Tickets/Pass confusion

[CountyMounty]

Going to Universal end of Dec 25 into Jan 26(yes I know it will be insanely crowded but only time we all could go) Booked flight and lodging some time ago but been holding off on tickets because of confusion and hoping maybe new options came about. Id love to have answers to two questions if someone could please cause even Universal themselves seem to give inconsistent answer.

1) Is there anyway to upgrade a ticket that includes epic to an annual pass ( for example a 4 day park to park plus 1 day Epic) for a potential return trip in February.

2) If the first day of our tickets (again let's just say a 4 day + 1 Epic) is Dec 29th, once it is 2026 will we be able to use 2 days at Epic?

 

[CAPSLOCK]

1) Is there anyway to upgrade a ticket that includes epic to an annual pass ( for example a 4 day park to park plus 1 day Epic) for a potential return trip in February.

No

2) If the first day of our tickets (again let's just say a 4 day + 1 Epic) is Dec 29th, once it is 2026 will we be able to use 2 days at Epic?

Your 2025 ticket clearly states 1 day at Epic. The terms don't magically change on Jan 1st. The terms on the 2026 tickets are different. Technically no one knows for sure, but I don't know why they would allow that kind of loophole when the ticket language is crystal clear.

 

[CountyMounty]

No



Your 2025 ticket clearly states 1 day at Epic. The terms don't magically change on Jan 1st. The terms on the 2026 tickets are different. Technically no one knows for sure, but I don't know why they would allow that kind of loophole when the ticket language is crystal clear.

I figured most likely it would not work for multiple days, however I also thought it might be possible that as of Jan 1 a 5 day 4 park ticket would be recognized the same by their system regardless of if it was a 25 or 26 ticket. It obviously presents a very unique situation for anyone going over the new year. Thank you for your answers.

 

[AnnaKristoff2013]

I figured most likely it would not work for multiple days, however I also thought it might be possible that as of Jan 1 a 5 day 4 park ticket would be recognized the same by their system regardless of if it was a 25 or 26 ticket. It obviously presents a very unique situation for anyone going over the new year. Thank you for your answers.

You should call them. This probably won’t work, but nobody here is going to be able to give you the answer since this situation has not happened yet so nobody is going to have experience with it. Maybe it’s possible to change your ticket if you talk to them.

I think Epic over the holidays is a mistake anyway and you’re not going to want more than one day. Epic can’t handle normal crowds. That week is going to be absolutely miserable. Expect to maybe ride one attraction, and wait multiple hours to do so. I guess a second attraction is possible if you are willing to wait multiple hours for it as well. Even with express pass the lines are still going to be very very long.

 

[Minnie1222]

I don't think it's going to work. Each package has its own QR/bar code. It's not a paper ticket that you can wave at the turnstile. Once it is scanned, it will be linked to your biometrics. When your face is scanned at subsequent visits, your type of tickets will be shown along with it.

 

[CAPSLOCK]

They differentiate park-to-park vs base tickets, & they know how many days you have left on multi day tickets. A ticket programmed for 1 day at Epic is really not any different. I don't see how/why they would reprogram the tickets on 1/1/26. You either bought 1 day at Epic 2025 tickets or you bought unrestricted access 2026 tickets. It's a clear delineation.

 

[tony67]

One option might be to but a two or three day park to park ticket and then upgrade it to a 5 day on the first that includes epic all of the days.

This is just a theory of course but seem like an option based on my experiences with Universal.

 

[cbsnyber1]

Another related question that falls under tickets/pass confusion:

We are a party of ten visiting in early May 2026. We’re staying at the Royal Pacific. Five of us will have Seasonal annual passes, while the other five will have 5-day park tickets.

So far, so good. Now the confusion: on the Uni website it appears that I can purchase five-day three park to park tickets that includes Epic. But from what I see Epic is not included in the Seasonal pass, meaning we’ll have to purchase five single day tickets for Epic, and designate the day we’ll go there. In other words, five of us can go to Epic all five days if we want to while five are limited to one day (unless we purchase multiple one day tickets to Epic).

Am I correct on all this?

 

[Tatebeck]

Another related question that falls under tickets/pass confusion:

We are a party of ten visiting in early May 2026. We’re staying at the Royal Pacific. Five of us will have Seasonal annual passes, while the other five will have 5-day park tickets.

So far, so good. Now the confusion: on the Uni website it appears that I can purchase five-day three park to park tickets that includes Epic. But from what I see Epic is not included in the Seasonal pass, meaning we’ll have to purchase five single day tickets for Epic, and designate the day we’ll go there. In other words, five of us can go to Epic all five days if we want to while five are limited to one day (unless we purchase multiple one day tickets to Epic).

Am I correct on all this?

2026 tickets no longer have the 1 day limit to Epic on multi-day tickets of 3+ days, but there still is no annual pass access available. It's probably cheaper to have everyone buy the 5 day tickets if you want to to into Epic every day.

 

[tjmw2727]

Another related question that falls under tickets/pass confusion:

We are a party of ten visiting in early May 2026. We’re staying at the Royal Pacific. Five of us will have Seasonal annual passes, while the other five will have 5-day park tickets.

So far, so good. Now the confusion: on the Uni website it appears that I can purchase five-day three park to park tickets that includes Epic. But from what I see Epic is not included in the Seasonal pass, meaning we’ll have to purchase five single day tickets for Epic, and designate the day we’ll go there. In other words, five of us can go to Epic all five days if we want to while five are limited to one day (unless we purchase multiple one day tickets to Epic).

Am I correct on all this?

I am in the same situation - family trip in Feb with four days in universal, party of 14. 11 will have park hopers with all 3 parks, me and my 2 dd's will have AP's for only the 2 original parks. In order to be able to join the family we will probably end up buying at least 3-day park hoppers on top of our AP's. Still working the math and checking the discount sites.