To ask about best value Universal Studios tickets?

[Puzzledandpissedoff]

Forgive me posting here for traffic - there's probably a dedicated place though I don't know where - but my son's going to Florida for his 30th birthday and buying attraction tickets in advance is turning into a complete nightmare

He's in supported living (has SN) and his lovely carers have been trying to support him in this .... except that the bank are blocking everything as "unexpected activity". So I've stepped in, but the booking company won't talk to me as I'm not designated or something

Now I'm trying to do a fresh search on my own behalf for Universal, Discovery Cove and the Kennedy Space Centre - only the prices I'm quoted are nearly twice what the staff were quoted

So PLEASE can anyone point me in the best direction because I'm starting to go utterly mad with the whole thing ...

[burnoutbabe]

You could try THE DIBB forums, they have forums both on ticket buying (and recommended places to buy to save a bit) and also forums on special needs.
I don't know why prices would be double what he is getting, generally you can save 10% or so by shopping around but not tons. And only buying tickets you need.

[Puzzledandpissedoff]

Thanks, burnoutbabe ... interesting that you mentioned only getting what's actually needed, as the support staff's price was said to include just Discovery Cove, without Busch Gardens and all the rest added on (which is great, as it's just Discovery Cove he needs)

However when I went on the site myself, it appeared impossible to get a ticket for DC alone ... and the folk on TheDibb also tell me it can't be done

I'm thoroughly confused by the whole thing and TBH more than a little fed up

[Unihorn]

Discovery Cove always includes SeaWorld. Try Undercover Tourist as I find them the best value.

[Puzzledandpissedoff]

Thanks, Unihorn ... I've just tried them but they're even more expensive than Attraction Tickets Direct

[tillytrotter1]

Is anyone accompanying him? If so then I'd leave the Kennedy tickets until they get there, you can pick up all kinds of money off, special deal flyers, we picked up two kinds, presented them at the Kennedy desk and asked her to make the best use of them for 9 people and she did, we saved a lot. Unfortunately for Universal day or couple of day tickets and so on tend to be very expensive.

[burnoutbabe]

True, you always get free tickets with Discovery Cove to Seaworld and Aquatica. The other option is DC with SW/Aq AND busch gardens.

But you can get DC tickets direct from Discover cove - prices vary alot depending on time of year and whether you want a dolphin swim or not.

[PatheticNamechange]

We are going in may and have a villa, but we have paid to stay one night in the hard rock hotel.

This has cos £270, but it is a lot cheaper than buying fast pass tickets as nearly $200pp.

We get tickets to universal which include unlimited fastpass and also access to the park an hr before it opens to the public, which means we can get to harry potter world asap.

[PaddysMarket]

I've booked my tickets thru Orlando Attractions Tickets for this year, I found them the cheapest with the better freebies. I usually book thru Attractions Tickets Direct but they were quite a bit more ££ for the parks I wanted.

[Itscurtainsforyou]

We used floridatix but the deal might depend on timing (cheaper at Christmas etc)

[tillytrotter1]

If you're going through American Attractions it's worth phoning rather than booking on line, I wangled a reduction because I was buying 9 14 day Disneyworld and Universal combined tickets then as we were chatting I knew the obscure Yorkshire village where the woman on the phone lived so I got a bit more off too! We find they're the cheapest to deal with for the 14 day tickets. Still dearer than the flights though!!!

[Puzzledandpissedoff]

Is anyone accompanying him?

Yes, one of the care staff is going along so he's okay there, but it makes it worse that his actual birthday is over easter, which makes the prices even more awful

Good idea about the Kennedy tickets, though ...

[AnneMJAH]

We've booked with Floridatix.com If they don't have the exact tickets you are looking for advertised on their site their phone number is listed and have always been helpful to us. Also worth noting that your son can get a special pass from Universal customer service which is just through the gates in both universal parks. It's free and can include family members /friends. He can get return times for some of the rides rather than queuing for hours

[Puzzledandpissedoff]

I'll definitely remember to tell the staff member about the special pass

[Puzzledandpissedoff]

Just wanted to update and send a big "thank you" to you all ...

In the end I called Attraction Tickets Direct in person rather than faffing around online, and it turned out they had some sort of time limited special offer whereby I really could book JUST the Discovery Cove tickets without all the other, unwanted stuff tacked on ... it's cut the price nearly in half which is quite a relief!!

So all's well in the end and I can finally relax

[PaddysMarket]

Ohh I had been looking at DC too but felt it I couldn't add on any more expense to this holiday. I might give them a call and ask to see if I get a good price.

[Puzzledandpissedoff]

*Paddy" if you do - and if this is what you want - remember to ask them for JUST the DC tickets; apparently it's something they're offering for about a month and not afterwards (or so they said)