Why did Universal change their ticket length policy to 7 days from 14 days?

[JayHowell]

Hi all,

This has been bugging me for months now. I've been down to Orlando four times in the past seven years, and this year the changes to the ticketing policy for Universal have me really bothered.

For a few years I've been getting the Unlimited ticket. The fact that that is no longer and option is fine. I understand that. What I don't understand is changing the length of time a 2 to 5 day ticket can be used from 14 days to 7 days after first use.

Many families and groups that travel to Orlando book between 10 and 14 days, and if they want to get to see both Disney AND Universal (can't we all just get along?!), this new policy is the pits.

Am I crazy here? Now that tickets must be used within 7 days of first use, the flexibility REALLY hindered. Why would Universal not keep the 14 day model (matching their rival) they've used for so long? Especially with Volcano Bay opening and being SO over-packed and the weather being so unpredictable that people may need more flexibility to go there.

The whole thing just sucks. Even 10 days would be better than 7 days. The decision will also effect the businesses in CityWalk. I know travellers like me would go to have dinner there, then go into the park for a few hours on that Unlimited pass. The incentive just isn't the same anymore.

Anyone else thinking this way?

 

[damo]

They changed it quite a while ago.

I think that they're trying to get people to stay at Universal and not just visit while staying at WDW and keeping their free dining. It isn't as profitable for Universal for people to hop over to Universal for a few hours and then hop back to WDW to wine and dine.

 

[flortlebap]

The UK tix are 14 consecutive days use, so I'm surprised at the US ticket change!

It would encourage people to stay on site though...

 

[JayHowell]

They changed it quite a while ago.

I think that they're trying to get people to stay at Universal and not just visit while staying at WDW and keeping their free dining. It isn't as profitable for Universal for people to hop over to Universal for a few hours and then hop back to WDW to wine and dine.

Damo -> I was there last year in July and the tickets were still 14 days then. So it couldn't have been that long ago that they changed it. I understand the desire to get people to stay at Universal, but with Cabana Bay being the only half-affordable hotel affiliated with Universal what else do they expect?

And like I said, I was dining at Universal when I would go for a few hours after 6PM. We'd hit up Antijitos or something, then have some snacks in the parks themselves, then have a drink on CityWalk afterwards. So technically they are losing out on that traffic.

Time will tell anyway. If the numbers aren't working for them by years' end, maybe they will rethink the changes. Nothing we can do about it now anyway.

 

[damo]

It has been at least 6 months since the change. Surprisingly there have only been a couple of inquiries on this board about it, so it doesn't seem to be affecting too many people.

 

[JayHowell]

It has been at least 6 months since the change. Surprisingly there have only been a couple of inquiries on this board about it, so it doesn't seem to be affecting too many people.

That sounds about right. I think it's the new policy since 2017. I'm surprised no one has really raised the issue.

Once Universal (inevitably) opens up a third park, they will have more reason to have longer passes. Right now 5 days for 3-park is the max they sell on the site. I guess they figure that 7 days is enough for a 5 day pass. But even at that ... they make you pack those 5 admissions into those 7 days. It seems a bit tight and stingy on flexibility.

But hey, what do I know! I'm just a customer!

 

[marcyleecorgan]

Many families and groups that travel to Orlando book between 10 and 14 days, and if they want to get to see both Disney AND Universal (can't we all just get along?!), this new policy is the pits.

They are rival businesses - they do NOT play nice with each other! Of course they aren't going to offer ticket packages that easily allow you to visit Disney AND Universal crammed into one Orlando trip.

I understand the desire to get people to stay at Universal, but with Cabana Bay being the only half-affordable hotel affiliated with Universal what else do they expect?

They expect you to choose Universal over Disney. They don't care that you are trying to budget for both. They want ALL your money!

 

[JayHowell]

They are rival businesses - they do NOT play nice with each other! Of course they aren't going to offer ticket packages that easily allow you to visit Disney AND Universal crammed into one Orlando trip.
They expect you to choose Universal over Disney. They don't care that you are trying to budget for both. They want ALL your money!

Yeah, I hear you. I just find it strange that they only made this change this year after so many years of it being 14 days. AND they have a new waterpark to consider ... it is just strange to me is all.

 

[Kivara]

They are becoming more of a destination (just look at the BIG jump in annual pass prices)...they can afford to be more competitive nowadays

 

[RalphinSC]

Damo -> I was there last year in July and the tickets were still 14 days then. So it couldn't have been that long ago that they changed it. I understand the desire to get people to stay at Universal, but with Cabana Bay being the only half-affordable hotel affiliated with Universal what else do they expect?

And like I said, I was dining at Universal when I would go for a few hours after 6PM. We'd hit up Antijitos or something, then have some snacks in the parks themselves, then have a drink on CityWalk afterwards. So technically they are losing out on that traffic.

Time will tell anyway. If the numbers aren't working for them by years' end, maybe they will rethink the changes. Nothing we can do about it now anyway.

Sapphire Falls is often within a few dollars nightly from Cabana Bay and when Adventura opens next fall, it will be priced about the same as CBBR. The new hotel planned at the old Wet n Wild site is going to be labeled as a "value" resort too.

But I think Damo has the gist of it. The move from 14 day to 7 day is to try to push people who do 14 day trips into turning it into a true "split stay" by staying, playing, and dining onsite at Universal versus just hopping over there from their Disney-centric vacation a few times in their two week stay.

 

[back2disney]

Omg! Thanks for the heads up. I did not notice that. The 3rd day I have planned to go this month is on the 8th day. Wow.

 

[JayHowell]

Omg! Thanks for the heads up. I did not notice that. The 3rd day I have planned to go this month is on the 8th day. Wow.

Always read the fine print!

I know what you mean. I did a double take myself.

 

[DisPhanatic]

We actually ended up purchasing a package because of this. The tickets with the package are 14 day. Maybe they are directing people into packages instead of ticket vendors. Price wise, this wasn't as much of a loss as it was in the past and was still cheaper than annual passes which is your other option.

 

[anorman]

I noticed the change and have amended my plans to make sure that I don't go past the 7 days. In the past, I stayed onsite at RPR for 4 nights and then went on to a villa for the remainder of my trip. Having the 14 day window with unlimited visits definitely got me back to Universal (maybe even a couple of times) near the end of my trip too. They are definitely loosing out on my extra business by shortening the validity of the ticket. Not a smart move IMHO.

 

[JayHowell]

I noticed the change and have amended my plans to make sure that I don't go past the 7 days. In the past, I stayed onsite at RPR for 4 nights and then went on to a villa for the remainder of my trip. Having the 14 day window with unlimited visits definitely got me back to Universal (maybe even a couple of times) near the end of my trip too. They are definitely loosing out on my extra business by shortening the validity of the ticket. Not a smart move IMHO.

Yes, this is what I'm saying too. But not much we can do about their decisions. We will see what they deduce from their reviews of the changes at the end of the year.

 

[wilkeliza]

Thanks for the heads up! Last year we did Universal on our 1st full day and last full day of a 9 day trip. With the new rule we probably wouldn't have done the 2nd Universal day.

The thing that is frustrating is that the other theme parks are 14 days so they can't even say it is being competitive it is just forcing you into a package if you want a longer ticket. We already buy express pass and still don't stay on property and I don't see this driving us to do so.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

So am I to assume that my tickets that I bought back in 2016 still adhere to what's on the ticket which is shown below:

 

[JayHowell]

So am I to assume that my tickets that I bought back in 2016 still adhere to what's on the ticket which is shown below:

View attachment 257890

If they haven't expired yet, I would assume so. The change wouldn't be retroactive.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

If they haven't expired yet, I would assume so. The change wouldn't be retroactive.

There's no expiration date listed on mine.

I know I bought them prior to an expiration date being added--I see Undercover Tourist says "expires 12 months from print date or 7 days after first use" if you bought tickets today but that was not a policy when I bought the tickets.

 

[dodolitsky]

My intuition would tell me that this move would be harmful to US (as it will cause some people to purchase tickets with fewer days), but I'm sure US has done their research, so I will assume that it benefits them. A couple of ways I see it helping them:

1. US recognizes that people visiting Orlando for long periods (e.g. 14 days) who intersperse their US and WDW days are most likely to spend the whole time at a WDW resort, as they have more/cheaper options. However, if guests are forced to concentrate their US days into a smaller time period, they may be more likely to split their time between a US hotel and a WDW one.

2. By giving guests less flexibility to choose their dates, they get more people to go on less popular days (e.g. bad weather, no special events, etc.), thus dividing the crowds more evenly amongst the days.