universal studios VIP pass. is it worth it?

[xtreme2134]

title says it all i think. is it a good idea to get the vip pass or just a reg. tickect. if anyone has done the vip what is the expirience like. it is my first time going to the park. im going in may. any info would be great.

thanks
chris

[xtreme2134]

no one has tried or used this pass before?

[alpengeist04]

It depends on you. I've never used the VIP pass myself. I usually use the single rider line if possible.;) To give you an example, I was at IOA December 29th and there was a 2 hour wait for Spiderman. I used the single rider line and I was on the ride in 20 mins.:) If you don't use the VIP get to these rides early at IOA (Spiderman & Hulk) and at Universal (Mummy and Shrek). I know this doesn't answer your question, but it's my 2 cents.

[Harpo]

My last time at Universal, my girlfriend and I stayed at the Hard Rock Hotel. Staying at a Universal resort gives free VIP access to the rides. It was very nice being able to skip the lines without having to get a pass at each ride, and it allowed us to do everything in both parks very quickly. But, in general, I think getting the tickets for the rides without paying extra would have worked nearly as well. Unless it was a very busy day, I doubt I'd pay extra for the VIP pass.

[J_Snow]

At IOA, on busy days you can single ride Hulk, Spiderman and sometimes Rip Saw Falls. At US you can single Ride Men in Black and Mummy at any time.

The other option is to purchase an Express Pass for about $25 in addition to the park ticket. This allows you one express entrance to the popular attractions. The same line as the hotel pass will get you in. With the VIP tour you have a guest services person walk you thru the park and you enter the rides via the exits-but only one time on each ride. So that kinda sucks for the price.

The express pass is good if you dont want to single ride. Also-last year they just marked the back of the express ticket with a felt pen to show that you had already used it on a specific ride. I just rubbed a little spit on it and the mark was gone so I could use it over and over again on the Hulk. ;)

Hope that this info is helpful!

[chrisdelaney]

I personally would not recommend those special passes. I think they are a waste of money. The only time you would need them is when the park is packed when you don't want to be there anyway.

I was just there for the Superbowl weekend this past winter. Sat was a little crowded and we had to wait for a few attractions, but Sunday the place really cleared out because many of the people in Orlando that weekend were going to the Superbowl (not enough hotel capacity in Jax). So we had a great afternoon, terrific weather, and not crowded. Park closed at 5 and we were back at the hotel by 6 in time for a superbowl party.

I recommend timing this park right, and you don't have to do what I did, going on superbowl sun. either, just pick weekdays for your trip, not in the summer when school is out (too hot anyway). If you're bringing kids when they are on break from school, go on their Spring Break, this varies around the country and from school to school which will help offset the crowding a little.

I also recommend avoiding their "special holiday events" on sat nights. I went to their Halloween party on a sat night a few years back and I am not exagerrating when I say the lines were all 100+ minutes wait, I'm talking everything, listed on the signs, many even more, Hulk had a line stretching way past a 120 minute sign. The paths were so packed it was hard to walk. These things are really for the local kids to come and party. They have bars set up all throughout the park on folding tables and it's like a college rented the place or something, avoid these nights.

Finally, these parks actually don't have that many attractions anyway, you can finish both in a couple days, so don't hurry, just enjoy! They are good parks. If there is a long line for an attraction, skip it and come back or fast pass it, you can fast pass one attraction at a time with your regular admission.

If you are going to buy a ticket to a special event or a day you might think is crowded, talk to a ticket agent, tell them my Halloween story and ask them what it will be like for what you are buying. They don't want to sell someone tickets for something only to have them come back looking for a refund, the agent should be straight with you.

Make sure you ride Hulk, Mummy, and Shrek 4-D!

[J_Snow]

During the summer (memorial day to labor day) its going to be crowded no matter what day of the week you go. Although, school in Florida starts around the 2nd week of August so if you go towards the end of August it will be a little better. September after labor day you can go anytime. Its dead. The whole town is dead.

As for Halloween Horror Nights-avoid the weekends as stated for sure. You also have to be careful during the week becuase there are some school in-service days during that time of the year where the teachers go but the kids dont so they descend on the park on a thursday night. If your coming to Orlando to visit and your going to be staying in a hotel anyway-I'd look into getting a room at one of the Universal Hotels with a package deal. Using the hotel room pass is way worth it if you must visit during the summer.

Also-as for the Express Passes at Universal-they go very quickly on busy days. And you can only hold one at a time. Its not uncommon for the tickets for Hulk, Shrek and Mummy to be totally gone by 11am.

All that being said-Universal is my home park and my fav. I frequently go there for a few hours around lunch time just to hang out and get a quick ride in on the Hulk. They are great parks and I'm sure you will have a great time no matter what. The themeing at IOA is awesome. My favorite being Dueling Dragons...

Cheers!