Universal Annual Pass Question

gavinbrad · 19 May 19, 02:33 PM

Hello you lovely lot!

We are in Orlando this year from the 24th August and then back next year from 8th August.

We have seen that some people upgrade their Universal 3 park explorer tickets to an annual pass while in Universal. It looks like universal kind of refund and then put it towards the annual pass. So for a small fee you can get an upgrade to an annual pass.

There's lots of conflicting info in if its worth it or not and how much it costs.

I'm really interested in understanding if anyone has done similar or have any advice at all?

Thanks, Gav. 😁

offtoseemickey · 19 May 19, 03:30 PM

Just go to guest services and ask.

I think the passes including Volcano Bay are about $100 more than ones that don�t include VB. At all levels. But if you�ve visited VB on your ticket you can�t upgrade to an AP that doesn�t include VB.

Look at the APs on Universal�s website and it�ll show you what�s included for each level pass, and prices. If you�re driving, it�ll probably work out cheaper to upgrade one pass that includes free parking.

From my trip report back in September...

We had 14 day, 3 park tickets which we traded in at a value of $329.99 each (we paid �240 / $312 each for them and that included free tickets to see Blue Man Group). We had to pay an extra $54 for the seasonal pass and an extra $154 for the preferred pass (so now we have discounts and free parking). Plus tax this all came to $221.50 (�170). So for �650 we have our passes for the next 15 months, and we already have three holidays booked in 12 months which brings it down to �108.33 per person per trip for the tickets. I�m really chuffed with that and think we will most definitely get our moneys worth.

fredflintstone · 19 May 19, 04:20 PM

If you are going next year then it would make sence.

You could just get annual passes direct from Universal.
Your dates should allow you to get seasonal passes as normally there are no blackout dates in August.

The upgrade price from seasonal to the next level or even above is always just the difference in price. So if a seasonal pass is $40 cheaper than the power then to upgrade later would just cost $40.
If you have brought tickets from a vendor then Universal normally calculate a value for it and take that off the annual pass when you exchange it at the park. It has been as low as $5 for a seasonal pass upgrade. Some people seem to have had luck in upgrading a 3 park ticket for a 2 park annual pass, other not, so if you are doing this worth asking at a few places.

A few other points.

The preferred pass gives free parking, so if not staying on site and going a few times having one of these passes in the group might save you money plus it gives 10% off food and other items that can add-up. It also gives the same early entry as ther on-site hotels, but everyone would need the preferred for that to work.

At renewal next year they give a discount for renewing, which if you are going the year after might have value.

They also have where you can pay for preferred passes or higher monthly. With this method you do not get a discount on renewal the next year, but after the 1st year you can cancel with a months notice. So if going to the park just outside the 12 month window you can use this to pay monthly until you go again and then cancel. This would work well if you were going on the 24 AUg again, but in your case you do not need it, but others might.

gavinbrad · 19 May 19, 04:51 PM

That's really helpful, thankyou so much!

nickosbad · 27 May 19, 06:45 PM

We did this last year and it cost us $34 to upgrade our tickets to 2x seasonal and 1x preferred pass (2 park)

We went to do the same this year and although we got 20% off the passes when we bough5 them with our Virgin Holiday, Universal were giving us FULL UK RETAIL back for them so to upgrade to the same 3 tickets they owed us $54

They couldn�t give us the money back so we just took 2x preferred and 1x seasonal (2 Park) instead and it cost us $38 instead!

Definitely worth doing if you can get the second trip within the year, also when it comes to renewal time you get 15-20% off if you just renew the passes direct so am probably going to do that instead next year!

gavinbrad · 27 May 19, 07:15 PM

That's brilliant! Thankyou so much!

Tea · 28 May 19, 12:32 PM

Originally Posted by offtoseemickey

Just go to guest services and ask.

I think the passes including Volcano Bay are about $100 more than ones that don�t include VB. At all levels. But if you�ve visited VB on your ticket you can�t upgrade to an AP that doesn�t include VB.

Look at the APs on Universal�s website and it�ll show you what�s included for each level pass, and prices. If you�re driving, it�ll probably work out cheaper to upgrade one pass that includes free parking.

From my trip report back in September...

We had 14 day, 3 park tickets which we traded in at a value of $329.99 each (we paid �240 / $312 each for them and that included free tickets to see Blue Man Group). We had to pay an extra $54 for the seasonal pass and an extra $154 for the preferred pass (so now we have discounts and free parking). Plus tax this all came to $221.50 (�170). So for �650 we have our passes for the next 15 months, and we already have three holidays booked in 12 months which brings it down to �108.33 per person per trip for the tickets. I�m really chuffed with that and think we will most definitely get our moneys worth.

This is a very useful post, thanks. Do you think that with the price rises, that the trade in value will be higher? cheapest 3 park explorer is now about �260 against say a Preferred pass for $504 plus tax?

sandshal · 28 May 19, 02:10 PM

Originally Posted by fredflintstone

They also have where you can pay for preferred passes or higher monthly. With this method you do not get a discount on renewal the next year, but after the 1st year you can cancel with a months notice. So if going to the park just outside the 12 month window you can use this to pay monthly until you go again and then cancel. This would work well if you were going on the 24 AUg again, but in your case you do not need it, but others might.

That's useful to know, hadn't thought of that, we're going early September this year and late next so may well be worth doing it that way.

19 May 19, 04:20 PM	#3
	19 May 19, 04:20 PM fredflintstone Imagineer
fredflintstone Imagineer Join Date: Apr 05 fredflintstone's Reviews Hotel Reviews: 2 Restaurant Reviews: 1	If you are going next year then it would make sence. You could just get annual passes direct from Universal. Your dates should allow you to get seasonal passes as normally there are no blackout dates in August. The upgrade price from seasonal to the next level or even above is always just the difference in price. So if a seasonal pass is $40 cheaper than the power then to upgrade later would just cost $40. If you have brought tickets from a vendor then Universal normally calculate a value for it and take that off the annual pass when you exchange it at the park. It has been as low as $5 for a seasonal pass upgrade. Some people seem to have had luck in upgrading a 3 park ticket for a 2 park annual pass, other not, so if you are doing this worth asking at a few places. A few other points. The preferred pass gives free parking, so if not staying on site and going a few times having one of these passes in the group might save you money plus it gives 10% off food and other items that can add-up. It also gives the same early entry as ther on-site hotels, but everyone would need the preferred for that to work. At renewal next year they give a discount for renewing, which if you are going the year after might have value. They also have where you can pay for preferred passes or higher monthly. With this method you do not get a discount on renewal the next year, but after the 1st year you can cancel with a months notice. So if going to the park just outside the 12 month window you can use this to pay monthly until you go again and then cancel. This would work well if you were going on the 24 AUg again, but in your case you do not need it, but others might.

27 May 19, 06:45 PM	#5
	27 May 19, 06:45 PM nickosbad Earning More Ears
nickosbad Earning More Ears Join Date: Aug 09	We did this last year and it cost us $34 to upgrade our tickets to 2x seasonal and 1x preferred pass (2 park) We went to do the same this year and although we got 20% off the passes when we bough5 them with our Virgin Holiday, Universal were giving us FULL UK RETAIL back for them so to upgrade to the same 3 tickets they owed us $54 They couldn�t give us the money back so we just took 2x preferred and 1x seasonal (2 Park) instead and it cost us $38 instead! Definitely worth doing if you can get the second trip within the year, also when it comes to renewal time you get 15-20% off if you just renew the passes direct so am probably going to do that instead next year!