USH Price Increase!

[Jon Fu]

Has anyone pulled the trigger on the platinum pass?  

Yup. Kind of sucks but ¯\_(ツ)_/¯.

 

[eivega]

I wonder if after summer Universal will add benefits to the Platinum pass or will it stay this way from here on out.

That'd be great......I'm holding off on ours to see if they do that, or al least roll out the monthly payment option.

How likely could any of this be?  Is this wishful thinking or has Universal done similar moves in the past after summer?  I have an All-Star Premium pass that'll last until December so I'm in no rush to get the new Platinum one.  I just want to jump on it before another price increase.  How often do they update tickets and passes?  I know March has been a standard time.  Is November another?

 

[Jonathan]

How likely could any of this be?  Is this wishful thinking or has Universal done similar moves in the past after summer?  I have an All-Star Premium pass that'll last until December so I'm in no rush to get the new Platinum one.  I just want to jump on it before another price increase.  How often do they update tickets and passes?  I know March has been a standard time.  Is November another?

I was just presenting the question. Curious what everyone thought. I have no Intel on the AP stuff.

 

[RyanTTD]

I think what will happen is that the price for the Platinum Pass will stay the same for awhile and the other prices for the other passes will increase gradually so the price gap between the Gold and Platinum isn't so large.


I think the long term plan is that the Gold pass will eventually become the equivalent of the former No Blackout Annual Pass. All the other pass levels have up dated their blackout calendars through February 2017 while the Gold Pass blackout calendar only goes through December 2016.


I think Universal is just waiting to see how bad crowd levels will be before making any more changes to the Annual Pass benefits.

 

[javierm27]

Yup. Kind of sucks but ¯\_(ツ)_/¯.

I'm having withdrawals, I may pull the trigger.  Did they make you feel like royalty for buying one?  

 

[Allia]

Costco pass went up to $110. I had good timing buying it a week ago haha

 

[Jon Fu]

I'm having withdrawals, I may pull the trigger.  Did they make you feel like royalty for buying one?  

Well, they were more or less confused when I tried to renew. You'll have to do a hard purchase to receive the new pass.

 

[Allia]

It's still $95 online, if anyone still wants it $15 cheaper.

 

[Chris]

Its a pain dealing with the old Premium Pass in the park.  All the new employees look at the pass and question its validity.  Asking for a lead to authorize a discount is a usual occurrence at the moment.  Don't get me started with the Amazing Pictures photo pass deal.

Costco pass went up to $110. I had good timing buying it a week ago haha

We just purchased 3 Costco Passes on Monday, March 28 and they were $95 each.  Has the increased price been confirmed?

 

[Allia]

I didn't see it in store, it was posted last night on twitter by Attractions 360. Costco stopped selling the $95 pass online today.

 

[javierm27]

I am going to Costco tonight, I will see what the price is in store and report back.  

 

[javierm27]

I can confirm that the price is now $109.99. I saw it at my Costco. 

 

[eivega]

Its a pain dealing with the old Premium Pass in the park.  All the new employees look at the pass and question its validity.  Asking for a lead to authorize a discount is a usual occurrence at the moment.  Don't get me started with the Amazing Pictures photo pass deal.

It actually hasn't bothered me too much because sometimes they've accidentally given me the 15% discount instead of 10%.  It seems like they're starting to get the hang of it.  I only needed to wait for them to check with a lead a few times.  Sometimes they hesitate a little but nothing too problematic.  What's the Amazing Pictures deal?  I haven't tried that yet.

 

[Chris]

What's the Amazing Pictures deal?  I haven't tried that yet.

Amazing Pictures offers a one time fee for unlimited digital copies of your photos taken by any Amazing Pictures establishment within the park, including ride photos, for the life of your pass.  The process is slightly clunky, but it works well.  For ride photos you need to have the attendant scan your pass with the photo of choice, except for Simpsons where there isn't an attendant, you have to remember the time you were on the ride and visit the main entrance location and have them pull up your photo.  Any barcode ticket handed to you, just keep until the end of the day and visit the main entrance location and have them all added to your account.  There is an iOS app too!

 

[RyanTTD]

Universal just up-dated their blackout calendar for the Gold Annual Pass.   


Jan-April 2017, only one blackout date, April 15th.

 

[javierm27]

Saw a new Costco pass last night.  It was called the Annual Pass plus pass, and it had 246 days.  $159.99  I think this is the best deal right now.


http://www.costco.com/Universal-Studios-Hollywood-Annual-Pass-PLUS---eTicket%2c-California.product.100286770.html


Universal Studios Hollywood Annual Pass PLUS - eTicket, California




Features:

 


eTicket, Enjoy 246 Days of Fun Including Select Weekend Dates! Valid for 12-Consecutive Months from Selected First Visit Date. Come any Date on the First Visit. Black-out Dates Apply for Return Visits. First Visit Must Occur On or Before 1/31/1

 

[chris.g]

^ Wow, that is a really good deal... Might actually buy that for my mother. Wonder if it includes the discounted HHN tickets too?

 

[Chris Glass]

So, considering what it looked like for all of 2016, and what we can see of 2017 already, I have a hunch that there's going to be a few less pass levels in a few months since the blackout dates are going to be so minimal.

 

[javierm27]

^ Wow, that is a really good deal... Might actually buy that for my mother. Wonder if it includes the discounted HHN tickets too?

Yeah, it wasn't clear, my guess is that it would since it does give you the merchandise discount but might have to call to confirm that one.

 

[Jon Fu]

So, considering what it looked like for all of 2016, and what we can see of 2017 already, I have a hunch that there's going to be a few less pass levels in a few months since the blackout dates are going to be so minimal.

Are you sure about that? Regardless of the blackout dates, they seem to be bent on creating a new tier every month.