Anyone upgrade their seasonal pass to power or preferred?

[shh]

I suspect I already know the answer to this, but just doublechecking. I have a power pass and bought my DH a seasonal pass back in Feb. We're using them for our Sept HHN trip and was tentatively planning on popping in one more day during our early to mid december trip to WDW.

Sept has no issues, but unfortunately, I didn't realize when I bought these that Grinchmas runs every single weekend in Dec and our WDW passes are weekdays as well - we really were hoping to visit Universal on a Sat and/or Sun and now looks like we will only be allowed in on weekdays.

Since our schedule may limit us to visiting on a Dec weekend, I'm open to paying the difference between Seasonal and Power (if they even do this) so he can get into both parks.

But our passes will be 10 months old at that point: do they ever pro rate the cost of this upgrade or do you pay the full 12 month upgrade price no matter when you upgrade?

(Note: basing Grinchmas schedule on past years.)

 

[damo]

No pro rating, unfortunately.

 

[Gary2T]

I hope I am not missing something, but the according to the blockout dates page, weekends are not blocked for seasonal passes.

https://www.universalorlando.com/web/en/us/tickets-packages/annual-passes/blockout-dates/index.html

Seasonals are blocked out for concert days in USF. I don't think dates are posted yet, but Mannheim Steamroller usually plays weekends in December. IOA is specifically listed as still being open to season pass holders on concert dates though.

 

[imprint]

I hope you don't mind me asking in your thread, but does anyone know if I can downgrade our Power Passes to Seasonal Passes at a renewal rate rather than buying at full price? We only go in late September / early October for HHN. Just wondering if we could save a few more bucks renewing with the lesser AP. Thanks!

 

[macraven]

I believe you can downgrade

Send an email to guest services to verify they still do that

 

[shh]

I hope I am not missing something, but the according to the blockout dates page, weekends are not blocked for seasonal passes.

https://www.universalorlando.com/web/en/us/tickets-packages/annual-passes/blockout-dates/index.html

Seasonals are blocked out for concert days in USF. I don't think dates are posted yet, but Mannheim Steamroller usually plays weekends in December. IOA is specifically listed as still being open to season pass holders on concert dates though.

You are correct. I was asking about USF: when I look at 2016 schedule, every single sat & sun in Dec had Grinchmas, which blocks out seasonal pass holders. I was so concerned with checking on mardi gras concert dates for our Feb trip, it didn't occur to me to check Dec - figured it was like Mardi Gras - they'd allow at least 1 or 2 Sundays without concerts. But doesn't look to be the case.

I could pay full $60 + tax (cost to move from seasonal to power pass) but since passes expire just 1 month later, it feels like a lot of money for just that 1 day - we really just wanted to see the HP areas decorated.

 

[shh]

No pro rating, unfortunately.

Thanks Damo...appreciate the info.

 

[bumbershoot]

Is Grinchmas treated like the concerts?

Grinchmas™
Seuss Landing™ is home to the Grinchmas Who-liday Spectacular, a live retelling of Dr. Seuss’s classic holiday tale starring The Grinch™.

But even if you did have to upgrade, $60 for a day in the park that your pass doesn't cover doesn't seem too bad.

 

[damo]

Is Grinchmas treated like the concerts?




But even if you did have to upgrade, $60 for a day in the park that your pass doesn't cover doesn't seem too bad.

I don't think it is treated like a concert. I don't think anything at IOA is considered a concert. I do think the Mannheim Steamroller at Universal is a concert, though.

 

[bumbershoot]

I do think the Mannheim Steamroller at Universal is a concert, though.

I didn't think so about Grinchmas. But the OP said that her concern was...

I didn't realize when I bought these that Grinchmas runs every single weekend in Dec

And Steamroller doesn't play both days every weekend, do they? I remember when we went at xmastime we never saw them because they just weren't all the time. The website says "select" days or something like that for them.

 

[shh]

Thanks everyone: I could be wrong and if so, that would be awesome. I thought I read in Orlando informer or on Uni site somewhere that Grinchmas counted as one of the excluded events for seasonal passholders. Then saw that it was every weekend last year. But if the only excluded events are the concerts and they're not every single Sat and Sun in Dec, that would be wonderful. At work, but will confirm tonight. Thanks again for weighing in.

 

[damo]

Thanks everyone: I could be wrong and if so, that would be awesome. I thought I read in Orlando informer or on Uni site somewhere that Grinchmas counted as one of the excluded events for seasonal passholders. Then saw that it was every weekend last year. But if the only excluded events are the concerts and they're not every single Sat and Sun in Dec, that would be wonderful. At work, but will confirm tonight. Thanks again for weighing in.

From the website ... Seasonal Passholders are blocked out of Universal Studios Florida™ on all concert dates and will only receive access to Universal's Islands of Adventure™.

There is nothing anywhere about being blocked out of IOA at any time other than the listed blockout dates. Seasonal passholders are blocked out from Dec. 21-31.

 

[shh]

And Steamroller doesn't play both days every weekend, do they? I remember when we went at xmastime we never saw them because they just weren't all the time. The website says "select" days or something like that for them.

Thank you again everyone - so I definitely misunderstood - Grinchmas isn't blocked, but unfortunately, did look up last year's Mannheim concert schedule and it was every Sat & Sun for the 1st three wknds in Dec. If they follow same format this year, the next weekend after that starts holiday blockout, so basically it means no US access on weekends for seasonal passholders the way I'm understanding it.

From 2016: "Plus, on select nights, the masters of modern Christmas music – Mannheim Steamroller – return with the sweet sounds of the holiday season at Universal Studios Florida. Performances will take place on the Music Plaza Stage on Dec. 3, 4, 10, 11, 17 and 18."

 

[macraven]

Damo is always quick !

By the time I read a question and ready to post, she has the answer up in the thread

We can always count in Damo and we thank her for her contributions