Upgrading Power Pass to Preferred

[Strawman]

I am considering purchasing Florida resident annual passes for my family for Christmas, with the free two month promotion. Ideally, I would prefer to purchase the Power Pass, with the option to upgrade to Preferred later if so needed. I called the ticket sales office today but I was unable to elicit a coherent answer from the agent. He said that the upgrade would cost between $50 and $120 (even though the current price differential is $60) depending on ticket useage and other factors? Huh? He said it was not necessary to renew the passes when upgrading, that your expiration would stay the same, but couldn't tell me how much the upgrade would cost. I would assume that it would be the difference in what I paid for the Power Pass ($165) vs. the cost of the Preferred on that day, no? Also, they won't ship Florida resident tickets to me (must show proof of residency), i was hoping to put something under the tree. Options?

 

[Bluer101]

I believe you pay the difference and the expiration stays the same. As for no shipping, that's to make sure you are a FL resident. You cannot use shipping, front gate kiosks, or Universal hotel lobby kiosks.

 

[moray26]

For under the tree...print up some *fake* passes on your computer that your family can *exchange* for the real thing once you get there. If you happen to have any Universal brochures or park maps you could throw it all in a gift bag.

 

[Strawman]

Does anyone have a definitive answer to the cost to upgrade? Or is it all smoke and mirrors as the agent said?

 

[damo]

Cost to upgrade is just the difference between what you paid and the cost of the new pass. At least that is what it always has been in the past. I have never heard that they adjust it according to how much time has past or how many times you have used it. However, things are always changing around there.

 

[2girlsmom]

Is this true regardless of which pass type you are upgrading? I ask because when I bought my preferred pass, I asked about if I wanted to upgrade to Premier and was told by guest services that I would not be able to upgrade until renewal.

 

[phamton]

Cost to upgrade is just the difference between what you paid and the cost of the new pass.

Damo is correct. It is just the difference in price between the two passes. The usage makes no difference as the expiration time remains the same.

Is this true regardless of which pass type you are upgrading? I ask because when I bought my preferred pass, I asked about if I wanted to upgrade to Premier and was told by guest services that I would not be able to upgrade until renewal.

This is only if you are on a flexpay contract. If you are purchasing your annual passes outright and not monthly, then you can upgrade anytime. There is a slight savings if you upgrade at the time of renewal though. But again, that does not apply to flexpay.