Upgrading UT Ticket ??

[Grace&Carolinesmom]

Thinking of buying the Universal 7 Days Multi-parks in a day 3 Park Ticket for the price of 5 days through Undercover Tourist. Can this ticket be upgraded at the park prior to first use to an AP? If yes, how does the bridging work if the face value of the ticket is more than the cost of the AP?

Hoping to take advantage of the current deal but would like the ability to change to an AP *IF* Uni comes out with a new AP that includes Epic before our trip in December.

TIA

 

[CAPSLOCK]

My personal experience is a little old but I have yet to see anything to suggest it has changed.

UT tickets can be upgraded. Since that's a Universal promo (not a special UT promo), the ticket will be valued as Universal's list price for that promo ticket - ie, not valued as a 7 day ticket.

IME if your ticket value is more than the AP cost, then in order to get a refund you can only upgrade at guest relations and not the normal ticket desks.

However, once you go to Epic you can no longer upgrade to an AP. Unless of course they introduce APs including Epic in the meantime.

Honestly I wouldn't expect Universal to introduce Epic AP options this year at all. It's currently selling out weeks out. And I definitely don't see them introducing an Epic AP for less than their 5-7 day prices, not when they're currently getting over $100 for each Epic day for existing APs.

 

[Grace&Carolinesmom]

Thank you for your experience and info. I think I will go ahead and buy 4 of these discounted tickets from UT. I currently hold two ressies at SF. One with AP discount and one with the SMSM discount. If Uni doesn't offer an AP that includes Epic by September, I will just cancel the AP rooms. I just really want the ability for us to hop from park to park in the same day without concern for ticket constraints. I will pay a little more for the rooms, but it will be worth it for the experience. We are not buying express passes since we are staying for a week in early December.

 

[ruthies12]

@Grace&Carolinesmom I have upgraded UCT tickets many times in the past years BUT last November was told directly by Universal customer service that any ticket that includes Epic is not upgradable whether you used the ticket to go to Epic or not. they said their system can't turn a 3-park ticket with Epic into any kind of AP at all and it didn't matter whether the ticket was used or unused. YMMV

 

[Grace&Carolinesmom]

@Grace&Carolinesmom I have upgraded UCT tickets many times in the past years BUT last November was told directly by Universal customer service that any ticket that includes Epic is not upgradable whether you used the ticket to go to Epic or not. they said their system can't turn a 3-park ticket with Epic into any kind of AP at all and it didn't matter whether the ticket was used or unused. YMMV

OK. I read somewhere that it might be the case because Uni will only upgrade tix with equal park access. It's kinda stupid but that's their decision, their software.

In the end, I think it will be fine. I will order the 3 park with hopping from UT. We will use them if Uni doesn't come out with an AP that includes Epic. If it does miraculously become available, they will probably upgrade the tix. It will cost us an extra $500ish for the trip (2 rooms) but it is worth it to us because we want the ability to come and go between all 3 parks daily.

 

[ruthies12]

@Grace&Carolinesmom Now I'm not saying you should lie BUT in the over 10+ trips I've had using AP rates at the hotels I've only ever been asked to show my AP once at check-in, most of the time they don't ask to see it. Also keep in mind you only need one AP to book up to 2 rooms at that rate. If it is going to be over $500 extra for the rooms then you could wait and see what happens at check-in. If they do ask for it then you can just say that you are buying it at the park and then stop back at the desk before check out. You can then buy a seasonal AP for one person which I think is currently $400something? So good chance you will save the $500, worst case scenario you end up buying one seasonal AP but then you have an AP versus just spending that extra money on the rooms. Worth the shot IMO.

 

[ruthies12]

Also not entirely certain but I think if you aren't actually using the AP for entry you can buy it and not activate it right away. I'm not sure if they would require it to be activated in order to show it to the check-in desk for the room rate or if they will accept just a receipt which you can then activate the pass at a later date. So if you do end up being forced to buy one to keep your rate then you could see if they will let you not activate it right away. Again worth a shot! I suggest doing the math and seeing which is cheaper - the increased room rate or purchase of one AP.