Universal 3 days last week in June

[vbipi]

Is a VIP group tour a better option than paying or staying on site for an express pass, family of four with 15 and 17 year olds. We try to open park and stay to close, the week before we are going to Disney, been 8 years since we visited Orlando and skipped Universal last time as we had planned to be back sooner. Did Legoland, SeaWorld / Discovery Cove (Trainer for a day) and Disney last time. Cash outlay vs value is the group tour worth it? Private tour seems beyond our budget? Front of line seems nice but we are worried about agenda ? What if our group is us plus one extended family with very few adults , will the guide bring us on kiddie rides?

 

[TommyJK]

Personally I would do a deluxe hotel and get the Express pass for all of the days I'm there. I like being able to keep my own schedule/agenda and having all days with EP is much better than a single day where you get Front of the Line but have to follow somone else's tour.

If you were to do the VIP tour, what resort would you be planning on staying at (and what are your exact days you have planned)? At $200/person for the VIP tour it could even work out better/cheaper with on-site at one of the deluxe resorts

 

[mvansear]

Agree with TommyJK. Onsite deluxe hotel express passes set families up for a very relaxing Universal experience. Remember you can use the express pass with 1 night stay all day on check in and all day on check out day ( so 2 full days express for one-night hotel) My family went in October with 2 teens and an adult child (she is all grown up now 22). We love the pace that the express pass offers!

 

[cfoxga]

For a family of 4, a deluxe hotel is a fantastic value. If you consider the value of the EPs, the room is basically free. It looks like APH rates are out already, which will lower the room price quite a bit. I would book asap if it is available for your dates. Take a look at https://www.disboards.com/threads/how-i-plan-a-universal-trip.3794121/ for details...