The USH VIP tour was awesome! We checked in (right next to Will-call) and were shown into a lounge area, where they had movie props on display as well as an Emmy, and bottled water and some pastries. We then met our guide, and he gave us our lanyards to wear. Our group was 11 people, and there was a second group with 12. We walked to where the studio tour was, past all the people in line to a waiting air conditioned bus. Our group and the other group together. Much of the studio tour is the same as the rest of the tour, however, we got to walk through an actual set (Parenthood) of a TV show, as well as through the Prop Warehouse, and some of the outdoor set areas.
After the tour, we rode the Simpsons ride, and then to lunch, which was buffet, but lots of yummy things. The shrimp scampi and veal were excellent. After lunch we watched Shrek and then the Waterworld show. Our guide Mark actually plays "the bad guy" in this show when not leading tours.
He then took us down to the lower lots to ride the rides there. Jurassic Park (they gave us ponchos, and Mark held all of our stuff) then The Mummy, then Transformers. (I sat The Mummy out, but DH loved it.) Then we were on our own.
We started around 10:45, finished around 5:15. Our VIP lanyards gave us unlimited front of line access until closing, as well as discounts in the shops. (25%)
We didn't stay late though, as our bus driver was picking us up at 6:30.