Upgrade 2 Park Explorer to AP?

[stacynichole]

Hi!! I have booked and paid for our trip through Universal and have the 2 Park, 2 Day, Park to Park with 2 Days free currently. I've seen all the conflicting reports of upgrading those tickets so I am looking for another option that saves us money! It is $160 more to upgrade to the 2 Park Explorer, and what looks to be a $5 difference for a Seasonal Pass. I was curious to see if anyone had upgraded their 2 Park Explorer ticket to an Annual Pass, and what the price difference was?

We are going May 7th-14th, staying at Cabana Bay! I could not get an AP discount on the room (package price was always lower) but I am going to get the Preferred AP for myself to get the discounts on food and merchandise! With a family of 6, I am always looking for the best deal!

 

[damo]

In the past, the 3 park tickets involved Wet 'n Wild and it wasn't a Universal owned park, so it was not upgradable. The new 3 park explorer tickets involve 3 Universal owned parks and should be completely upgradable. I don't believe there is a 2 park explorer ticket.

 

[stacynichole]

In the past, the 3 park tickets involved Wet 'n Wild and it wasn't a Universal owned park, so it was not upgradable. The new 3 park explorer tickets involve 3 Universal owned parks and should be completely upgradable. I don't believe there is a 2 park explorer ticket.

There is a 2 and 3 park explorer option when you book a package through Universal, I am not sure if this is only offered when booking through a TA? Here is what I have as available options for it:

The Universal Orlando™ 2 Park Explorer Ticket entitles one (1) guest admission to Universal Studios Florida™, Universal's Islands of Adventure™ and select live entertainment venues of Universal CityWalk™, on all days during a fourteen (14) consecutive calendar day period which includes the first day any portion of the ticket is used. The ticket will expire in full on the expiration date printed on ticket. Unused days shall be forfeited.

The Universal Orlando™ 3 Park Explorer Ticket entitles one (1) guest admission to Universal Studios Florida™, Universal's Islands of Adventure™, Universal's Volcano Bay™ Water Theme Park, and select live entertainment venues of Universal CityWalk™ on all days during a fourteen (14) consecutive calendar day period which includes the first day any portion of the ticket is used. The ticket will expire in full on the expiration date printed on ticket. Unused days shall be forfeited. TICKET IS VALID STARTING MAY 25, 2017.

 

[damo]

There is a 2 and 3 park explorer option when you book a package through Universal, I am not sure if this is only offered when booking through a TA? Here is what I have as available options for it:

The Universal Orlando™ 2 Park Explorer Ticket entitles one (1) guest admission to Universal Studios Florida™, Universal's Islands of Adventure™ and select live entertainment venues of Universal CityWalk™, on all days during a fourteen (14) consecutive calendar day period which includes the first day any portion of the ticket is used. The ticket will expire in full on the expiration date printed on ticket. Unused days shall be forfeited.

The Universal Orlando™ 3 Park Explorer Ticket entitles one (1) guest admission to Universal Studios Florida™, Universal's Islands of Adventure™, Universal's Volcano Bay™ Water Theme Park, and select live entertainment venues of Universal CityWalk™ on all days during a fourteen (14) consecutive calendar day period which includes the first day any portion of the ticket is used. The ticket will expire in full on the expiration date printed on ticket. Unused days shall be forfeited. TICKET IS VALID STARTING MAY 25, 2017.

The two park is new. Is it cheaper than an AP?

 

[ljmclin]

I have a 14 day 3 park explorer ticket that I got from a 3rd party vendor. Our trip is 7/29-8/1 and I am reading that the annual pass tickets all have blackout dates for Volcano Bay in July except for the premiere pass. Since we plan to go to VB, I will need to upgrade to the premiere pass. I was planning on upgrading to an AP once I got to universal. I am just trying to figure out how much my AP will cost. If I am thinking right, I would pay the difference between the cost of my current ticket if I bought it at universal and the cost of the AP. The only problem is that I don't see that ticket offered at Universal so I wasn't sure what they will say the ticket is worth when I go to upgrade (does that make any sense?) I just want to be prepared for the upgrade cost and be sure it is worth it. We won't be going back to universal within the year. I would only want the AP for the discounts that could be applied on this trip. Thanks for any help you can give!!

 

[damo]

I have a 14 day 3 park explorer ticket that I got from a 3rd party vendor. Our trip is 7/29-8/1 and I am reading that the annual pass tickets all have blackout dates for Volcano Bay in July except for the premiere pass. Since we plan to go to VB, I will need to upgrade to the premiere pass. I was planning on upgrading to an AP once I got to universal. I am just trying to figure out how much my AP will cost. If I am thinking right, I would pay the difference between the cost of my current ticket if I bought it at universal and the cost of the AP. The only problem is that I don't see that ticket offered at Universal so I wasn't sure what they will say the ticket is worth when I go to upgrade (does that make any sense?) I just want to be prepared for the upgrade cost and be sure it is worth it. We won't be going back to universal within the year. I would only want the AP for the discounts that could be applied on this trip. Thanks for any help you can give!!

When you buy a package on the UO site, the 3 park explorer is listed at $298.19

I would use that as the price they would give you. How much did you actually pay for it?

 

[macraven]

MIght be cheaper just to buy day ticket for Vbay if it will be a one day event than to upgrade to premier 3 park pass
But if you plan to go many times could be worth it
That water park will be packed
If no more trips in one year time, pass would be expensive

Look at the website for the 3 park ap costs

Email guest services for info of cost differences to uograde

 

[ljmclin]

When you buy a package on the UO site, the 3 park explorer is listed at $298.19

I would use that as the price they would give you. How much did you actually pay for it?

I paid $272 per ticket. So you think it would be better to get a one day pass to Volcano Bay for $67 and then get the preferred AP?

 

[ljmclin]

MIght be cheaper just to buy day ticket for Vbay if it will be a one day event than to upgrade to premier 3 park pass
But if you plan to go many times could be worth it
That water park will be packed
If no more trips in one year time, pass would be expensive

Look at the website for the 3 park ap costs

Email guest services for info of cost differences to uograde

I think that's what I'm going to look into. I'm hoping to extend my stay at universal if I can get a good AP rate. First trip to Universal for my family and I can't wait. Y'all are a wonderful help. Thank you so much!!

 

[stacynichole]

The two park is new. Is it cheaper than an AP?

The 2 Park Explorer that I have currently is $271.57 per adult.

 

[damo]

The 2 Park Explorer that I have currently is $271.57 per adult.

So just marginally cheaper than the seasonal AP, but a great option if you are going during block out times.

 

[stacynichole]

Here is the reply I got today from guest services:

My Question: "I am trying to make sure that I can upgrade my "Buy 2, Get 2 free" tickets to an annual pass and what the price difference will be? Also, are the 2 park explorers able to be upgraded to an Annual Pass?"

Guest Services VIA Chat: "I can tell you that the ticket can be upgraded to an annual pass through Guest Services when they arrive for the difference of the ticket value you see listed in the package and the cost of the annual pass at the gate. Yes, the client will be able to upgrade even from the promotional ticket and the 2-Park Explorer as long as the ticket is still active."

 

[ljmclin]

Do I have to upgrade to my AP as soon as I get to Universal or can I wait until the day I check out?

 

[macraven]

Do you need the ap for hotel discount?

 

[ljmclin]

Yes - If one is available for my dates I wanted to upgrade when I got there. I'm still waiting (7/30-8/1)

 

[macraven]

Last year some ap rates were released a week out from July
Had two sets of friends that midfield their dates late June for their booking

 

[Michael Compton]

My family and I were there last week. I purchased 2 park explorer tickets toward the end of last year from park-tickets.com. I think they were $230 for adult tickets and $220 for children's tickets. At the very end of our visit when leaving IOA, I went into guest relations just to ask what upgrading to annual passes would cost. It was $5 for the adult tickets and $10 for the children's tickets. I did it, and we are heading back in October.

 

[stacynichole]

My family and I were there last week. I purchased 2 park explorer tickets toward the end of last year from park-tickets.com. I think they were $230 for adult tickets and $220 for children's tickets. At the very end of our visit when leaving IOA, I went into guest relations just to ask what upgrading to annual passes would cost. It was $5 for the adult tickets and $10 for the children's tickets. I did it, and we are heading back in October.

Which Annual Pass did you upgrade to?