New to the DIS, and loving the information here. Thanks, everyone, especially the moderators. 
Im currently booking a split Disney/Universal stay for June 2012. We did Disney last summer, but are Universal newbies. Our plan is to stay onsite at Universal for four nights, then head to WDW. I want to share the results of my research and pose a few questions.
Working with a travel agent, I originally booked a package of four nights at the HRH and four 4-day park-to-park tickets. It was a good rate, basically equivalent in price to buying tickets online and getting the Stay More Save More promotion at HRH.
However, after reading the DIS some more, I came across a new scheme... buying one preferred annual pass in order to secure a discounted hotel room. Using the APH code at Loews website, I snagged a standard 2 Queens room for $174/$199. After taxes, it's roughly $200 less than the room rate we had booked as part of the package. The $200 savings means a Preferred Annual Pass ( currently $259.99 on Universal's website, roughly $100 over the 4-day ticket I originally planned to purchase ) will more than pay for itself. Any additional parking, food, or merchandise discounts will be gravy. Plus, once I've activated my annual pass, I will be able to purchase multi-day theme park tickets (at the park gates only) for the rest of my family at 15% off.
My question to the forum: Is there any advantage to purchasing Universal annual passes or multi-day tickets in advance online, or should I just wait until I arrive in Orlando and buy them at the Hard Rocks lobby ticket desk?
Disney has me conditioned to want to prepay, to lock in prices before the next price increase.
However, my research tells me to wait. I called the Attraction Ticketing dept directly, and was told that they sell real ( not vouchers ) APs that you can take right to the park turnstiles, as well as multi-day tickets for $20 off gate price. The helpful person I spoke to listened to my plan, and advised me to stop at ticketing first, buy my AP, and then check into the hotel.
Has anyone purchased their park tickets and/or annual passes at an onsite resorts ticket desk? What was your experience?
Im currently booking a split Disney/Universal stay for June 2012. We did Disney last summer, but are Universal newbies. Our plan is to stay onsite at Universal for four nights, then head to WDW. I want to share the results of my research and pose a few questions.
Working with a travel agent, I originally booked a package of four nights at the HRH and four 4-day park-to-park tickets. It was a good rate, basically equivalent in price to buying tickets online and getting the Stay More Save More promotion at HRH.
However, after reading the DIS some more, I came across a new scheme... buying one preferred annual pass in order to secure a discounted hotel room. Using the APH code at Loews website, I snagged a standard 2 Queens room for $174/$199. After taxes, it's roughly $200 less than the room rate we had booked as part of the package. The $200 savings means a Preferred Annual Pass ( currently $259.99 on Universal's website, roughly $100 over the 4-day ticket I originally planned to purchase ) will more than pay for itself. Any additional parking, food, or merchandise discounts will be gravy. Plus, once I've activated my annual pass, I will be able to purchase multi-day theme park tickets (at the park gates only) for the rest of my family at 15% off.
My question to the forum: Is there any advantage to purchasing Universal annual passes or multi-day tickets in advance online, or should I just wait until I arrive in Orlando and buy them at the Hard Rocks lobby ticket desk?
Disney has me conditioned to want to prepay, to lock in prices before the next price increase.
However, my research tells me to wait. I called the Attraction Ticketing dept directly, and was told that they sell real ( not vouchers ) APs that you can take right to the park turnstiles, as well as multi-day tickets for $20 off gate price. The helpful person I spoke to listened to my plan, and advised me to stop at ticketing first, buy my AP, and then check into the hotel.Has anyone purchased their park tickets and/or annual passes at an onsite resorts ticket desk? What was your experience?
