

not sure how accurate this is - but she had me on hold for a while to check.

All passes gave you the hotel discount before and they still will after. That will not change.

I have a package booked at RPR. It came with a 4 day park to park ticket. My plan was to upgrade to annual pass when I got there as it was basically the same price. So now can I upgrade to the seasonal pass and still have EE and unlimited express pass because I'm staying at RPR? And I don't see the block out dates, would Columbus Day weekend be blocked out? I'm really confused.

Like Macraven said, no need to worry about your ticket because you are staying at the RPR. Early entry and unlimited express are hotel perks and not related to your ticket.

 

[goNDmay9]

Assuming for a second this is correct:

Why would a Power Pass not get the room discount? Didn't a Power Pass always get the room discount, even before the new rates?

I thought the lifted summer dates & the parking discount were the only things new to the Power Pass level. The room discount should apply regardless. (Again, assuming the person you talked to on the phone is even correct which... frankly seems unlikely to me.)

Sorry! I have always had preferred so I used a bad example and will edit it out. Has anyone been down since to verify if the benefits don't kick in until you renew? The extra benefits don't really apply to us - but for someone counting on the new benefits it may make a difference to them.

 

[pcstang]

Sorry! I have always had preferred so I used a bad example and will edit it out. Has anyone been down since to verify if the benefits don't kick in until you renew? The extra benefits don't really apply to us - but for someone counting on the new benefits it may make a difference to them.

I'll check this weekend. It think that's a terrible policy not to grandfather loyal customers into the benefits. I won't use EE but still.

 

[macraven]

Based on what has been reported, new benefits start when AP bought or renewed

 

[damo]

I'll check this weekend. It think that's a terrible policy not to grandfather loyal customers into the benefits. I won't use EE but still.

Yes, please find out the definitive answer. I know that when benefits have been removed (like the bottled water) from a pass, that seemed to be effective immediately to both old and new passes.

 

[Slapshot1188]

My Publix has lots of Universal passes on a rack.
Anyone know if I go to Publix and buy some Preferred Passes today (at the old rate) will they work like the new ones if I exchange them in Dec?

 

[macraven]

My Publix has lots of Universal passes on a rack.
Anyone know if I go to Publix and buy some Preferred Passes today (at the old rate) will they work like the new ones if I exchange them in Dec?

i would have no idea as i have never bought tickets from publix before.
probably something you could contact guest services and ask.

and, i know you can buy day passes at publix but did not know they sold annual passes.


when people buy tickets say a 3 day p2p pass at the old prices, they use them once to enter the park.
that will update the present cost of those 3 day park to park tickets

that is to your advantage to have the pass at the current value when you upgrade them to a power pass or whatever type of pass you want.

 

[Slapshot1188]

Yeah my Publix has a whole display with various Universal Passes. They have day passes and annual ones. Not sure if they have Preferred but I know they have Power Passes.

 

[damo]

Yeah my Publix has a whole display with various Universal Passes. They have day passes and annual ones. Not sure if they have Preferred but I know they have Power Passes.

You'd have to contact Guest Services. You may find that those annual passes sold at the store (have never heard of that, personally) will soon be removed and replaced or may not even be able to get validated at the grocery store check-out counter. That tends to happen when the ticket policies change. They used to sell a 7 day ticket at the stores. Once it was cancelled, in a couple of weeks, the cashiers couldn't validate it.

 

[Slapshot1188]

FYI- Went to Publix a few days ago and all passes were removed. They just had day tickets and a boat load of HHN ones.