Power pass or not to power pass...

[vanjust14]

Hello all! I would love some expert advice on whether or not I should upgrade to a power pass while at Universal.

The details:
We are going June 8th (Wed) through the 12th (Sunday), and we have 3 day park to park tickets already from Undercover Tourist, which I paid $223.61 for, per person.

According to Mousesavers, the gate price of a 3 day park to park ticket and the gate price of a power pass are the same, $255.59. I'm assuming this means I can upgrade for $0, please correct me if I am wrong.

We plan on going to the parks Thursday, Friday and Saturday, with travel days on Wednesday and Sunday just being low key, hang by the pool days. We definitely won't be doing a park on Wednesday because we will be waiting for my son's friend who can't join us until later that evening and we wouldn't get much use out of the ticket that day.

I was considering upgrading to a power pass on Saturday, June 11th just to have since it wouldn't cost anything, but June 11th is a blockout day for IoA. I guess we could go to only USF that day, but I'm not sure if it is worth limiting ourselves when we do not have any real plans to come back within the year. I am contemplating a trip to Disney for the fall, but it is not set in stone. If we do go and we had the power passes, I would add a day or two to Universal.

Then I thought maybe I will upgrade on Sunday before we head home, but I won't be able to enter the parks as I would have used all 3 days by then.

If anyone has any suggestions I would greatly appreciate it. I am confusing myself and making this harder than it needs to be, ha!

 

[chmurf]

Then I thought maybe I will upgrade on Sunday before we head home, but I won't be able to enter the parks as I would have used all 3 days by then.

I think you need to upgrade before you've used up all the days;

if you use your 3rd day on saturday, then you need to upgrade before exiting the park.
on sunday, your tickets will be worth $0 towards the "upgrade" to AP.

if you just want to have the AP for a possible trip later within the next 12 months, upgrade on satudray before leaving, and while at the Studios.
as soon as you upgrade, you will no longer be able to cross to IoA, and of course ride the Hogwarts Express.

also consider that even if you don't need the AP for the next 12 months, you'd still qualify for the renewal price next year. And it might come cheaper than buying a new set of tickets for the year after.
Try to look at the picture over the next 24 months and do the maths. If you don't have to pay extra for the AP upgrade, do it. If you have a trip scheduled for the next 2 years, renewing that AP next year could work for you. IYSWIM

 

[macraven]

If you do upgrade, do it after you have used your tickets that last day and before you leave the park

That way you will not be limited to one park only

 

[vanjust14]

Great points! I didn't even think of the fact the tickets would be $0 on Sunday, or that I could upgrade on Saturday evening before leaving as long as I am in the Studios. And yes, even if I do not use it in the next 12 months, a renewal would save money for the year after. Thanks so much, I am glad I asked the question!

 

[vanjust14]

If you do upgrade, do it after you have used your tickets that last day and before you leave the park

That way you will not be limited to one park only

Oh okay, does that mean I could upgrade at IoA or Studios at any point that last day, or do you mean once we are done with the parks for the day?

 

[vanjust14]

Oh wait, I think I answered my own question. Like chmurf said, I wouldn't be able to cross over to IoA or ride Hogwarts if I upgraded earlier. I think I have this down now

 

[macraven]

With your 3 day p2p tickets you can use them if there is a black out period

If you upgrade to the power pass early, you will not be able to park hop to the park that has the black out

That is why I said after you are done with both parks (and you are there with one park blacked out)
You are in both parks on your tickets

Upgrading at that point still allowed you to have enjoyed both parks

 

[vanjust14]

With your 3 day p2p tickets you can use them if there is a black out period

If you upgrade to the power pass early, you will not be able to park hop to the park that has the black out

That is why I said after you are done with both parks (and you are there with one park blacked out)
You are in both parks on your tickets

Upgrading at that point still allowed you to have enjoyed both parks

Great, thank you. I'm very excited I will have a chance to upgrade I would never have known about this info or the price bridging without these boards!

 

[macraven]

Always glad to help

If you are using the third day of your 3 day p2p tickets on Saturday upgrade before you leave the park

Next day, Sunday, you can use the power pass for the park that is not blacked out

 

[vanjust14]

Oh cool, I didn't think of that either! The boys will love that since we aren't leaving until 6pm on Sunday! I'll be by the pool...

 

[macraven]

Just remember that on the last day of your tickets, you must do the upgrade before you leave the park

You can upgrade inside at guest services
Some have posted over the years you can upgrade at guest service window outside the park

I feel it is easier to do the upgrade before you leave the park

 

[macraven]

Anytime you need info or opinions, come back to ask

You will find many are glad to share their experiences and knowledge

 

[johde]

Just adding to what everyone else has said, you should be able upgrade your 3 day Park to Park ticket at either park. If you upgrade at the inside guest services of IOA you will be able to stay in that park for the rest of the evening. If you upgrade at USF you will not be able to then hop back over to IOA because of the blackout.

 

[DisneyTravelers2008]

We upgraded ours on day 3 and went back 2 more times that year....it was definitely worth it....I became known as the "cool mom who takes her kids to WWOHP alllllllllllllllllllllllll the time"....LOL

 

[bumbershoot]

I feel it is easier to do the upgrade before you leave the park

Yep. When you are done on Saturday, just leave with enough time to go to Guest Services before you exit. Upgrade. Leave. Sleep. On Sunday, you can go back!

 

[IronFozzie]

You can upgrade inside at guest services
Some have posted over the years you can upgrade at guest service window outside the park

I feel it is easier to do the upgrade before you leave the park

Depending on the time of day it may be easier to do it outside the park at the Guest Services window. It is possible to upgrade there, but again, the ticket must still be valid, so you couldn't do it the day after you used your last entitlement. Also, definitely upgrade to the Power Pass, if you come back later in the year just once, you'll already have your ticket. If you come in a time where the Power Pass is blocked out, upgrade for cheaper than the price of a one day ticket. You'd almost be crazy not to upgrade.

 

[tinydancer09]

I LOVE my power pass. Some give a lot of flack to us because we have "black out dates" but you know... I dont want to be there during the black out dates anyways!! And if you decide to go on a black out date your APH will offer discounts on multiday tickets.(Or upgrade your pass. Can you do that within the year or do you have to do it on the renewal?)

Plus you gets lots of other discounts like at Blue Man, putt putt, movies... etc. I highly recommend the putt putt for saturday night after you have your pass. So much fun! You also get a few discounts around city walk... and on hotels. You only have to have your annual pass before check-out to get the APH rate (if rooms are available.) They only do X amount of rooms at APH rate, but it can actually end up saving you money and paying for the pass. Summer doesn't have any rates available, but if you go in the fall you should be able to find some good APH rates.

As everyone else said, upgrade before you leave the park. If I'm not mistaken guest services is open after the park closes- at least I've seen lines there after the park is closed. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[macraven]

you are correct.
guest services are open after the park closes.

not sure the time when they do close as i have walked out of the park after closing time and do see people at gs.

 

[vanjust14]

I LOVE my power pass. Some give a lot of flack to us because we have "black out dates" but you know... I dont want to be there during the black out dates anyways!! And if you decide to go on a black out date your APH will offer discounts on multiday tickets.(Or upgrade your pass. Can you do that within the year or do you have to do it on the renewal?)

Plus you gets lots of other discounts like at Blue Man, putt putt, movies... etc. I highly recommend the putt putt for saturday night after you have your pass. So much fun! You also get a few discounts around city walk... and on hotels. You only have to have your annual pass before check-out to get the APH rate (if rooms are available.) They only do X amount of rooms at APH rate, but it can actually end up saving you money and paying for the pass. Summer doesn't have any rates available, but if you go in the fall you should be able to find some good APH rates.

As everyone else said, upgrade before you leave the park. If I'm not mistaken guest services is open after the park closes- at least I've seen lines there after the park is closed. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

Yes, I agree about not wanting to be there in the summer during blackout dates anyway. We are only going in June because my son wanted to go as a high school graduation present instead of having a big party. Even at that I tried to make sure I booked the trip as early in June as possible. If we go again, which is more likely now that I will have the power passes, it will definitely be in the fall and I would take advantage of the APH rates!

Now that I know how to get the upgrade properly, it really is a win-win all around. Thanks for letting me know about the discounts on Blue Man Group and putt putt. My family loves mini golf!

 

[tinydancer09]

Yes, I agree about not wanting to be there in the summer during blackout dates anyway. We are only going in June because my son wanted to go as a high school graduation present instead of having a big party. Even at that I tried to make sure I booked the trip as early in June as possible. If we go again, which is more likely now that I will have the power passes, it will definitely be in the fall and I would take advantage of the APH rates!

Now that I know how to get the upgrade properly, it really is a win-win all around. Thanks for letting me know about the discounts on Blue Man Group and putt putt. My family loves mini golf!

Definitely. I go at peak times every once in a while too. Sometimes you have to, but it sounds like you're good at planning and it will all be great! I've gone Memorial Day week before and it actually surprisingly wasn't that terrible... So

Check out Mac's sticky of quick links. You'll be able to find all the current Ap benefits. Sometimes they change or have special extras. Last fall they did several during the down months.

Happy power passing!