Tickets questions galore

[Music City Mama]

Hi, hoping you can help me out. Never been to US/IOA. Just got back from WDW and figured we'd add US/IOA to the mix for next June.

I plan on my buying my WDW tix from UT in the next few days to get in on the old prices (will stay at the Dolphin so I'm not concerned about waiting for a "Disney special offer/package" to be released).

I don't know if I should buy the US/IOA tix, as well, and get in on the old prices or if I should wait on those. I do plan on staying onsite there and it looks like this year they offered the "stay more save more" deal, but I'd only be staying for 3 nights, which if they did this next year, would only save me 10%, but better than nothing. Is the AAA rate generally better than that or not? It's not letting me check rates for next year yet. If you did do the "smsm" deal, did you have to buy tickets through them, as well, or not?

I noted on another thread that you can buy an AP for about $100 more than a regular 2-day ticket, but then get the benefits of the AP rates for the resort. Did I read that right? I would be up for that, but do you have to buy the most expensive AP to get those discounted rates?

I guess I'm just not sure if I bite the bullet now w/ US/IOA tickets or if it would benefit me at all to wait for next year's packages? I just don't know if they make you buy tickets through them to get the package deal like WDW does.

Lastly, not ticket related, but if we only had 2 days there and were staying onsite (therefore, FOTL access), do you think we could do most of the rides (and yes, WWoHP is a big deal to us)?
TIA!

 

[mark290]

No problem doing everything, and more than once, in two days with fotl.
We just got back from six days. We would only go into the parks for a couple hours at a time and then enjoy the resort. The first day or two we hit the parks a little harder and by the second day we had done everything. We find it fun to pop in for short periods of time after that initial push and hitting our favorites or what we have a craving for.

Its great not having to plan and knowing there is no pressure because you will be able to ride and see everything. Feel like an E.T. fix no problem, need to ride the Hulk before lunch, piece of cake, got an hour to kill and want to hit all the water rides, you'll also have time to grab a happy hour beer and still get back to the pool in an hour. This place is too easy and what a vacation should be, stress free and knowing you will get everything done wihout any plan.

 

[Metro West]

I noted on another thread that you can buy an AP for about $100 more than a regular 2-day ticket, but then get the benefits of the AP rates for the resort. Did I read that right? I would be up for that, but do you have to buy the most expensive AP to get those discounted rates?

I guess I'm just not sure if I bite the bullet now w/ US/IOA tickets or if it would benefit me at all to wait for next year's packages? I just don't know if they make you buy tickets through them to get the package deal like WDW does.

Lastly, not ticket related, but if we only had 2 days there and were staying onsite (therefore, FOTL access), do you think we could do most of the rides (and yes, WWoHP is a big deal to us)?
TIA!

I can't help with the hotel question since I don't stay onsite.

The regular two park to park passes are $135.99 and the Preferred AP is $219.99 so yes...you can purchase the AP for under $100 more. You will get discounts on theme park tickets, food and merchandise. Not to mention AP hotel rates. You do not have to purchase the higher priced Premier AP to get the discounts. You will get more of a discount with it but unless you're local, you probably won't use it enough to make it worth your while. Also...the Premier AP has a relatively high renewal cost as opposed to the Preffered which is about $170.00 with tax.

It's usually cheaper to buy your theme park tickets and hotel room separately. You'll have to do the math to see what's better for you but if you can save a bit of money and purchase the tickets now at the old rate...why not do it? They are good until you activate them so you can use them whenever you want.

Two days will be plenty of time to do everything you want to do with your onsite perk of unlimited Express. You can take your time and enjoy the parks instead of trying to do a commando touring plan. It's nice to have the hotels so close...you can go back and swim or take a nap during the hottest part of the day. Plus...you will get early entry for WWoHP which is very important since you really want to see it.

 

[Music City Mama]

Thank you both for your replies.

That does make me feel better to know that if I stay onsite I can get everything done in 2 days w/o touring commando. This last Disney trip I decided that I just don't have that in me anymore. Usually we tour commando for the first two days and then do 1/2 days or so after that, but those first two days of commando are killing me, LOL. I'm hoping to get to US/IOA at opening and then leaving around 1:00ish -- depending upon how small/close everything is, I may head back later, but perhaps not. Does that sound doable?

Metro West -- Thanks for confirming that buying the tix and room separately is usually a better deal -- I just don't want to miss out on some great package if tickets are required to be purchased through them.

If I go ahead and get my tickets from UT now to get the old rate, how will it work with purchasing the AP? I don't think I can buy an AP through them. Do I just get the other 3 family members' tickets through UT and then I buy the AP for myself through Universal? I would assume I would need the AP in hand (so I have the number) in order to utilize any resort discounts?

Thanks again.

 

[Metro West]

That does make me feel better to know that if I stay onsite I can get everything done in 2 days w/o touring commando. This last Disney trip I decided that I just don't have that in me anymore. Usually we tour commando for the first two days and then do 1/2 days or so after that, but those first two days of commando are killing me, LOL. I'm hoping to get to US/IOA at opening and then leaving around 1:00ish -- depending upon how small/close everything is, I may head back later, but perhaps not. Does that sound doable?

If I go ahead and get my tickets from UT now to get the old rate, how will it work with purchasing the AP? I don't think I can buy an AP through them. Do I just get the other 3 family members' tickets through UT and then I buy the AP for myself through Universal? I would assume I would need the AP in hand (so I have the number) in order to utilize any resort discounts?

One of the joys of staying onsite is doing exactly what you are suggesting...touring for a while and then back to the hotel with a return trip to the parks later in the day. Shouldn't be any problem at all.

If you purchase the park tickets through UT, you can upgrade yours to the AP w/o an issue. You will need to go to Guest Services to do the upgrading and then when you go through the gate, it will be activated. Once activated show the AP at the hotel so they can change your rate. Make sense?

 

[macraven]

Thank you both for your replies.

That does make me feel better to know that if I stay onsite I can get everything done in 2 days w/o touring commando. This last Disney trip I decided that I just don't have that in me anymore. Usually we tour commando for the first two days and then do 1/2 days or so after that, but those first two days of commando are killing me, LOL. I'm hoping to get to US/IOA at opening and then leaving around 1:00ish -- depending upon how small/close everything is, I may head back later, but perhaps not. Does that sound doable?

Metro West -- Thanks for confirming that buying the tix and room separately is usually a better deal -- I just don't want to miss out on some great package if tickets are required to be purchased through them.

If I go ahead and get my tickets from UT now to get the old rate, how will it work with purchasing the AP? I don't think I can buy an AP through them. Do I just get the other 3 family members' tickets through UT and then I buy the AP for myself through Universal? I would assume I would need the AP in hand (so I have the number) in order to utilize any resort discounts?

Thanks again.

you don't need the ap 'in hand' to book the room for the aph rate.
if asked when you check in, show them the voucher and activate that to the ap once you go to the parks.

show the active ap to the front desk during your stay so you do get the ap rate on the room.

no one has to have the ap in hand to book rooms.

if you are planning to buy your tickets thru ut, then upgrade that ticket to an ap once at the park, check with guest services when you get there.

we don't know at this time what value those 3 day passes will be towards the ap.

the system is still to new to have the answers to it.

a poster in another thread stated she wanted to do that.
she bought the 7 day passes a year ago and wants to upgrade to an ap with them on her next trip.

she had the same question and asked if those that have done so, report back to inform the rest of the homies.

 

[Music City Mama]

If you purchase the park tickets through UT, you can upgrade yours to the AP w/o an issue. You will need to go to Guest Services to do the upgrading and then when you go through the gate, it will be activated. Once activated show the AP at the hotel so they can change your rate. Make sense?

you don't need the ap 'in hand' to book the room for the aph rate.
if asked when you check in, show them the voucher and activate that to the ap once you go to the parks.

show the active ap to the front desk during your stay so you do get the ap rate on the room.

no one has to have the ap in hand to book rooms.

if you are planning to buy your tickets thru ut, then upgrade that ticket to an ap once at the park, check with guest services when you get there.

Interesting, that's good to know. So I can book the AP rate w/o proving I have an AP? And I don't have to show proof upon checking in, but as long as I show it during my stay (after I've upgraded the ticket)?

 

[Metro West]

Interesting, that's good to know. So I can book the AP rate w/o proving I have an AP? And I don't have to show proof upon checking in, but as long as I show it during my stay (after I've upgraded the ticket)?

 

[desamnik]

We have a 3 day pass w/ one day left on it. We would like to add another day to this, can we do it? How much does it cost?

THX

 

[macraven]

Interesting, that's good to know. So I can book the AP rate w/o proving I have an AP? And I don't have to show proof upon checking in, but as long as I show it during my stay (after I've upgraded the ticket)?

double

 

[macraven]

. So I can book the AP rate w/o proving I have an AP? And I don't have to show proof upon checking in, but as long as I show it during my stay (after I've upgraded the ticket)?

y.e.s.






you are booking your room with the ap in advance.

only a certain % of rooms and types are available for the ap rate.

once the quota has been filled, no more ap rates will be available.

buy the ap now.
you will recieve a voucher.
active the voucher while you are the darkside and before you check out of the hotel so your ap rate is valid.

 

[Music City Mama]

y.e.s.


you are booking your room with the ap in advance.

only a certain % of rooms and types are available for the ap rate.

once the quota has been filled, no more ap rates will be available.

buy the ap now.
you will recieve a voucher.
active the voucher while you are the darkside and before you check out of the hotel so your ap rate is valid.

I'm getting a little confused. Explain the "voucher" system to me. So I do in fact pay for the AP in advance then? I don't pay for it when I 'upgrade' in person at guest services? My only issue with that is that I was reading on another thread that they didn't release summer AP rates this year until very recently. What if I pay for the AP for the sole purpose of getting a resort AP discount and then they don't even release any summer AP discounts next year? That's why I was hoping to buy 4 regular 2-day park-to-park tickets through UT -- and then book as soon as possible with a AAA rate -- and if they release AP rates for my dates, cancel/rebook with that rate -- and then upgrade to AP upon arrival. Can I not do that?

 

[damo]

I'm getting a little confused. Explain the "voucher" system to me. So I do in fact pay for the AP in advance then? I don't pay for it when I 'upgrade' in person at guest services? My only issue with that is that I was reading on another thread that they didn't release summer AP rates this year until very recently. What if I pay for the AP for the sole purpose of getting a resort AP discount and then they don't even release any summer AP discounts next year? That's why I was hoping to buy 4 regular 2-day park-to-park tickets through UT -- and then book as soon as possible with a AAA rate -- and if they release AP rates for my dates, cancel/rebook with that rate -- and then upgrade to AP upon arrival. Can I not do that?

You sure can!

 

[Metro West]

We have a 3 day pass w/ one day left on it. We would like to add another day to this, can we do it? How much does it cost?

THX

Yes...just make sure you do it before your one day expires. Go to Guest Services at either park and they will take care of that for you. You would pay the difference from your ticket and the cost of the new ticket. It shouldn't cost a lot of money to add a day.

 

[Music City Mama]

You sure can!

Cool!

 

[bethnburke]

We are planning on taking a 4 day trip to Universal in Nov and are also considering going back in August. If we buy a 4 day ticket and on day 3 or 4 decide that we want to come back in August we can take all our tickets to guest services and convert them into annual passes?
How much will that cost?

 

[damo]

We are planning on taking a 4 day trip to Universal in Nov and are also considering going back in August. If we buy a 4 day ticket and on day 3 or 4 decide that we want to come back in August we can take all our tickets to guest services and convert them into annual passes?
How much will that cost?

Most definitely. It will be the difference in what you paid for the ticket and the cost of the AP.

 

[chimo2u]

Can you buy an AP 3 yrs in advance? My projected trip is not until fall 2014, but would like to lock in these tickets at today's pricing. There will be myself and 2 teens, do I just buy the AP for me, and the 3 day p to park for the teens? And are the discounts usually significant enough for the hotels to make upgrading my ticket to an AP worthwhile? We will only be using it for this trip, and max 3 days.... But I do like to stay onsite, club level, and will be deciding between HRH again or trying PBH for the first time. thanks for help clarifying the best strategy for savings in my situation

 

[macraven]

Can you buy an AP 3 yrs in advance? My projected trip is not until fall 2014, but would like to lock in these tickets at today's pricing. There will be myself and 2 teens, do I just buy the AP for me, and the 3 day p to park for the teens? And are the discounts usually significant enough for the hotels to make upgrading my ticket to an AP worthwhile? We will only be using it for this trip, and max 3 days.... But I do like to stay onsite, club level, and will be deciding between HRH again or trying PBH for the first time. thanks for help clarifying the best strategy for savings in my situation

you can buy the ap now and hold it for the next three years.

active the voucher when you do go on your trip at the park.

you can not buy the ap perk of discounted park tickets with the voucher.


it would be wise to buy the 3 day tickets now.
never know when prices will increase as your trip is not planned until another 3 years.


if you have the AAA card, you can get up to 35% off the hotel rates (depends on the date), discount park tickets, 10% off merch and food in the park and city walk, hotels across the usa, and for car issues.

the ap gives the 10% discount on food and merch, hotel rates discounted and admission unlimited to the parks.


voucher has to be activated to the ap, then you can buy the discounted park tickets for the teens.

 

[macraven]

if you decide to book with the hrh, get the all access card that is a program for hrc and hrh.

it does have some perks that you would be able to utilize.