11/30/2024
✨Recap of recent Orlando trip - Day 1✨
My niece Lyndsey and I spent the day doing a non-private VIP tour at Universal Studios Orlando. You are assigned a tour guide with other small groups where you ride all of the most popular rides (10 are guaranteed, we did 14). Your group is no larger than 10 people. You do not have a choice on the ride itinerary but you can sit out any ride while the other group members ride. Our guide was Avalon and she was fantastic. The cost of the tour was $362 per person for the day we attended.
The tour includes:
⭐️ valet parking ($75 savings)
⭐️ breakfast and lunch ($100 savings)
⭐️ discount on merchandise (10% off)
⭐️ express pass privileges after your tour ends (priceless)
It does not include:
🔺 cost of park-to-park ticket ($222 for my date)
🔺 your guide gratuity (tipped $100 for two people)
Universal’s VIP tour not only lets you use the express line (expedited line queue) but gets you to the front of the express line. Avalon would explain the storyline of the ride at the entrance, walk us through the back door to get in the queue, and then pick us up at the exit. It’s a very fast-paced day with little time for non-scheduled breaks, shopping or picture taking.
Universal Studios uses a lot of screens, 4D, projection technology so medication will be your friend if you’re prone to getting sick.
Breakfast was a hot buffet at one of the sit-down restaurants. Lunch was also at another sit-down restaurant where you could choose an appetizer (split between two people), entree, and dessert with a non-alcoholic beverage. Again, these were covered with the cost of your VIP tour.
Overall, it’s really a fantastic value if your main priority is rides, it’s your first time (like mine) so you want the lay of the land and want to ride Hagrid’s Motorbike Adventure with no wait (this doesn’t utilize an Express line so you wait in the regular stand-by line if you’re not on a VIP tour). You can also continue to use the Express Line after the tour which really enhances the value too.
If you want to select which rides you want to access or want something at your own pace, then a private VIP tour is your better option.
10/10 recommend!