Costco ticket upgradable to Annual Pass?

[dragonflymom]

I purchased two Costco tickets probably about 3 years ago which allow you to visit both parks for 3 days over a 3-year span (tickets expire Dec. 31, 2014). We have used 2 days already on a visit in Dec. 2012 and we're planning to use the remaining day this December. I was wondering whether any part of the ticket could be applied to an Annual Pass. I sent an email to Universal and got a call back from a nice lady. She believes it is upgradable but can't answer the second part of my question which is how much extra I would need to pay. She said I would need to physically produce the ticket for them to scan to be able to tell. I vaguely recall I had paid about $170 per ticket (not positive at all) so does that mean they would consider the entire amount? I'm wondering if anyone had tried and could tell me. Thank you in advance!

 

[damo]

Yes they are upgradable to an annual pass. HOWEVER....the annual pass will have been activated on the date of the first use of the tickets. Since you used it first in December, 2012...the annual pass will expire in December, 2013. That means that your annual pass will already have expired before you could use it.

If you hadn't already used the tickets that would be a different story.

 

[dragonflymom]

Got it... thanks!

 

[paracelsus]

Has something changed since 2009? Please see...

http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2251639

 

[macraven]

many things have changed since 5 years ago.

 

[damo]

Has something changed since 2009? Please see...

http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2251639

There were people who upgraded their more recent Costco tickets.

 

[dragonflymom]

I received another phone call this morning from Guest Services to make sure my question was addressed (all I can say is I haven't experienced this level of customer service for a while!) and on a whim, I asked her whether my unused day which I plan to use this December would have any value if I want to upgrade to an annual pass even though first use was 2 years ago. To my surprise, she said yes, absolutely, they would do the math and they have tables there that list all types of tickets and what kind of calculation would be applied if I have unused day(s) left. Hubby is positive we paid $139.99 for those tickets so if there is some consideration for the unused day, then it could be a nice discount to an AP. We will most likely just go for a 2-day ticket to supplement the unused day rather than upgrade to an AP since I just changed jobs and not quite sure if we'll make it back within a year, but I hope this helps someone in a similar situation. I would also suggest calling Guest Services just to confirm your particular situation.

 

[damo]

I received another phone call this morning from Guest Services to make sure my question was addressed (all I can say is I haven't experienced this level of customer service for a while!) and on a whim, I asked her whether my unused day which I plan to use this December would have any value if I want to upgrade to an annual pass even though first use was 2 years ago. To my surprise, she said yes, absolutely, they would do the math and they have tables there that list all types of tickets and what kind of calculation would be applied if I have unused day(s) left. Hubby is positive we paid $139.99 for those tickets so if there is some consideration for the unused day, then it could be a nice discount to an AP. We will most likely just go for a 2-day ticket to supplement the unused day rather than upgrade to an AP since I just changed jobs and not quite sure if we'll make it back within a year, but I hope this helps someone in a similar situation. I would also suggest calling Guest Services just to confirm your particular situation.

Did you ask her when the expiry of the AP would be? This response goes against what our resident Guest Services person has said, but things could have always changed. Perhaps she will pop in with a response.

Good luck! If they do let you upgrade to an AP, you basically got your other ticket for nothing!

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2884028

 

[dragonflymom]

Did you ask her when the expiry of the AP would be? This response goes against what our resident Guest Services person has said, but things could have always changed. Perhaps she will pop in with a response.

Good luck! If they do let you upgrade to an AP, you basically got your others ticket for nothing!

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2884028

No, I did not ask about expiration dates. The context of our conversation was mostly around the unused day and the value it carries when trying to figure how much additional to pay for an annual pass, so I take it that the clock of the AP would start on the day I decide to apply the unused day towards an annual pass. This is not inconsistent with what you had explained earlier, which is if the entire value (or all 3 days) could be applied then it makes sense the clock starts on first use which in my case was 2 years ago. But if it's possible to just apply the 3rd unused day (assuming the calculation would be $139.99 divided by 3) then the value of the unused day would be $46.66 and that would be the amount applied to the AP and my unused day would still be unused if the clock starts on that day for the AP. Hope that makes sense. That was what was at the back of my mind when I started the inquiry and I agree with you it makes no sense that I wouldn't have to pay anything for the original Costco ticket if the entire value could be applied to an AP. However, it makes a lot of sense to me if Universal is willing to provide me with an AP discounted by $46.66 and it would be a "win-win" since Universal would get more money from me for future visits and I can save some money immediately (AP discounts, parking, etc.)

It is encouraging that the Guest Services lady seemed to be on the same page and assured me that they would take used and unused days into consideration and she said that as a last resort, if the calculation is not straight forward, then they could always offer me the renewal rate.

Again this is in the context of an AP and I don't know whether the above logic of used and unused days could be applied to upgrading from one kind of multi-day ticket to another. Best thing to do is to talk to Guest Services and from my last 2 interactions with them, they are both quick to respond and very friendly! Thank you for all your quick help and response... it really helped me ask the right questions in the second call.

 

[mmmcl]

Does anyone know if Costco currently has a similar deal on US tickets?

 

[damo]

Does anyone know if Costco currently has a similar deal on US tickets?

No, there isn't a Costco deal like this out right now.

 

[damo]

Here's another recent post regarding your question with a response from our resident expert.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=51789150#post51789150

 

[DawnM]

I was able to upgrade my Costco passes today to an Annual pass. I first used them last year for a day last Novemeber, 2013. I was still able to do it. In fact, I was given the current 3 day pass amount credit towards our passes.

I am so glad I asked! We are thrilled to have another year to visit Universal as often as we wish!

 

[Eilynn]

I was able to upgrade my Costco passes today to an Annual pass. I first used them last year for a day last Novemeber, 2013. I was still able to do it. In fact, I was given the current 3 day pass amount credit towards our passes.

I am so glad I asked! We are thrilled to have another year to visit Universal as often as we wish!

I have one day remaining on a ticket that was first used in July 2012. It doesn't expire until the end of 2015 and I was hoping we might be able to get some kind of credit on an upgrade to an AP.

Which guest services or ticket window did you go to? Did they immediately process it, or did you have to ask several people to get the upgrade done?

 

[DawnM]

I just went to the one outside of US at closing today and asked. He even double checked with a Manager.

I went up, presented my passes and asked if they could be upgrade to an AP and if so, how much would it cost.

He punched the numbers into a computer and it showed a credit towards the passes of a current 3 day pass price.

He issued them right then.

Dawn

I have one day remaining on a ticket that was first used in July 2012. It doesn't expire until the end of 2015 and I was hoping we might be able to get some kind of credit on an upgrade to an AP.

Which guest services or ticket window did you go to? Did they immediately process it, or did you have to ask several people to get the upgrade done?

 

[Eilynn]

I just went to the one outside of US at closing today and asked. He even double checked with a Manager.

I went up, presented my passes and asked if they could be upgrade to an AP and if so, how much would it cost.

He punched the numbers into a computer and it showed a credit towards the passes of a current 3 day pass price.

He issued them right then.

Dawn

That's awesome news. We'll hold off on buying the APs until we're down there and give this a shot. Thanks for the info!