Universal ticket strategies for the future

[Borgar]

I've seen lots of discussion about the current $99 7-day ticket offer. Since we're thinking about hitting UO for the first time next year after the WWoHP opens, we'd like to take advantage of these tix. Since our plans are not definite, I have a few questions to throw out to the collective wisdom:

1. If we end up not going until 2011, my older DD will be 10 years old. The price is the same for child or adult tix, so is it OK just to get adult tix for every family member regardless of age?

2. I've read/heard about significant Universal hotel discounts for annual passholders. Is it worth getting an AP for one family member, just for the hotel discount? I like the idea of the UO hotels for FOTL access -- especially once HP opens!

Thanks from a UO neophyte!

 

[damo]

1. I'm sure an adult ticket will be just fine.
2. Sometimes there are fantastic deals with AP. For example, last August you could get the Royal Pacific Hotel for $129 and the Portofino Bay hotel for $159. Those are fantastic prices. However, sometimes you can also get fantastic prices with AAA or what is called the supersaver rate which means that the longer you stay, the lower your rate. You can always book at the current rate and then if the rates go down, purchase whatever is needed (AAA, AP, etc) and then have the hotel adjust your rate. You only need to have the AAA, AP when you get to the hotel. You don't need them to actually book. No one asks for your AAA or AP number until you actually check in.

 

[ky07]

I think the $99 Unlimited tickets will become a thing of the past once it gets closer to the opening for WWOHP

 

[Rip]

I've seen lots of discussion about the current $99 7-day ticket offer. Since we're thinking about hitting UO for the first time next year after the WWoHP opens, we'd like to take advantage of these tix. Since our plans are not definite, I have a few questions to throw out to the collective wisdom:

1. If we end up not going until 2011, my older DD will be 10 years old. The price is the same for child or adult tix, so is it OK just to get adult tix for every family member regardless of age?

2. I've read/heard about significant Universal hotel discounts for annual passholders. Is it worth getting an AP for one family member, just for the hotel discount? I like the idea of the UO hotels for FOTL access -- especially once HP opens!

Thanks from a UO neophyte!

1. Yes.

2. Yes. I have HRH next month for $149/night and RPR in December for $129/night, that's close to $100/night less than what they had listed for rack at the time I made the ressies.

 

[Borgar]

2. Sometimes there are fantastic deals with AP. For example, last August you could get the Royal Pacific Hotel for $129 and the Portofino Bay hotel for $159. Those are fantastic prices. However, sometimes you can also get fantastic prices with AAA or what is called the supersaver rate which means that the longer you stay, the lower your rate. You can always book at the current rate and then if the rates go down, purchase whatever is needed (AAA, AP, etc) and then have the hotel adjust your rate. You only need to have the AAA, AP when you get to the hotel. You don't need them to actually book. No one asks for your AAA or AP number until you actually check in.

Thanks for the info! Here's another question: if I buy the 7-day tix for each member of our family now, can one of them be applied toward the purchase of an AP later when we're ready to travel?

You folks rock!

 

[damo]

Thanks for the info! Here's another question: if I buy the 7-day tix for each member of our family now, can one of them be applied toward the purchase of an AP later when we're ready to travel?

You folks rock!

Yes. You just go to guest services and pay the difference.

 

[pantherlj]

I think the $99 Unlimited tickets will become a thing of the past once it gets closer to the opening for WWOHP

I think so too. I was thinking of buying a set to save but I can't find anywhere on US site that says those tickets are good "forever". I would hate to buy them and then be stuck with tickets that are of no value!

 

[Purseval]

I am going down to Orlando next friday with one of the Kroger cards so I can take it to guest services and find out if it expires. I will report back and while I'm at it I'll ask if any of the other advance tickets expire. If you have any questions you'd like me to ask you can post them here or you can just call Guest Services and ask yourself, they get paid to answer questions from you.

 

[Borgar]

Thanks, everyone! I just completed my online purchase of the tickets for our family. I went through Dreams Unlimited Travel web site, since the price is the same as direct from UO -- I don't know if DU gets any commission from that, but I like to support them since I enjoy the podcast so much.

Now that I just completed this non-refundable purchase, I sure hope these are non-expiring!

 

[Borgar]

OK -- just got off the phone with Carla at Guest Services at UO. She said that they have no indication that there will be any expiration date on these tickets. Phew! We should be good for next year (or 2011) then.

 

[mthds]

I called yesterday and I was assured the tickets never expire until you use that first day. He said they are good at least until the year 2079. So I plan on buying them to use in the future.