In this post I discuss what you must do after purchasing your Universal Orlando Resort Freedom Pass.
Many people just purchase their tickets or passes and forget about them, trusting that nothing will go wrong.
Sadly, over the many years that I have been writing about Orlando’s theme parks, I’ve been contacted by folks who were in a panic because they were ready to leave for vacation and had misplaced their tickets. I’ve also heard from those who have had their tickets stolen along with their luggage.
There is even some risk for those who purchase their tickets after arrival at Universal.
What if Your Universal Tickets Were Lost or Stolen?
Are you prepared?
I ask because this has happened to one of my readers and their family. They’d arrived in Orlando for their long awaited vacation and stopped at a local grocery store for some supplies. While in the store, their vehicle was broken into and their luggage was stolen with their theme park tickets inside the luggage.
What an awful situation!
They were a large multi-military member party using an assortment of military discounted ticket types purchased at different Bases. Some tickets they were able to have replaced (because their ITT/ITR kept good records) and others could not be and they had to buy replacements.
In several other cases, I’ve been contacted for advice when people have misplaced their tickets after purchase.
What was the key to getting replacements? Pictures!
What You Can Do To Protect Yourself
If you are purchasing your Universal Orlando Resort Tickets or Freedom Passes from your local base prior to leaving on your trip you should follow these procedures in case your tickets are lost or stolen.
- Save your receipt!
- Take pictures of the back of each ticket Right After Purchase
- Forward the pics to at least one other in your party
- Keep the tickets and receipt in a safe, known location while waiting for your trip
- Put a reminder on your phone or packing checklist to get the tickets when getting ready to go (perhaps a reminder where they are too)
The reason for all of this is that when Base Ticket Offices sell Freedom Passes they are what are called Exchange Vouchers, which are non functional tickets that must be activated upon arrival at Universal Orlando by presenting the Voucher and your military ID. If the vouchers are stollen or misplaced before you activate them you are out of luck!
Tickets that are sold activated like the Regular Universal Military Tickets purchased from Military Ticket Offices can be linked to your Universal Orlando App before leaving home and the physical ticket is no longer needed (but should be kept just in case).
When leaving for vacation
Keep the tickets and receipt separate. For example, tickets in your wallet or purse and the receipt in your carry on luggage.
Then, if your tickets are lost or stollen you can use the picture and the receipt to get replacement ones from Universal at no cost.
An Ounce Of Prevention
I know this might seem over the top. But it takes almost no time and could literally save your vacation.
By the way, during the re-issue process the old tickets are voided in the system and become of no use to the thief.
I was so sorry to hear the above story from someone in our community and I hope this info will help protect us all!
Cheers, Steve
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