Upgrading 5 day 3 park ticket to 2 park annual pass?

[jenhelgren]

We have 5 day 3 park tickets in May and have decided to upgrade them to annual passes. I dont think we'll get enough use adding Volcano Bay so I would prefer the 2 park AP. If we use the tickets at Volcano Bay, do I have to upgrade to the 3 park annual pass? And is there any benefit to upgrading the 1st day we use the tickets or does it not matter as long as its before the ticket expires?

 

[CAPSLOCK]

Yes, once you go to VB you can only upgrade to an AP that includes VB. There's no specific benefit to doing it early or waiting, unless you would be able to use discounts by upgrading early. The AP year will be based on when you first used the ticket, so there's definitely no benefit to waiting. You can upgrade at the hotel ticket desk to, for shorter lines.

 

[jenhelgren]

Yes, once you go to VB you can only upgrade to an AP that includes VB

Darn it-I thought that was the case but I was hoping to get to see VB-I just dont want a pass for it

Universal Guest Services told me that they apply the full value of the ticket and not what I paid to AP upgrades-do you happen to know if thats correct?

 

[CAPSLOCK]

That is true. If you bought discounted tickets from Undercover Tourist or wherever, they credit you the Universal price of the same ticket.

But if you got a Universal promo such as buy 2 days get 2 days free, you are credited for the official Universal cost of that promo ticket (ie a 2 day ticket).

 

[jenhelgren]

Our tickets will be discount youth group tickets being purchased from UO directly. I hope they gave me the right info because I could see those falling into the promo category and we are really excited about finally getting APs!

 

[DisBuckMan]

That is true. If you bought discounted tickets from Undercover Tourist or wherever, they credit you the Universal price of the same ticket.

But if you got a Universal promo such as buy 2 days get 2 days free, you are credited for the official Universal cost of that promo ticket (ie a 2 day ticket).

Just so I'm understanding clearly, promo tickets like the B2G2 ticket deal are considered "promo" tickets no matter where they're bought from? ie...they cannot be "bridged" for 4 day value when upgrading to AP if bought from Undercover Tourist or Sam's or my alma mater's alumni association? Or, is it just if they're bought from Universal?

I know they used to bridge anything...we got our tickets upgraded years ago to a power pass on one of these deals, but I know that both Disney and Universal have cracked down on these things over the years.

 

[CAPSLOCK]

If the reseller is selling the Universal promo tickets, they are purchased form Universal as promo tickets, say "promo," and are upgraded like the Universal tickets (ie valued as a 2 day). Pretty much any time Universal is offering this deal, the authorized resellers are too - all the same ticket in Universal's system.

Sometimes (rarely) the authorized reseller might offer their own buy 3 days get one free or similar deal; those are a 3rd party deal on normal tickets, so Universal treats them as a normal full price ticket.