Annual Pass Newbie...

[kiwicake]

Is there any way to get a discount on an annual pass without being a Florida resident? I was going to call my AAA office tomorrow to see if they offer anything but I thought it wouldn't hurt to ask on here!

 

[macraven]

haven't ever found any discounts on the APs.

you do get a discount when you renew but not when you first purchase them.

 

[johde]

Since the opening of Diagon Alley, by most recent accounts Universal has been charging the difference between gate prices when upgrading tickets. So, it would require additional leg work, but if you buy a discounted ticket from a 3rd part retailer you can then upgrade it to an annual pass for the difference in gate prices. It's not a guarantee though as policies can change at any time. If that holds, the "best" ticket right now for upgrading would be the 2 day plus 1 free park to park from Undercover Tourist that does not expire. Reports are, it get's filled as a 3 day ticket and an upgrade to a power pass should be $9 + tax. http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=52374531 The 2 day plus 1 free Park to Park that does expire has the same gate price as a 2 day ticket and should cost $19 + tax to upgrade. I don't know if it makes a difference but most people mention using the ticket to get into the parks first.

 

[Threeboysandachickie]

We were very lucky in upgrading our buy 2 get 1 free tickets from undercover tourist to Power Passes. We were not charged anything at all! However, when our friends tried they were charged $20 per adult and $40 per child to upgrade. I think it's hit or miss'

 

[WDW88]

We are heading down to UO/IOA next month for two or three days, and then very likely December 2015 as well. Does it then make sense to purchase an annual pass as we will be going for more than four days over a year?
Also, thinking of purchasing one preferred pass (and 4 power passes) in order to get the free parking benefits (after the first visit). Is it still most advantageous to purchase the never expire 2 day park to park with 3rd day free from Undercover Tourist and then upgrade at gate?
Thanks!

 

[johde]

I've haven't heard any recent stories of Universal's upgrade policy changing back to it's old policy, but, as with everything Universal, YMMV. I haven't looked around to see if there's a better deal. But that still looks like a very good deal on an initial Annual Pass.

 

[scrabblegirl]

We are heading down to UO/IOA next month for two or three days, and then very likely December 2015 as well. Does it then make sense to purchase an annual pass as we will be going for more than four days over a year?
Also, thinking of purchasing one preferred pass (and 4 power passes) in order to get the free parking benefits (after the first visit). Is it still most advantageous to purchase the never expire 2 day park to park with 3rd day free from Undercover Tourist and then upgrade at gate?
Thanks!

Don't forget to check out the blockout date calendar. If your dates in December are blocked out, you won't be able to use the power passes.

https://www.universalorlando.com/Theme-Park-Tickets/Annual-Passes/2014-Power-Blockout-Dates.aspx#a

 

[Dawgfan81]

haven't ever found any discounts on the APs.

you do get a discount when you renew but not when you first purchase them.

Do you know how much is discounted for renewing?

I have 1 preferred and 3 power passes, am thinking of renewing them all to preferred. Is that possible with the discount?

 

[hydrotony]

Do you know how much is discounted for renewing?

I have 1 preferred and 3 power passes, am thinking of renewing them all to preferred. Is that possible with the discount?

Renewed Preferred AP cost $170.39 for everyone who has a PAP. This cost has been constant for a few years.

 

[Dawgfan81]

Renewed Preferred AP cost $170.39 for everyone who has a PAP. This cost has been constant for a few years.

Do you know if I can renew and upgrade the 3 power passes to preferred at that discounted rate? I'd like to go with 4 preferred this year so we have no blackouts.

 

[pigletto]

We are heading down to UO/IOA next month for two or three days, and then very likely December 2015 as well. Does it then make sense to purchase an annual pass as we will be going for more than four days over a year?
Also, thinking of purchasing one preferred pass (and 4 power passes) in order to get the free parking benefits (after the first visit). Is it still most advantageous to purchase the never expire 2 day park to park with 3rd day free from Undercover Tourist and then upgrade at gate?
Thanks!

I would say this is your best bet. We just upgraded ours the second week of December to power passes for $40 for all four of us.
One thing to look out for .. Undercover Tourist had two different "Buy 2 get 1" tickets. One was slightly cheaper but listed as promotional (or something like that). Because of the wording I paid for the tickets that were just a few dollars more because I was worried any ticket listed as promotional wouldn't be eligible for upgrade. I could be wrong.. but we had no trouble upgrading the tickets we did purchase.

 

[WDW88]

I would say this is your best bet. We just upgraded ours the second week of December to power passes for $40 for all four of us. One thing to look out for .. Undercover Tourist had two different "Buy 2 get 1" tickets. One was slightly cheaper but listed as promotional (or something like that). Because of the wording I paid for the tickets that were just a few dollars more because I was worried any ticket listed as promotional wouldn't be eligible for upgrade. I could be wrong.. but we had no trouble upgrading the tickets we did purchase.

Good point. Anyone else have information regarding upgrading to power pass from "promotional" tickets?

 

[DisneyTravelers2008]

I think we are going to get the AP that has all the black out dates. I prefer to travel to FL in Jan - Feb anyway so this is ideal and the price is great at $215!!!!

We can do our Feb 2015 trip and return in Jan 2016! Yippee!!!

 

[macraven]

you'll get good use out of your ap.
go feb 2015 and january 2016.

for 2015, january black out dates are 1-3



probably same type of black out dates for january 2016.

 

[dismom115]

Don't forget to check out the blockout date calendar. If your dates in December are blocked out, you won't be able to use the power passes. https://www.universalorlando.com/Theme-Park-Tickets/Annual-Passes/2014-Power-Blockout-Dates.aspx#a

I'm just curious if anyone knows why the the summer blackout dates at just one park. I get the blackout at Christmas and Spring break, but only one park in summer??

 

[peimikes]

We got annual passes on Nov 10, 2014 (stayed for 9 days and had a great time). We are planning on going late Oct/early Nov 2015 to get 2 trips out of the pass.

If we renewed our passes on the last day of the 2015 trip are the renewal's good for 1 yr from when they are purchased or 1 year from the first use?

Wondering if it is possible to renew them just before we leave in 2015 and not use them till Nov 2016 to get a second trip out of them late Oct 2017/early Nov 2017.

Thinking if we can do this then renewal makes sense. If not then purchasing another new pass in 2016 makes more sense to get a 2016/2017 trip out of them.

 

[macraven]

We got annual passes on Nov 10, 2014 (stayed for 9 days and had a great time). We are planning on going late Oct/early Nov 2015 to get 2 trips out of the pass.

If we renewed our passes on the last day of the 2015 trip are the renewal's good for 1 yr from when they are purchased or 1 year from the first use?

Wondering if it is possible to renew them just before we leave in 2015 and not use them till Nov 2016 to get a second trip out of them late Oct 2017/early Nov 2017.

Thinking if we can do this then renewal makes sense. If not then purchasing another new pass in 2016 makes more sense to get a 2016/2017 trip out of them.

i've been renewing my preferred annual pass since 2004.
my renewal date always stays the same.
(the date i first activated it)

you should get an email about 30 days out from the ap expiration.
renew online and get the discounted price.

 

[peimikes]

i've been renewing my preferred annual pass since 2004.
my renewal date always stays the same.
(the date i first activated it)

you should get an email about 30 days out from the ap expiration.
renew online and get the discounted price.

Hmmm...so it would always be Nov 10th?

I'm guessing in our case it would be best to let it lapse in 2015 and then buy a brand new one in 2016 to cover our 2016 & 2017 trip.

 

[pigletto]

I'm just curious if anyone knows why the the summer blackout dates at just one park. I get the blackout at Christmas and Spring break, but only one park in summer??

My guess would be due to the popularity of the new Diagon Alley. I bet they would lift it a little bit early if attendance was lower than expected but I don't imagine that it will be.

 

[hydrotony]

Do you know if I can renew and upgrade the 3 power passes to preferred at that discounted rate? I'd like to go with 4 preferred this year so we have no blackouts.

Don't expect to ever get a renewal discount when upgrading one type of pass to another. If you downgrade a pass, then you may get the discount renewal rate. If you upgrade a power pass to a preferred AP, you only pay the difference in price but the annual start date is still the power pass start date.