How do I decide on which AP?

[JJ2017]

All of this is up in the air, but I'm enjoying the research.

If we pull the trigger on a 3 week rental in December, I think more of our time would be spent at Universal over any other area attraction. That being said - three of those weeks we will be working/schooling until 3:30 each day. We'd have three full weekends - but def not all spent at Universal.

What data do I need to know in order to decide on the type of AP to purchase? Parking is something that is coming to mind.

There are 4 of us - 2 adults, 2 kids (7 and 9)

Thanks!

 

[Lynne G]

The Universal website shows you the different benefits of each level of pass, including clearly listing the blockout dates for each level.

Since you are not staying onsite, I would at least get one person a preferred or premier. Both of those higher level of passes give free parking in the City Walk parking garages. With premier, you get free valet parking, but with the current time, valet is closed, so both preferred and premier get the general parking. Preferred is always general parking.

So, I’d think about the times of year you are visiting, check the blockout dates to see if any conflict, then buy the lowest for the rest of the family that does not conflict with your trips.

If money is not a hardship, a premier pass gives you a one for each ride express pass after 4pm. That would certainly help with your arrival most likely close to 4.

Anyway, my one cent thoughts.

 

[hhoope01]

Personally, I normally go with the cheapest AP version that I can for the trip I'm going to first use it. If you decide later that you want to go during block-out dates or want the better features/benefits from a more expensive AP version, you can easily upgrade the AP for the price difference. So no risk really.

 

[JJ2017]

What are the parking rates?

 

[Lynne G]

What are the parking rates?

I think it is $26 for self parking. $40 for a preferred self parking. Depending on when you come, regular not preferred spots may be closer. No valet due to virus restrictions.

 

[CAPSLOCK]

The benefits for each pass are hard to find within the UO website:
https://www.universalorlando.com/we...nnual-passes/uoap-types#preferred-annual-pass
I would think you definitely want one Preferred pass for the free parking. For that length of time with multiple people, the food and merchandise discounts will be significant also.

For the other 3, just the cheapest pass without conflicting blackout dates. Unless as stated above money isn't a big concern and you want the express pass benefit for the evenings.

 

[puffkin]

We took advantage of the 15 month offer and knew we would not be visiting during blackout periods so we got the Seasonal AP for my husband and 2 kids and then I got the Preferred pass for the parking/discounts. We can always upgrade them if we need to work around a restriction on their pass, but so far with 2 trips in it has worked out great for us.

 

[DRussell88]

To me, you start getting into your additional benefits with the Preferred AP. You have no blockout dates, there's some nice little discounts, and regular parking is free. For a three week trip, the free parking alone may be beneficial. If you plan on coming back more throughout the year, this is definitely the way I would go. If you plan on this really being the only trip you make, a lower level may be appropriate. It is kind of hard to do the math on it.

I personally have a Premier AP, but that is because we go frequently. Right now I would not say it is overly necessary though. The Express After 4 is nice, but we often don't get to use it since it is best for the weekends and the park often hits capacity fairly early. I am not saying to completely write that option off, but it is probably not needed in this case.

 

[JJ2017]

To me, you start getting into your additional benefits with the Preferred AP. You have no blockout dates, there's some nice little discounts, and regular parking is free. For a three week trip, the free parking alone may be beneficial. If you plan on coming back more throughout the year, this is definitely the way I would go. If you plan on this really being the only trip you make, a lower level may be appropriate. It is kind of hard to do the math on it.

I personally have a Premier AP, but that is because we go frequently. Right now I would not say it is overly necessary though. The Express After 4 is nice, but we often don't get to use it since it is best for the weekends and the park often hits capacity fairly early. I am not saying to completely write that option off, but it is probably not needed in this case.

thanks for your info. i read that you get free parking AFTER the first visit. so we'd have to pay to park on day 1. what if day 1 is at a resort and we don't have to park?

 

[CyndiLooWho]

thanks for your info. i read that you get free parking AFTER the first visit. so we'd have to pay to park on day 1. what if day 1 is at a resort and we don't have to park?

If you go after 6 on your first day, you can get your passes and not pay to park; parking is free after 6. If you are staying at a Universal resort, you won't pay to park in the garage on that first day either (but there is probably a parking fee at the resort). But if you come during the day and are not staying onsite, you pay because you park before you get your passes. The other workaround would be to have you or your spouse drop the other one off to go pick up passes. I don't know if both adults have to be there to get the passes or not.

 

[JJ2017]

Thanks everyone for helping. I have a much clearer understanding now. The seasonal pass works perfectly fine for our dates in December and if we were to return at certain points next year. The seasonal pass is also the same price as UT's buy 2, get 3. I'd get 3 seasonal passes and one a higher tiered one for me to save on the parking. Now...........let's see if this trip can happen!

 

[OrlandoGirl357]

Thanks everyone for helping. I have a much clearer understanding now. The seasonal pass works perfectly fine for our dates in December and if we were to return at certain points next year. The seasonal pass is also the same price as UT's buy 2, get 3. I'd get 3 seasonal passes and one a higher tiered one for me to save on the parking. Now...........let's see if this trip can happen!

UT's tickets include taxes, the prices on Universal's website does not. You may want to check the pretax price, ensure that you can upgrade the tickets, and then buy the tickets from UT and only pay the difference in value of the tickets to upgrade between ticket and pass.

 

[puffkin]

UT's tickets include taxes, the prices on Universal's website does not. You may want to check the pretax price, ensure that you can upgrade the tickets, and then buy the tickets from UT and only pay the difference in value of the tickets to upgrade between ticket and pass.

We upgraded the UT tickets in July (at the time it was the B2G2 promotion). The upgrade was $10 to the seasonals and $100 to the Preferred for me for the parking/discounts. Super easy, we did it at the hotel (Hard Rock) when we checked in.

 

[Alicefan]

One of us always gets the Preferred pass for the free parking and the rest get the seasonal since we only ever go during the Winter months and never around a holiday so we don't have to worry about black out dates (which there aren't many of anyway). I can't imagine wanting to go anywhere when it's hot as hades. 80 degrees is miserable to me.