AP, Ticket & Hotel Questions

[mward73]

Hi! We've been to Disney several times, but this will be our first time at Universal. It'll just be myself and my oldest DS (6) going at the beginning of November. We'd like to stay at Royal Pacific... have a couple of questions about getting the best rate. It looks like the AP rate is $738 for 4 nights. The stay more/save more rate is around $950 for 4 nights.

So, my question.... My work has tickets I can get in advance (4 day park-to-park are $139 adult/$128 kids). Would it make sense (and am I allowed) to purchase tickets to take with me, then upgrade one to an AP? What's the price to upgrade - is it off the price I paid (how do they know what I paid? it's just a normal ticket) or the gate price of the ticket? Do I have to get a certain AP? I don't think we'll be back down within a year, so I don't actually need an AP... just trying to save money on the room.

Hopefully this makes sense! I don't want to do something completely difficult and time-consuming, but it seems quite a bit cheaper to get the AP (if I'm doing the math right, which is always a big assumption! lol)

Also, DS wants to know if Spiderman is always in the park (and which park)? He's bouncing off the walls talking about meeting him. Other than that, I think he'll be happy just doing anything.

Thanks!!!

 

[mesaboy2]

Hi! We've been to Disney several times, but this will be our first time at Universal. It'll just be myself and my oldest DS (6) going at the beginning of November. We'd like to stay at Royal Pacific... have a couple of questions about getting the best rate. It looks like the AP rate is $738 for 4 nights. The stay more/save more rate is around $950 for 4 nights.

So, my question.... My work has tickets I can get in advance (4 day park-to-park are $139 adult/$128 kids). Would it make sense (and am I allowed) to purchase tickets to take with me, then upgrade one to an AP? What's the price to upgrade - is it off the price I paid (how do they know what I paid? it's just a normal ticket) or the gate price of the ticket? Do I have to get a certain AP? I don't think we'll be back down within a year, so I don't actually need an AP... just trying to save money on the room.

Hopefully this makes sense! I don't want to do something completely difficult and time-consuming, but it seems quite a bit cheaper to get the AP (if I'm doing the math right, which is always a big assumption! lol)

Also, DS wants to know if Spiderman is always in the park (and which park)? He's bouncing off the walls talking about meeting him. Other than that, I think he'll be happy just doing anything.

Thanks!!!

Spiderman is located at Marvel Superhero Island within Universal's Islands of Adventure everyday.

Sorry I don't the answer to the rest of your question. I was also told there would be no math.

 

[Metro West]

So, my question.... My work has tickets I can get in advance (4 day park-to-park are $139 adult/$128 kids). Would it make sense (and am I allowed) to purchase tickets to take with me, then upgrade one to an AP? What's the price to upgrade - is it off the price I paid (how do they know what I paid? it's just a normal ticket) or the gate price of the ticket? Do I have to get a certain AP? I don't think we'll be back down within a year, so I don't actually need an AP... just trying to save money on the room.

If you decided to upgrade to a Preferred AP to get park discounts (food and merchandise) and hotel rates, you would pay the difference between what you paid and the AP cost. They know what you paid based on the code on the back of the ticket. You'll have to see what the AP rates are for the hotel and if it would be worth it for you to upgrade to an AP.

Like Mesaboy...I don't do math.

 

[AJA]

We stayed onsite 6 nights so the AP savings for restaurants really came in handy for us.
You can go ahead and book the AP rate at the hotel and just purchase the AP at the Royal Pacific when you get there.

If you don't get the AP (using your figures) you total is: $1217 ($950 +$139 +$128) add tax?

If you get the Preferred AP your total would be: $1126 ($738 +$260 +$128) maybe need to add tax?
and with the AP you'll save 10% on a lot of your food and souvenirs.

It looks like the AP will save you a little money, especially when you add in the restaurant and shopping savings.

(don't forget "if" you do plan to visit again within the year, for about $60 more you can upgrade your DS to a Power Pass -check the black out dates)

 

[macraven]

i'd probably would sign up for AAA, which mine costs me $40 a year for the spouse and myself.

10% discount off of food and merch in the parks and most of city walk.
same discount you would get if you had the UO preferred ap.

also a discount up to 30% (depends on your dates) for the onsite hotels when booked w/the aaa rate. (hotel discounts at most hotels in the states)

the aaa is valid for online shopping, hotels, vacation packages, tickets, etc.
many places outside of UO, honor AAA for restaurants, hotels, etc also.



you would be paying over $287 for the preferred ap. $139 for discounted tickets from work.

the difference between the room w/ap or the promo is about $200.

if you do not have plans to return to UO within the 12 months after you activate your ap, consider signing up for AAA and get more usage w/that card.

from the numbers you posted, looks like you could buy 2 sets of the adult tickets from your work for $280 which would cover 8 park hopper days.
could use one set this year and the other set years from now.

i always look at it on 'how many days ' do i need in the park to break even or ahead with the ap.

if you decide to go with the ap route, book the room first before you buy the ap.
all the rooms do not qualify for the ap discount.
only a %age of rooms are set aside for the discount.

buy the tickets from work now as a start.
then work the numbers, call and see if the ap rate is valid for your dates.

whichever way you go, i hope you will have a fabulous vacation at the darkside!

 

[mward73]

Thanks for the help! I purchased the tickets from work yesterday, so at a minumum, I have the discount on those. I think the AP thing might be more trouble than it's worth in savings (and math headaches! lol) I do have AAA, but when I selected that, the price didn't change online. I'll give them a call (though our local office is horrible unless you actually go in there) and see what they come up with. In any case, we're really excited about the trip! DS is very happy to hear Spiderman is there daily

 

[macraven]

you can call UO reservations and they will tell you the AAA rate and can book AAA rate for you.

i never use the AAA agency.
I have not found the two agencies i have called to be up on current events for the UO parks and hotels.

 

[mward73]

Thanks!! It was so much better than calling AAA when I called Universal just now. I got booked at the same promo (stay more/save more) we had previously booked. She checked the AAA rate and said it was higher. We're saving $560 by switching from HRH Club to a regular room at RPH, so I'm pretty happy.

 

[macraven]

glad it worked out for you!

i always tell homies to call when you want to make a ressie at the darkside.

the TM's will not rush you and will tell you which way will be the cheapest rate for rooms.

i have had TM's check the AAA rates for my dates, the AP rates and promo codes.

They will give you the numbers (and the tax amount if you ask) so you can make a decision how you want to book the room.

i always go with the way that is cheapest.