Holly's Universal VIP Tour Rating: 4 out of 5
Is it really expensive?
Is it really expensive?
Yes this is an amazing experience there is no doubt about it
but that experience is going to cost you
the tour is amazing but you need to be realistic of what you can afford make
sure to fully look at the benefits compared to the cost. There are two types of
tours at the Orlando Park the exclusive and the non-exclusive both are fun and
you will see the park no matter what you chose we have not done the non-exclusive
at Orlando we took it at Universal Hollywood and they are about the same. I
have given the highlights and the cost below for each tour.
Not included in any tour
Admission to the parks is not included in any tour you will
need to get this at the time you start the tour or before the cost is for the
tour only. The tour dose not included a tip for the guide you will be
responsible for tipping you guide. A general amount is $100-200 per day for the
private tour and 50.00 or more for the non-private tour. The amount is not set
in stone some people only do less some people do more, I think tipping is up to
each person and the service they receive.
Main details of the non-exclusive VIP experience
The non-exclusive is one personal guide to 12 people in this
group you will be put with other people who also pay for the service. Your
guide will have a mostly pre-planned idea of what you will do, but will ask for
your input be advised that if there are three of you in the 12 people group you
may not be able to see all you want. This tour is 7 total hours in total this
includes a one hour time out for lunch this tour dose not included lunch you
are responsible for paying for your food.
There will only be 6 hours of actual hours of attraction
time including at least eight major rides and shows these will be based on the
group average. While your portion of the group may see some of what you want
there is a chance you will not see it all because the others included in the
group make up will want to see something as much as you want your choice be
sure to let your guide know what your family’s number one attraction or show is
so you can be sure to see it.
At the start of your tour you will get a complimentary
continental breakfast this is juice coffee and pastries along will different
cereals bagels and toast. This is a basic set up and a nice starter to the day.
You can also take a bottle of water with you as you leave.
This tour is only for up to 6 people in your personal group
any more than the 6 people and this includes children you will need to book the
private tour for your group. Children cost the same as adults.
Keep in mind you will only get to do Harry Potter and the
Escape From Gringotts™, Hogwarts or the train once. There is a chance you will
not be able to do the train or the ride at all unlike the private tour this is
not guaranteed and the decision to see these attractions are up to the guide
alone and the amount of people in the park at the time of your tour. You also
will not be able to use the expresses unlimited passes for these rides after
your tour.
Unless you pick the two park option you will not be able to
use the train to between the parks keep this in mind when booking your tour.
There have been people who said they were able to take it without getting off but
again that is up to the park the day of.
After your tour you will still get express access to all the
rides this is like the other people in the park who bought the express pass
option. After your tour you pass turns into a normal express pass including any
disclaimers in the regular express pass be sure to check what is included and
not included in the express pass before going to park so there are no bad
surprises.
You will get reserved seating at the shows and parades this
includes the Universal’s Cinematic Spectacular – 100 Years of Movie Memories
nighttime show. Be sure to check at the time of your tour about how you use
this option after the tour as it can change at any time.
You get complementary standard valet parking on the day of
your tour take advantage of this perk as there is long walk between regular
parking and the tour office.
A VIP souvenir lanyard is also included to keep this is what
your VIP pass is hooked to.
On the day of your tour you will get select discounts at full
service dining and merchandise locations within the parks check with the VIP
office the day of your tour so you know what places in the park are at the
discount and what the discount is.
Pros
You get a knowable guide to take you to the must see
attractions and answer any question you can think of.
This is a less expensive way to get a tour of the park.
The guide really dose try to let the group see what they
want to see in the time allowed.
This is good for a group that is small and just wants to see
the park and feel special for a day.
Cons
You will not be guaranteed to see everything you want to
see.
Your only time option is 10am.
You will be with other people you do not know and they get
just as much say as you do.
It is still a costly choice.
You will only get one chance at the most popular stuff like
the new Harry Potter rides.
The options and price for the nonexclusive tour is:
One-day, one-park non-exclusive VIP tour of USF or IOA
$299.00 per person not including tax Peak time $369.00 per person not including
tax
One-day tour of both parks non-exclusive- $329.00 per person
not including tax Peak time is $389.00 per person not including tax
Private VIP Tour Details
This tour is for up to five people each additional person is
additional charge up to ten people in total.
You will have a guide for 8 hours with a one hour lunch so
you will 7 total hours of park attraction time. The guide will take you to the
front of every line ride and photo and to top it off put you in the best
seats!!
You can do what you wants as much as you want there really
is no limit to what you can do on this tour the choices are completely up to
you want to spend the entire day doing nothing but Harry Potter rides go for
it. You pick who you want photos with, what shows you want to see, and your
guide will make it happen. Keep in mind you will have some rules and some areas
you cannot take photos your guide will inform you of this as they come up.
This tour includes lunch at your choice of Lombard’s Seafood
Grill, Finnegan’s Bar & Grill, Mythos, and The Confisco Grille. Tips are
not included for the wait staff as part of your package you can get one appetizer per two people, one
entrée each, and one desert also you get a non-alcoholic drink. This hour is
included in your 8 hour tour.
Your tour will start at 10am but you can change this time to
what suites you as long as it is with in the park hours. To have the option to
start later than 10am you will have to book and notify the tour office two
weeks before your tour.
If you pick one park option you will not be able to go to
the other park keep this in mind with the Harry Potter train that goes between
parks.
VIP lanyard serves as an unlimited Express pass for the rest
of the day. This pass like the other people in the park who bought the express
pass option. After your tour you pass turns into a normal express pass
including any disclaimers in the regular express pass be sure to check what is
included and not included in the express pass before going to park so there are
no bad surprises.
You get a discount on food and merchandise during your tour
day this includes after the tour ends. Be sure to check what places and what
the amount of the discount is the day of your tour.
Special seating at the shows and parades. You will want to
check the day of about how you can use this option after your tour for
something like the 100 years of movie show.
Everything in the non-exclusive package.
You also can get the photos of your day but be sure to check
this is included beforehand there have been some people who said it was not included
in their package .I did not know about the option when we did the tour and did
not ask. I still cannot confirm this as an option so check the day of your
tour.
Special photo ops you cannot get anywhere such as down in
MIB area you can get a photo with the aliens in the control room, or under the
mummy ride this is a fun option to the normal photo ops. Also no waiting in
line for the photos
Pros
All the rides you want
Special photo ops
Your own personal guide
Lunch included at the best places the park has to offer
Cons
This is a costly trip and may not be worth the cost to your
family.
You may feel guilty about get the best seat every time some
people may wonder why you get to go first or just walk up and I will not lie
some people will say something and be rude but ultimately you paid a business
for a service and there is no reason to feel bad about this.
Cost for Exclusive VIP Tour
One day one park for up to five people $2599.00 Peak time
cost is $2899.00
One day two parks for up to five people $2899.00 Peak time
$3199.00
Extra people up to 10 are $325.00-389 each depending on tour
and peak or non-peak time.
To get an idea for 6 people for two parks on two days the
cost is 5590.00 for the private tour. Not including tips to the guide and the wait
staff for lunches so there will be about $300.00 more on top of that price.
KEEP IN MIND
Children are the same
cost as adults and the one hour lunch is nonnegotiable. On our last trip I
overheard someone trying to get out of taking the one hour lunch time, this is against universal
policy and for good reason it is just plain wrong. Please keep
in mind your guide is still an employee doing a job and deserves a break just
like you get when you go to work. If you feel you should not have to pay for
this then the tours are not really for you.
We love the tour and we will do them again when we go to the
parks to us the cost is worth it. We usually have such little time to see what
we want and standing in line for a long time is no longer easy on my
grandmother this way we get to take our time and go at the pace that works for
us and not miss anything. However if it was just two of us spending a day
relaxing at the park and not a real family vacation we would just do the
express pass and explore on our own. Be sure to really look at the cost this is
not an option for many families and there are many other ways and tricks to see
what you want to see that cost less.
No comments:
Post a Comment