AP upgrade questions

[A Belle Among Beasts]

My husband and I booked our stay through a TA before the ticket rate increase. We booked 4 day park to park tickets standalone and an APH rate at PBH. Our plans are to upgrade the tickets to APs. When we purchased, the tickets were about $10 or so less than seasonal passes. Now gate price on the tickets is more than the seasonal passes.

Now I'm a bit confused on what will transpire in an upgrade situation. Will they credit what we paid? Will they credit current gate price? If they credit current gate price will we be required to upgrade to a higher level of passes or will they refund the excess?

We had discussed doing one seasonal and one preferred for discount purposes. Would excess from one ticket upgrade to seasonal be able to be applied to the 2nd ticket upgrade to preferred? Of course that only factors if they are credited at current gate vs purchase price.

Any insight is appreciated! I'm just trying to finalize the budget on this trip...that starts in a little over a day lol!

 

[damo]

Yup, they will credit you. It will either be cash or on a gift card.

 

[jeffbeardreams]

You should really check with your agent and they should be able to be more accurate with answers.

But as to the first part ... you will be credited the amount you actually paid for a ticket towards the cost of your annual pass when you upgrade. Using generic round numbers here ... if you paid 100 bucks and the AP costs 300 bucks, then you'll owe 200 to upgrade.

 

[A Belle Among Beasts]

You should really check with your agent and they should be able to be more accurate with answers.

But as to the first part ... you will be credited the amount you actually paid for a ticket towards the cost of your annual pass when you upgrade. Using generic round numbers here ... if you paid 100 bucks and the AP costs 300 bucks, then you'll owe 200 to upgrade.

Thanks. That's what we've budgeted for. Of course I was hoping for the now obsolete Disney style of bridging lol!

 

[damo]

Thanks. That's what we've budgeted for. Of course I was hoping for the now obsolete Disney style of bridging lol!

What they have been doing lately at Universal is crediting you gate price of a ticket when you upgrade. If you read through some of the current threads here you will see many reports of people getting money back or having to pay a very small amount to upgrade based on current gate value of the ticket. Lots of people benefitted from the buy 2 get 1 free tickets from Undercover tourist and upgraded them. They were credited the gate value of a 3 day ticket. Use the ticket first, of course. Hopefully you will have success!

https://www.disboards.com/threads/ut-2-1day-free-exchanged-for-ap-at-no-cost.3595432/#post-57402518

 

[A Belle Among Beasts]

Just thought I'd update since we upgraded yesterday. We paid $60 to upgrade our two 4 day park to park tickets to a seasonal pass and a preferred pass. They gave us full gate price in credit. Had we gone with two seasonal passes we would have been refunded $40!

 

[damo]

Just thought I'd update since we upgraded yesterday. We paid $60 to upgrade our two 4 day park to park tickets to a seasonal pass and a preferred pass. They gave us full gate price in credit. Had we gone with two seasonal passes we would have been refunded $40!

Glad it worked out so well for you! Universal has been great in bridging lately.

 

[jeffbeardreams]

Just thought I'd update since we upgraded yesterday. We paid $60 to upgrade our two 4 day park to park tickets to a seasonal pass and a preferred pass. They gave us full gate price in credit. Had we gone with two seasonal passes we would have been refunded $40!

Awesome. Free money is the best money.

 

[bumbershoot]

What they have been doing lately at Universal is crediting you gate price of a ticket when you upgrade.

Sneaky bridging.

Wish they were doing that back when we upgraded hubby and son to APs.

 

[LaCa]

Piggybacking on this question. We have 6 rooms booked under the AP rate at the Portofino in early June. We have the undercover tourist buy 2 get 1 day free tickets. We will upgrade our Tickets to the seasonal AP passes. We are going before the block out time frame starting on 6/10/17. My questions:

1. Can we upgrade our tickets at the Portofino Ticket desk or must we upgrade at the ticket window at the park?

2. Do we have to use the tickets on day 1 before upgrading them? For example, go through the turnstile so the tickets are activated.

Thanks for all the great advice!

 

[brios86]

Piggybacking on this question. We have 6 rooms booked under the AP rate at the Portofino in early June. We have the undercover tourist buy 2 get 1 day free tickets. We will upgrade our Tickets to the seasonal AP passes. We are going before the block out time frame starting on 6/10/17. My questions:

1. Can we upgrade our tickets at the Portofino Ticket desk or must we upgrade at the ticket window at the park?

2. Do we have to use the tickets on day 1 before upgrading them? For example, go through the turnstile so the tickets are activated.

Thanks for all the great advice!

You do have to use the passes first in order to have the ticket price bridge. Not sure about upgrading at Portofino.

You mentioned block out dates starting 6/10. I just found these dates on the universal site. Please tell me they aren't wrong! We will be there 6/7 to 6/12

Universal Studios Florida™
Apr. 8–22, 2017
Jul. 1–31, 2017
Dec. 21–31, 2017

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

Universal's Islands of Adventure™
Apr. 8–22, 2017
Jul. 1–31, 2017
Dec. 21–31, 2017

Universal's Volcano Bay™
Jul. 1–31, 2017

Please note, Volcano Bay™ blockout dates apply to 3-Park Passes only.

 

[JRoyster86]

Thanks for the updates! I'm hoping I can upgrade my four day tickets when we go in July.

Does anyone know if you can choose between a two or three park annual pass now? Or is it switching only to three park?

 

[damo]

You do have to use the passes first in order to have the ticket price bridge. Not sure about upgrading at Portofino.

You mentioned block out dates starting 6/10. I just found these dates on the universal site. Please tell me they aren't wrong! We will be there 6/7 to 6/12

Universal Studios Florida™
Apr. 8–22, 2017
Jul. 1–31, 2017
Dec. 21–31, 2017

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

Universal's Islands of Adventure™
Apr. 8–22, 2017
Jul. 1–31, 2017
Dec. 21–31, 2017

Universal's Volcano Bay™
Jul. 1–31, 2017

Please note, Volcano Bay™ blockout dates apply to 3-Park Passes only.

Block out days have been recently updated to what you have posted. Part of June used to be blocked out but isn't anymore.

 

[damo]

Thanks for the updates! I'm hoping I can upgrade my four day tickets when we go in July.

Does anyone know if you can choose between a two or three park annual pass now? Or is it switching only to three park?

You can upgrade to whatever you want.

 

[atricks]

They are having a special event for AP holders (with 3 park passes) on the grand opening day, space limited, and super early on the 25th (6-6:30 AM is when you have to be there to sign in).

Sign up is at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/offici...ening-dedication-ceremony-tickets-34577783080 password is UOAPVBGO You have to enter the number off the back of the 3 park pass also. I didn't attend the fallon one, but it was pretty nice, with complimentary breakfast and up close access ot the mini parade and things they had.

 

[AngiTN]

Is there a list of where they can do the upgrades? I know we need to use the ticket first but then what? Is there a link here with a list of locations? Or does anyone have a list? Would be great if there is an in park location
When we did the AP for DH and I we bought ours online and activated them outside the gates at IOA before we entered the first time. It will be different when we bridge the ticket we have for DGD

 

[atricks]

Is there a list of where they can do the upgrades? I know we need to use the ticket first but then what? Is there a link here with a list of locations? Or does anyone have a list? Would be great if there is an in park location
When we did the AP for DH and I we bought ours online and activated them outside the gates at IOA before we entered the first time. It will be different when we bridge the ticket we have for DGD

The primary one is the "Group Sales" window just to the left of the Islands of Adventure lighthouse outside the entrance, they'll only be doing that a bit longer though. Otherwise guest services at the front of either park (Or the citywalk guest services between Cold Stone and the pizza place). Inside the studios Guest Services to the right as you enter, inside Islands it's also on the right "Open Arms Hotel" sign above it. If you go in early, go inside the park for guest services, there's usually no line early in the day (INSIDE the park).

 

[n2mm]

Thanks for the info. Hope some of this older info is correct