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

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

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.

I don't even think it's 14 days really. Let's just take my upcoming trip.

I have tickets bought in 2016 and still have the 14 days expiration rule on them but just for sake of understanding the impact:

My park days between WDW and USO are 9/9/17-9/16/17 (Overall trip is 9/8/17-9/17/17). I have 3 day park to park tickets. My first USO date is 9/10/17 followed by 9/11/17 and my last date is 9/16/17. 9/16/17 would have represented the 7th day...the days I'm going are on Sunday, Monday and Saturday (has HHN that date).

My 2011 trip was 1 overall day shorter but the same amount of park days of 3 for USO and 5 for WDW.

I guess you could call 8 park days long but they are 8 consecutive park days though. Having that 7 day expiration...yeah that is soooo not desirable for me as a guest.

 

[damo]

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

Yes, your tickets will still have the 14 day expiry. My tickets are the same.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Yes, your tickets will still have the 14 day expiry. My tickets are the same.

Thanks!

 

[Alicefan]

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

Really? How much were they before? I've only now become interested in maybe a seasonal pass because I go down for the Celebration of Harry Potter each year and then do a Disney family trip at a different time sometimes. I still can't find any info on whether they block out the HP weekend on a seasonal pass though, so I'm not sure what to do.

 

[damo]

Really? How much were they before? I've only now become interested in maybe a seasonal pass because I go down for the Celebration of Harry Potter each year and then do a Disney family trip at a different time sometimes. I still can't find any info on whether they block out the HP weekend on a seasonal pass though, so I'm not sure what to do.

They do not block for the HP weekend.

 

[SaintsManiac]

I was pretty surpised when I chatted with UT about this. I thought it was 14, also. We have an onsite stay booked at CB, but now that they are doing Christmas stuff for the HP lands we decided to split up our 2 day ticket. I was pretty annoyed about having to use the 2nd day sooner.

 

[Kivara]

Really? How much were they before? I've only now become interested in maybe a seasonal pass because I go down for the Celebration of Harry Potter each year and then do a Disney family trip at a different time sometimes. I still can't find any info on whether they block out the HP weekend on a seasonal pass though, so I'm not sure what to do.

2015, we paid $189ish + tax for Power Passes (before they had 3rd park option and Seasonal)...even 2 park seasonal is $285 + tax.

 

[Alicefan]

2015, we paid $189ish + tax for Power Passes (before they had 3rd park option and Seasonal)...even 2 park seasonal is $285 + tax.

Holy smokes!!!

 

[Kivara]

That's what happens when a place get popular. If they are turning people away for max occupancy (Volcano Bay) and have consistently high park numbers year-round; they can charge -almost- as much as they want.

My pocketbook preferred it when they were less popular, but what can you do?

 

[schumigirl]

That's what happens when a place get popular. If they are turning people away for max occupancy (Volcano Bay) and have consistently high park numbers year-round; they can charge -almost- as much as they want.

My pocketbook preferred it when they were less popular, but what can you do?

Lol......I sometimes miss the halcyon days of 2007 when there really was no one there.......still loved it though!

 

[saskdw]

If you buy the Explorer ticket with the UO vacation package you can go into both parks everyday for 14 days correct?

 

[JayHowell]

I heard that the UK tickets may still be 14 days. Is anyone coming from the UK that can check on this?

 

[damo]

If you buy the Explorer ticket with the UO vacation package you can go into both parks everyday for 14 days correct?

Yes.

 

[schumigirl]

If you buy the Explorer ticket with the UO vacation package you can go into both parks everyday for 14 days correct?

I heard that the UK tickets may still be 14 days. Is anyone coming from the UK that can check on this?

The Explorer ticket is park to park and valid for 14 days from first activation.

It's a fantastic ticket that a lot of UK people buy as it's such a good buy.