Universal AP questions

[spencem]

Hi all, I'm looking at tickets for our January 2020 trip and have seen the Universal Season Pass is only $305 at the moment, which is less than the price of a 14-day ticket at current exchange rates.

Does anyone know what tax rate gets added to these for UK buyers?

Does it matter if I buy these now and don't activate them until mid January 2020? I can't see anywhere on Universal's site to give travel dates for annual passes.

If I don't activate the pass can I still use it to get a discount on a Universal hotel?

Does the free parking with the prefered Pass give you anything off of the hotel parking? If it does then the $90 difference will pay for itself in parking costs alone.

[fredflintstone]

Originally Posted by spencem

Hi all, I'm looking at tickets for our January 2020 trip and have seen the Universal Season Pass is only $305 at the moment, which is less than the price of a 14-day ticket at current exchange rates.

Does anyone know what tax rate gets added to these for UK buyers?

Does it matter if I buy these now and don't activate them until mid January 2020? I can't see anywhere on Universal's site to give travel dates for annual passes.

If I don't activate the pass can I still use it to get a discount on a Universal hotel?

Does the free parking with the prefered Pass give you anything off of the hotel parking? If it does then the $90 difference will pay for itself in parking costs alone.

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They just want to see you are an annual pass holder and do not do checks from my experience, if they even ask. It dioesn't say an activated annual pass holder just pass holder.

The preferred pass does not give anything off hotel parking, just free universal parking. But the preferred pass does give early entry like universal hotels, so if not at a deluxe you can save some money by staying nearby and still getting early entry perk. And of course free parking.

Worth checking the different food discounts available with seasonal and preferred pass as this can add-up if buying food on-site or in the hotels and preffered give a bigger discount. Just 1 needs it, unless making use of the early entry.

Also the seasonal pass always seems to be cheaper than the UK 14 day pass if brought direct, so no hurry on buying it.

Also last Sept they gave 3 additional months free on some annual passes and from Oct 6 months, which had to be activated by 4th APril this year. If they do that again this year, then you might get a longer pass if you go often. For example, a preferred pass enabled in Feb this year would last to end Aug 2020, so might be worth holding off until nearer the time to see if the offer is repeated.

[familyofthree]

Tax on tickets is 6.5%.

Seasonal ticket also has blackout dates so make sure you check them out before deciding to buy.

[spencem]

Originally Posted by familyofthree

Tax on tickets is 6.5%.

Seasonal ticket also has blackout dates so make sure you check them out before deciding to buy.

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Thanks, that still works out better than the 2 week passes then.

We are going next January so well clear of the blackout dates, the ones over new year are before we go.

[Danielle87]

Where did you find these prices please just looking and we are thinking of doing this ourselves. Thanks

[spencem]

Originally Posted by Danielle87

Where did you find these prices please just looking and we are thinking of doing this ourselves. Thanks

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On the main Universal Orlando website, just look under Buy Tickets.

[lottiesmum0]

I’ve already bought my tickets -14 days.
Is there a way to upgrade before we go or do I have to do this when I’m there?

[gismo1554]

Originally Posted by lottiesmum0

I’ve already bought my tickets -14 days.
Is there a way to upgrade before we go or do I have to do this when I’m there?

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No from what I've read you have to do it at the park.

[gogs]

Hi,
Just to add to the replies you've already had you don't even need to own an annual pass yet to book the APH rate at the hotel - you just have to be on the spot when they release the rates.

We did this the year before last where I paid about $80 or so to upgrade (from memory) to upgrade a 3 park explorer ticket to a 3 park seasonal pass. I upgraded in the lobby concierge desk of the Cabana Bay hotel (we weren't staying there, I just popped in) I had already booked a 2 night stay at the Royal Pacific Resort weeks before using the APH rate (it was $199 a night) for the day after.

We also used the same AP to enter universal last year too & we got a APH discounted deluxe top floor room at the Aventura ($149), you get 10% off food there with an AP as well.
I also got a 2 days for 1 discount on Volcano Bay tickets for the rest of the family (I could use my pass).
AFAIK there's no passholder discount on hotel parking.

It's well worth getting a pass if you use it!

[spencem]

Thanks for that, interesting that you don't need a pass to book the pass holder rate. I presume they wanted to see your pass when you did check into the hotel?