Here Is What To Expect
Contributed by
Sara Dillon
For my 40th birthday, I wanted to celebrate in a fun and different way. We were already in central Florida for the Daytona 500 NASCAR race, so I mean, we were RIGHT THERE. I had to go and I wanted to go BIG, so I opted for the shared VIP Tour at Universal Orlando. They have private tours as well, but I couldn’t go quite that big this time (hopefully later!), but the shared VIP Tour is a great middle ground option.
So what exactly is included in the group VIP Tour?
Valet Parking
Private check-in area at the front entrance
Continental Breakfast
Sit-down Lunch
Universal VIP Tour Guide (1 guide per 12 guests)
Front of the line access to at least 10 major rides
Express Passes for the remainder of the day
Behind the scenes moments throughout the tour
What was the tour like?
Our tour started at 9am, so we drove over that morning from Daytona and got to Universal around 8am. We took advantage of the Valet Parking, since it was included in the tour. We walked over to Universal Studios where the VIP entrance is located. After check-in, we were escorted over to Cafe La Bamba restaurant where we had a large breakfast buffet waiting for us. They recommend getting there early so you have plenty of time to enjoy breakfast... and we were glad we did! It’s a very busy day and lunch is towards the end of the tour, so I highly recommend taking the time to eat a solid breakfast before the tour starts.
We were broken up into a group of 12. Most of the group was adults and there were three pre-teen kids in the group. I wasn’t sure how that would work, but it ended up being great! We headed out right after breakfast and did Transformers, Rip, Ride, Rockit, Jimmy Fallon, The Mummy, Men in Black, and Gringott’s. When they say front of the line access, they mean it. For most of the rides we were taken in a back entrance. They said part of the reason for that was that they didn’t want the other guests to really see us, they wanted VIP guests to not get stared down or feel guilty that they are walking past the line of people waiting. I actually really appreciated that. The best behind the scenes access that we got was at the Men in Black ride, where we got to go in the alien control room and touch and sit with the props.
The second half of our tour we headed over to Islands of Adventure. Unfortunately, my favorite ride at Universal, Hagrid’s Motorbike Adventure, was down for scheduled maintenance. We didn’t get to do that one (which I actually knew this ahead of time), but we did get to ride Forbidden Journey, Velocicoaster, Jurassic Park River Adventure, Kong, Spiderman, Dr. Doom, and the Hulk! It was serious ride time! What’s nice is that if you aren’t feeling like riding a certain ride, You can just skip it. Kong, for example, is just really loud for me and not my personal favorite. I skipped that one and our guide showed me where the meeting point was after the ride. I was able to get water and use the bathroom while they rode and then joined up after. Thumbs up to an incredible day of rides!!
Finally, after all that fun, we headed to lunch. It was a late lunch, closer to 3pm, and the last thing we did on the tour, so we were definitely hungry. We went to Confisco Grille and were able to get a drink, appetizer, entree, and dessert which were all included with the tour. Confisco Grille is one of my favorite sit-down options at Universal, so that was definitely a win for me.
After lunch, we headed back to Cafe La Bamba to wrap things up. Our guide let us know that we were able to come back to Cafe La Bamba for reserved seating during the Mardi Gras parade (which we did, and it was such a good viewing spot) and how the Express Passes would work for the rest of our day. Then we said goodbye to our guide (bring some $$ to tip) and had the rest of the day to ourselves!
Would I do it again?
The value is definitely worth doing it at least once! I added up the cost of the VIP tour and the cost of everything separate (breakfast, valet parking, Express Passes, and lunch) and the VIP tour was absolutely worth the cost. I don’t know if I would do it again for Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure, since I’ve done it once already. We also typically have Express Passes when we go since we love staying in one of the Premier resorts where they are included (shout out to Royal Pacific, Hard Rock, and Portofino!). However, I would absolutely do the private tour for EPIC Universe when it opens and if it is offered!
So, is the VIP Tour right for YOUR trip?
This tour is VERY ride focused. If your goal is to ride all the big rides and not wait at all, then this is exactly the tour for you! We literally went from ride to ride to ride. There wasn’t time to stop for pictures or shop for souvenirs. That was fine with us because we are passholders and have already done those things. If you’re wanting a slower experience, or more flexibility with younger children, then I would recommend the private VIP tour or getting Express Passes by adding them to your initial ticket purchase or staying at a premier resort option.
Not sure which way to go? Our team at A Mouse and A Beach would be happy to help you plan a thrilling Universal Orlando Resort vacation! Check out our quote request here to get started.
AMAAB Travel Advisor
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