Am I crazy to get the Costco US/IOA ticket?

[scottmel]

I read an earlier thread on this and here is my rationale though I could be wrong! This is for June 16th Monday, 2014. Family of 4 with 2 teens. From what I THINK I am understand :

1. The VIP tour included with trip includes backstage stuff. is this true? If so, is it sets you see or under rides etc etc?

2. Since I am getting FOTLA, I can stay free at Marriott on points so this would be a 250 savings on hotel that I could put towards the ticket cost.

3. I only get FOTLA one day but honestly I have always felt these two parks could be done in one day. Would you say that is true still doing the VIP tour? I figure after the tour breaks we would continue with FOTLA.

4. Since I get in another day with ticket, I could rope drop next morning hit WWOHP and try to do as much as possible in 2 hours or until lunch. Hopefully lines aren't too crazy?

I guess I need to understand WHAT the VIP experience is. If it is just someone escorting you ride to ride, I can do that myself with FOTLA but if there is behind the scenes, etc I would love to understand WHAT that includes...

 

[macraven]

https://www.universalorlando.com/Theme-Park-Tickets/VIP-Experience.aspx?Intsrch=vip tours

this link will give you more info of the VIP tour experience.
depending on the type of tour you book, varies on the length of time, number in the group, one/two parks, 8 rides/attractions mininum, etc.

 

[loveswdw]

I only get FOTLA one day but honestly I have always felt these two parks could be done in one day. Would you say that is true still doing the VIP tour? I figure after the tour breaks we would continue with FOTLA.

According to the terms listed on the front of the ticket, you only get FOTL during the tour. You get Universal Express Unlimited Access the rest of the day, not FOTL.

I took a photo of the ticket terms with my phone. Here's the exact verbage from the front of the board:
With a Universal Orlando Resort VIP Experience, you'll spend one day personally escorted on a guided tour throughout Universal Studios Florida and Universal's Islands of Adventure with a second day to play however you want in both theme parks.
- Special behind the scenes experiences with a dedicated VIP tour guide.
- Front of the line access to rides and attractions during the tour.
- Skip the regular lines with Universal Express Unlimited access at participating rides and attractions throughout the rest of your day--up to $139.99 value!
- Reserved seating at shows and special viewing areas at Universal's Superstar Parade and Universal's Cinematic Spectacular nighttime show
- Free valet parking -- a $30 value!
- Select discounts on theme park food and merchandise.

To me, I personally don't feel this ticket is worth the $285+ price tag. But that's my opinion. I would've been MUCH happier with the 3 day park to park for $135.

 

[scottmel]

According to the terms listed on the front of the ticket, you only get FOTL during the tour. You get Universal Express Unlimited Access the rest of the day, not FOTL.

I took a photo of the ticket terms with my phone. Here's the exact verbage from the front of the board:
With a Universal Orlando Resort VIP Experience, you'll spend one day personally escorted on a guided tour throughout Universal Studios Florida and Universal's Islands of Adventure with a second day to play however you want in both theme parks.
- Special behind the scenes experiences with a dedicated VIP tour guide.
- Front of the line access to rides and attractions during the tour.
- Skip the regular lines with Universal Express Unlimited access at participating rides and attractions throughout the rest of your day--up to $139.99 value!
- Reserved seating at shows and special viewing areas at Universal's Superstar Parade and Universal's Cinematic Spectacular nighttime show
- Free valet parking -- a $30 value!
- Select discounts on theme park food and merchandise.

To me, I personally don't feel this ticket is worth the $285+ price tag. But that's my opinion. I would've been MUCH happier with the 3 day park to park for $135.

Thank you very much! I guess b/c I did not need the 3 day ticket I was trying to talk myself into the value of the 2 day ticket! Is Express pass pretty much the same as FOTLA? I view them both as the equivalent to fast pass...When we stayed on site I thought I had FOTLA but I guess that is express pass and you just wait a little while? I think the best 2 day ticket I found was around 150 or so...still a better deal than this at 289. TAHNKS!

 

[bumbershoot]

Unlimited Express Pass is what you would have had while staying onsite. You get to go in a much shorter line, but it can still be a line. Might be 3 people long, might be 50, but you don't want to know how many people would be in standby.

Front of the Line with a tour would be FRONT of the line.

Fastpass is a pale shadow compared to even Unlimited Express Pass. Get the FP, go do something else, come back and use the FP, ugh. Even FP+, the stuff they are testing at WDW, isn't going to be as convenient, even if it eliminates the "get the FP" part of the running around the parks equation.



My family is definitely a group a re-riders and experience the park-ers. So while we believe the parks CAN be done inside of one day, why would we want to do so? Doesn't sound like much fun. What if one of the teens love the Hulk and wants to reride 5 times? Hard to do with only one day to tour.

I'd rather take the money I might have spent on the VIP tickets and put them towards a hotel room. 2 day tickets (at the very least), 1 night onsite, get to the hotel an hour before early entrance for Wizarding World, do the checkin process and head on over to IOA! Enjoy having EP on everything but Ollivander's show, Forbidden Journey, and Pteranodon Flyers (but with teens ONLY as your kids you probably couldn't have gotten on the ride anyway as it is height restricted in two ways). Later go to the other park. Do again the next day. Enjoy yourselves.


I book the hotel through this site. I don't know when your trip will be, but in case it's after Cabana Bay opens, know that they will NOT have the Express Pass as part of their perks. That's only for the deluxe onsite hotels at Universal.

 

[goofyfigment]

Years ago the onsite hotels used to call it front of the line, this was before they started selling express pass to the public.

 

[scottmel]

Unlimited Express Pass is what you would have had while staying onsite. You get to go in a much shorter line, but it can still be a line. Might be 3 people long, might be 50, but you don't want to know how many people would be in standby.

Front of the Line with a tour would be FRONT of the line.

Fastpass is a pale shadow compared to even Unlimited Express Pass. Get the FP, go do something else, come back and use the FP, ugh. Even FP+, the stuff they are testing at WDW, isn't going to be as convenient, even if it eliminates the "get the FP" part of the running around the parks equation.



My family is definitely a group a re-riders and experience the park-ers. So while we believe the parks CAN be done inside of one day, why would we want to do so? Doesn't sound like much fun. What if one of the teens love the Hulk and wants to reride 5 times? Hard to do with only one day to tour.

I'd rather take the money I might have spent on the VIP tickets and put them towards a hotel room. 2 day tickets (at the very least), 1 night onsite, get to the hotel an hour before early entrance for Wizarding World, do the checkin process and head on over to IOA! Enjoy having EP on everything but Ollivander's show, Forbidden Journey, and Pteranodon Flyers (but with teens ONLY as your kids you probably couldn't have gotten on the ride anyway as it is height restricted in two ways). Later go to the other park. Do again the next day. Enjoy yourselves.


I book the hotel through this site. I don't know when your trip will be, but in case it's after Cabana Bay opens, know that they will NOT have the Express Pass as part of their perks. That's only for the deluxe onsite hotels at Universal.

Oh you make it sound so nice! Want to go in my place?LOL! I am just so NOT a US/IOA person. I have tried to be but I am muich more a WDW person. I am going with your plan though. I think part of me was hoping to stuff it all into one day, avoiding a night at US, but as you said why do that? This is the first year my DD is allowed to bring a friend and this friend has never been to US so it will be a big deal for the girls. Why rush it is right. I will get the two day ticket and do the Royal pacific hotel for a night. Cheaper than the 4 VIP passes.... THANK YOU!!!!!

 

[johnnyf0614]

when I spoke to Universal about the VIP pass, you are at the liberty of the tour guide on what rides to go on with FOTLA for the 4-5 hours of the Tour. You will have no say, unless you pony about $2500 for a "Private" VIP Tour.