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

[CPM]

I just can't wait for the dates to actually go in affect. I still wouldn't know about the change if I hadn't read about it here. They will have so many people complaining at the gates that I certainly wouldn't want to be working at US guest services this summer.

 

[Bovril]

I just found out about this today, and am really mad. Brought my PAP a couple of months ago specifically because I was planning to visit in the week not at weekends.

It's a good thing I lurk on boards, or wouldn't have found out until my pass was rejected at the turnstile

As I live in the UK, my plans have been made very much in advance, and this has totally messed things up, got transport, hotels etc all booked and paid for.

Have e-mailed Universal but not expecting much of a reply.

Maybe you guys can help- I haven't validated the pass, and have only got the one day pass thing that they send you to get into the park to get the PAP. Now the blackout dates have been changed to weekends can I use this to get into the park in the week so I can get to the Vacation services, as I suppose I will have to pay(again!) to upgrade these passes. Or will I have to make a special journey at the weekend to try to sort this whole sorry mess out?- Not fun on public transport in July!

Bev

 

[VW31]

Bovril,

with the PAP (Preferred Annual Pass) you are fine. That one doesn't have blackout dates.

The one with blackout dates is the Power Pass.

 

[Bovril]

Sorry got my abbreviations mixed up, unfortunately have got the power passes not the PAP ones , more's the pity

Bev

 

[VW31]

I don't understand how they can change the terms of the agreement like this after people have purchased the pass. The dates are what people look at before purchasing it.
It's like all of a sudden putting black out dates on the PAP, when people buy it with the knowledge there are none.
What is being done to let them know this is not right?
I don't have either pass yet, but was planning on getting the PAP for the room discount.
If they can do this with the Power Pass, what next?

 

[CPM]

I'd like to take this further. Is there an Orlando Tourism bureau or anything? Anyone know who else we can contact besides US?

 

[deelam]

I agree. If I remember correctly, the web site indicated that certain summer weekends were blacked out.
This change isn't a small change. It's a big one.

On a side note, if this is geared to Florida residents, I think that is awful. This is no way to reward your hometown people.

 

[frequentflyer]

Hi everyone!

I am glad everyone is contacting US about this. I sent another e-mail two days ago after they replied to my first one (where they only confirmed that the blackout dates were changed but never flat out said that they were not going to honor the original dates). I am assuming they won't be because I haven't heard back from my second e-mail. In it, I asked how they could do that since there is no "subject to change" clause pertaining specifically to blackout dates on the original PP's. In the newsletter with the change, they have an asterisk next to the blackout dates, with it standing for "blackout dates subject to change.

I requested either a full refund or a free upgrade to PAP's for all nine of the people I bought PP's for, or for them to give me something in writing that they would honor the original dates.

I'm going to give them another 24 hours, and then I am going to contact our local TV station's "Help me Howard". If you are from S.FL you know who he is. He's a lawyer and they have a segment each night with people that have different legal questions. I hope that coming here and all the people that have already written US will wake them up a bit. Maybe if enough people complain loudly they will rethink their decision. The simple thing is that they shouldn't have changed any dates prior to the ones that were printed on the PP envelopes- the period from April 2004-Jan. 1,2006. If they want to sell new ones with new dates, that's fine with me, but leave me with the ones I bought!

What really gets me is that we have gone much more than we usually do BECAUSE we had the PP's. Which means I've given them more of my money than I would have. We've already taken 4 trips since September- we used to go only once every two years, alternating with Disney.

I am sure Orlando had a touirism board- since they rely largely on tourist dollars. I will contact them as well!

Sorry this is so long, I tend to ramble!
Thanks everyone!
Kelly

 

[Foladar]

Let us know when/if you air with Help me Howard, would like to see the segment

 

[CPM]

Let us know when/if you air with Help me Howard, would like to see the segment

Yes, I'd like to know as well.
I actually live over in Sunny Isles starting next weekend, for the summer. So I know of him.
Even if the new newsletter staes the change, none of the old stuff did that I know of.
I can't find an Orlando tourism bureau web site.

 

[JessicaR]

This may be a help.

http://www.800helpfla.com/index.html

 

[Metro West]

I just can't wait for the dates to actually go in affect. I still wouldn't know about the change if I hadn't read about it here. They will have so many people complaining at the gates that I certainly wouldn't want to be working at US guest services this summer.

Yeah..no kidding! I'm really disappointed Universal did this. I have a Preferred Annual Pass but it really bothers me that they did this.

 

[CPM]

This may be a help.

http://www.800helpfla.com/index.html

Thanks Jessica.

 

[robvia]

I think you should double check for the cost of the up grade. I don't think it is nearly that expensive.

Good idea, but the thing is, many let their passes expire (like me), thinking they could renew them for the summer.

In my case, I renewed my PAP because I'm driving up to Tampa this weekend to ride Sheikra, then over to IOA for a day. I was going to buy PPs for the wife and kid when we visit in July. Their passes have expired, to buy the PAPs for them means starting over at $169 a pop. Now I'm only going to buy a 2 day pass and we won't come back until next year as a family.

Everyone loses on this change. People who already bought their PPs are messed up, and people like me who didn't buy yet are changing plans because of it.

Like I said, I wouldn't care if they did it, but announce the date changes in January, before most have made plans.

 

[TracyK]

I e-mailed them too. I bought a PAP for me and a Power pass for my DS. We visited the parks for two days in Feb and I'd planned a further two or three days in Aug. These dates are now blackout dates. I live in the UK so we won't get to use our passes again. Two days use for the PAP and the Power pass isn't great value for money. I'm not happy.

Tracy

 

[JessicaR]

I can't find it on the internet yet but it will be on our evening news. I just heard a blurb that pertained to this on FOX. Seems more than a few people are not happy about the changes.

 

[CPM]

I can't find it on the internet yet but it will be on our evening news. I just heard a blurb that pertained to this on FOX. Seems more than a few people are not happy about the changes.

well that is wonderful news!! I just wonder what they were thinking!

 

[Bovril]

Just to report I've had a reply to my e-mail, and they have offered to upgrade my passes to PAP for FREE

Maybe the bad publicity is changing a few minds over at Universal!

Bev

 

[JessicaR]

Well I am happy to see they did the stand up thing! I hope they offer all of you that same deal.

 

[Metro West]

Just to report I've had a reply to my e-mail, and they have offered to upgrade my passes to PAP for FREE

Maybe the bad publicity is changing a few minds over at Universal!

That's great news! I hope they do the right thing and change the dates back to what they were. If not, there's gonna be a lot more bad publicity.