Guest Services / Ticket Question

[bigkat]

I am going to purchase an Annual Pass online to take advantage of the room discount at Portofino. I understand that I need to be at the park to activate my pass before buying 3 multi-day tickets for my family.

My son & I are getting into town a couple of days before my wife & daughter. I am thinking I can just pop over to the ticket sales booth on the day we arrive (though we don't plan to hit the parks that day).

So...I am just trying to figure out the logistics of this. Is there a ticket window outside the main gates where I can activate my pass & buy the other discount tickets?

 

[macraven]

there are guest services outside the park and inside the park at both parks.

 

[bigkat]

there are guest services outside the park and inside the park at both parks.

OK, great. Can the guest service people activate my AP or do I physically have to go through the turnstile?

 

[Metro West]

OK, great. Can the guest service people activate my AP or do I physically have to go through the turnstile?

It's not activated until you enter the turnstile but since you will have proof of a valid AP, Guest Services should let you purchase the additional tickets at the AP discount w/o having to enter the park and then come back out.

 

[blackjack68]

Additonally, if you want, you can go to one of the self-serve kiosks outside the gates along with the AP confirmation # on your receipt and the credit card you used to purchase it and then print out the AP yourself. Then whenever you like, you can go to guest services and get your additional tickets.

Also, Royal Pacific had a tocket kiosk on-site, so I'm assuming PB has one also where you can take care of this as well. But I'm just assuming that part.

 

[damo]

Additonally, if you want, you can go to one of the self-serve kiosks outside the gates along with the AP confirmation # on your receipt and the credit card you used to purchase it and then print out the AP yourself. Then whenever you like, you can go to guest services and get your additional tickets.

Also, Royal Pacific had a tocket kiosk on-site, so I'm assuming PB has one also where you can take care of this as well. But I'm just assuming that part.

Yes, all three hotels have the kiosks. PB's is right before you enter the club room which is where they do their guest services.

 

[phamton]

To purchase ticket with your AP discount, they need to scan the AP before the computer will allow you to purchase the tickets. If the AP isn't activated, it won't register correctly. You will need to activate your AP first by entering any of the turnstiles.

 

[bigkat]

To purchase ticket with your AP discount, they need to scan the AP before the computer will allow you to purchase the tickets. If the AP isn't activated, it won't register correctly. You will need to activate your AP first by entering any of the turnstiles.

OK. I was hoping that guest services could activate it, but my son & I will just stroll over to the park on the afternoon that we arrive. I will go through the turnstiles, make a u-turn & come back out to buy the discounted tickets for my family. A slight hassle, but no big deal.

 

[walk23]

I don't mean to hijack but have been wondering this for awhile. Is the prices thru Undercover Tourist cheaper than the AP discount for mulit-day tickets?

 

[bigkat]

I don't mean to hijack but have been wondering this for awhile. Is the prices thru Undercover Tourist cheaper than the AP discount for mulit-day tickets?

I was wondering the same. Someone check these numbers & see if this is right. I am using a 2 day park-to-park pass as reference.

Undercover Tourist = $142 (includes shipping)

Universal price (no discount) = $136 + $11 tax/fees = $147

So, I assume with the 15% AP discount, price from Universal would $115.60 + $11 = $126.60

Is that right?

 

[walk23]

On the Universal site it says that you receive a $20 discount online for multi-day tickets so I'm thinking the $136 price would actually be $156 at the gate??

 

[damo]

On the Universal site it says that you receive a $20 discount online for multi-day tickets so I'm thinking the $136 price would actually be $156 at the gate??

Yes. That is the case. However, there are no processing fees when you purchase at the gate but there are when you purchase online.

The AP prices are a discount off of gate prices, not off their online prices.

 

[walk23]

So it works out being about the same. This is what I figured for 4 day park-to-park tickets:

UT with MS discount $149.95
UO online plus $20 is $175.99 less 15% is $149.59.

I'll go with UT so I have my ticket ahead of time. Thanks for your help!

 

[sammielynn]

Is the annual pass good for one year from first use?

 

[rascalmom]

So it works out being about the same. This is what I figured for 4 day park-to-park tickets:

UT with MS discount $149.95
UO online plus $20 is $175.99 less 15% is $149.59.

I'll go with UT so I have my ticket ahead of time. Thanks for your help!

Thank you for this - I needed to know the same info. Very helpful - I will order ahead from UT with MS discount too. Seems much easier!

 

[damo]

Is the annual pass good for one year from first use?

Yes.

 

[Binoo]

If I buy UT tickets with MS discount, use once then upgrade it to AP. Will I save money this way?

 

[damo]

If I buy UT tickets with MS discount, use once then upgrade it to AP. Will I save money this way?

No.

Universal knows how much you paid for your tickets and you will pay the difference.

 

[Binoo]

No.

Universal knows how much you paid for your tickets and you will pay the difference.

Thanks. So if I need AP definitely, I can buy AP directly via online. I will go to US/IOA during the week before Christmas this year, March 2013 and mid of Aug 2013. These days should not be blockout for the Power Pass. Can I save more money to buy only one Perferred AP, and get Power AP for DH and DD? When will they release APH rate for Dec hotel booking? Should I book the regular rate first to hold the spot and change my reservation when APH rate release?

 

[damo]

Thanks. So if I need AP definitely, I can buy AP directly via online. I will go to US/IOA during the week before Christmas this year, March 2013 and mid of Aug 2013. These days should not be blockout for the Power Pass. Can I save more money to buy only one Perferred AP, and get Power AP for DH and DD? When will they release APH rate for Dec hotel booking? Should I book the regular rate first to hold the spot and change my reservation when APH rate release?

I would actually buy the preferred AP sooner rather than later because they haven't raised prices yet but will soon. You are right in that only one preferred AP is needed to get the room discounts.

The week before Christmas isn't that busy. You can wait for a while to book as AP rates probably won't get released until summer. There are generally great AP discounts for that time too.

Remember that the APs don't get activated until first use, so it doesn't matter when you buy them.