First time to Universal, more ticket questions

[tycopj]

I've been reading a lot of great information regarding Universal on these forums! We are so excited for our first trip. We have been to Disney and have it down, but have a lot to learn about Universal.

I have read and researched the ticket options. It seems the more I read and research, the more I am confused. We will arrive on Monday and check out on Friday. I know some will say it is too long, but we are ready for a slower paced trip. I'm not sure if we will go to the parks on arrival and departure days, I think we would have time to spend a few hours at the parks on those days, but I'm not really sure since it is our first trip.

There are 2 adults and 2 kids but they are older so 4 adult tickets. I need one Power Pass (thanks to these boards, I kept checking for APH rates and they popped up for our dates. Staying at Hard rock, with APH we now have a pool view with a cheaper rate) We are going in March, less than a month!

I had planned on getting one AP and 3 four day tickets, but it seems like it might be better to get all AP's. I don't know that we will go back within a year, but we could go to the parks all 5 days if we want.

It looks like UT prices include taxes and shipping. Universal prices do not include taxes and shipping. And gate prices are even higher. Is this correct?

If I am correct, the 2+1 day non expire is $177.99 on UT and CAN be upgraded at the gate. Is this right? Is this the best way to go? Does anyone know how much will it be to upgrade each ticket? If it is a lot, we can do 4 day tickets, but those don't seem to be much of a value compared to Annual passes.

Thanks for any help, suggestions or advice! I would love to hear it all.

 

[macraven]

power pass is $189.99 + tax

for a bit more, you can buy all 4 in your group the power AP.

but, you can buy park tickets at a discount with your AP.

did you checkout the UO site on benefits of the AP's?
the last 4 dates of March are blacked out for the power ap.



no, i would never say your trip is too long.
people say that to me as i have a 13 day stay booked onsite.

 

[tesslor]

I just purchased the 3 park unlimited which is good for park admission for 14 days to universal, islands of adventure and wet and wild. The cost was only a few dollars more than the 4 day. I paid $200.00 each for adults.

 

[johde]

power pass is $189.99 + tax

$189.99 is the FL resident price for the Power Pass. The regular price is $214.99 + tax.

I've been reading a lot of great information regarding Universal on these forums! We are so excited for our first trip. We have been to Disney and have it down, but have a lot to learn about Universal.

I have read and researched the ticket options. It seems the more I read and research, the more I am confused. We will arrive on Monday and check out on Friday. I know some will say it is too long, but we are ready for a slower paced trip. I'm not sure if we will go to the parks on arrival and departure days, I think we would have time to spend a few hours at the parks on those days, but I'm not really sure since it is our first trip.

There are 2 adults and 2 kids but they are older so 4 adult tickets. I need one Power Pass (thanks to these boards, I kept checking for APH rates and they popped up for our dates. Staying at Hard rock, with APH we now have a pool view with a cheaper rate) We are going in March, less than a month!

I had planned on getting one AP and 3 four day tickets, but it seems like it might be better to get all AP's. I don't know that we will go back within a year, but we could go to the parks all 5 days if we want.

It looks like UT prices include taxes and shipping. Universal prices do not include taxes and shipping. And gate prices are even higher. Is this correct?

If I am correct, the 2+1 day non expire is $177.99 on UT and CAN be upgraded at the gate. Is this right? Is this the best way to go? Does anyone know how much will it be to upgrade each ticket? If it is a lot, we can do 4 day tickets, but those don't seem to be much of a value compared to Annual passes.

Thanks for any help, suggestions or advice! I would love to hear it all.

When I upgraded at the beginning of the year, I upgraded a 4 day park to park ticket that I purchased from "best of orlando" before the last price increase for $166. I was able to upgrade to a power pass for Free. I don't have first hand experience upgrading the 2+1 day non expire tickets from UT. But, I remember reading people being able to upgrade them for about $9. The 2+1 that need to be used before June seem to be more expensive to upgrade to a power pass. As near as I can tell, what you pay is the difference between the gate price of what you're turning in and the gate price of what you're upgrading too.

 

[macraven]

you're probably right.
i did a quick pull up of the ap benefit chart and must have used the fl rate section.

 

[got4boys]

If you buy the 2 Day Park to Park, you can get the 3rd Day Free for $187.43 each person. 4 Day pass is $208.73. Power Pass with Tax is $228.97. Preferred Pass is $314.17. Note - Preferred Pass does offer free parking after first visit and some discounts that the Power Pass does not give - Food & Merchandise - Discounted food, merchandise and specialty items (in park & CityWalk). If you are going to buy Harry Potter Wands (there are 30+ some of them) or any theme park merchandise, you get a discount - 10% with the Preferred Pass.

We bought everyone Power Passes and one Preferred Pass. - You can always upgrade your current ticket after you get there.

 

[DPCummerbund]

I just purchased the 3 park unlimited which is good for park admission for 14 days to universal, islands of adventure and wet and wild. The cost was only a few dollars more than the 4 day. I paid $200.00 each for adults.

We also bought these - like the OP, we're going for 5 nights, and found that the 14-day "3 Park Unlimited" ticket was cheaper than a 4-day ticket from UT $200 for the 3-Park vs. $203.71 for the 4-day Park to Park ticket.

As others have mentioned, it probably comes down to your dates, and whether you can use the Power Passes vs. the Preferred Pass, and whether paying more for an annual pass is worth it for you.

 

[2forMe]

I thought I read that the 3 park unlimited cannot be upgraded?

 

[damo]

I thought I read that the 3 park unlimited cannot be upgraded?

That is correct. If there is any chance you want to upgrade, this ticket should not be purchased.