AP benefits questions...

[finedice]

Can anyone tell about the dining discount for AP holders? Specifically, is the discount applied only to what the AP holder orders, or if they pay the entire check is it applied to the entire check? Appreciate the clarification!

Additionally, what about the lounge? Would people with an AP holder be allowed inside? Or would the entire party need to have APs?

 

[AuroraluvsPhillip]

AP discount will cover the entire check.
Never been in the AP lounge.

 

[CAPSLOCK]

AP discount is good for the whole table. And even a little purchase like a single Butterbeer.

AP lounge is not worth your time. Some chairs, and some AP merch and sodas available for purchase.

 

[finedice]

Thank You!

 

[Robo56]

They scan your AP to get in the lounge. At least they did the last time I was there. There is some seating to relax in the air conditioning. There are also charging ports to charge your phone.

You can also pick up the latest AP button there.

You get discounts on merchandise as well discounts on onsite Resort stays with your AP.

 

[skramer100]

What is the total discount? We are going for 3 days in August but the AP is only $30 more then a 3 day Florida resident ticket. Also if I do the pay over time how do I use the AP for a hotel discount?

 

[CAPSLOCK]

UO link to the AP benefits:

Annual Pass Benefits | Season Pass Types | Universal Orlando™

 

[MarcIsMe]

Benefits are available as soon as the pass is activated, payment plan does not matter. If you go to the lounge for the pin, ask at check in for availability instead of standing in line. They seem to run out by the 15th of each month or sooner.

 

[rja142]

A couple more AP questions....
APs get early park admission. If one person in our party has an AP, can the rest of us who do not get in early with them? (I'm guessing not)
Also, do APs get discounts on single day tickets? I'm thinking of buying a 2 Park AP, but might want to add on an occasional Volcano Bay day. Thanks.

 

[Mom2Anna&Elsa]

Benefits are available as soon as the pass is activated, payment plan does not matter. If you go to the lounge for the pin, ask at check in for availability instead of standing in line. They seem to run out by the 15th of each month or sooner.

Be aware that if you elect to do the payment plan, “flex pay”, your 1 year AP is considered active from your first payment and the 1 year clock starts *then*, not when you use it first. You are then automatically on a month-to-month membership. See article below under “flex pay” heading:

https://orlandoinformer.com/universal/orlando-annual-passes-guide/

 

[Mom2Anna&Elsa]

A couple more AP questions....
APs get early park admission. If one person in our party has an AP, can the rest of us who do not get in early with them? (I'm guessing not)
Also, do APs get discounts on single day tickets? I'm thinking of buying a 2 Park AP, but might want to add on an occasional Volcano Bay day. Thanks.

Correct, you have to have an eligible AP or staying on-site to get early entry. There are also some travel agencies that sell single day tickets that include early entry. Touring Plans & Park Prodigy are two that come to mind.

No discounts on VB tickets that I know of, only theme park discounts. And I’ve heard those aren’t that great, better discounts online or through Undercover Tourist.

Most people just upgrade their AP to include the 3 park pass and find it’s not much more than buying separate tickets to Volcano Bay.

 

[tony67]

Be aware that if you elect to do the payment plan, “flex pay”, your 1 year AP is considered active from your first payment and the 1 year clock starts *then*, not when you use it first. You are then automatically on a month-to-month membership. See article below under “flex pay” heading:

https://orlandoinformer.com/universal/orlando-annual-passes-guide/

Your pass starts when you first use it - so you have to remember to cancel it before the year is up or they start charging you monthly - I just had to do this.

They do discuss that in the link you provided - it is a little confusing to say the least - especially if you get one of those three month free deals

 

[wdwrule]

A couple more AP questions....
APs get early park admission. If one person in our party has an AP, can the rest of us who do not get in early with them? (I'm guessing not)
Also, do APs get discounts on single day tickets? I'm thinking of buying a 2 Park AP, but might want to add on an occasional Volcano Bay day. Thanks.

You may want to check out @CAPSLOCK links in the post above as it explains each tier of AP benefits. Only certain tiers of AP qualify for Early Admission. Some tiers do not qualify or have blockout dates for early admission. Only qualifying AP holders will be allowed EA… and/or on-site hotel guests (and some offsite Universal partner hotels with vacation package I believe).

The above links also give info on purchasing multi day discount tickets which I believe needs to be done at the gate.

ETA: just realized you were inquiring about single day VB tickets.

 

[rja142]

Thanks all for the quick replies. @Mom2Anna&Elsa you are right that it seems easier to buy the 3 park AP, but Volcano Bay is blocked out before 4 PM on the dates of our first trip. We'd have to buy regular admission for that park day anyway.
I'm going to try calling Universal to see if they can tell me about my cost to upgrade one of our tickets to an AP. If the price is right, I'll have to cancel existing reservations and re-book under the AP rate.

 

[Mom2Anna&Elsa]

Thanks all for the quick replies. @Mom2Anna&Elsa you are right that it seems easier to buy the 3 park AP, but Volcano Bay is blocked out before 4 PM on the dates of our first trip. We'd have to buy regular admission for that park day anyway.
I'm going to try calling Universal to see if they can tell me about my cost to upgrade one of our tickets to an AP. If the price is right, I'll have to cancel existing reservations and re-book under the AP rate.

Just an FYI, you can book a hotel reservation under an AP rate and then upgrade to the AP when you get there. You don’t have to have the AP already to book the rate.

And also, just because you have an AP doesn’t mean that you’ll get an AP discount on your room for your dates. They have to show on their site that there’s an AP rate available. They can and do fill up, and during busy times, they’re often not even offered, especially for standard rooms at Premier hotels and weekends.

 

[rja142]

Just an FYI, you can book a hotel reservation under an AP rate and then upgrade to the AP when you get there. You don’t have to have the AP already to book the rate.

And also, just because you have an AP doesn’t mean that you’ll get an AP discount on your room for your dates. They have to show on their site that there’s an AP rate available. They can and do fill up, and during busy times, they’re often not even offered, especially for standard rooms at Premier hotels and weekends.

Thanks. I'm sort of stuck in an in between state right now. I have 2 nights of UO resorts booked currently at decent (but not AP) rates. There are currently discounted AP rates for both of those nights so I could book those too and cancel the original reservations. The only thing holding me back is that I'd like to be sure of the cost to upgrade my pass to AP so I can be sure it's worth the change. If I wait till I get to the resort, I could end up with cancelation fees on whichever set of reservations I don't keep. I hope that makes sense.

 

[Kit Jackson]

Just an FYI, you can book a hotel reservation under an AP rate and then upgrade to the AP when you get there. You don’t have to have the AP already to book the rate.

This may be helpful information for a future trip that I am planning. If I do not have an active AP when I book, but then activate the AP on the first day of the trip, will I get the AP rate when I check-out? Will the hotel check to see if there is an active AP when I book?

 

[Mom2Anna&Elsa]

This may be helpful information for a future trip that I am planning. If I do not have an active AP when I book, but then activate the AP on the first day of the trip, will I get the AP rate when I check-out? Will the hotel check to see if there is an active AP when I book?

You might need to go to the vacation planning desk and upgrade to the AP prior to check in.

There have been reports that the front desk asks to see the AP at check in if you’re booked under an AP rate, or at check out, or not at all. I will say we did check-out of RPR last month via text so it wouldn’t make sense to me to verify at that point.

Unlike Disney’s system, where everything is linked under one profile, you don’t have that at Universal. Their hotels are run by Loews. Their tickets and AP’s are done by Universal. They can’t see each other’s systems nor your profile info.

 

[Mom2Anna&Elsa]

Thanks. I'm sort of stuck in an in between state right now. I have 2 nights of UO resorts booked currently at decent (but not AP) rates. There are currently discounted AP rates for both of those nights so I could book those too and cancel the original reservations. The only thing holding me back is that I'd like to be sure of the cost to upgrade my pass to AP so I can be sure it's worth the change. If I wait till I get to the resort, I could end up with cancelation fees on whichever set of reservations I don't keep. I hope that makes sense.

Depending upon how much time until your trip, and your financial situation, you could always book the AP rate if it’s available now. You’d have to put down a separate deposit of one night.

It would secure the room at that rate and let you decide whether you want to upgrade. The price difference might pay for the upgrade to the AP.

You’d have to make the decision before any cancellation penalty for either reservation, of course.

 

[Skippyboo]

This may be helpful information for a future trip that I am planning. If I do not have an active AP when I book, but then activate the AP on the first day of the trip, will I get the AP rate when I check-out? Will the hotel check to see if there is an active AP when I book?

I just showed the email confirmation that I bought an AP when I checked in to PBR for AP rate room and then went over to vacation planning window to activate AP