Help PLEASE can’t figure out Universal and want to do a VIP

[Salf777]

Ok so doing Disney and want to do one day in Universal for one day. Also want to hit everything in one day saw the VIP experience and figured that would be great and at around $200 per person seems like a great deal. I find the Universal site very confusing probably because I haven’t used it. how many people do they take in these VIP groups And how do they decide which rides to go on in what order? They don’t show a price for a private VIP if we wanted to just do a private tour for me and my wife. Anyone know how much that is? Also, I’m guessing if you do one of the VIP tours you don’t need to buy the express pass?
any other benefits of the VIP tour, like do they take you into stores or restaurants without any waits?
any info please help really want to just do one day and mainly see all of Harry Potter

 

[cschaaf]

I have few answers to your questions, but do want to point out that $200/p is the starting price for the public VIP tour. Depending on when you go, it can be much higher. It’s $400/p next week. Which is why I have few answers - it’s priced way out of my comfort zone so we’ve never done it but does look like a great time.

The only other things I know are: you have to call for private VIP pricing specific to the day you are going, the public VIP tour is ‘pre-planned’ and the guide takes you through that plan, the private version can be customized to your liking - ride and re-ride as you like(not sure if they place any limits on newer rides or something)

Lastly, you can get a lot done in one day with park to park tickets and the express passes - particularly if you are mainly interested in the HP stuff. Depending on when you go, if you just focused on HP, you might not even need the express. That said, there is a lot of other stuff you might enjoy outside of the HP areas.

 

[CAPSLOCK]

Give the VIP hotline a call. It's a short hold (sometimes no hold) and they can answer your questions.

Also make sure you are checking the calendar for which day you're considering - the prices per person average quite a bit more than the "starting at" price shown.

 

[Salf777]

I have few answers to your questions, but do want to point out that $200/p is the starting price for the public VIP tour. Depending on when you go, it can be much higher. It’s $400/p next week. Which is why I have few answers - it’s priced way out of my comfort zone so we’ve never done it but does look like a great time.

The only other things I know are: you have to call for private VIP pricing specific to the day you are going, the public VIP tour is ‘pre-planned’ and the guide takes you through that plan, the private version can be customized to your liking - ride and re-ride as you like(not sure if they place any limits on newer rides or something)

Lastly, you can get a lot done in one day with park to park tickets and the express passes - particularly if you are mainly interested in the HP stuff. Depending on when you go, if you just focused on HP, you might not even need the express. That said, there is a lot of other stuff you might enjoy outside of the HP areas.

Thanks I did a bit more research and it looks like the private VIP tours start around $3800 for the day quite a bit more than I would spend. I looked at the dates online and the day I’m looking at the group VIP looked reasonable but I’m not sure other than the guide if it’s any more than just buying a ticket and getting express pass for the day? Does express pass allow you to to the front of every line all day? I don’t care if the VIP tour takes you in back entrances and all that as a matter of fact I think I would enjoy the ques. Just looking for the best way to ensure I get the most done in one day

 

[cschaaf]

Thanks I did a bit more research and it looks like the private VIP tours start around $3800 for the day quite a bit more than I would spend. I looked at the dates online and the day I’m looking at the group VIP looked reasonable but I’m not sure other than the guide if it’s any more than just buying a ticket and getting express pass for the day? Does express pass allow you to to the front of every line all day? I don’t care if the VIP tour takes you in back entrances and all that as a matter of fact I think I would enjoy the ques. Just looking for the best way to ensure I get the most done in one day

There are two types of EP: One time per ride and Unlimited. They pretty much do what they say. More info here if you want to dig in: https://www.universalorlando.com/web/en/us/tickets-packages/express-passes

There are two ways to get EP: Buy them as add ons or get them as part of a hotel benefit (specific hotels). If you do the Buy option, you can choose between the One Time or Unlimited EP. With a hotel room, you get Unlimited.

The hotels that include EP with the room are: Royal Pacific, Portofino, and Hard Rock. Not surprisingly, they are the most expensive of the on-property hotels. However, when thinking about buying EPs as an add on, check the prices of the hotels and calculate which is the better offer.

Those rooms come with EPs for 2 people. If you have more in your party, there is a small extra fee for each other person - far cheaper than the cost of either EP. A family of 2 might not find any savings by booking a room at the more expensive hotel, but a family of 4 or 5 may pay less for the room (with the EPs included) than if they bought the EPs separate and had no room.

As far as the queues go - I do believe the public VIP tour would skip a lot of the queues completely and back door you on the ride - sometimes just walking in the exit and right on. EP does skip some of the themed parts of some of the queues, too. You'll still queue a bit, but in more 'nondescript' hallways, etc.

 

[hhoope01]

Those rooms come with EPs for 2 people. If you have more in your party, there is a small extra fee for each other person - far cheaper than the cost of either EP. A family of 2 might not find any savings by booking a room at the more expensive hotel, but a family of 4 or 5 may pay less for the room (with the EPs included) than if they bought the EPs separate and had no room.

My understanding is that the normal rates are for 2 adults plus children (i.e. aged 17 or less). So for a 2 queen room, one could have 2 adults plus 3 children (i.e. 5 persons) with no extra charge except possibly a roll-away bed if desired.) The extra rate charges come into play if the extra persons are adults.

 

[cschaaf]

My understanding is that the normal rates are for 2 adults plus children (i.e. aged 17 or less). So for a 2 queen room, one could have 2 adults plus 3 children (i.e. 5 persons) with no extra charge except possibly a roll-away bed if desired.) The extra rate charges come into play if the extra persons are adults.

Great clarification, thank you! Our kids have all been over 18 on each of our Universal trips, so that's not something that's top of mind for me.

 

[cfoxga]

Thanks I did a bit more research and it looks like the private VIP tours start around $3800 for the day quite a bit more than I would spend. I looked at the dates online and the day I’m looking at the group VIP looked reasonable but I’m not sure other than the guide if it’s any more than just buying a ticket and getting express pass for the day? Does express pass allow you to to the front of every line all day? I don’t care if the VIP tour takes you in back entrances and all that as a matter of fact I think I would enjoy the ques. Just looking for the best way to ensure I get the most done in one day

While we did not actually go on the our group VIP tour (Covid forced UO to close right before our trip), I can answer some of your questions. I will say that the people on the VIP hotline were fantastic to deal with and quite knowledgeable, so it is worth a call to them.

A one day trip staying offsite is the ideal situation for a group or private VIP, if you are ok with the price. As you discovered, the private VIP is very expensive, espeicially for a small group. I don't know exactly how the itinerary is set, but since you are in a group, there is no guarantee that everyone will want the same thing. I think the group was limited to 12. While on the tour, you skip the lines entirely and go straight on the ride, including rides like Hagrids which does not accept EPs. EP lines can be long during crowded times, so VIP could save even more time vs EPs.

After the tour ends, you can do rides on your own and use the ticket for EP access. So if your tour does not do a ride you want, then you aren't forced to use the standby lines.