Cheapest tickets

[dr&momto2boys]

Just wondering how things work at Universal. Next year we will be gong twice. Two or 3 days in May and 2 or 3 days in December. Do the $99 tickets for 7 days have an expiration date or can they be used whenever? (I know they have to be used consecutive days, I just mean can we buy them now for next year?) My reading of the website indicates we can, correct?

An AP is $229? If the $99 tickets don't expire, can we upgrade them to an AP when we use them in May? If prices go up will it apply $99 or the current value of the tickets?

Should we just buy two $99 tickets for each of us? Perhaps we should buy an AP for just one of us if the discounts on hotel rooms, restaurants, and parking are worth it? Can anyone comment about the discounts?

Finally, is it cheapest to buy directly from them or is there a cheaper source? I imagine for the $99 deal direct from USO is best, but how about for APs?

We just went through this with WDW tickets for next May and many of these scenarios applied to save us $120 off our APs (for family of 4) and even more if prices go up next month as rumored.

 

[phamton]

Just wondering how things work at Universal. Next year we will be gong twice. Two or 3 days in May and 2 or 3 days in December. Do the $99 tickets for 7 days have an expiration date or can they be used whenever? (I know they have to be used consecutive days, I just mean can we buy them now for next year?)

Absolutely. You can buy them for both trips.

An AP is $229? If the $99 tickets don't expire, can we upgrade them to an AP when we use them in May? If prices go up will it apply $99 or the current value of the tickets?

It will most likely just apply the $99 plus tax value. Occasionally tickets will have an upgrade value more than you paid for them but usually those are really old tickets.

Should we just buy two $99 tickets for each of us? Perhaps we should buy an AP for just one of us if the discounts on hotel rooms, restaurants, and parking are worth it? Can anyone comment about the discounts?

The discounts are listed here: http://www.universalorlando.com/annualpass/ap_pref.php.html Just click on the words that say "See a complete list of 2-Park Preferred Annual Pass discounts." The best thing to do is read it and see if it is something you can use. I like the discounts for the meals and for merchandise. Only one person would need it in the group to get the discount.

Finally, is it cheapest to buy directly from them or is there a cheaper source? I imagine for the $99 deal direct from USO is best, but how about for APs?

You can sometimes save a few dollars buying from AAA but usually it is only $2 or $3. The good thing about ordering straight from USO is you know what the upgrade value is and if they are lost they are easier to trace so they can be reprinted. If you buy an AP from AAA and lose it before you enter the park, you are just out of luck unless you have a photocopy of the barcode.

 

[dr&momto2boys]

Thanks for the help!

A couple more quesions...
Can we get a 30% off room (if available) if we're activating the pass upon arrival? Is it off of one room or can we get three rooms for our family at this discount? (There are 11 of us.)

Where do you go to buy passes for 15% discount? While our immediate family (4 of us besides the AP holder) will do best with the $99 passes which I would guess couldn't be discounted further. The other 6 just need 2 day passes which would be cheaper at the 15% AP discount.

 

[phamton]

Thanks for the help!

A couple more quesions...
Can we get a 30% off room (if available) if we're activating the pass upon arrival? Is it off of one room or can we get three rooms for our family at this discount? (There are 11 of us.)

i don't know the answer to this. Since I am local I don't need hotel rooms. Hopefully someone else can answer this.

Where do you go to buy passes for 15% discount? While our immediate family (4 of us besides the AP holder) will do best with the $99 passes which I would guess couldn't be discounted further. The other 6 just need 2 day passes which would be cheaper at the 15% AP discount.

If you already have your AP you can order with your discount online on the passholder site. Since you don't have an AP yet, you'll have to buy it at the gate. The two day ticket is $119.99 plus tax at the gate so a 15% discount would make it around $100 plus tax. As you can see, the online 7 day ticket is cheaper than a two day ticket even with your AP discount.

 

[Metro West]

If you already have your AP you can order with your discount online on the passholder site. Since you don't have an AP yet, you'll have to buy it at the gate. The two day ticket is $119.99 plus tax at the gate so a 15% discount would make it around $100 plus tax. As you can see, the online 7 day ticket is cheaper than a two day ticket even with your AP discount.

 

[macraven]

one room per APH for that discount.

since you have 4 in your group, one room would be fine.
5 are allowed per room.

you would not be able to book 3 rooms and use your AP discount on all 3 rooms.

rates for the rooms vary by hotel and the date you are booked.

there are specials on the website.
it explains what promos are currently being offered.

 

[dr&momto2boys]

i don't know the answer to this. Since I am local I don't need hotel rooms. Hopefully someone else can answer this.



The two day ticket is $119.99 plus tax at the gate so a 15% discount would make it around $100 plus tax. As you can see, the online 7 day ticket is cheaper than a two day ticket even with your AP discount.

Oh, I thought it was $105. Well, it will still be chaeper to use the AP discount for the kids if I'm remembering right.

Thanks for the help everyone.

 

[dr&momto2boys]

Hey, why didn't anyone mention the power pass? I think three of us will get the power pass for $150 and one of us will get the preferred AP for the discounts. We avoid the busy times that are blacked out anyway.

Just out of curiosity...anyone have the premium AP and think it's worth it? We wouldn't use the Halloween tix.

Edit:
We called and booked our room for next May with an AP discount of $27 per night. Was hoping for more, but we'll keep checking. That along with dining discounts still makes it worth the price of the PAP. And that's if we only stay on property the one time (2 nights.) We'll be in Orlando two more times within a year--definately going to US at least one of those times but don't know yet whether we'll stay on property.

 

[macraven]

Preferred Annual Pass = free parking, hotel discounts, food and merch discounts, special passholder month specials, discounts on HHN tix and other hard ticket events, etc.

that's why I keep mine renewed.


i'm not local so a premiere would add no perks for me.