As some of you that visit USH may know, You are unablt to buy a ticket or get into the park without being searched and walking through a metal detector. Starting Monday November 19th, There will be a new price for the USH annual pass. And now for the New ticket information...

When you walk up to the ticket booth you will be asked if you want 1. A one day pass for $43 or 2. A USH Annual pass for $43. huh? what? yup. From what I can tell, many of the international travel companies are charging their customers for an Annual pass, but only getting a one day pass. They can't read english, so they don't know what the ticket says.

The way it works... If you buy a one day pass, they scan your ticket, you get in, simple. If you bought an Annual pass you must tell the employee at the ticket booth your name which will be on your ticket. When you go through the gate and get your ticket hole-punched, they will check your ID. You do not take your picture that day. The second time you come to the park you must have your ID and your ticket. When you go for the second time, you will go to the Sneak Preview (Former gift shop behind waterfall) to take your photo and get a CAP. Your Celebrity Annual Pass is good One (1) year from time of purchase (the first day). This offer is good from 11/19/01 - 12/28/01

This is the way i've understood it, if I got something wrong or hear anything else about it, I'll let you know.

One of the three jobs I've got happens to be at USH as a Studio Guide. So I can confirm most of what was said about this annual pass offer.

In the park's employee newsletter, the president of USH mentioned the "Buy a Day, get a year free" offer which starts Monday, November 19, and will last until Monday, December 24. There are no geographic limitations, this is not limited to just Southern Californians.

I can't confirm the other stuff about travel companies and the mistranslations...but the dates seem to be solid.

At least Universal is doing something to try and get people out there - this latest promotion is somewhat of a variation on their old "upgrade your one-day ticket to an annual pass for $10-$15" offer.

I did that one year with my son and we went a second time but left very early - after you go on BTTF and JP once or twice, see T2 again, see a show or two and do the tram ride, you're done for another year so we skipped going for a couple years after going twice that one year.

It's just a once-a-year place for those of us in Orange, Riverside or San Bernardino Counties when Disney and Knott's are so close.

Interesting -- me and the BF went down to USH this weekend and picked up the brochure for the annual pass program. Here's my assessment of it:

1. There are two levels of passes: the Regular and the Deluxe.
2. The Regular is $43; the Deluxe is $69(?).
3. The Regular has 30 blackout days (Thanksgiving, Christmas week, Memorial Day weekend and summer weekends mostly). The Deluxe is good any day USH is open (closed on Xmas).
4. Various levels of discounts on Citywalk restaurants, plus 20% on food in the park and 25% off merchandise.
5. 15% discount on admission for up to 6 add'l guests.
6. Here's the kicker: parking is NO LONGER part of the annual pass. You must pay an additional $30 for parking.

After thinking about it, the BF and I decided that this so-called discount is actually a price increase -- not a discount. The "old" regular pass was unlimited admission and free parking until 4:00 p.m. I believe it sold for about $70 or so.

So basically, we believe the Deluxe pass has had parking removed, and they added a cheaper restricted pass.

We used to use our USH passes in order to go to matinees at Citywalk -- we probably paid for our annual passes just in saving the $7 parking fee alone.

We decided we probably will go ahead and purchase the Deluxe passes and have one of us buying the parking add-on. Unless someone here can confirm that parking is still included as part of the Deluxe pass (we couldn't tell).

Sheila

Sorry Sheila, No Parking. And yes, the Deluxes are $69.