Gift cards

[PACVII]

So thinking I was doing it right I started to purchase gift cards to pay for our trip as we do when we go to disney. This way we can have the cost spread out over time. Well I was more then a little taken back today when we found that you can not use the cards to pay for your trip as you can for disney. The phone consultant was very nice and suggested that we book room only then purchase park tickets when we arrive and use the gift cards. The problem, I have more then what is needed for the tickets. I I guess we can use for food at the park but really just want people to know you can not book your trip and expect to use cards as you may with WDW. Well lesion learned but after some of my other problems booking. It's just not as easy as disney. Can say this will be the first and last trip. Sorry folks just not a fan.

 

[RMulieri]

I am sorry you are having difficulties.That said, you can not compare Universal and Disney and please dont let this snag ruin your experience of what is a great vacation.They are different, yes. But universal can be just as wonderful if you let it .You simply can't expect them to be the same thing. FWIW, The REASON you can't use Universal giftcards for a resort ressie, is unlike Disney, Universal does NOT OWN the resorts.The resorts are owned and operated by Loews hotels ( a luxury chain).You can use the giftcards for tickets, food, souveniers and mostly everything else.Also, Parking is not inlcuded in any resort ressie, so if you are bringing a car, you will be paying nightly parking.I would also advise against booking a pkg for Universal.With Unviersal, there is really no benefits to a pkg and you can very often get a discount on the resort room.Sorry you started off on bad footing with Universal, but dont let it ruin your trip.I would definitely spend some time looking into what Universal is and what it has to offer.You may be surprised

 

[keishashadow]

So thinking I was doing it right I started to purchase gift cards to pay for our trip as we do when we go to disney. This way we can have the cost spread out over time. Well I was more then a little taken back today when we found that you can not use the cards to pay for your trip as you can for disney. The phone consultant was very nice and suggested that we book room only then purchase park tickets when we arrive and use the gift cards. The problem, I have more then what is needed for the tickets. I I guess we can use for food at the park but really just want people to know you can not book your trip and expect to use cards as you may with WDW. Well lesion learned but after some of my other problems booking. It's just not as easy as disney. Can say this will be the first and last trip. Sorry folks just not a fan.

most here will agree that booking the room (watch for discounts) and tix separately vs a package is the way to go to save $.

I'm a veteran of both parks and am over the new FP+ system which appears to be morphing daily. Can't get much simpler than staying onsite @ Universal with the FOTL perk.

It's unfortunate that you didn't verify what forms of payment that the onsite hotels would accept, several others have posted they assumed things would run the same as WDW. Apparantly, it's enough to annoy you to point where you've made up your mind before visitingbut you may feel differently after you return from a most excellent trip.

 

[macraven]

So thinking I was doing it right I started to purchase gift cards to pay for our trip as we do when we go to disney. This way we can have the cost spread out over time. Well I was more then a little taken back today when we found that you can not use the cards to pay for your trip as you can for disney. The phone consultant was very nice and suggested that we book room only then purchase park tickets when we arrive and use the gift cards. The problem, I have more then what is needed for the tickets. I I guess we can use for food at the park but really just want people to know you can not book your trip and expect to use cards as you may with WDW. Well lesion learned but after some of my other problems booking. It's just not as easy as disney. Can say this will be the first and last trip. Sorry folks just not a fan.

Can I use a gift card for a stay at one of the on-site hotels?
Yes, Universal Orlando Resort Gift Cards may be applied toward room nights and other goods and services at any of the three on-site hotels at Universal Orlando Resort.

from the UO site:
https://www.universalorlando.com/Gift-Card-FAQs.aspx

i paid a one night deposit when i booked the onsite room.
i used a gift card to cover the room once i was there.

 

[RMulieri]

Can I use a gift card for a stay at one of the on-site hotels?
Yes, Universal Orlando Resort Gift Cards may be applied toward room nights and other goods and services at any of the three on-site hotels at Universal Orlando Resort.

from the UO site:
https://www.universalorlando.com/Gift-Card-FAQs.aspx

i paid a one night deposit when i booked the onsite room.
i used a gift card to cover the room once i was there.

I stand corrected...Good to know

 

[buckeev]

Can I use a gift card for a stay at one of the on-site hotels?
Yes, Universal Orlando Resort Gift Cards may be applied toward room nights and other goods and services at any of the three on-site hotels at Universal Orlando Resort.

from the UO site:
https://www.universalorlando.com/Gift-Card-FAQs.aspx

i paid a one night deposit when i booked the onsite room.
i used a gift card to cover the room once i was there.

DITTO...
I've done this several times. We currently are sittin' on a boat-load of Universal GCs, and I called many months ago to once again confirm that will still work. The folks at HRH and RPR are incredible, and we can't wait to get back next month!...

 

[tiggspring]

This is fantastic!

Glad this changed since the last time we booked. We had tried to do a vacation in 2012 but had to cancel. We always use GC for Disney and on our Disney cruise. We get 10c off 30 gal of gas and sometimes 20 when fuel perks are dbl at our grocery store. For a family of five it adds up fast! On our cruise we even paid taxes/tips and port charges Would would love to do the same at Universal!

 

[bumbershoot]

Op, what other booking problems have you had? Can we help you?


Are you booking a package? Perhaps that is why you cannot use the gift cards? Is there a chance to can do that package without penalty? If so, check out the loewshotels.com site to see the room rates. Doing that and buying tickets separately could very well be a better total than a package. And when booking on site as room-only you are missing nothing that a package can give except maybe a breakfast reservation at 3 Broomsticks. But that is barely needed anymore.

With FP+ and recent changes to disney's Gc stuff (used to be able to combine gcs by going to a Disney Store but that just ended) I hardly think booking at Disney is any easier. It's just different. So let us help you figure out this new and different world.

 

[keishashadow]

Op, what other booking problems have you had? Can we help you?


Are you booking a package? Perhaps that is why you cannot use the gift cards? Is there a chance to can do that package without penalty? If so, check out the loewshotels.com site to see the room rates. Doing that and buying tickets separately could very well be a better total than a package. And when booking on site as room-only you are missing nothing that a package can give except maybe a breakfast reservation at 3 Broomsticks. But that is barely needed anymore.

With FP+ and recent changes to disney's Gc stuff (used to be able to combine gcs by going to a Disney Store but that just ended) I hardly think booking at Disney is any easier. It's just different. So let us help you figure out this new and different world.

it how I read the OP since you cannot currently apply the gift cards to the packages.

if the tix were bought thru the local grocery store in PIT (giant eagle) it is my understanding it is a final transaction, you cannot return them.

 

[tiggspring]

I know giant eagle does not take returns on gift cards. I doubt anyone else does either. Best you can do is go online and sell them for a loss...Think I would save them for another trip, give as gifts or use on anything that would make trip extra special like shows etc.

 

[bumbershoot]

Did the OP mention buying tickets at Giant Eagle? I'm confuzzled.

 

[tiggspring]

Did the OP mention buying tickets at Giant Eagle? I'm confuzzled.

If you are logged in on a mobile app you might not be able to see that the OP listed their location as Pittsburgh. Those of us in that area know that Giant Eagle has had a very popular fuel perks program since 2008-2009(?) that includes the ability to earn 10c per gal for every $50 spent up to 30 gal ($3 saved) sometimes on gift cards they double it. So for every every $50 you save $6 or 12% off. That translates into Big saving on a trip in the thousands of dollars. I average 2000-2500 a year in free gas buying clothes, things on amazon, trips and appliances. All things I must or would buy anyway. I have to plan a bit and have a garage full of gas cans but it is soooo worth it!! Especially on our Disney cruise where it basically paid for our youngest childs fare . Save a lot also does it here but they use sunocco gas stations which tend to be a bit higher on gas then Giant Eagle's sister business of getgo gas stations and they have fewer stores. There are more Giant Eagle's than Walmart's out here.

 

[macraven]

if you book a package, it must be paid in full prior to your arrival to the hotel.


you can not call and pay for the room with a gc over the phone.
all usage of the gc need to be done in person.
i use my gc for the hotel room, food, park purchases, etc.
the UO gc are also valid for use in city walk.


if you book room only, like most of us here, you pay the first night stay with a cc and pay the rest of the room costs when you check out of the hotel.

 

[keishashadow]

If you are logged in on a mobile app you might not be able to see that the OP listed their location as Pittsburgh. Those of us in that area know that Giant Eagle has had a very popular fuel perks program since 2008-2009(?) that includes the ability to earn 10c per gal for every $50 spent up to 30 gal ($3 saved) sometimes on gift cards they double it. So for every every $50 you save $6 or 12% off. That translates into Big saving on a trip in the thousands of dollars. I average 2000-2500 a year in free gas buying clothes, things on amazon, trips and appliances. All things I must or would buy anyway. I have to plan a bit and have a garage full of gas cans but it is soooo worth it!! Especially on our Disney cruise where it basically paid for our youngest childs fare . Save a lot also does it here but they use sunocco gas stations which tend to be a bit higher on gas then Giant Eagle's sister business of getgo gas stations and they have fewer stores. There are more Giant Eagle's than Walmart's out here.

Shop & Save does the Sunoco too in our area. I rarely buy groceries @ Giant Eagle (typically community market & Sams) but we do the double dip when it comes to travel:

buy the Disney or universal GCs via reward CC & accrue the fuel perks via the GC purchase

Have enough for our 2nd round of fill ups end of the month and will purchase a few extra travel ones & the Christmas present GCs this week since fuel perks are $.20 off $.50 at least until next Wednesday.

 

[tiggspring]

Shop & Save does the Sunoco too in our area. I rarely buy groceries @ Giant Eagle (typically community market & Sams) but we do the double dip when it comes to travel:

buy the Disney or universal GCs via reward CC & accrue the fuel perks via the GC purchase

Have enough for our 2nd round of fill ups end of the month and will purchase a few extra travel ones & the Christmas present GCs this week since fuel perks are $.20 off $.50 at least until next Wednesday.

I use the reward cc too or my citizens bank card for extra perks. Was just told by clerk that they are doing dbl perks til Dec 18 have lots to buy on amazon etc so it would be good to spread it out a bit more. I always dbl check against flyer as sometimes clerks are not given right info. Doest happen often but can't be too careful

 

[bumbershoot]

If you are logged in on a mobile app you might not be able to see that the OP listed their location as Pittsburgh.

Ah, OK. No, I was on my computer but she just didn't say anything about returning the GCs so I was confused.

she even says she can use them. "I have more then what is needed for the tickets. I I guess we can use for food at the park"...

And we've all told her that unless she's booked a package she can use them in the way she wanted to.

And I thought you said tickets not GCs.

 

[keishashadow]

I use the reward cc too or my citizens bank card for extra perks. Was just told by clerk that they are doing dbl perks til Dec 18 have lots to buy on amazon etc so it would be good to spread it out a bit more. I always dbl check against flyer as sometimes clerks are not given right info. Doest happen often but can't be too careful

I received a 'coupon' at check out that indicated all gift cards will accrue the discount expiring 12/18.