Annual pass questions

[Elliotterae]

I looked for a sticky with some of this info but couldnt find it. I apologize if these have been answered a dozen times.

We are planning a trip the last week of Sept. Right now we are booked with a TA under a package but due to a long story and much anxiety we are not planning to stick to that package. For one thing we can cancel for free, but changes would cost us $50. For another thing our TA knows even less about Universal thatn I do. Live and learn.

So right now a Power Pass is about $24 cheaper than a 4 day park to park ticket. There are 5 of us so that saves $120. Good deal. Which brings me to my actual questions:

Do they ever add dates to be blacked out? Right now there are no black out dates during our trip or even a few weeks before or after our trip, would it be safe to assume we would be all clear? If we bought them and then they added black out dates to our trip, upgrading to the Premier would not be a good deal, especially since I dont know if we would make it back in a year's time.

My follow up question; the pass doesnt activate until use, correct? So if I buy it now since it appears to be on sale, I could hold it till Sept 27th and it would not expire until Sept 26, 2017? (We MIGHT get another trip in if that is the case).

 

[macraven]

correct.
the pass activates on the first day you use it to enter the parks.

 

[HM2012Butler]

I don't believe they add new ones and September is not a busy time so in my opinion, you would not risk running into a blocked day

 

[Kivara]

My follow up question; the pass doesnt activate until use, correct? So if I buy it now since it appears to be on sale, I could hold it till Sept 27th and it would not expire until Sept 26, 2017? (We MIGHT get another trip in if that is the case).

Exactly! That's what we always do. We book in February, and buy Power Passes, we travel in early June; next year we'll travel late May on the same passes.

 

[Jonny_Duck]

Any limit on how far out you can purchase for pickup at the park? If I buy Power Pass now can I pick it up at Kiosk in Oct ish? I'm guessing prices might go up soon so would like to get tickets bought sometime soon.

 

[macraven]

It's in the system for years

Buy now and do kiosk pick up in October........no problem

 

[chmurf]

and even if you have it sent at home because you like to feel and smell the real thing before you go, it will only "begin" when you activate it at the turnstile, on your first park entry (I plead guilty, I paid for international shipping because I wanted that piece of Tyvek in my wallet so bad even though I knew I would need to wait months before using it )

 

[Jonny_Duck]

One more question... What's the cost of renewal? If prices go up do you pay the new cost, your original cost, or some other random renewal cost in between?

 

[macraven]

One more question... What's the cost of renewal? If prices go up do you pay the new cost, your original cost, or some other random renewal cost in between?

Check the website for renewal prices
The site is current I don't remember my renewal cost for those that have an active AP presently


If you buy the AP you are locked into that price even if you activate it 7 months from the purchase date

 

[chmurf]

One more question... What's the cost of renewal? If prices go up do you pay the new cost, your original cost, or some other random renewal cost in between?

The renewal price is set.
It doesn't depend on the price you paid for your AP. It's a fixed price

currently it's $185.99 for a power pass


the price you pay will be the same as for any other guest renewing that day, no matter how much any of them have paid for their AP

you need to renew your AP in a time window ranging from 30 days before expiration to 30 days after expiration (some supervisor might allow you to do in a 60 days window but don't push your luck)

so that's when you need to renew that you'll see the current renewal price
https://www.universalorlando.com/Theme-Park-Tickets/Annual-Passes/Renew.aspx

 

[Robo56]

Chmurf were are you seeing the price of power pass at $185.99. It's $239.99 plus tax for non residents and $214.99 plus tax for Florida residents. This is off Universal Orlandos site.

4 day park to park is same price as non resident power pass.

 

[Jonny_Duck]

Chmurf were are you seeing the price of power pass at $185.99. It's $239.99 plus tax for non residents and $214.99 plus tax for Florida residents. This is off Universal Orlandos site.

4 day park to park is same price as non resident power pass.

That was for the renewal price after you've had it for a year.

 

[chmurf]

Chmurf were are you seeing the price of power pass at $185.99. It's $239.99 plus tax for non residents and $214.99 plus tax for Florida residents. This is off Universal Orlandos site.

click on the link on the last line of my post above, it's off Universal Orlando's site too
we're talking about renewal price, not purchase price.

 

[macraven]

The op had the original question about buying a pass not renewing a pass

The renewal question post came while most we answering the op of the thread

Since discussion has veered in another direction, we have info on two different questions in this thread

 

[schumigirl]

The op had the original question about buying a pass not renewing a pass

The renewal question post came while most we answering the op of the thread

Since discussion has veered in another direction, we have info on two different questions in this thread

Yes, it got confusing with folks answering different things.

You were right.

 

[Robo56]

Got it. Thanks

 

[dixonsontour]

Can I just check. We have 2 power and 1 preferred AP that need renewing mid Oct 16. I can pay to renew then and benefit from a decent saving but don't have to activate until I want to. How long after renewing do you have to activate?

 

[macraven]

No time limit that I am aware of

I activated passes last January for my son on our trip

Passes were bought in 2007

 

[macraven]

Can I just check. We have 2 power and 1 preferred AP that need renewing mid Oct 16. I can pay to renew then and benefit from a decent saving but don't have to activate until I want to. How long after renewing do you have to activate?

If you are renewing AP, they start the new renewal year from the last day of past expiration


Example:

Expire October 1
Renew and active October immediately

 

[damo]

Can I just check. We have 2 power and 1 preferred AP that need renewing mid Oct 16. I can pay to renew then and benefit from a decent saving but don't have to activate until I want to. How long after renewing do you have to activate?

Doesn't matter when you activate since that doesn't affect the expiry date. You can't extend it by extending your first use of the renewed pass. It will still have the same expiry date, which as Mac said, is one year after the expiry of the previous pass (plus one day, I think).