Convoluted Ticket Question

[DisPhanatic]

I originally purchased four tickets from UT - 3 park / 4 day - for a trip in April. I have rescheduled that trip to August 21. All along the plan was for a split Disney / Universal trip with four nights at each. I started with the Grand Floridian and Royal Pacific. When I rescheduled, I upgraded both to club level.

I have some concerns with Disney's reopening plans. To be safe, I booked a room only at Cabana Bay so I have two options right now: Grand Floridian / RP or Cabana Bay / RP. If I go with an 8 night Universal trip, I will need to rethink my tickets. The other speed bump is that my husband is probably not going now. He doesn't want to travel with the restrictions and I get it. However, my two boys and I are still game and really want to go!

So, here's my ticket dilemma.
- How does upgrading UT tickets work? Where do I do that?
- What is the longest ticket I can get before I should purchase APs? Where would I do that?
- For my husband's ticket, can one of the boys use it for 4 days and then use theirs for 4 days? Thus covering one 8 day span. Then I only need to upgrade one child and myself. The kids are 12 and 14 so they pay adult prices.

Any other advice is welcome! I appreciate it and hope Universal's opening goes smoothly. Then I will know for sure that I am heading to Orlando and I just need to decide whether or not to keep Disney. Thank you, friends!

 

[OrlandoGirl357]

So, here's my ticket dilemma.

- What is the longest ticket I can get before I should purchase APs? Where would I do that?
The longest Universal sells regular tickets for is 5 days. They do have a 14 day ticket deal but that is only for packages. Looking Universal's website, and 3 park 4 day ticket is 394.99 not including tax. A 3 park seasonal pass is 403.99. If you already have the tickets purchased, upgrading to a season pass is very cheap. While they do have many blockout dates, I am not seeing any dates in August for the theme parks. The water park is blocked out until August 16, but if that is an issue you can upgrade after you do the water park.
If you choose to upgrade tickets, just take the tickets to guest services and request to upgrade to a pass. You will the difference to upgrade but that should be cheaper than buying more tickets.

- For my husband's ticket, can one of the boys use it for 4 days and then use theirs for 4 days? Thus covering one 8 day span. Then I only need to upgrade one child and myself. The kids are 12 and 14 so they pay adult prices.
While you can use the ticket, if you think you may be going back something before the pass expires, you may want to keep the ticket for another trip.
Also, you may want to look into upgraded one ticket for a seasonal pass. That way you can book the APH rates for you dates.

 

[DisPhanatic]

Thanks so much, OrlandoGirl357! I definitely think AP is the way to go for two of us and it sounds like I can use my husband's ticket for my son to add the 4 days. We will not be making a trip back most likely and I didn't want to lose the ticket money or need to work on refunds. I want to support these businesses, not get money back

I figured the AP was the best way to go. Two more questions on that:

- Is it guest services at the park or at the hotel? Just bring my tickets and pay the difference, right?

- For the APH hotel rates, can I add the discount when I check in? Should I call and change to an APH rate now? We've never done APs.

I appreciate the advice.

 

[OrlandoGirl357]

Guest services at the park will be able to update your ticket to a pass. If you do book with the APH rate, you will have to show your pass to the front desk before your checkout date. I have never booked an APH rate without having the APH first, so you will have to get others' advice on that.

You will have to book with the APH. People have recorded being able to call and getting the APH rate applied. I have always canceled and rebooked rooms when I wanted to book an APH rate. The APH link will be pinned on the resorts board.

 

[nkereina]

- For the APH hotel rates, can I add the discount when I check in? Should I call and change to an APH rate now? We've never done APs.

As PP mentions, you have to book APH rates in advance and they are subject to availability. APH rates are out now for August, so you can either enter "APH" in the promo code field online to check pricing or call to inquire. Its possible for APH rates to not be available for each night of your stay, and its also possible for APH rates to fluctuate so keep checking on them until your trip. Since you will be upgrading to APs while there, the hotel may request you return to the desk once you have your AP in order to verify it for the hotel rate. I've had to do that once, and I've also stayed once on an APH rate where they never asked to see my AP.

For your Undercover Tourist tickets, did you have to enter each person's name when you purchased the ticket? Its been years since I've bought from UCT, but I seem to remember that - I could be confusing it with WDW though. Tickets are generally non-transferrable, so I might suggest contacting UCT to confirm your son can use your husband's ticket.