Jan 2023 Trip Questions

[Jennnova]

- Can I buy AP now and wait to activate in Jan 2023?
- Staying 7 days RPR and plan to visit Universal at least 6 of those days (already have reservations). If there’s no blackout dates, should I just purchase seasonal pass?
- Can I buy a photo package now and wait to activate in Jan 2023, assuming I find a good deal?
- Any other ideas for purchasing items in advance?
- Plan to drive down the day before checking into PRR. Any suggestions for a nice, economical hotel to stay in nearby the night before?
- We would like to see Star Wars @ Disney for one day. Any advice for a one day trip to Disney? I’m not very interested in studying up on how to do Disney.
- Am I planning too early? We were originally suppose to go Jan 2020 for graduation present.
-All of us will be over 21 this trip? Any must see at City Walk?

Thank u for anyone who takes the time to answer these questions. Don’t feel obligated to try and answer them all.

 

[wdwrule]

From what I’ve read on these boards is that you can purchase your AP and activate them later. We purchased ours a few months prior to visiting the parks then picked them up at the on-site hotel ticket desk. I believe once you are through the park turnstiles for the first time, they are officially activated. Someone else will probably know a more definite answer.

As for an economical nearby hotel, with AP rates I’d go with a universal hotel such as Dockside or Surfside. I just looked in early January and I saw rates such as $84 per night (weeknights). I noticed for the same nights you could get Cabana Bay or Aventura for $99 per night. I know the lower tiered APs have blackout dates though so you’d need to look into that. We stayed one night at Dockside before switching over to Portofino and we really enjoyed Dockside and being able to stay in the ‘bubble’ of Universal.

As for seeing Star Wars at Disney, you’d need to make a park reservation at Hollywood Studios for that day. Although by then, maybe they’ll change things and you won’t have to reserve your park days. I would also try to reserve Oga’s Cantina which is a little bar in Galaxy’s Edge with a super fun atmosphere. I forget if Disney dining reservations are 60 days prior, but whenever you can start to reserve dining, Oga’s Cantina will have to be a priority because it gets booked out super fast. Also, we’ve never done it, but you can reserve times to build a lightsaber and/or a droid (extra costs) in Galaxy’s Edge.

Citywalk has many great restaurants. Cowfish and Toothsome are very popular but there are also many other choices. The bar on the second floor of Toothsome has a really cool atmosphere with a huge window looking down at Citywalk. Margaritaville has a very fun vibe to it with strong drinks.

Sorry I couldn’t answer all of your questions.

 

[Jennnova]

Very helpful, thank u! I checked Dockside for the date we needed and it was $245.

 

[macraven]

I am not current on how far in advance you can buy the AP

You can buy it in advance but no idea buying it over two years in advance before you would activate it would be ideal

Who knows if a new AP category will come out in the future that might be more appealing for you?

The new park that is being built may have an AP that is a better deal for you

I bought my preferred AP back in the 1990’s and renew it yearly
assume many do buy them years in advance and active it when when they do go to the parks.

Hopefully someone will post their experiences.

I have the preferred AP as it is valid with no black out dates

When I bought my ap there were only the premiere and preferred AP

Your AP is activated on the first date you use it for the parks

With the addition of a third park for UO, I would think we will see an additional option for AP

 

[wdwrule]

Also here is the website to check AP rates for hotels. They only show AP rates a few months out though. For example, right now AP rates only show from now until about mid-February 2022. https://reservations.universalorlan...ls=&ada=0&currid=1&vouchercode=&attendeeCode=
I’m assuming AP rates for January 2023 might not come out until October-ish 2022.

 

[Jennnova]

Good info on the new park. Looks like it’s opening 2025. Our trip is only a little over a year out with this January being 2022. Time flies!