Two Park VIP Tour

[White Rose]

My Hubby and I are going on the two park one day VIP 7 hour non-private tour on Saturday Dec 6. Touring plans says it will be a '3' day. Sunday is a '2' day....

Have you done the VIP tour? Was it worth it? Was it a busy day when you went?

We only have one day, two park tickets. We do not need the express pass because it is included with the VIP tour (after the tour ends, we can use the express line.) Do you think we will need another day? If so, do you think we will need the express pass too, on a 'touring plans 2' day?

I've read that the VIP tour does bring you to the front of the line on Gringotts, but not sure about Forbidden Journey. We want to ride both! Do you know if the VIP tour goes on both?

Thank you for any help you can provide!

 

[White Rose]

bump

 

[damo]

Just my two cents, but Dec. 6 is low, low season. You'd probably get everything done without a VIP tour.

IF the tour brings you to the front of Gringotts, it will bring you to the front of Forbidden Journey. Forbidden Journey's line is way shorter than Gringotts'.

 

[KangaFan]

Just my two cents, but Dec. 6 is low, low season. You'd probably get everything done without a VIP tour.

IF the tour brings you to the front of Gringotts, it will bring you to the front of Forbidden Journey. Forbidden Journey's line is way shorter than Gringotts'.

Just curious--have you been on this day in previous years? Touring Plans has it as a 3, but another Universal crowd calendar I found online says low crowds for weekdays, but very crowded on the weekends starting the 6th--because of the holiday festivities???

My daughter & I are going on the 6th and only have until 2pm to take in all the Harry Potter stuff in both parks, so I'm hoping you're correct and the crowds will be low or at least low for the first part of the day.

 

[damo]

Just curious--have you been on this day in previous years? Touring Plans has it as a 3, but another Universal crowd calendar I found online says low crowds for weekdays, but very crowded on the weekends starting the 6th--because of the holiday festivities???

My daughter & I are going on the 6th and only have until 2pm to take in all the Harry Potter stuff in both parks, so I'm hoping you're correct and the crowds will be low or at least low for the first part of the day.

I have been at that time and it had very low crowds. It was wonderful. Of course, no one can predict exactly how people will show up at any given time, but in my past experience, it was the lowest crowds I'd ever seen.

 

[White Rose]

Just my two cents, but Dec. 6 is low, low season. You'd probably get everything done without a VIP tour.

IF the tour brings you to the front of Gringotts, it will bring you to the front of Forbidden Journey. Forbidden Journey's line is way shorter than Gringotts'.

Thank you for the advice! My hubby and I both have problems with lines and crowds, so we tend to avoid them any chance possible. Good to know it will be quiet. We are already signed up for the tour - and we are hoping for some cool backstage experiences, so that will be an awesome addition.

Dec 6 is the first day there will be Xmas decorations set up in US and IOA. I am waffling on buying the second day - even thought it will be quieter. I guess we will just wait and see that day.

Thanks!

 

[hydrotony]

Thank you for the advice! My hubby and I both have problems with lines and crowds, so we tend to avoid them any chance possible. Good to know it will be quiet. We are already signed up for the tour - and we are hoping for some cool backstage experiences, so that will be an awesome addition.

Dec 6 is the first day there will be Xmas decorations set up in US and IOA. I am waffling on buying the second day - even thought it will be quieter. I guess we will just wait and see that day.

Thanks!

Not exactly, Dec. 6 is the first day that the Christmas shows are presented especially the Macy's Parade (USF) and the Grinch Stole Christmas stage show (IOA) and Mannheim Steamroller concert at night (USF). Christmas decorations are put up early.

 

[ElizabethP]

We did a 2 park, private, VIP tour in October ~ it was fabulous!!! For most rides we went in the exit, so even better than the express line. We had never been to Universal, so the guide turned out to be essential in helping us get as much as we could packed into one day. We didn't do any shows (terminator, twister, etc), since our focus was rides and Harry Potter.
We also did VIP tour at disney that same week, and Universal gives you much more. You get 10% off all purchases. Express pass after the tour & free Universal's version of photopass for that day, morning snacks when you check in, and a 3 course meal at a table service restaurant, we ate at mythos and didn't have to decide until that morning. All Disney gives you is unlimited fast pass when you are with the guide and roped off areas for parades if you reserve early enough.
I also like that Universal charges per person, whereas Disney charges a flat hourly fee for up to 10 people. We were exactly 10, so got our money's worth at Disney, but doubt I would book it again for my family of 3. We would do Universal private VIP tour again in a heartbeat!!!

 

[White Rose]

We did a 2 park, private, VIP tour in October ~ it was fabulous!!! For most rides we went in the exit, so even better than the express line. We had never been to Universal, so the guide turned out to be essential in helping us get as much as we could packed into one day. We didn't do any shows (terminator, twister, etc), since our focus was rides and Harry Potter.
We also did VIP tour at disney that same week, and Universal gives you much more. You get 10% off all purchases. Express pass after the tour & free Universal's version of photopass for that day, morning snacks when you check in, and a 3 course meal at a table service restaurant, we ate at mythos and didn't have to decide until that morning. All Disney gives you is unlimited fast pass when you are with the guide and roped off areas for parades if you reserve early enough.
I also like that Universal charges per person, whereas Disney charges a flat hourly fee for up to 10 people. We were exactly 10, so got our money's worth at Disney, but doubt I would book it again for my family of 3. We would do Universal private VIP tour again in a heartbeat!!!

The private tour is per guide, not per person, I thought...

My hubby looked at the private tour, but it was over 2K...and that was just a bit too much for the two of us. We are doing the non-private tour...lunch is not included. that is priced per person. I'm excited about doing this! We did a similar tour in CA at Universal Hollywood a few years ago. (but lunch was included there.)

BUT..if you want a GREAT DEAL.. try the Busch Gardens tour in VA - WOW! - we got unlimited food, including snacks, front of the line access to *Everything*, and the tour lasted as long as we were in the parks. She was amazing!!!! It was private, and was not expensive at all. We tried to get rid of the guide after 8 hours, thinking she was done for the day, and she insisted that she would stay with us. We wound up being there from 8 am to 10pm! She said, if we were tired, we could go back to our room, and she would wait for us to come back, if we wanted! (We said no, that was just too much to ask for!) She knew everyone who worked there, and knew where everything was. We got shopping discounts, free souvenir cups, free parking, and also a free 'front of the line pass' for the following day. That was priced per person, as well.

We got to go inside the ride operator areas in all the rollercoasters, got to ride the service trolley to the top of the tallest one (Griffin?) and take pictures....we got behind the scenes experiences with some of their animals...We got immediate access to all shows, too. When I say it was a VIP experience like no other.. I can not compare it to anything I've ever done!

I know the Universal VIP day will not be like that - but every place that does VIP tours can learn from Busch Gardens VA...We truly felt like VIPs!

 

[White Rose]

Not exactly, Dec. 6 is the first day that the Christmas shows are presented especially the Macy's Parade (USF) and the Grinch Stole Christmas stage show (IOA) and Mannheim Steamroller concert at night (USF). Christmas decorations are put up early.

oh, sorry - I thought it was the first day for everything.

 

[MrsPMC00]

The non private VIP tour does attractions based on "majority rules" so, if most of your tour group wants to do Gringotts and Forbidden Journey, then you absolutely will!!