Annual Pass?

[charminnie]

I've seen multiple threads concerning upgrading to annual passes in the park. Why? Is it a cost savings? We are planning to go to Universal for the first time in February 2018. I doubt we will be back again within a year. Is there any reason I should consider an annual pass?

 

[pcstang]

As of right now it seems as if a 4 day ticket is the same as an AP. Depends how many days your trip will be. Who knows what pricing will be in 2018 or any ticket promo offers.

 

[michelepa]

I am going to upgrade my ticket to AP in order to get the AP rate for our one night stay at the Hard Rock Hotel(HRH).

We are going in two weeks at a very busy/crowded time and it is cheaper for me to book a room at HRH with AP rate then to buy unlimited express passes for the three of us for two days (a must so my dear husband doesn't lose his mind). The one night stay at the HRH will include two days of unlimited express passes.

An additional perk of staying onsite will be early entry both mornings which also will help with crowds as we'll head straight back to Harry Potter area ride what express pass doesn't cover and look around before things get too packed back there.

Some have stated lately that the AP upgrade has been the same price or even less than the 2+1 day free they bought from Undercover Tourist- so they've gotten a refund. If that is the case i may upgrade all three of us!

 

[kohlby]

When we took our nephews, we upgraded their three day tickets to Power Passes. The reason was that it was $10 to make it a four day pass and $10 to make it a power pass. (Though rates have probably changed!) So - upgrading to passes sometimes doesn't cost more than adding days. If it's all the same, then I figured we might as well make them annual passes even though there was over a 99% chance they wouldn't get a chance to use them again.

We really lucked out cost-wise though. We bought the buy two get the third day free tickets from UT for $200 each before a price increase. Then, didn't activate them until several months later, and upgraded then - resulting in Power Passes that only cost $210 each. This was last April. So, another reason is that sometimes people are planning on annual passes anyway but are trying to save money by using bridging to upgrade.

 

[janicept]

If you know for sure you're not going back and you would only be going a day or two it wouldn't be worth it. For me it's all about the free valet parking. It's so expensive if you pay out of pocket. I often go alone and would not feel comfortable walking into the parking garage late night. Of course I go so many times a year it's not even a question to get a pass. I agree with the above past that if it's not much more expensive than your day tickets the perks of discounts or parking would be worth it. Plus you may decide to go an extra day if it's "free". You can easily price it out yourself depending on your plans.

 

[geetey]

Since you can't buy an annual pass from Undercover Tourist, where does everyone buy theirs? I would like to have all tickets in hand before we arrive so that we can get straight to the parks. I have already purchased 2+2 days free for everyone else. Just need a seasonal pass for myself for the AP discount at the hotel.
TIA!

 

[candy0730]

Be careful of black out dates before buying AP. It won't affect a February trip but we are thinking of going in the summer and most of the summer is blacked out.

 

[cbrunocme]

If I buy a 5 day Park to Park Ticket from UT this week to avoid the Blackout Dates and then upgrade to a seasonal AP on the last day would I get credited the difference since the AP is cheaper or would the credit disappear?

 

[damo]

If I buy a 5 day Park to Park Ticket from UT this week to avoid the Blackout Dates and then upgrade to a seasonal AP on the last day would I get credited the difference since the AP is cheaper or would the credit disappear?

You will get credited but it might be in gift cards.

 

[cbrunocme]

Thanks, Gift cards are fine I just didn't want to lose the difference.