Anyone get the new Annual Pass survey?

[Lou Holtz]

Just took a survey from Universal about which options you want in an annual pass. It looks like there will be some significant changes in next year's annual passes and this is a pretty long survey trying to gauge interest in different benefits and which are most important to everyone. New mentioned benefits included all day express included, park opens one hour early for passholders, stays open one hour late, limited and unlimited early admission for Harry Potter, ride again privileges, unlimited HHN ticket or FFP Plus Fridays, and free hotel upgrades (to a suite or club level). They also poked around at things such as the importance of blackout dates, degrees of discounts on hotels, food, merch, tickets, Citywalk, flexpay, and parking.

All annual pass holders should take this survey because the results will likely impact what pass you're going to be able to buy. In the comments, I emphasized the ability to upgrade any HHN ticket included on the pass, flex pay, and the extra hours/express benefits. Also, any pass that doesn't include parking is pretty dumb, as is the ability to buy a 10% off express pass or one free meal deal. Unnecessary benefits for the majority of both local and out of state passholders.

 

[nhrenee]

I haven't seen it yet. I'd be happy if they'd bring back a plastic style pass instead of paper.

 

[Mikelly1221]

I'm not a passholder, but I was offered the survey and took it. We were planning on getting Power Passes after Christmas, but I'm wondering if I should get them now with the known quantity that we have vs. the unknown we may be getting.

I thought the end of the survey where you vote "Which pass would you buy" was interesting..I'd never done that in a survey before. A few of the times, they definitely needed a "none of the above" choice for me as I chose the least of the evils.

We're not big "event" people...if our ticket included the event, we might go, but not if we have to buy a separate ticket. The things that matter to us are parking, express pass, early/late entry, hotel discounts. All in all, I'd have to look at the final options to see if they fit in the budget.

 

[Metro West]

I'd be happy if they'd bring back a plastic style pass instead of paper.

I doubt you'll see the plastic passes again. The Tyvek passes are just as strong and will last for a long time...or so I'm told. I still have the plastic pass so I'm going to make sure I don't lose it.

I'm not a passholder, but I was offered the survey and took it. We were planning on getting Power Passes after Christmas, but I'm wondering if I should get them now with the known quantity that we have vs. the unknown we may be getting.

I thought the end of the survey where you vote "Which pass would you buy" was interesting..I'd never done that in a survey before. A few of the times, they definitely needed a "none of the above" choice for me as I chose the least of the evils.

We're not big "event" people...if our ticket included the event, we might go, but not if we have to buy a separate ticket. The things that matter to us are parking, express pass, early/late entry, hotel discounts. All in all, I'd have to look at the final options to see if they fit in the budget.

Power Passes have blackout dates and do not include parking. You might want to consider getting one Power Pass and one Preferred AP so you can get the discounts on food/merchandise and free parking. Mardi Gras, Christmas concerts and summer concerts are included with the park admission so you would not have to purchase a separate ticket for those events. However...Rock The Universe and Halloween Horror Nights have always been hard ticket events but the AP discounts are really good.

 

[nhrenee]

Oh, I know but a girl can wish! I have my old passes. Maybe they'll let me reuse one of them?

 

[Gr8t Fan]

Oh, I know but a girl can wish! I have my old passes. Maybe they'll let me reuse one of them?

We do too. I'd be happy if they'd just put our renewal on them, no new picture necessary.

I haven't received the survey yet but would be happy to offer my opinions.

 

[ducky_love]

Wow- it would be amazing if they gave even MORE than they already do. I know they have taken a lot away... but coming from having Disney passes Universal gives you the world!!

So would we have to renew to get new benefits or would it be automatic changes in 2011? (Sorrry - rookie question but it has been a long time since we paid for Universal tickets!!)

 

[Metro West]

So would we have to renew to get new benefits or would it be automatic changes in 2011? (Sorrry - rookie question but it has been a long time since we paid for Universal tickets!!)

Any changes or benefits should be automatic as long you keep your pass current.

We do too. I'd be happy if they'd just put our renewal on them, no new picture necessary.

You can always ask I guess. My pass still has the picture they took in 2005 which isn't the best picture (but better than my driver's license picture) and when I renew, they just tell me I can keep the same pass.

 

[damo]

We haven't received the survey and we have 5 annual passes. We'd all like to complete it if it ever shows up.

 

[macraven]

even though my PAP from 04 is valid through april '11, i think i should pay the renewal now............



smells like there could be an increase in the preferred annual pass renewal costs......

 

[JessicaR]

We have been APH for more years than they offered options. Paper mostly but my husband still uses his plastic photo pass - punch hole and all.

They say -plastic isn't coming back. I suppose economically it isn't feasible. I like our old passes though.

4 of us - got the survey and we were ALL pulled (if we wanted to) at the park Sunday to do a survey. We did.

 

[Lou Holtz]

This is the link for anyone who wants to take it:
http://www.visitorsatisfaction.com/BENEFITS

 

[Mikelly1221]

I doubt you'll see the plastic passes again. The Tyvek passes are just as strong and will last for a long time...or so I'm told. I still have the plastic pass so I'm going to make sure I don't lose it.

Power Passes have blackout dates and do not include parking. You might want to consider getting one Power Pass and one Preferred AP so you can get the discounts on food/merchandise and free parking. Mardi Gras, Christmas concerts and summer concerts are included with the park admission so you would not have to purchase a separate ticket for those events. However...Rock The Universe and Halloween Horror Nights have always been hard ticket events but the AP discounts are really good.

That's exactly what we were planning..get 4 power passes and one preferred to get the parking..that parking can eat you alive! The blackout dates on power passes aren't near as bad as Disney Seasonal Passes...UO"s are good for almost the entire summer, while we were blacked out at Disney. For busy kids in school, that's not great.

It was a very interesting survey, very thorough.

 

[bubba's mom]

i took it last nite.

Nice to see they are taking another look at them...raising AND lowering prices.

I thought it was a good survey....the only thing I'm not so sure I want is unlimited express. Don't get me wrong, I understand this is AWESOME for the locals, but I wonder how backed up it will make the express line?

 

[n2mm]

We got it and was mid way through when the site went crazy and died on us. I could not go back in afterwards. We are both AP holders. It asked about a la carte type APs and what was important and was not important. It also asked if we were planning to renew and we answered, not sure yet. I wished I had gotten a chance to finish it.

 

[A Mickeyfan]

Oh, I know but a girl can wish! I have my old passes. Maybe they'll let me reuse one of them?

I use my old pass each time I go... I really do.. When they ask for an ID after showing my Annual for the free parking, I show them my old pass with my pic on it.. I keep it in the holder with my annual pass. This way I don't have to dig out my drivers license in the event they ask me for ID..

 

[*LittleMermaid*]

Did you guys check out the new block out dates for the Power pass next year? Only blocked out at USF for Dec 26 - Jan 1. At IOA it is blocked out April 16 - April 30, July 1 - Aug 13th, and Dec 26 - Jan 1.

 

[bubba's mom]

Did you guys check out the new block out dates for the Power pass next year? Only blocked out at USF for Dec 26 - Jan 1. At IOA it is blocked out April 16 - April 30, July 1 - Aug 13th, and Dec 26 - Jan 1.

Wow. That sux...esp for locals who own the Power Pass I know some family that won't go as much during the summer when friends/family visit because it's blocked.

Makes me think Potter is at work AND they are seriously considering the 'express pass' option.

Guess it's a wait n see game.

I know out of our 3 Preferred, only DH is renewing...DS & I are dropping our APs. We'll keep DH's for the benefits/discounts and since the YF is in HIS name, only makes sense to keep HIS.

 

[DOOM1001]

I still have my old plastic annual pass,it is getting a little rough and faded.Universal has surveys for everything I must have taken 30 of them.I took an AP survey about 2-3 months ago and the biggest point I made from my answers is to keep the prices down,they already jacked my preferred AP renewal $40 this year due to Potter.If I remember some of the options were like if I would pay more for silly perks like a bottle of water.I just want the prices low and keep the same options I have now,admission all year,free parking and discounts and a discount for HHN,if I want a bottle of water I'll go to Whole Foods where they got like 25oz bottles for .69 cents.

 

[Mikelly1221]

Wow. That sux...esp for locals who own the Power Pass I know some family that won't go as much during the summer when friends/family visit because it's blocked.

Makes me think Potter is at work AND they are seriously considering the 'express pass' option.

Guess it's a wait n see game.

I know out of our 3 Preferred, only DH is renewing...DS & I are dropping our APs. We'll keep DH's for the benefits/discounts and since the YF is in HIS name, only makes sense to keep HIS.

As our kids have gotten older and more involved in weekend activities during the school year, it became more of a burden to be blocked out at Disney during the summer (that and the cost). We've dropped our Disney passes and were going to get Universal passes because of the low blockout dates in the summer. This may get us to rethink things. I think I'm going to wait until the dust settles before I make any pass decisions.