AP benefits questions...

[CAPSLOCK]

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?

Yes, if you have the reservation booked as the AP rate.

 

[rja142]

Yes, if you have the reservation booked as the AP rate.

What if for some reason I get there and discover that the cost of upgrading to an AP is too high or that I can't do it with the tickets that I purchased? Would they charge me the rack rate upon checkout? I know this is unlikely but I'm Type A and want to be prepared for any situation.

 

[CAPSLOCK]

If you have an AP rate, I doubt the cost of upgrading one ticket to an AP would be more than the AP room rate savings. Unless maybe you use them during blockout dates and need to go to the Premier AP. If you'll use your tickets for VB, price out the upgrade as the 3 park AP.

As far as I know, if you purchase any traditional tickets they can be upgraded. Free / comp tickets generally can't be upgraded. IDK about military tickets. But otherwise, tickets from authorized resellers, promo tickets (ie buy 2 days get 2 free), Base tickets, single day tickets, etc can all be upgraded. And as long as you do so before the end of your last ticket day.

Do you know what tickets you're getting? Good bet someone on here has tried to upgrade most everything and could confirm for your specific tickets.

 

[rja142]

Do you know what tickets you're getting? Good bet someone on here has tried to upgrade most everything and could confirm for your specific tickets.

My specific tickets are Buy 3 Days Get 2 Free. I purchased them through Costco Travel and they were bundled with a Sheraton resort stay.

 

[rja142]

Oh, and my best guess is that I'd save about $100 for one hotel night at a premier/deluxe resort + a few days of theme park parking, plus meal/merch discounts.

 

[CAPSLOCK]

I upgraded Buy 2 Get 3 Free back in 2018 (purchased through Undercover Tourist) - they're credited as the value of 2 day tickets. But I'm not sure how Costco bundling plays into that; I know others on here have gotten Costco bundles & might be able to shed light on that portion.

 

[eticketplease]

It states the free parking is after the first visit. Can I be dropped off scan my ticket, leave and come right back and then park for free?

 

[mitsukoshi samurai]

free parking after 6 pm

 

[georgina]

It states the free parking is after the first visit. Can I be dropped off scan my ticket, leave and come right back and then park for free?

Are you getting a preferred pass? I have never quite understood the exact meaning of free parking after first visit. What are they counting as a visit? This is the wording on the website -

'Free self-parking is not valid on your first visit to the theme parks. Valid at Universal Orlando parking garages only. Not valid for parking at any Universal Orlando Resort hotel.'

So it sounds like after your first scan in but I am not sure. (sorry)

 

[eticketplease]

Are you getting a preferred pass? I have never quite understood the exact meaning of free parking after first visit. What are they counting as a visit? This is the wording on the website -

'Free self-parking is not valid on your first visit to the theme parks. Valid at Universal Orlando parking garages only. Not valid for parking at any Universal Orlando Resort hotel.'

So it sounds like after your first scan in but I am not sure. (sorry)

Yes I will be getting a preferred pass. I had read what they had on the website and I was interpreting like you, that as soon as you scan you would be able to park for free. Fingers crossed as I only need it the first day as I am using a free hotel night off site and then will be on property.

Thanks

 

[eticketplease]

free parking after 6 pm

Thanks this is good to know but I am trying to go for the early hours that AP's allow.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

Yes I will be getting a preferred pass. I had read what they had on the website and I was interpreting like you, that as soon as you scan you would be able to park for free. Fingers crossed as I only need it the first day as I am using a free hotel night off site and then will be on property.

Thanks

In order to get free parking, you have to have an active AP. But it won't matter the day you are staying at an onsite hotel. The free parking is in the day lot. Hotel parking is not included. You still have to pay for hotel parking.

You pay for day parking when you enter day-parking garage, so they don't later refund if you buy an AP. In your case, if you had first night onsite and the rest of your stay offsite, then your activated pass would work find for the later part of your trip. Since your first trip to US is to use the day lot, before AP is activated, you'd have to pay for that first time parking. Though maybe you can show staff proof you bought the pass.



To answer your other questions, if you find an AP hotel rate at RP/HRH/Porto, then it will usually come very close to 'paying' for the AP upgrade. Often the savings is like $100/night. Ad in food and merch discounts, and it is probably worth buying, esp if you plan to visit for more than 2 days and hop.

The lounge is nothing too exciting. The free pin is fun, but it only takes a moment to pick that up if they have them in stock.

 

[eticketplease]

In order to get free parking, you have to have an active AP. But it won't matter the day you are staying at an onsite hotel. The free parking is in the day lot. Hotel parking is not included. You still have to pay for hotel parking.

You pay for day parking when you enter day-parking garage, so they don't later refund if you buy an AP. In your case, if you had first night onsite and the rest of your stay offsite, then your activated pass would work find for the later part of your trip. Since your first trip to US is to use the day lot, before AP is activated, you'd have to pay for that first time parking. Though maybe you can show staff proof you bought the pass.



To answer your other questions, if you find an AP hotel rate at RP/HRH/Porto, then it will usually come very close to 'paying' for the AP upgrade. Often the savings is like $100/night. Ad in food and merch discounts, and it is probably worth buying, esp if you plan to visit for more than 2 days and hop.

The lounge is nothing too exciting. The free pin is fun, but it only takes a moment to pick that up if they have them in stock.

@georgina and I believe that I will be able to park for free by being dropped off, scanning my ticket and then going to the parking area. Thanks for letting me know it will only work when staying off site. I am a complete noobie when it comes to Universal

Feel free to post any more tips and advice as it is a lot to learn compared to what I am used to with Disney.

Thanks in advance!!

 

[ClapYourHands]

Are you getting a preferred pass? I have never quite understood the exact meaning of free parking after first visit. What are they counting as a visit? This is the wording on the website -

'Free self-parking is not valid on your first visit to the theme parks. Valid at Universal Orlando parking garages only. Not valid for parking at any Universal Orlando Resort hotel.'

So it sounds like after your first scan in but I am not sure. (sorry)

What it means is that you have to have an activated preferred pass when you enter the gates to the parking garage. It’s not enough to have the pass; it must be a pass that has already been activated at the turnstiles.

I upgraded my pass to preferred last year when staying off site. I thought maybe I could just drive to the garage and park since this was just an upgrade in level to an already activated AP, but was told nope. I needed to scan it in at the park before the scan would work at the garage. We took a shuttle to the park, and DS realized he left his pass at the hotel. So I scanned in to activate it before going back for DS’s pass. I believe the TM was a little confused when I scanned in and immediately turned around and walked back the way I came.

 

[mamapenguin]

What it means is that you have to have an activated preferred pass when you enter the gates to the parking garage. It’s not enough to have the pass; it must be a pass that has already been activated at the turnstiles.

I upgraded my pass to preferred last year when staying off site. I thought maybe I could just drive to the garage and park since this was just an upgrade in level to an already activated AP, but was told nope. I needed to scan it in at the park before the scan would work at the garage. We took a shuttle to the park, and DS realized he left his pass at the hotel. So I scanned in to activate it before going back for DS’s pass. I believe the TM was a little confused when I scanned in and immediately turned around and walked back the way I came.

Unless something changed between 2018 and now, you were told incorrectly. I had a seasonal AP for 2017 and I upgraded over the phone to Premier when I renewed. I was told parking would work right away when scanned at the booth and it did. The person at the booth tried to tell me that it wouldn’t, but I insisted that they scan the pass. It worked and I got the preferred parking. I was told that I had to get a new pass once I entered the park to be able to access my after 4 express. I did and it was all good. I got my information from the AP line from the TM who processed my renewal/upgrade.

 

[eticketplease]

What it means is that you have to have an activated preferred pass when you enter the gates to the parking garage. It’s not enough to have the pass; it must be a pass that has already been activated at the turnstiles.

I upgraded my pass to preferred last year when staying off site. I thought maybe I could just drive to the garage and park since this was just an upgrade in level to an already activated AP, but was told nope. I needed to scan it in at the park before the scan would work at the garage. We took a shuttle to the park, and DS realized he left his pass at the hotel. So I scanned in to activate it before going back for DS’s pass. I believe the TM was a little confused when I scanned in and immediately turned around and walked back the way I came.

Yes that is exactly what I was thinking. Someone in our party could be dropped off, scan their pass at the gate, exit, come back to the car and then we would be able to park for free.

 

[ClapYourHands]

Yes that is exactly what I was thinking. Someone in our party could be dropped off, scan their pass at the gate, exit, come back to the car and then we would be able to park for free.

Yes that would work perfectly for parking, but you will miss early park admission with that strategy. You have to scan into the park at the turnstiles, which means going through security and walking to the park entrance, waiting for the park to open, getting to your turn at the the turnstiles (there will be a line to enter), walking back to the waiting vehicle, parking in the garage, walking to the hub, going through security again, and finally walking to your chosen park. By the time you do this, most of the early hour will be gone, and Hagrid’s line will be over 2 hours long. The other option is to go to the parks the night before your planned park day and get the free after 6pm parking (or do the car waiting thing then). I only mention this because you indicated you want to use the extra hours for AP holders, and if you are a newbie you might not realize it’s like a 15 minute walk between the gate and the parking garage, and you can’t scan in before the park opens.

Unless something changed between 2018 and now, you were told incorrectly. I had a seasonal AP for 2017 and I upgraded over the phone to Premier when I renewed. I was told parking would work right away when scanned at the booth and it did. The person at the booth tried to tell me that it wouldn’t, but I insisted that they scan the pass. It worked and I got the preferred parking. I was told that I had to get a new pass once I entered the park to be able to access my after 4 express. I did and it was all good. I got my information from the AP line from the TM who processed my renewal/upgrade.

I don’t know. This was last September 2021, so it could have been a change in process or it could have been an incorrect TM. There are so many different scenarios that I don’t doubt TMs make mistakes. I upgraded in person and had the new physical preferred AP in hand, so perhaps the new barcode needed to be scanned (sounds like you used your seasonal AP that had been scanned but the account was now tied to new benefits). I would be too chicken to try it unless I knew for sure it would work, but I’m glad it worked out for you. I do wish TMs were better informed and more consistent in their advice, but I get why mistakes happen.

 

[eticketplease]

Yes that would work perfectly for parking, but you will miss early park admission with that strategy. You have to scan into the park at the turnstiles, which means going through security and walking to the park entrance, waiting for the park to open, getting to your turn at the the turnstiles (there will be a line to enter), walking back to the waiting vehicle, parking in the garage, walking to the hub, going through security again, and finally walking to your chosen park. By the time you do this, most of the early hour will be gone, and Hagrid’s line will be over 2 hours long. The other option is to go to the parks the night before your planned park day and get the free after 6pm parking (or do the car waiting thing then). I only mention this because you indicated you want to use the extra hours for AP holders, and if you are a newbie you might not realize it’s like a 15 minute walk between the gate and the parking garage, and you can’t scan in before the park opens.

I don't remember if I mentioned early hours or not lol.

We will be flying in to MCO and staying off site the first day so I won't be able to get the early hours.
I was just going to get the preferred pass as that is the cheapest option with free parking does that include early hours?
I will be on site the rest of the time to be able to use the extra hours.
I had no idea it was that long of a walk. Basically as you pointed you are wasting at a minimum of over 45 minutes (15 from drop off, 15 back to car, 15 back to gate) to do this so I may as well bite the bullet and pay for parking after all time is $$

I don't want to go earlier although that is a great suggestion as that would cut off a day for the 2024 spring break trip and was not wanting to buy tickets that year.

Thanks for your assistance!!

 

[ClapYourHands]

I don't remember if I mentioned early hours or not lol.

We will be flying in to MCO and staying off site the first day so I won't be able to get the early hours.
I was just going to get the preferred pass as that is the cheapest option with free parking does that include early hours?
I will be on site the rest of the time to be able to use the extra hours.
I had no idea it was that long of a walk. Basically as you pointed you are wasting at a minimum of over 45 minutes (15 from drop off, 15 back to car, 15 back to gate) to do this so I may as well bite the bullet and pay for parking after all time is $$

I don't want to go earlier although that is a great suggestion as that would cut off a day for the 2024 spring break trip and was not wanting to buy tickets that year.

Thanks for your assistance!!

It depends on the time of year, but APs often get Early Park Admission benefits. During passholder appreciation days (end of August into September), even the seasonal APs get EPA. It varies during the rest of the year. I believe Premier get in early all the time, and Preferred get in early on most days. There is a very good chance your preferred pass will get you in early, but check the app or website closer to your dates to see which passes get EPA.

 

[wdwrule]

It depends on the time of year, but APs often get Early Park Admission benefits. During passholder appreciation days (end of August into September), even the seasonal APs get EPA. It varies during the rest of the year. I believe Premier get in early all the time, and Preferred get in early on most days. There is a very good chance your preferred pass will get you in early, but check the app or website closer to your dates to see which passes get EPA.

I agree, too, it varies. Last month only top two tiers were allowed in at EPA. Last week it was all 4 tiers. I would imagine though like you stated, that all 4 tiers would have EPA during appreciation days. We’ve been other random times of year when all 4 had access.