Question about the dark side as a Canadian

[Csaks]

Going down at the end of March for a few days at Universal and a family get together after that in Ft Myers.
Now reading the Universal forums it appears if we get Seasons Passes we can save a bunch on the hotels. Now as a Canadian how does buying that work?
Does it matter where I'm from or is it just for Americans?
How do you pick them up?
If you ask for the AP rate would you not first need the pass?

Reading over my questions they are probably a bit dumb but I can't seem to figure out how it would work. Has a fellow Canadian done this, any advice is welcome.

 

[quandrea]

I just did this last month. I paid for my universal tickets (3 day park to park) at my local CAA. Paid in US dollars, cash. That way I avoided my credit card company's foreign exchange fees. You could also pay Canadian cash to avoid these fees. I had the us cash on hand. CAA simply does the us to cad conversion on a calculator.

Then I used my tickets to go through the park gate. One day on my way out, I went to guest relations and upgraded to an AP. You need to decide which one is best for you. I'm returning next January and needed a preferred AP. You can probably get by with a cheaper AP. The seasonal or power pass.

You do not need to have your AP upon check in. Just show it before your last night. The savings on hotels are excellent. We only paid $200 a night for the Hard Rock. The same date for January next year is over $500.

 

[Csaks]

Quandrea,
So we are doing three nights. We have a great CAA agent that has done all our trips from '01 till now. Did you book your room through them, as well as the park tickets?
Figured we could get by with just the Season Pass. SP is about 30 more for each of us but the hotel savings over shadow that big time. Plus if I can manage it, I would want to go back in October for a long weekend of Halloween Haunt. Neither time period is in the block out dates, so it should work.
I did not know you could buy normal ticket then transfer them to SP/AP. Even after using it for a day this can be done?
I like the idea of paying cash up front. Credit cards and me don't get along, we just have a pre paid one for those time there is no other way around it.

 

[quandrea]

I booked my hotel directly through Universal. What the website as the rates change. I had originally booked a great ap rate at Royal Pacific. Three days before we left, Hard Rock came in at $500 cheaper than Royal Pacific over the three night stay. Be ready and willing to chang hotels.

Only one of you needs an AP although if you plan to go again that is a moot point.

Yes you can buy a normal ticket and upgrade. I did this so I could pay cash. There is a small discount with CAA. Once you use the ticket once and then upgrade you'll save even more because the team member uses the full price of the ticket when ding the calculation for the upgrade.

I just bought my tickets at the counter inside the CAA office not through a travel agent working there.

I credit the kind folks over on the universal board for all this info. They are the best! Ask anything else you want!

 

[Csaks]

Thank you, you have been a great help.