anyone took the VIP tours

[bbchurch]

I was wandering if anyone has ever went on the VIP tours?
If so what exactly was it like and most importantly is it worth the $125 per person? Which is better staying onsite and getting FOTL or staying somewhere a little cheaper and taking the VIP tour?
Just a thought.
Billy

 

[BarryHom]

I've done it. It is pricey, but you truly feel like a special part guest, more so than with the room keys. You get some background about the ride from the tour guide as well as some neat tidbits.

 

[Robinrs]

I did one back in 2000 and thought it was awesome. It was before the FOTL days so it was the only way. There really is no comparison. The tour is special, you are truly treated like a VIP. They are five hours long and you will feel like a celebrity.

The tour guides are incredible. They know everything there is to know about the parks and give you insights to things you normally would never notice. They hold your stuff while you're riding, remind the ride personnel that you are "special" and give each person treatment based on what they are interested in.

There is a great discount if you have an AP which makes it very affordable. I would recommend it to anyone!

 

[MOMTOMOOTOO]

Originally posted by Robinrs
There is a great discount if you have an AP which makes it very affordable. I would recommend it to anyone!

Robin, do you know what the AP discount is and how I can book it? Thanks

Laura

 

[Robinrs]

Originally posted by MOMTOMOOTOO
Robin, do you know what the AP discount is and how I can book it? Thanks

Hi, Laura:

The discount is 45% for the AP holder and 10% off any non AP holding guests. That makes the tour $66 plus tax! You can book it at (407) 363-8295 or email them at viptours@universalorlando.com.

 

[Notatourist]

Thank you Robin, just saw this and was gonna reply, but you got to it!

 

[Robinrs]

I was hoping you'd join in, Notatourist!! You're the REAL expert!

And to quote our resident expert, the VIP tour is the only TRUE FOTL!

 

[pathubia]

I have never taken a regular VIP tour but I took the HHN VIP tour last October and it was GREAT!!! Talk about REAL front of line access!!!!

It is definately worth the money.

Patty

 

[UKDEB]

Our APs expired last December and we are planning on buying new ones when we arrive in May. Do we have to be AP holders when we book, or just when we partake? We will be at PBH 22nd through 24th May and I would love to do this.

Is it for both parks, or do you choose one?

 

[kazzie]

We did a VIP tour at IOA on a busy day when it had just opened and it was fantastic and worth every penny/cent The guides are so knowledgable about the parks and their enthusiasm is catching!

We have also went on a VIP HHN tour last October and the one before.These are so just outstanding

There is always a difference of opinion on are they worth the cost,the answer is YES! People decide to go on them for different reasons,my son has Aspergers syndrome and it just wouldn't be possible for him to experience HHN if we had to queue for the mazes etc.

I will aslo be requesting a certain VIP tour guide for this October

 

[Robinrs]

Originally posted by UKDEB
Our APs expired last December and we are planning on buying new ones when we arrive in May. Do we have to be AP holders when we book, or just when we partake? We will be at PBH 22nd through 24th May and I would love to do this.

Is it for both parks, or do you choose one?

No, call and book it anyway. I was never asked for my AP details when I booked over the phone. I'm sure you'll have to show it when you arrive when they make the charge.

I cannot reiterate how wonderful this tour is. You do have to choose a park, though, IOA or Universal Studios. I took the IOA tour and look forward to taking the US tour one day.

 

[the Dark Marauder]

You can do a 2-park tour, but it's more expensive and you could feel more "rushed". I talked to some tour guides and they did do a 1-day, 2-park tour and it was just hectic. Correct me if I'm wrong, notatourist.

 

[4greatboys]

pathubia & kazzie can you tell me a little about your HHN VIP tour? Barry gave me a great report of his but I would like to hear about some others as well. We are thinking of doing the HHN VIP tour this year. Thanks!

 

[UKDEB]

If we sign up for a VIP tour of US towards the end of May, is there any likelihood that we might get to see Shrek 4D?

 

[the Dark Marauder]

There's a chance, depending on when your trip and Shrek's opening coincide.

 

[kazzie]

Hi 4greatboys,

When you arrive you will meet with your tour guide and meet the other people on your tour,usually around 12-15 I think.It's a great way to meet other people.On one HHN VIP tour there was a couple and the woman was in a wheelchair so wouldn't have been able to experince even a small part of what she did if not on the tour .And a group of 'youngsters' in their late teens/early twenties all from Brooklyn,we had great fun!My offspring were 11,14 & 16 the first time and 12,15 and 17 the last year. My youngest (who has Asperger's ) was nervous the first year and wouldn't go in the first maze so he stayed outside with the tour guide Chris When we came out we were amazed she had managed to get him to go in, as when we left she called over a cast memeber in a quiet area and asked them to show that they were just a regular person under the makeup having fun.After that my DS didn't look back,but without him being given that time he would have missed everything.

You get to do every maze,get seats for the main shows and do a couple of rides as walk-on too.I do cringe a bit when we walk straight in to a maze when people are queing but I think of the reason we're doing it and don't really dwell on the elitist aspect of it To know you will experience all of it is awesome.I would be panicking about seeing it all and rushing everyone if I wasn't on the tour and that would spoil it for me and my family!

Hope this helps!

 

[4greatboys]

Thanks Karen! After hearing your report and Barry's I really think we are going to do the VIP tour during HHN. It will most likey be dh, me, and 2 oldest ds 16 and 13. The 2 little ones will be 3.5 yrs and 1.5 yrs at the time so to young for this I think. Plus they are getting to do MNSSHP. Plus we got AP's this year through the Fan Club site--buy 1 get 1 half off. AP's are so reasonable at US/IAO--wish they were at Disney too, lol. Thanks again!

 

[bbchurch]

The UO website says you also get a gift bag for going on the tour. What kind of things do you get?

 

[BarryHom]

All I got was a bottle of water.

 

[kazzie]

We might see you this October then

That works out perfect,MNSSHP for the younger two and HHN for the teens!

I am SO annoyed with myself about the AP's While I debated for a few days whether to buy them (with the buy one,get one half price offer)when I went to buy them the offer had finished