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Universal Orlando adds upgraded annual pass option

2006-09-25

By Robert Niles: Just got a note from Universal Orlando promoting its new annual pass option -- a "2-Park Premier Annual Pass," which adds "non-peak" Halloween Horror Night tickets, Universal Express access after 4 p.m., CityWalk club access, valet or preferred parking, as well as year-round admission to Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure.

The pass goes for $279.95, plus tax. That's $100 more than the "2-Park Preferred Pass," which gets you the park admissions, plus free regular parking. Both passes include dining and merchandise discounts, although the new premier pass adds additional Universal Orlando on-site hotel discounts, including comp upgrades.

Here's the question for discussion: How does this new premier annual pass compare with other annual pass options, in Orlando and around the world?

Readers' Opinions

From Chris Walton on September 25, 2006 at 3:51 PM
I'll be fine with my Prefered AP for the time being. Oh, isn't the Premier AP supposed to come with 8 or 10 free bottled waters or something like that, not that it would change my mind, but it would be a nice addition in the summer time, especially after eating all of that salty theme park food.
From Mark Hollamon on September 26, 2006 at 5:00 AM
I think the pass is a pretty good value, but the timing of its introduction is a but off. Right now the lines are pretty slim after 4PM anyway, so that's not a huge driver. The preferred parking is a nice perk and the extra discounts (if you can get them! they are not always available) are nice.

What would have been a real nice perk would have been an increased discount to the restaurants and a HHN express pass with the ticket!

From Erik Yates on September 26, 2006 at 2:09 PM
I personally dont think its worth it. You get huge discounts with a normal AP, and with kids, we take in our own water during the hot months. I hope it works out, but I think that it needs to add say passage to Wet N Wild to get that extra money.
From Daniel Binder on September 26, 2006 at 2:49 PM
When info about this pass was leaked a few months ago it included early admission to the parks (an hour early) and I would have liked to have seen this perk as an additional feature along with an express pass thrown in for HHN.
From steve lee on September 26, 2006 at 3:33 PM
If the discounts for the hotels are markedly better, I'll consider upgrading this time next year (already got the HHN tickets, so that's not much of a perk). The preferred parking thing doesn't excite me much. I think the long walk through the garage helps build excitement for the day. The water bottle thing...yeah, that's just weird. The expresses after 4PM are nice, but when I go the parks are usually dead at that point. If they roller that back to 2PM, I'd be chomping at the bit.

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