Upgrading UT ticket

[mum2simon]

Hi all,

We are headed to Universal for the first time in about 10 years. My husband and I are doing two days in the park (kids are hanging out with grandparents for a couple days ), staying at Loews Pacific and our plan is to get the Seasonal Pass (and bring kids back next spring).

I've searched a bit to find the answer but didn't. I was thinking about purchasing lower cost tickets from UT and upgrading to the seasonal to save a few bucks. I've seen people do this, but I am wondering if anyone has done the math? Which is the best UT ticket to purchase to save the most $$?

TIA!

 

[Tinknalli]

I can only give my experience earlier this month. We purchased buy 2 get 2 free 3 park base tickets hoping they would count them as a 4 day ticket. Unfortunately that was not the case. The tickets we bought indicated on the back that they were a promo ticket. I went to guest services twice and got the same answer both times. They looked at my tickets, scanned them and told me how much UT paid for them and how much they charged me. The cost to upgrade was the difference between what I paid and the cost of the seasonal pass. We upgraded to a 2 park seasonal for $45/ticket. In the end there was no savings (other than the AP hotel rate we got).

 

[CAPSLOCK]

This was my experience as well. I'm not sure how to know before purchase which ones are "promo" - mine were also 2 days free. I'd guess the ones that are just $ off instead of extra days free are fine, but not sure beyond that how to tell.

 

[crabbymom]

So I have the 2+2 3 park tickets, but I bought them directly through Universal as part of a package. Any one know if those will count as the 2 day or 4 day for upgrade purposes?

 

[macraven]

I am not sure since it is a package

Assume you get the park tickets when you check in

Last time i did a package has been years ago for my son and dil back in 2015

Im sure you want to know now so the best way is to call or email
guest services or call the booking site number and ask

 

[n2mm]

So some post no problem upgrading UT tickets while others can’t. Guess I’ll find out tomorrow. I have the 2 days w/1 free day UT ticket and going tomorrow. Hoping to upgrade to 1 seasonal and 1 preferred. I’ll post back how it goes. If it doesn’t go well, it will be just 2 seasonal passes.

 

[mum2simon]

So some post no problem upgrading UT tickets while others can’t. Guess I’ll find out tomorrow. I have the 2 days w/1 free day UT ticket and going tomorrow. Hoping to upgrade to 1 seasonal and 1 preferred. I’ll post back how it goes. If it doesn’t go well, it will be just 2 seasonal passes.

Definitely let us know how it goes!

 

[damo]

I think it all depends on the ticket. Sometimes, UT sells the promo tickets from Universal and sometimes they make their own promos.

 

[n2mm]

I think it all depends on the ticket. Sometimes, UT sells the promo tickets from Universal and sometimes they make their own promos.

Thanks, I’m new to this. I’ll check my tickets. Will it say promo?

 

[damo]

Thanks, I’m new to this. I’ll check my tickets. Will it say promo?

Should say something on it to identify what it is.

 

[DreamIsaWish]

When they calculate the value to be applied, is it based on the gate price or on the "pre-purchase" price (the $20 savings by buying online in advance)?

 

[DreamIsaWish]

Hi all,

We are headed to Universal for the first time in about 10 years. My husband and I are doing two days in the park (kids are hanging out with grandparents for a couple days ), staying at Loews Pacific and our plan is to get the Seasonal Pass (and bring kids back next spring).

I've searched a bit to find the answer but didn't. I was thinking about purchasing lower cost tickets from UT and upgrading to the seasonal to save a few bucks. I've seen people do this, but I am wondering if anyone has done the math? Which is the best UT ticket to purchase to save the most $$?

TIA!

I'm trying to calculate the same thing, but a key question is what they use as the value. Is it the price you'd pay at the gate? Or the price you'd pay online ($20 cheaper on Universal's website than at the gate)?

 

[macraven]

If you use the pass and enter the parks, it will automatically update the pass to current ticket price


If you bought your tickets back when there was a sale, you come out ahead with them being upgraded to present price

When you upgrade to an ap, the present price of your tickets will apply

 

[DreamIsaWish]

If you use the pass and enter the parks, it will automatically update the pass to current ticket price


If you bought your tickets back when there was a sale, you come out ahead with them being upgraded to present price

When you upgrade to an ap, the present price of your tickets will apply

So to the current gate price? For example, the 2-day park to park is currently $264.99 on Universal's website. But I think that same ticket is $284.99 at the gate. ($20 cheaper to buy multiday tickets online, from what I see.) The annual seasonal pass is $284.99 (don't think there's an online discount for this).

In essence then I could trade the 2-day park-to-park even up for a seasonal annual pass if they're giving full gate value (and I'd save $33 using Undercover Tourist). If they're giving online value, then I'd still pay $20 at the time of upgrade for the annual pass (saving only $11 using UT). From what you're saying, it sounds like I could save $33 since they'll give the full gate price. Which would be fantastic!

I'm not sure that it changes my decision either way, but I would rather not be surprised at guest services later that day.

 

[eliezra]

On April 21, we upgraded our tickets that we recently purchased from Undercover Tourist (3 day - park-to-park - UT price was for 2 days with 1 day free) and upgraded to a Season Pass inside the park. They used the on-line price and we paid $0 to upgrade. I was hoping we would have gotten the in-park value and then received a $20 refund per ticket, but we still came out ahead in the deal!

 

[n2mm]

On April 21, we upgraded our tickets that we recently purchased from Undercover Tourist (3 day - park-to-park - UT price was for 2 days with 1 day free) and upgraded to a Season Pass inside the park. They used the on-line price and we paid $0 to upgrade. I was hoping we would have gotten the in-park value and then received a $20 refund per ticket, but we still came out ahead in the deal!

Exactly the same for us yesterday. I used the UT 2 day + 1 free day and the price calculated was the online price for a 3 day pass. Btw, the parks were nearly empty. We walked on everything. The longest wait was 30 minutes after lunch for Kong. We were surprised and happy. We were done at universal side by 11:00 riding all the big attractions, and my husband did the new fast/furious too. Took the train over to IOA and rode just a few things there, then lunch at margaritaville.

 

[DreamIsaWish]

Exactly the same for us yesterday. I used the UT 2 day + 1 free day and the price calculated was the online price for a 3 day pass. Btw, the parks were nearly empty. We walked on everything. The longest wait was 30 minutes after lunch for Kong. We were surprised and happy. We were done at universal side by 11:00 riding all the big attractions, and my husband did the new fast/furious too. Took the train over to IOA and rode just a few things there, then lunch at margaritaville.

So they're giving the 3-day value for the 2+1 ticket? That's good to know and then is likely the ticket I'll get. If they're only giving online value, then the other tickets are hardly worth the hassle (about $10 savings). I'm looking for at least the $30 or so savings to make it worth the effort, and 2+1 as a 3-day meets that criteria.

 

[n2mm]

I paid $254 for my ticket at Ut for a 2 day + 1 free. The seasonal pass was $303 after tax, so about a $50 savings.