Universal annual pass

[danisleigh]

We have booked to go next Xmas 2021, flying on Xmas day. The plan was seaworld parks and plenty of relaxing as we have booked 16 nights in May 2022 also and that was when we planned to do Disney/universal. However we have 2 family members coming along at Xmas and they are keen to do universal which is when I thought getting annual passes would be a good idea then we can visit on both trips at not too much extra cost.
Is it best to buy the annual passes online or just buy the regular 3 park pass in the U.K. and upgrade while we are there? Looking online at the minute they are only selling 2 park annual passes, it’s that just because VB is about to close for the winter? Also which passes would be best to get? lastly if we decided to buy the passes here and then upgrade, would we just get 12 months from that date?

[LLamb]

Yes the 2 park pass only option is because of the VB closure.

Buying it straight off or upgrading, you need to do the figures.
We got ours as 3 park passes and then upgraded to seasonal passes. You will need the preferred though because of the block out dates over Xmas. We only paid $49 to upgrade as they work out what to pay from the pass value, not what you paid. So if you get a good deal on a uk 3 park pass it can work out cheaper to upgrade.

Getting a pass straight off, they have just finished a 3 months extra free so again this may work out better.

If you upgrade, your pass will start from the first day you used your ticket. And you get 366 days.

And if you buy the pass here, it’s 12 months from first use.

You could get the uk for use over Christmas and then upgrade on your last day. That way, you would only need a seasonal for the next trip in May. (Which doesn’t have the block out dates) So this ultimately may work out cheaper than a preferred annual pass buying up front.

[danisleigh]

Originally Posted by LLamb

Yes the 2 park pass only option is because of the VB closure.

Buying it straight off or upgrading, you need to do the figures.
We got ours as 3 park passes and then upgraded to seasonal passes. You will need the preferred though because of the block out dates over Xmas. We only paid $49 to upgrade as they work out what to pay from the pass value, not what you paid. So if you get a good deal on a uk 3 park pass it can work out cheaper to upgrade.

Getting a pass straight off, they have just finished a 3 months extra free so again this may work out better.

If you upgrade, your pass will start from the first day you used your ticket. And you get 366 days.

And if you buy the pass here, it’s 12 months from first use.

You could get the uk for use over Christmas and then upgrade on your last day. That way, you would only need a seasonal for the next trip in May. (Which doesn’t have the block out dates) So this ultimately may work out cheaper than a preferred annual pass buying up front.

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Thanks that’s helpful. We were planning on doing universal for our last 3 days and staying onsite so that would be 4-7th January 2021 so I guess I will need to check the blackout dates.

[JMisery]

I was going to purchase the preferred annual pass tonight as I intend to go September 2021.
Am I right in thinking this won't expire and will be valid from when I pick it up in the park?