Us annual pass help needed

[stephensmum]

I was just looking on US website at annual passes. I have worked out that for me to get an AP + 2 passes for dh & ds (15% disc) & 1 night at RPR (30% disc) would cost $554 V $520 for 3 passes +1 night RPR. We are staying at RPR for 1 night on 25/8/09 & are planning next years Aug hol & I'm thinking that as long as we do the 1 night by 24/8/10 then we could still use the pass for the disc on hotel & 2 tickets. Does this sound correct? I cannot find a place on US site for putting in AP details for tickets or hotel to make sure I can get the discounts, can anyone help?

 

[wayneg]

Hi Sharon
Just logged into my account to check price for RPR for 25th August. Full rate I got at $219+tax($246.38) AP rate is $129+tax($145.13)
For discounts on your tickets, it depends which tickets you were considering, only discounts they are offering just now are the 1 day 2 park tickets at 50% off, this could change after today as its last day of current offers(listed below) don't think I have ever seen discounts on any other tix ony the 1 day 2 park.

Enjoy these incredible ways to make the most of your Universal Orlando Annual Pass now through June 30th, 2009!
•Passholders enjoy 50% off** Adult 1-Day, 2-Park Tickets for friends and family
•$49 +tax adult show ticket^ to Blue Man Group
•$25 +tax child show ticket^^ to Blue Man Group
•50% off Universal Meal Deal Souvenir Cup with the purchase of a Meal Deal ticket
•Get 25% off. at the following Universal CityWalk® Restaurants: Pastamorsup>SM, Bob Marley- A Tribute to FreedomSM, Latin Quarter™, Red Coconut Club®, Pat O.Brien.s®
•Enjoy 2-for-1 admission. before 11pm at the following CityWalk nightclubs: Red Coconut Club®, Bob Marley- A Tribute to Freedom, the grooveSM, Latin Quarter, CityWalk.s Rising Star, Pat O.Brien.s
•Enjoy face painting discounts at .Enjoy Your Face. located inside select Universal Orlando theme parks
•$2 off $8, $10, or $12 plus tax per person face painting designs
•$3 off $15 plus tax per person face painting designs
•Complimentary room upgrade when you stay at an on-site hotel..

 

[stephensmum]

Thanks Wayne. That's a great saving on the 1 night at RPR. The tickets we get are the $99 ones for 2 parks for a week, but only use for the 2 days we are there. I got the 15% off info from US site which said for up to 6 persons multi day tickets, it did'nt state specific ones? Does the AP go from the date of use or purchase as I think the only way it will save us money is if we can use it again next Aug? Am i right that the AP allows the holder in free & as free parking? Sorry for all the questions, DH says "you've created a money saving monster in me"

 

[wayneg]

Yes you are correct it does say this 10% savings on 1-day and 15% savings on multi-day theme park tickets (up to 6 people) (even though its not list in benefits after logging in) but it also says Above benefits cannot be combined with other discounts, offers, or promotions. Discounts subject to change without notice.
I would class the $99 7 day ticket as an offer or promo but could be wrong.
After reading again it looks like the offers after logging in are in addition to the regular benefits.

AP at Universal have always been activated on 1st day of use, I don't see any change on their website but have read Seaworld are now from purchase date not 1st day so I would double check with Universal it does say on their site Free parking is not valid on your first visit to the parks so if you have to pay for parking then your pass surely can't be valid until you have collected it.

Preffered or Premier AP gives free entry and free parking for 365 days. Best thing is after 1st year they only cost $110 to renew, as cheap as a 7 day ticket.

 

[stephensmum]

Thanks Wayne. Been checking this morning & I agree the tickets we usually get are already an offer so would'nt count. Also I think the free parking is only at the parks & not at the hotel, which is a bummer as I was hoping this might persuade Norman to drive.
I understand the savings maybe changing today, so I'l hold fire & see what happens. Thanks for the info about renewed AP prices, that means I don't really have to use AP next year & be restricted to dates to benefit.

 

[wayneg]

I believe its still $15/night to park at Uni hotels, one of reasons we have never considered staying there, I would rather stay elsewhere than not have a car. Like internet at Disney, if they introduced free wireless we would certainly consider onsite more.
I will log in again later when I get home, see if they changeg any benefits today.

 

[Pegasus928]

AP at Universal have always been activated on 1st day of use, I don't see any change on their website but have read Seaworld are now from purchase date not 1st day so I would double check with Universal it does say on their site Free parking is not valid on your first visit to the parks so if you have to pay for parking then your pass surely can't be valid until you have collected it.

When we got our AP this year we parked in the valet parking on the way in. I then bought my AP and used it to get the free parking on the way out and nobody questioned it at all. We had seen it state this on the website before we left UK, so were prepared to pay. We just thought we would try it and it worked OK for us.

 

[stephensmum]

I believe its still $15/night to park at Uni hotels, one of reasons we have never considered staying there, I would rather stay elsewhere than not have a car. Like internet at Disney, if they introduced free wireless we would certainly consider onsite more.
I will log in again later when I get home, see if they changeg any benefits today.

Thank you.

 

[stephensmum]

When we got our AP this year we parked in the valet parking on the way in. I then bought my AP and used it to get the free parking on the way out and nobody questioned it at all. We had seen it state this on the website before we left UK, so were prepared to pay. We just thought we would try it and it worked OK for us.

Thanks. Do you mean at the parks? We are staying over night so I presume we'd get free parking on the 2nd day. BTW it was your tickets posting that got me started with this idea.

 

[wayneg]

Just checked, not changed it yet.

 

[scottishgirl87]

Considering getting a Universal AP, never even thought about just one of us getting one for the discounts, good shout

 

[Pegasus928]

Thanks. Do you mean at the parks? We are staying over night so I presume we'd get free parking on the 2nd day. BTW it was your tickets posting that got me started with this idea.

Yes I did mean at the parks - sorry.
Hopefully having an AP will save you some money along the way - it certainly paid off for us as valet parking saves us $20 per trip.

 

[stephensmum]

When we got our AP this year we parked in the valet parking on the way in. I then bought my AP and used it to get the free parking on the way out and nobody questioned it at all. We had seen it state this on the website before we left UK, so were prepared to pay. We just thought we would try it and it worked OK for us.

Did you buy your AP at the parks & if so did you then take it to do the hotel check in? Just thought perharps you don't need it till you check out?

 

[SNOWHITE7]

We usually buy one annual pass to get the discounts and in the past they have always been activated on first use. They sent a voucher to print out which you put into an automated ticket machine with the credit card you used to pay for it and it issued your tickets. With the annual pass you also get discounts in a lot of the restaurants and shops in Universal so it is well worth it for us. We always try to book our trips so that we get two years use from them. The hotel were happy for us to show the ap when we collected it and not when we checked in. We didin't go to Orlando last year, went o California instead, so I'm hoping none of this has changed.

 

[Pegasus928]

Did you buy your AP at the parks & if so did you then take it to do the hotel check in? Just thought perharps you don't need it till you check out?

Yes we bought ours at the park. It was a bit of a long winded experience as they need to take photos to go on the pass - it is also a credit card type pass, as opposed to the flimsy card one that Disney are now providing. As we always stay in a villa I don't know what the situation is with the hotels - sorry.