Yet Another AP Upgrade Question (sorry)

[freewill]

If we upgrade discounted UT tickets (probably 2 + 1 free day park to park) to AP Power Passes inside the park so pricing should be bridged -- but the day we do this falls within one of the Power Pass blackout periods -- what happens? Do they immediately show me to the park exit?

And just to confirm -- if APH hotel discounted rates are available for our dates, it doesn't matter what kind of AP I have or get, right? Meaning, Power Pass is good for the APH discount same as the Preferred or Premiere Pass?

I'm looking at APH discount availability and realizing the Power Pass for just one of us may save us money just for a fairly short hotel stay, even if we never go back to Universal after our first visit. Really amazing.

 

[damo]

You'll need to upgrade outside the park if it is on a blockout day. Use the ticket until you are done the parks for the day and then upgrade at guest services outside the park.

Any annual pass is good for APH discounts at the hotels.

 

[freewill]

Thanks damo. That makes sense -- I guess they probably couldn't/wouldn't upgrade me in-park on a blackout day. But since I'm concerned about upgrading outside the park (where reports suggest current ticket value may not be bridged fully by guest services), I will probably just wait and do it in park the next day since (luckily) it would not be a blackout date. Hopefully, the hotel will be patient for me to show the AP to verify eligibility for the APH room rate a couple days after check in.

 

[macraven]

You can show the hotel your active AP while you are still at the hotel and before check out day

 

[damo]

Macraven is correct, don't worry about showing the AP right away.

 

[bumbershoot]

Also agreeing that you don't need to worry about the AP needing to be shown immediately.

 

[freewill]

Awesome, many thanks all!!

 

[johde]

Two things. When I was there January 2015 (so things could have changed since then), I was able to upgrade my ticket to a Power Pass at the Guest Services inside the park. I was also able to stay in the park for the rest of the evening. I had the Annual Photo Package that I wanted to activate that day inside the park. So, I went to IOA saw the Grinch show and met the Grinch. Walked over to USF. Upgraded my pass inside and activated my photo package. Then I stuck around USF for the Macy's parade and rode a few rides. This was arrival day so I didn't arrive at USF until about 2:00. It was my last chance to see the Christmas festivities before they went away.

Secondly, on UT website there are two 2 day + 1 free. One that expires and one that doesn't expires. That one that expires in the past will bridge to the gate price of a 2 day + 1 free ticket NOT a 3 day ticket. The one that doesn't expire in the past has bridged to a 3 day ticket. For an extra $4 your better off getting the one that does not expire.

 

[#1DopeyFan]

Not sure if this is relevant or not, but we were just there February 26th-28th, I bought the 2 day +1 Free tickets that DID expire from UT. We upgraded to Power Passes on our second day for NO CHARGE. I was anticipating paying roughly $20 each to upgrade, from what I had read here, but was pleasantly surprised when he said NO CHARGE.

 

[johde]

Not sure if this is relevant or not, but we were just there February 26th-28th, I bought the 2 day +1 Free tickets that DID expire from UT. We upgraded to Power Passes on our second day for NO CHARGE. I was anticipating paying roughly $20 each to upgrade, from what I had read here, but was pleasantly surprised when he said NO CHARGE.

The Universal website price is $20 cheaper than the gate price. So, right now after the price increase, the gate price of a 2 day + 1 free is the same price as a Power Pass.

 

[freewill]

Thanks, I'm really tempted by the promo 2 day + 1 free tickets that do expire since they're now more substantially cheaper than the ones that do not expire. Good to hear someone was able to bridge those tickets at full value.

 

[freewill]

Not sure if this is relevant or not, but we were just there February 26th-28th, I bought the 2 day +1 Free tickets that DID expire from UT. We upgraded to Power Passes on our second day for NO CHARGE. I was anticipating paying roughly $20 each to upgrade, from what I had read here, but was pleasantly surprised when he said NO CHARGE.

Just another data point here from a non-Florida resident here: We were able to accomplish the same thing this past weekend, upgraded these same discounted 2 +1 day expiring tickets from UT to annual power passes at no additional cost (first ticket use on April 1 but upgraded on April 2 since April 1 was a blackout date). Pretty cool to get a year's access to UO (albeit with some blackout dates that shouldn't limit us) for about the cost of a two day ticket at last year's prices.

Very easy and a mercifully quick process with a very helpful TM inside IOA guest services. Was impressed with how quick it was compared with an analogous upgrade experience several years ago at WDW guest services, where it took the CM quite a while to process the upgrade.

Anyway, just wanted to throw out another experience--not even sure if these discounted tickets are still being sold, but the basic bridging approach still seems solid.

 

[tinydancer09]

Just another data point here from a non-Florida resident here: We were able to accomplish the same thing this past weekend, upgraded these same discounted 2 +1 day expiring tickets from UT to annual power passes at no additional cost (first ticket use on April 1 but upgraded on April 2 since April 1 was a blackout date). Pretty cool to get a year's access to UO (albeit with some blackout dates that shouldn't limit us) for about the cost of a two day ticket at last year's prices.

Very easy and a mercifully quick process with a very helpful TM inside IOA guest services. Was impressed with how quick it was compared with an analogous upgrade experience several years ago at WDW guest services, where it took the CM quite a while to process the upgrade.

Anyway, just wanted to throw out another experience--not even sure if these discounted tickets are still being sold, but the basic bridging approach still seems solid.

So you bought the 2 day plus 1 fee ticket that's roughly $226 correct? I've got my pass already, but we've added a newbie to the group and now I'm trying to find the best prices for his ticket. We'd like to upgrade it to a power pass.

 

[freewill]

So you bought the 2 day plus 1 fee ticket that's roughly $226 correct? I've got my pass already, but we've added a newbie to the group and now I'm trying to find the best prices for his ticket. We'd like to upgrade it to a power pass.

Think we paid around $195 or so but it was a promotional 2 day plus 1 free ticket from UT that I don't think is available anymore (it had an expiration date at end of May); I think it was around 225 otherwise. But UO bridged to the full current 3-day value of $255.59 including tax -- the same cost of the power pass.

I kept a spreadsheet on my phone to check prices in case they balked at the free upgrade, but it was smooth as butter. This was inside the park at guest services. Give it a try for your newbie!