Universal Orlando Express Pass Vs Universal Studios Orlando Vip Tour Experience Whats The Difference
Think of the Universal Orlando Express Pass as a Disney Genie+ that lets you take a shorter line on most rides, usually guaranteeing that your wait time is cut in half, and rarely ever more than 20 minutes total.
The Universal Orlando VIP Tour, however, goes FAR beyond that! Sure, you get an Unlimited Express Pass, but you also get valet parking, meals, reserved show seating, and a 5+ hour behind the scenes tour.
Basically, the Universal VIP Tour pales the Express Pass in comparison.
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What Rides Are Open With A Harry Potter Early Admission Ticket
- Hagrids Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure
- Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey
- Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts
- Flight of the Hippogriff
The best part is you do not have to be staying at a Universal Orlando hotel in order to get early park admission. In fact all guests who buy their Universal Orlando tickets from our friends at The Park Prodigy will receive Early Park Admission absolutely FREE!
We also find early park admission tickets to be the best bet for families regardless of if you are trying to figure out if the express pass tickets are worth it or not. The main reason is Hagrids Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure and also the newest ride the VelociCoaster are not included as part of the Universal Express Pass.
Is A Universal Studios Private Vip Tour Worth The Price
Over the course of the eight-hour day, the four of us in various configurations experienced 15 rides and attractions and had two completely private meals. We waited approximately zero minutes, enjoyed special access and, best of all, didn’t have to plan a single part of the day. As the one usually in charge of the family’s theme park experience, that last part was virtually priceless.
That said, at times I felt uncomfortable with the level of “special.” And ultimately, I think we would have preferred fewer rides and more time to simply explore the Harry Potter portions of the park to simply explore.
In a perfect world, there would be a Universal Studios Harry Potter Private VIP Tour that’s just a half-day long and only focuses on the World of Harry Potter.
At the end of the day, do I think a Universal Studios Private VIP Tour is worth it?
Dawn was fantastic knowledgeable, personable and very much in-charge. And walk-on ride access was amazing. But you miss the set-up of some rides by entering through a back door. And frankly, the Express Pass lines typically move pretty quickly, and securing Express Passes is significantly cheaper than hiring a private guide.
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At Universals Islands Of Adventure: The Charming Village Of Hogsmeade
Nestled at the foot of Hogwarts castle is the wizarding village of Hogsmeade, where you can stroll the streets and explore all of the fascinating shops and eateries. Wander through the classrooms and corridors of Hogwarts, and soar above the castle with Harry Potter on the groundbreaking ride, Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey.
Classic moments come to life on thrilling attractions like Dragon Challenge, a high-speed coaster where you’ll ride one of two fire breathers Flight of the Hippogriff, a family-friendly coaster designed for younger riders and Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, a state-of-the-art adventure where you’ll soar above the castle with Harry Potter, coming face-to-face with magical creatures!
Shop for Hogwarts school supplies from Dervish and Banges Chocolate Frogs and Cauldron Cakes from Honeydukes and a wand from Ollivanders. Plus send letters from the Owl Post – with actual Hogsmeade postmarks!
Always wondered what Butterbeer tastes like? Find out at the Three Broomsticks where you can also sample fish and chips, the ‘Great Feast Platter,’ shepherd’s pie, strawberry and peanut-butter ice-cream and more! Next door at the Hog’s Head, order a pint of Pumpkin Juice!
Are The Universal Studios Hollywood Vip Experiences Worth It
This really a pretty complex question, and while we can give a one-word answer, YES, Thats not particularly helpful. We need to explain that a bit better and give the reasons why.
This article is here to take a deep dive into exactly what to expect, what you get, and how that translates into Value and Worth. But for those wanting a pretty short version, The VIP Experience is actually only around $70 more than paying for the things you get separately and offers an incredible amount of extra on top of that.
It is a totally different way of visiting a themepark, There are simply no Queues, no hassles, no crowds to deal with, no low-quality overpriced Themepark food to the stomach, No spending hours on your feet, and lots and lots of extras and behind the scenes treats that no-one else gets! Thats about as short as we can make it, lets go for the LONG answer:
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How Long Is The Vip Tour
The Universal Studios Hollywood VIP Experience lasts approximately six hours.
However, visitors can continue to explore the Park after their tour is over, for as long as they wish.
The Parks closing time varies seasonally, from 6 pm in winters to 11 pm during peak summer.
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Vip Experience At Universal Orlando Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to buy a VIP Experience ticket in advance?
No, you dont need to, but we strongly recommend it, as quantities are limited and you never know Universal may sell out the morning of your arrival. Just as with Halloween Horror Nights, our motto is its better to play it safe and order in advance than be disappointed the day of!
If you do just want to purchase your ticket there at the theme parks, you can do so at the front gate of either one.
Do I get to choose my itinerary for a VIP Experience?
That depends on which VIP Tour you go with. For the Non-Private 1-Day, 1-Park or 1-Day, 2-Park experiences, youll be touring with other traveling parties, so in the spirit of fairness, the days agenda will be determined by your tour guide. If youd rather make the plans yourself, youll need to purchase a Private VIP Experience.
Is a VIP Experience worth it?
It depends on what youre looking to get out of it. If youll only be in Orlando for a few days and want to make the most of your time at Universal Orlando Resort, a VIP Tour is a great way to do so. The priority front-of-the-line access cant be beaten, along with the exclusive backstage experiences and insider tips from the VIP guides. Even if youre a seasoned Universal veteran, youre still bound to learn something new thanks to their expertise.
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Take A Vip Tour Of The Wizarding World Of Harry Potter
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter only opened as an attraction at Universal Studios in April 2016. With all of the crowds and access to different attractions, it is said that it now takes more than a full day to get through all of the main Universal Studios parks. Using World Class VIP private tour guides, you will be able to see more of the park in much less time. If your priority is to make memories and enjoy all that the park has to offer, rather than staring at the same busy kiosk for hours while waiting in line, then you should consider booking a VIP private tour for your visit to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
You could spend hours, days even, pouring over blogs and other explanatory media to help you get an understanding of how you will go about visiting The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, or you can use VIP private tour guides through World Class VIP tour services.
When you use VIP private tour guides to see the Harry Potter attractions at the two Universal Studio parks, you will know all of the tips and tricks first hand. World Class VIP private tour guides will be sure that you: Have passes to get into both parks, so you can see all of the Harry Potter attractions.
Your day is scheduled to fit the specific preferences of your family. World Class VIP private tour guides want to be sure that you have the individually tailored experience you are looking for.
Pros Of A Universal Orlando Vip Tour
1. Good Value
Is the Universal Orlando VIP Tour pricey? Yes. Does it cost more than normal park admission? Yes. Do you still have to pay admission on top of the Universal VIP Tour fee? Yes.
HOWEVER, when you break it down by value youre actually making out on the deal. Especially if you book far in advance for a slow time of year since the Universal VIP Tour price changes based on demand.
Anyhoo, remember that included in the Universal VIP Tour fee, youre getting:
- an unlimited Express Pass
- a CityWalk Party Pass
- in-park merchandise discounts
- behind the scenes and front of line access with a tour guide for 5+ hours
All of that is already well over a $200 value. And the Universal VIP Tour costs. Well well get to that in a sec.
2. So Many Perks Included
Honestly, its called the Universal VIP Tour for a reason. You literally get everything handed to you for a seamless, headache-free, luxurious theme park day.
Meals? Taken care of. Parking? Done for you. Waiting in lines? Basically non-existent. Cover charges at CityWalk afterwards? Already paid for.
All of this to say, even when your 5 or 7 hour tour is over, youre still getting the VIP treatment.
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Light Breakfast And Host Greeting
The Breakfast is served in the VIP Suite at the entrance to Universal Studios. Its a pretty wonderful space and overlooks the park entrance so you can see the hordes pile into the park, while you sip your coffee.
The Light Refreshments on offer is a very poor description of the breakfast selection, but in a good way, there was a large and varied selection of food on offer, and far more than anyone could ask for. We think the light refreshments means basically not to expect a hot cooked breakfast but other than that there was everything you could wish for!
There were various filled-croissants , assorted pastries muffins and cookies, cereals, fruit, juices, and of course tea and coffee. We grabbed a table on the terrace overlooking the main plaza and just kicked back waiting for things to get going.
While we sipped juice and coffee overlooking the mayhem, below in the warm Cali sun Danny came by to introduce himself. He was to be our tour guide for the day. The first order of business was tailoring our tour to suit our specific interests and wants. This worked very well for us as Danny was able to cater pretty exactly to our wishes
Danny was delighted to ensure that we would be able to visit the Street and get out and explore, he also highlighted the problems with visiting the Street as it would be closed for all visitors from tomorrow as the set is being dressed for filming! More on the Lane later on.
Is The Vip Experience At Universal Studios Hollywood Worth The Price
What You Need to Know About the VIP Experience at Universal Studios Hollywood
The VIP Experience at Universal Studios Hollywood includes a gourmet meal, unlimited express access to rides and shows , and a special VIP Studio Tour with exclusive access that you can’t find anywhere else.
Overview
The VIP Experience is a limited capacity product with up to 18 guests per tour, with children needing to be at least 5 years old to attend and at least 17 years old to attend without an accompanying adult. Pricing for this experience ranges from $349/person to $449/person.
The VIP Experience is valid for a selected date and time and includes valet parking, 1-Day Park admission and unlimited express access to each ride, attraction, and seated show.
You’ll start the day at the VIP lounge, where you’ll check-in and then have access to light snacks and refreshments, before meeting your guide for the day, where you’ll discuss the overall itinerary for the day. You’ll break for an exclusive gourmet meal and then continue on with the day with the guide.
Now that we’ve discussed a high level overview of what the VIP Experience covers, you’re probably looking for more details to see if the VIP Experience justifies the extra price, so let’s dive into it:
Exclusive Backlot Access
- Tour the movie industrys busiest sets in a special private trolley where you can disembark to explore some of the famous outdoor sets.
Exclusive Theme Park BenefitsExpert Tour GuideOur VIP ExperienceIs it Worth it?
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Breakfast + Lunch Are Included
The VIP Experience at Universal in Orlando includes a continental breakfast and lunch within the package. Thats two meals provided and included in your ticket price! Typically, you will dine in the general vicinity of any other parties that are included in your VIP private tour group.
The complimentary breakfast that is offered is inside Café La Bamba, with a delicious Mexican-American themed menu, only offered to VIPs! The complimentary lunch is usually inside Café La Bamba or Confisco Grille, but the lunch location varies depending on when you go! The designated menu, however, is consistent across tours. The menu is extensive and has a wide variety theres something for everybody!
With the VIP Experience, you will also be able to receive discounts at certain stores carrying Universal Studios merchandise throughout the parks! Be sure to locate which stores are the special ones or check with your tour guide!
Universal Studios Hollywood Vip Tickets
One of the best ways to experience Universal Studios Hollywood is with VIP access, which gives an exclusive behind-the-scenes view of the worlds largest movie studio and how some of the most famous films were made.
When planning your family vacation, save money by booking Universal Studios Hollywood VIP tickets through aRes Travel, a company that specializes in family fun.
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How To Book Harry Potter Museum Tickets In Advance
The tickets for the Warner Brothers Studio Tour London must be purchased in advance in order to get the desired time and date you would like to go they sell out quickly! You can book the tickets on their official website. You can also book tickets with other resellers, especially if you are last minute and the tickets are sold out on the official website.
How To Get Last Minute Harry Potter Studio Tickets When They Are Sold Out On The Official Website
As you have probably seen already on the official website, the tickets sell out very fast and it is almost impossible to get a ticket last minute. Normally, you need to book the tickets in advance, usually 3-4 months ahead.
However, the good news is that there are a lot of resellers that can sell the tickets and you can check all of them to see if something is available. You are also in the right place to avoid checking tens of websites: in fact, TourScanneraggregates all of them and you can easily check what is available.
There are also few tours leaving from Birmingham, if this is an option for you. You might book one and meet your group at the Warner Bros Studio if you are located in Central London and you cannot leave from Birmingham.
If you dont find anything available on TourScanner, then, its probably really sold out everywhere. However, even though you will not be able to visit the Warner Bros Studio, you can visit other places and landmarks in London in which the movie was recorded, such a Diagon Alley, Platform 9 ¾, Gringotts Bank, etc. The price for such guided walking tours starts from £15 . .
The last option is to join a Harry Potter Locations Tour in Oxford, if you plan to visit Oxford. Many scenes were filmed in the old University of Oxford.
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Check Park Hours Before Booking Your Universal Studios Orlando Vip Tour
Before deciding which day to book your Universal VIP Tour for, we highly recommend checking Universal and CityWalks hours here.
Why? Because park hours vary from day to day.
So, on some days you may find you get an extra hour or two of theme park or CityWalk fun, which is DEFINITELY something to take advantage of when you have an Unlimited Express Pass and CityWalk Party Pass to use!
How Much Does A Vip Experience Cost
As you might have guessed, the price of your VIP experience will vary drastically depending upon which tack you take. The one consistent here, though, is that all ticket prices are the same regardless of age that means your two-year-old will have to pay just as much as you do to enjoy all that exclusive access!
- 1-Day, 1-Park: $189
- 1-Day, 2-Park: $199
- Private VIP experiences: prices vary call 1-866-346-9350
Remember: in addition to the cost of a VIP Tour, separate theme-park admission is required. Furthermore, guests that are under 18 years of age must be accompanied by an adult.
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