Is It Worth It To Do 5 Days Vs 4?

[Magpie]

Black out dates are set at the beginning of each year.

When looking at APH rates and comparing them to Stay More Save More...remember that the longer you stay, the lower your rate. So someone staying 5 days is going to get a much better rate than someone staying 3 days. A person staying 5 days will get a rate quite similar to the AP rate, depending on time of year.

The fellow on the phone when we were purchasing our tickets said the blackout dates can change without notice.

He may very well have been wrong, however since we didn't need more than 14 days, the room discount was identical for our stay, and since the prices were the same for 14 days or an annual pass, we decided to play it safe.

We're staying for 8 days, so we got the maximum discount on rooms. (Sadly we have a very late arrival and early departure, so only six days in the parks.)

 

[damo]

The fellow on the phone when we were purchasing our tickets said the blackout dates can change without notice.

He may very well have been wrong, however since we didn't need more than 14 days, the room discount was identical for our stay, and since the prices were the same for 14 days or an annual pass, we decided to play it safe.

We're staying for 8 days, so we got the maximum discount on rooms. (Sadly we have a very late arrival and early departure, so only six days in the parks.)

I don't think we've ever seen that happen. At the end of each year, they set the new blackout dates for next year. This year was interesting because everyone used the new blackout dates to predict the opening of Diagon Alley and last year we used them to predict the opening of Transformers. I think they try to keep them the same or else they could potentially have a lot of unhappy customers. However, of course they'll put that in their fine print.

 

[Love Tink]

We're going down for a week in August.

We considered getting a Power Pass, however...

We opted to get Three Park Unlimited Tickets instead. They cost the same as the Power Pass, but are only good for 14 days (we don't need more). On the other hand, they are good for both Universal parks and the Wet and Wild park, too.

That's the same decision we made. Like a lot of people, we don't feel the need to go back year after year. The better deal for us is the three-park pass, which costs the same as the power pass, and provides access to Wet 'n' Wild.

 

[ybeshsm77]

I did research after everyone suggested getting an annual pass. Comparing Prices-

Stay More Save More Rate for August 24-29th for just Portofino Bay Hotel is $1244.55 and also $611.96 for three adults and one child 4 day single park tickets(son is 11, so is counted as an adult). Total is $1856.51.

If I get a power pass at $214.99 and then buy 4 day tickets for 3 other members of family, add on another $455.97, then hotel rate is only $1091.25.
Total with power pass savings is $1762.21.

I would then save $94.30 with doing a power pass. No black out dates for the time we are going.

Question now is if it is really worth it to upgrade other family members tickets to park to park tickets. For the three other members in my family I would be adding on an additional cost of $120.00 just so we could do the one special ride that connects both parks. Is this one ride really worth $120.00 or am I missing something. Please give more advice. Thanks so much for everyones responses. It helped me out a lot.

 

[Metro West]

Question now is if it is really worth it to upgrade other family members tickets to park to park tickets. For the three other members in my family I would be adding on an additional cost of $120.00 just so we could do the one special ride that connects both parks. Is this one ride really worth $120.00 or am I missing something. Please give more advice. Thanks so much for everyones responses. It helped me out a lot.

Well...that's really up to you and your family. If you have hardcore HP fans in the group they will most likely want to ride Hogwarts Express. We don't know if HE will be worth it since it hasn't opened yet. Personally I don't know if I'd spend the extra money if I didn't have my AP but I'm not an HP fan. Do whatever works for your family.

 

[hermionesnape]

I did research after everyone suggested getting an annual pass. Comparing Prices- Stay More Save More Rate for August 24-29th for just Portofino Bay Hotel is $1244.55 and also $611.96 for three adults and one child 4 day single park tickets(son is 11, so is counted as an adult). Total is $1856.51. If I get a power pass at $214.99 and then buy 4 day tickets for 3 other members of family, add on another $455.97, then hotel rate is only $1091.25. Total with power pass savings is $1762.21. I would then save $94.30 with doing a power pass. No black out dates for the time we are going. Question now is if it is really worth it to upgrade other family members tickets to park to park tickets. For the three other members in my family I would be adding on an additional cost of $120.00 just so we could do the one special ride that connects both parks. Is this one ride really worth $120.00 or am I missing something. Please give more advice. Thanks so much for everyones responses. It helped me out a lot.

I would do park to park if it's in your budget. Not just for the Hogwarts Express but on the last day or two you can really repeat your favorite rides without having to only go to one park. As I said before the two park as so close to each other it is crazy. I would say that from one entrance to the other is less then 5 min walk. We always get park to park tickets and treat IoA and US as one large park leaving one and going to the other at least 2/3 times a day.