Questions about the annual pass

[Cruisernut]

Hello, all you seasoned Universal Go-ers!

I apologize if my questions have been addressed on these boards already, but I just spent over 2 hours searching (and of course getting side-tracked with all the great info here) and still didn't find my specific answers. We are visiting Universal for 4 nights- July 25-29th- for the first time and I am beyond excited!

#1----Does the annual tix begin on date of purchase or the date I pick it up at the kiosk in front of the park? If it begins date of pick-up, I will wait another week to purchase so we will have another week next summer to possibly use it.

#2---We are buying one Preferred Season Pass (to get our AP rate at Hard Rock) and 3- 7 day passes for hubby and 2 children. I went online to buy the tickets, bought the 3- 7 day tickets and decided to wait another week to buy the AP ticket to get an additional week to the pass (not even sure if that is how the annual pass works). Immediately after purchasing the 3 tickets, I read that I could have gotten those tix 15% off with my annual pass. Does that apply for the $99 tix? I purchased the tix at 6:58pm and guest services closes at 7 pm so I couldn't call them to talk about it! I'm planning on calling them tomorrow morning unless i find out otherwise here. Anyway, I'm curious if they will allow me a refund to repurchase with my annual pass- anybody here ever had luck getting refunded for a "non-refundable" tix when having a goof like this?

Thanks in advance!!!

 

[donaldduck352]

The ticket begins the day you scan it to enter the park..

Thats the best way of buying the tixs,one get the preffered and others get the power.This way you still get the discounts at the restraunts and stores and resorts and free parking(the resorts still charge for parking tho).
Thats about the best I can give ya.Others will be along to answer the rest.

 

[phamton]

The AP 15% discount on ticket purchases are for regular priced ticket. The $99 tickets are a better bargain that any that you can get with your AP.

Donaldduck352 is correct. The clock starts ticking on your AP when you enter the park not when you pick them up.

 

[Metro West]

The clock starts ticking on your AP when you enter the park not when you pick them up.

Right but only if you pick the AP at the gate. If you order online and don't activate it, the clock doesn't start until you activate at the gate. Does that make sense?

 

[Cruisernut]

Great!

So it sounds like I can go ahead and purchase my annual pass online and it won't begin until I activate it when entering the park that day. Also, I feel better now that I didn't actually goof purchasing the rest of the family's tickets before my annual pass.

Thanks so much for all your replies! Now I've got about a week to figure out how we should spend our 4 days there!