Upgraded to annual pass SUCCESS!!!!

[jrw118]

i just wanted to update with my success today of upgrading to a power pass. I purchased 3 adult and 2 children (4 day park to park ) tickets. I bought them for working advantage through my union. I bought 1 week prior to the increase. I paid $170.99 and 160.99 respectively plus tax. Total was $924. Today was our 4th day in the park and I had to wait to upgrade till our last day because of black out dates. We only used 2 adult and 2 children's tickets (my Aunt couldn't come last minute). I went to guest services at IOA on our way out and got 4 power passes. They refunded me $63.90. . That's right they gave me money to trade into an annual pass. Freaking incredible.

 

[phamton]

You have to admit that the Power Pass is an incredible deal for the price.

 

[djmeredith]

Good for you! I purchased the 2 day + 1 day free tix through Orbitz a few weeks ago and then was able to upgrade them over the weekend (on our last day to avoid black out dates) to the Power Pass for $0. I was expecting to pay $20 or less, so was pleasantly surprised when the guy said they were the same price. I went to Universal in Oct 2014 for the first time in 15 years and enjoyed it so much I went back last weekend. It is such a good value and now that my nephews are getting older and like the bigger thrill rides they have all said they prefer it to Disney.

 

[macraven]

the darkside spreads mummy dust again........


enjoy the new passes and money refund.

 

[schumigirl]

Fantastic.......nice result!

 

[KrisM]

How does that work? I have 3 day park-to-park that I got through an organization. How much would it cost me to upgrade them?

 

[johde]

How does that work? I have 3 day park-to-park that I got through an organization. How much would it cost me to upgrade them?

Assuming they are the equivalent of a regular 3 day park-to-park ticket and not some "special" ticket like USSSA youth athletics tickets. An upgrade to an Power Pass should be free (or a small refund). Unless Universal raises Annual Pass prices before you get there.

 

[HM]

Wow, when I upgraded my son's 4 day to a Power Pass, the TM said it could only be an 'even exchange' and she couldn't refund the difference.

 

[KrisM]

Hmm. Okay. Online it shows the price for the power pass as higher than the 3-day ticket. But, hey, if it's the same, I should give it a try. We got tickets through a tournament we are competing in. The organization got us great prices, but I have no idea if they are special tickets or not. Worth a shot, I guess. I don't think we'll go back within a year, but it seems silly not to upgrade if I can.

What a deal, OP!

 

[johde]

The price online for the 3 day ticket includes the $20 advanced purchase discount. When you upgrade they use the gate price.

 

[keishashadow]

Wow, when I upgraded my son's 4 day to a Power Pass, the TM said it could only be an 'even exchange' and she couldn't refund the difference.

that's how I thought it worked. Sounds like the OP got lucky

KrisM - Can you ask the organizers if the tickets are upgradeable?

 

[KrisM]

that's how I thought it worked. Sounds like the OP got lucky

KrisM - Can you ask the organizers if the tickets are upgradeable?

Not easily. I had to fax our team's order into a main person here who passes it along. I'm not exactly sure who would know! I'm not going to worry too much. it's unlikely we'd go back within a year. I could see maybe going an extra day while we are there, if I can upgrade before I go into a park. DS11 is going for a tournament and I have a lot of free time during the days. I am planning on going in on Sunday and then back with him Sunday night and then again Tuesday and Wednesday. If I can upgrade before entering a park, I could go on Saturday as well. Tickets were only $138 each for 3 day parktopark, so they may be some special deal that I can't upgrade.

 

[disneydawn71]

Same thing happened to me (getting a refund)... I purchased a 4 day Park to Park ticket for $189.79 for my Mom prior to our trip this past February. Since I knew we would be coming back in early December 2015, I decided to upgrade her ticket to a Power Pass since we won't have to worry about blackout dates for the Dec trip. Went to Guest Relations on our first day and had the upgrade taken care of and a refund was offered, it was nominal though (maybe $2-$3?), so I told the Guest Relations gal it wasn't necessary to refund such a nominal amount, but she gave it to me anyway.

My sister and I just booked a last minute trip for in late May/Early June and plan to do the same thing for my sister since the blackout dates won't be in effect for that stay either. Not expecting a refund, but will be pleasantly surprised (again) if it's offered.

 

[Clemson Bama Fan]

Is it possible to upgrade the 3-Park Unlimited Ticket purchased from Undercover Tourist which is good for 14 consecutive days? We will be in Orlando Dec 11 - 19. I see the Power Pass has Blockout Dates from Dec 18 - 31. Can I wait until we are leaving the parks on the 19th and upgrade then to Power Passes at no cost? Or can I upgrade at any time to Preferred Passes and pay the additional cost? Our tickets were $200 each so would an upgrade to Preferred run about $60 + tax? What would be start dates for the new Annual Pass? First use of existing ticket or date of upgrade? Sorry for so many questions. Just never gave this much thought in the past as we weren't sure when we would be coming back and as it has turned out this is an annual trip. Go figure.

 

[angryduck71]

I'm so excited I could just jump up and down! I too got 4-day park to park and want to upgrade when we go in May. I actually asked on the boards and everyone said, "oh, no, you'll have to pay the difference in what you paid and what they're selling power passes for at the gate." Well, I paid a really low price at a military installation for my tix, so I didn't think it'd be worth it to upgrade. But then I emailed Universal and they said, nope, they'd upgrade them and it'd be the difference between the price of a 4 day park-to-park you'd pay at the gate and an annual pass at the gate. Now, who'd guess a refund may be possible? I'm not holding my breath I'll be THAT lucky, but am excited that it'll be a small amount.

 

[macraven]

looks like disneydawn and angryduck got the mummy dust special at the darkside......woot!

i hear more and more great stories like this and it's nice to read how thrilled peeps are when it happens to them.

 

[disneydawn71]

looks like disneydawn and angryduck got the mummy dust special at the darkside......woot!

i hear more and more great stories like this and it's nice to read how thrilled peeps are when it happens to them.

There is a little more to the story that I would like to share because I believe it speaks to the exceptional customer service (**mummy dust** Thanks macraven!) that appears to be the norm and not the exception at Universal... while Ashleigh/Guest Relations was processing the refund, she was having computer issues, so it was taking her a little longer to process, which is why I kept telling her not to worry, just happy to take care of the upgrade... well, after a few minutes (and honestly, it may have been 3 or 4 minutes) She thanked us profusely for being so understanding and proceeded to give us 2 sets of FOL passes for Escape from Gringotts and Forbidden Journey. It was unnecessary, but so appreciated! It is experiences like this that will keep us coming back again and again!

Sorry to get off topic of the thread, but I just wanted to share since it really was an extremely generous gesture and a testament to the great guest treatment that makes Universal so special!

 

[macraven]

There is a little more to the story that I would like to share because I believe it speaks to the exceptional customer service (**mummy dust** Thanks macraven!) that appears to be the norm and not the exception at Universal... while Ashleigh/Guest Relations was processing the refund, she was having computer issues, so it was taking her a little longer to process, which is why I kept telling her not to worry, just happy to take care of the upgrade... well, after a few minutes (and honestly, it may have been 3 or 4 minutes) She thanked us profusely for being so understanding and proceeded to give us 2 sets of FOL passes for Escape from Gringotts and Forbidden Journey. It was unnecessary, but so appreciated! It is experiences like this that will keep us coming back again and again!

Sorry to get off topic of the thread, but I just wanted to share since it really was an extremely generous gesture and a testament to the great guest treatment that makes Universal so special!

so glad you shared your personal experience with the TM's with us.

thrilled that you got mummy dust twice!


the TM's at the darkside are well trained and will try to make anyone they have contact with for problem solving an issue, mummy dust.
Universal does appreciate their guests and comments.
i have the ap and stay on site and have gone to guest services about a situation.

they write everything down and try to make the rest of your day go smooth.
i've been given the express passes for my inconvenience as i don't need them.
i have the hotel ep.
i have been told to share them with my friends that don't have the ep so they can ride with me.


in getting back to the topic here, you just can not beat (the 4 day passes or) the power pass upgrades if you plan to return within the year.

 

[elaine amj]

Woohooo!! Crossing my fingers when I go to upgrade my 4 day tix. We are contemplating Preferred since we would like to come Christmas week - but will take a Power Pass for sure

 

[mickey1968]

Back in December I bought a 3 day park to park ticket from undercover tourist and then upgraded to the powerpass for only $9! Not as good as the refunds some of you received but I was thrilled as I am going back to Orlando in 3 weeks and am including 1 day at Universal/IOA and then will have another trip at Halloween.