Nervous about ticket upgrade to AP (looking for upgrade experiences!)

[TreeFalls]

I had originally booked through Universal directly, but I recently got a package from Costco that includes 4-day tickets. We want to upgrade to APs, since we are returning in the Fall. When I did the math for AP minus 4-day ticket costs, I calculated that we can save about $300 this way (family of 5), plus we get an extra night in our first hotel (which we're not going to use, but we can check out later if we want).

But it is totally stressing me out that it's all contingent on the upgrade happening like I expect. Costco was clueless, but I messaged guest services and they told me I'd be able to upgrade. Anyone have experiences, positive or negative? If there is a risk of running into an issue, I'd rather just go back to my original plan. I still have both reservations, but I need to cancel one today to avoid penalty. What would you do?

 

[cschaaf]

Not sure I follow - are you asking if you will be able to upgrade the Costco 4 day tickets to APs? If so, there should be no issue doing that.

Many on here have bought Undercover Tourist (or some other reseller) tickets and upgraded them to APs.

 

[mvansear]

I bought 5 day tickets through a work thing When we went to the park in October went right to guest services and upgraded to ap no issues

 

[TreeFalls]

Thanks, this is very helpful. I read somewhere that certain types of tickets can't be upgraded, but based on what you both said I think it is likely it will work just fine.

 

[CAPSLOCK]

I think the only ones that can't be upgraded are free comp tickets. Some tickets (like buy 2 days get 2 days free) don't give you the extra promotional value towards upgrading, but it can still be done with no issue.

 

[Bethany10]

As others have said, we purchased tickets through a third party service and upgraded them at guest services no issues.

I was hoping for a small refund but no go. What happened with us is we upgraded about half way through our trip. With the switch our AP expiration date was one year from the first day we used the ticket. I was under the impression it was supposed to be later than that, but my teenager had been standing in line with me for over 45 minutes at that point and I wasn't going to delay our entry to the parks longer by fighting it.

 

[bobafemme]

I upgraded a ticket bought from a website with a frog logo. At RPR, the ticket desk told me I could not upgrade my daughters ticket (I already had an AP) because the ticket value was more than the cost of AP (and I asked can we zero it out, I don't need a refund). This seemed incorrect based on the other information on the boards, so I said thanks and left it at that. I went to the guest services in Jurassic Park on our first day. There I was told I could change her ticket to AP and it would have a start date of the first day we used her ticket to enter the park. I was also told there would be no reimbursement to me for the value of the ticket compared to the AP (which seems legit to me--I didn't pay the value, it was a buy 2 get 2 days ticket). This was pre-COVID, if it helps

 

[damo]

We have never had an issue upgrading our tickets that we got from a third party. You may not get quite the amount that you think but it is always pretty close.

 

[CAPSLOCK]

What happened with us is we upgraded about half way through our trip. With the switch our AP expiration date was one year from the first day we used the ticket. I was under the impression it was supposed to be later than that

I have only heard that it goes by the first date of ticket use. So it doesn't matter when you upgrade... although if you'll be getting discounts with the AP you want to have it asap.

 

[Bethany10]

I have only heard that it goes by the first date of ticket use. So it doesn't matter when you upgrade... although if you'll be getting discounts with the AP you want to have it asap.

Interesting, I was under the impression it was by date of upgrade. However, I'm often wrong yet never uncertain.

 

[damo]

It has always gone from time of first use of the tickets for us.

 

[ClapYourHands]

Interesting, I was under the impression it was by date of upgrade. However, I'm often wrong yet never uncertain.

Basically, the upgrade makes it like you had the AP all along. You're essentially back-timing it to when your ticket started. It's the same way if you upgrade from, say, a seasonal to a premier. You pay the difference, but it's not pro-rated. Even if you used the seasonal for 10 months, you still pay the entire difference between the passes (not prorated) in upgrading, and you keep your seasonal AP expiration date. You don't get an extension because it's not a new pass, just a pass with more benefits. So when you turn your dated tickets into an AP, your original tickets were the start of the AP year. Does that make sense?

 

[Welsh_Dragon]

We were only allowed to upgrade tickets to similar or better access APs, so for example, we couldn’t upgrade a 3 park ticket to a 2 park AP. Also, GSs pointed out that if you buy tickets from a third party seller and lose your ticket(s) UOR GS can’t do anything to help you out, as they have no record of your tickets and you have to try to get them reissued by the third party seller. I haven’t tested this (luckily) but it may be worth garnering other people’s experiences of this.

 

[Bethany10]

Basically, the upgrade makes it like you had the AP all along. You're essentially back-timing it to when your ticket started. It's the same way if you upgrade from, say, a seasonal to a premier. You pay the difference, but it's not pro-rated. Even if you used the seasonal for 10 months, you still pay the entire difference between the passes (not prorated) in upgrading, and you keep your seasonal AP expiration date. You don't get an extension because it's not a new pass, just a pass with more benefits. So when you turn your dated tickets into an AP, your original tickets were the start of the AP year. Does that make sense?

Yes it does. I think my issue was I was reading about people PURCHASING an AP and being told to do it on the last day to maximize their time before the expire date. The key here being purchase outright vs transfer. I'll stop being bitter at the ticket counter chick (I'm kidding). Of course our 2020 redux trip got cancelled so we just renewed our passes last year.

 

[Bethany10]

Also, GSs pointed out that if you buy tickets from a third party seller and lose your ticket(s) UOR GS can’t do anything to help you out, as they have no record of your tickets and you have to try to get them reissued by the third party seller. I haven’t tested this (luckily) but it may be worth garnering other people’s experiences of this.

I had multiple copies printed of all tickets plus the email that was sent to me on my phone in case of emergency like this. Just one way around it if you have email confirmation.

 

[limace]

Yes it does. I think my issue was I was reading about people PURCHASING an AP and being told to do it on the last day to maximize their time before the expire date. The key here being purchase outright vs transfer. I'll stop being bitter at the ticket counter chick (I'm kidding). Of course our 2020 redux trip got cancelled so we just renewed our passes last year.

I wonder if those scenarios were talking about trips during days that were blocked during their visit-in that scenario, the advice is to upgrade on last day so you can enter during those black out days.

 

[TreeFalls]

I just wanted to update...

At the hotel, they told us we couldn't upgrade because of the promotion on the tickets, but I could check with guest services. When I went to guest services in CityWalk, they did the upgrade no problem.