Power Pass...They CHANGED the summer 2005 blackout dates...

[frequentflyer]

Hi all! I'm new to the board, but lurk frequently before my many trips to US/IOA, and thought this info was important!

I got my annual passholder e-mail newsletter today and imagine my surprise when this was in it:

.........Power Passholders Enjoy Weekends at Universal Orlando!

Now you can enjoy all the thrills and excitement of Universal Orlando's theme parks on weekends throughout the summer.

Please make a note of these new blackout dates:*

June 27 - July 1
July 4 - 8
July 11 - 15
July 18 - 22
July 25 - 29
August 1 - 5
December 23 - January 1........

They have blacked out ALL weekdays in the summer- making the days available go from 30 to 14- cut in half!

The asterisk is for "blackout dates subject to change", which is not on my Power Pass, which has only Summer Weekends in 2005 blacked out. This is the main reason I bought this pass as we live only 3 hours away and when the kids are out of school we planned on going during the weekdays when it is less hectic.

So, I e-mailed a polite letter to them "making sure" that they were still honoring the blackout dates that were in effect when I purchased my pass. The only thing about changes on the back of my pass says "Prices and benefits subject to change without notice"- benefits being discounts and extras. I am waiting to hear from them. I was just about to finalize my accomodation plans for the summer trips!

Does anyone have any info on this? It has to be some kind of breach or default if they change such specific terms after purchase!

Thanks!
Kelly

 

[damo]

That sounds very weird that weekends are not blacked out but weekdays are. Keep us posted on their reply.

 

[KerriKaden]

Well, I don't have much info but to say that I've been looking at buying the Power Pass for the past couple of months, and that's what the website has been advertising (no weekdays). Seems kinda weird. I don't go in the middle of summer, so it doesn't really affect me, but I can see how it would hurt the people that live nearby.

 

[KerriKaden]

oops! computer acting weird!!

 

[LIFERBABE]

Dh and I have the PAP's.

It sounds like they are trying to encourage those that would use the PowerPass the most (the locals) to purchase the PAP. If they black out the weekdays then you cant get the most use out of it for summer breaks and will have to purchase the PAP.

We will not be there in July so the blackouts won't affect our trip, but last December we were there during the black out dates for Christmas break and I was kicking myself for not getting my Ds's PAP's when they were $99 through the fan club. We have renewed for the last 4 years and that was the only time we were impacted.

 

[CPM]

so, can they do that? I ahve weekdays booked this summer and have Power Passes. Seems like bad press to me.
Where and whom can I write to?
I'm not happy about the changes at all. It's one thing to add dates but to take them away doesn't make much sense.

 

[Metro West]

According to the website, here are the blackout dates listed:

Blackout Dates:
Easter/Spring Break 2005: March 21 - 25, March 26 (9:00 am - 5:00 pm)
Summer Weekdays 2005: June 27- July 1, July 4-8, 11-15, 18-22, 25-29, August 1-5
Christmas 2005: December 23, 2005 - January 1, 2006.

Now that I look at it, it really does stink that they're blacking out all of the weekdays in July and August.

You should think about upgrading to the Preferred AP.

 

[robvia]

Wow, that effects my trip because I have the RPR booked July 6-8.

I was going to buy the AAA pass for 15 months for the wife and kid, but that's not going to work. I already have the PAP for me, and was going to get their pass just before our trip.

It was never this way before. It was usually just the holiday weekend that was blacked out. Now they've gone and reversed it. I just went to the AAA web site and the new dates are listed there.

It's really not fair they made this change in the middle of the year.

15-Month 2 Park Power Pass with NEW Blackout Dates

2005:
June 27-July 1, 2005
July 4-8, 11-15, 18-22, 25-29, 2005
August 1-5, 2005
December 23 thru January 1, 2006

2006:
January 1, 2006
April 10-15, 2006 (9 am to 5 pm on April 15)
June 26-30, 2006
July 3-7, 10-14, 17-21, 24-28, 2006; July 31 - August 4, 2006
December 23, 2006 - January 1, 2007

 

[frequentflyer]

This is the e-mail I sent:

I recently received an e-mail informing me that Summer Weekdays will now be blacked out from the Power Pass. I am contacting you to make sure that since I bought my Power Passes in September 2004 with the blackout dates for summer weekends, and allowing summer weekdays, that I will be able to use my passes during Summer 2005 weekdays. I see that in the e-mail there is a qualifying statement that blackout dates are subject to change, however there is no such statement on my Power Pass.



I purchased these passes instead of the Disney Seasonal Pass largely because of the summer blackout dates. We usually travel during the week in the summer, and changing the blackout dates greatly reduces the number of days available to passholders. I hope I am correct in assuming that since I purchased my passes prior to the change that the original blackout dates will be honored. We are planning a couple of trips this summer and I am planning on making accommodation arrangements soon, so I look forward to a timely response.

The Response:

"From: "AP Special Event A (NBC Universal, Orlando)" <APSpecialEventA@universalorlando.com>
Date: 2005/05/17 Tue AM 11:43:05 EDT
To: (frequentflyer)
Subject: RE: Power Pass Summer Blackout Dates



Thank you for your mail.Unfortunately the balckout dates have changed They are what is listed below.

If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact us at 1 866 PASS 4 FUN .



Know Fear. June 2005
New! Fear Factor Live
at Universal Studios(r)"

OK- for all of those who replied, thanks! I want to see how many people are out there with the same problem as me. One of my questions to them is how they are planning to compensate those who have already made hotel arrangements and if they were going to mail anything to the PP holders to notify them of the change. Are they going to wait until these people are at the gates some Tuesday in July? The only reason I knew was because they send me the AP Newsletter by e-mail. I have all of my arrangements except lodging taken care of- i.e. vacation time, dates, people who we are meeting up with. I am pretty sure that the statement "Prices and benefits subject to change without notice" does not allow them to change the terms of the tickets that they sold me with SPECIFIC blackout dates outlined. Benefits refers to discounts, early entry, parking freebies, etc.

People bought those Power Passes with the knowledge of the dates listed. I refuse to upgrade to a PAP specifically for this reason. For my family, a family of five, the PAP would have been about $325 more so I bought the PP since we like to travel during the week in the summer anyways. It sounds like they are trying to force people to buy the PAP (not "encouraging them").

I am going to e-mail them again, since actually the e-mail from them didn't really answer my question about honoring those PP's purchased before the change. (Although I am pretty sure they weren't planning on it) I am going to request a refund for my PP or a free upgrade to a PAP. I'll keep you posted.

For those of you who want more info:
annualpass@universalorlando.com

1-800-564-5764

Kelly

 

[deelam]

Does anyone know why the week before Easter is blacked out? In New Jersey the kids usualy have off the week after Easter. I would think the week after would be busy.

On the new blackout dates, I'm very disapointed. I had planned to take my son for 2 mid week trips this summer. I have some free flight vouchers to use up. This really ruins that idea.

 

[Notatourist]

It's because it's actually busier then. Spring Breaks are actually staggered so what might be your break time is not the rest of the countries.

Thanks!

 

[JessicaR]

So...Just about all of June and August is NOT blacked out? The month of July is only blacked out on weekdays and the holiday? Seems weird since August is still busy too, no?

 

[frequentflyer]

So...Just about all of June and August is NOT blacked out? The month of July is only blacked out on weekdays and the holiday? Seems weird since August is still busy too, no?

This is when most of Florida is out for summer vacation- it is the main 6 weeks when pretty much ALL of the districts are out of school- so I know this is geared towards the locals, and even out of towners who take weeklong trips. Also, July 4th is actually NOT on the original blackout list since it is on a Monday, but in 2004, they actually blacked out July 5th (a Monday) I guess since it was the day after.

Please, please if anyone else is upset about this, please contact Universal to let them know!

Thanks!
Kelly

 

[CPM]

I think the whole thing is really crappy! I looked at my pass, it doesn't state anywhere that the dates can be changed. If you had not posted this info I would have had no idea!
It's really disouraging me from renewing my passes. It's like they looked at the Florida school calendar and made a bunch of changes.

So what do you think would happen if you showed up at the park with your orginal balck out date list? I won't be bullied into buying a PAP either.

 

[CPM]

well, I emailed them too. I can't imagine it will do any good. We'll probably get the standard letter back. I want a refund if they don't change it back. Everyone should at least email them with their complaint.

 

[frequentflyer]

Does anyone know why the week before Easter is blacked out? In New Jersey the kids usualy have off the week after Easter. I would think the week after would be busy.

Hi! I just though I'd answer your question : Most Florida Public Schools were out the week before Easter in 2005. The theme parks really structure everything around the state's schools' calendars.

 

[robvia]

I'm bummed out they changed it just before the summer season when most already have plans made.
They do this with the FOTL rules too.
Don't do it in January when nothing is happening, no no, wait until now to announce and use the "subject to change" excuse.

In my case, I didn't buy the PP for the wife and kid yet, so I'll just buy a 2 day pass for them, and we won't visit as much. If I had gotten the PP, we might come back early next year, but now I can let that go and visit other parks by myself. They're really shooting themselves in the foot on this one. Now I have to wait for the special deals that happen in the beginning of the year, because there's no way I'm paying $169 x 2 for 1 year, when it should be $110 x 2 for 15 months.

 

[Kimberlyfamilyfv]

I think you should double check for the cost of the up grade. I don't think it is nearly that expensive. I think it is 20 dollars more than the cost of a renewal of an PAP I think it is somewhere around 25 to dollars to upgrade. If you do that before it expires, then when you have to renew the PAP it will only cost 99 dollars plus tax like it says on the PAP website. www.uoannualpass.com

I was told it was going to be about 124 plus taxes to upgrade my passes and renew at the same time.

I could be wrong, its happened before, but this is my understanding.

Kimberly


Annual Pass Renewel
Preferred Passholders:

Renew Now and Save $80!*

Don't let your Annual Pass expire. Renew your 2-Park Annual Preferred Pass now and lock in the special low renewal rate of $99.95 plus tax.

You will continue getting an entire year of fun and excitement for about the price of two single-day admissions, plus a Universe of special Passholder benefits like free self-parking, food and merchandise discounts, special on-site hotel rates, NO BLACKOUT DATES and more!

Don't miss out on all the exciting special events coming your way throughout the year!

Power Passholders:

Renew Now and Save $20!* or upgrade to a Preferred Pass for even more benefits.

You must renew or upgrade within 30 days of your expiration date to take advantage of this special low renewal rate. Renew for just $99.95 plus tax or upgrade to a 2-Park Preferred Pass for $129.95 plus tax.

Annual Passholders can renew their passes at both Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure.

You can also renew your pass by calling 1-800-564-5764, Monday through Friday 8:30 am - 6:00 pm EST or Saturday and Sunday 9:00 am - 6:00 pm EST.

*Excludes Flexible Payment contract renewals.

 

[CPM]

I think it's more the principal then the money. Can you imagine if Disney changed it's dates? People would go crazy. I'm surprised more people haven't complained about this.
I haven't heard back yet from the email I sent.

 

[Flyfly_Eclipse]

While I'm a PAP, I'm devestated with this news. We get my Aunt and Grandmother the Power Pass, and plan to go during the week over the summer. I can't believe they changed the dates like that...it wouldn't have been so bad if they blacked out a couple weeks all together, leaving the other weekends and weekdays available for traveling and enjoying the parks. I feel terrible for those who live out of state (or even out of town) that must plan trips well in advance, and for a good number of days...A weekend trip isn't worth the money for hotels, gas, flight, etc.......