Universal Studios Hollywood VIP Tour- Is It Worth It?

Much like the VIP Tour at Disneyland Resort or Walt Disney World Resort, the VIP tour at Universal Studios Hollywood gives you access to areas not open to the general public. Under the watchful eye of a Universal Team Member, you'll be escorted through the park, have unlimited Express Pass access to all rides and attractions, and more.

But how long is the VIP Tour, what are all of its perks, and – more importantly – how much does it cost?

We visit Universal Studios Hollywood monthly and make sure to understand the ins and outs of the theme park. That way, you have the information you need to decide whether or not a VIP tour is right for you.

Read on for everything you need to know about the Universal Studios Hollywood VIP Tour, including its perks and need-to-know details.

How Much is the VIP Tour at Universal Studios Hollywood?

Let’s get down to the nitty gritty before jumping into the fun details of the Universal Studios Hollywood VIP Tour.

Similar to ticket pricing used at Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort, ticket costs for the VIP Tour operate on a date-based system. This means that more expensive tickets tend to fall on days that are expected to be more crowded. On the other hand, less expensive tickets tend to fall on off-peak times when crowds are expected to be lower.

With that said, Universal Studios Hollywood VIP Tour ticket prices start at $379, with prices reaching as high as $499.

Make sure to visit the Universal Studios Hollywood website for up-to-date pricing. You can also book a VIP Private Experience tour via telephone by calling 818-622-8477.

Universal Studios Hollywood VIP Tour Details

There’s a few more nitty gritty details you need to know before considering booking a VIP Tour:

• VIP Tours start at various times throughout the morning, with the first tour usually starting at 9:30am. However, the number of tours per day varies depending on the season and day of the week
• Each VIP Tour accommodate up to 13 guests
• Tours run for a minimum of 5 hours and usually lasts between 6 to 7 hours from your booked start time
• Children must be at least 5 years old and accompanied by an adult; children starting at 17 years old can attend without an adult

With the nitty gritty out of the way, let’s discuss the VIP Tour perks.

VIP Pre-Tour Perks

Before even starting your Universal Studios Hollywood VIP tour, you get a number of perks that make your day that much easier.

Here’s what you can expect before starting your tour:

• Valet Parking: When you arrive at Universal Studios Hollywood, follow the signs to the Jurassic Valet garage entrance. Make sure to keep your valet ticket you receive when parking. That way, you can present it when you check in at the VIP Reception for validation
• Complimentary Refreshments: At the VIP lounge, you’ll have a comfortable, air-conditioned area to wait in before your tour. You’ll also have access to a complimentary continental breakfast, including bagels, coffee, iced water, and other morning snacks
• Sun Protectants: Like any other day at a Universal or Disney theme park, sunscreen is an absolute must. Before your tour, you’ll receive complimentary sunscreen and lip balm in the VIP Experience Center

All of these pre-tour perks set you up for a smooth and fun experience inside the theme park.

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Purchasing your tickets before you arrive eliminates the time you would’ve spent in line at the ticket booth and gets you into the park quicker. Another benefit to advanced ticket orders is the opportunity to save money. We partner with Universal Studio’s top travel partner to offer discounts on tickets exclusively for our readers.

For the best prices on Universal Studios Hollywood tickets and info on how to avoid scammy tickets, visit our guide to discount Universal Studios Hollywood tickets.

Your Universal Studios Hollywood VIP Tour Guide

Much like the VIP tour guides at Disneyland Resort or Walt Disney World Resort, your Universal Studios Hollywood VIP Tour guide makes your experience unique.

Each Universal tour guide has what seems like endless amounts of knowledge about all things Universal Studios. As you’re led around the theme park, you’ll learn more things than you ever thought you’d learn about Universal.

Along with passing along valuable Universal Studios knowledge, each tour guide is there to help you experience exactly what you want. Because of this, each Universal Studios Hollywood VIP Tour is different. Other than the basics of the tour – the Studio Tour, the WaterWorld show, and lunch – you’ll have plenty of time to experience the rides and attractions of your choice.

Your VIP Tour guide is there to make your experience well worth it.

The Studio Tour on the VIP Tour

This 2 hour studio tour takes you behind the scenes into areas other guests don’t have access to.

Instead of staying on the tram like the General Admission guests do, you’ll get to hop off and walk the sets. You’ll get exclusive access to movie and TV sets and certain luxe amenities.

These perks include:

• Riding the VIP Trolley: Instead of riding the tram with the General Admission guests, you’ll get your very own private open-air trolley as well as complimentary ice water.
• Stopping at a Soundstage: Depending on which soundstage is operating, you’ll be able to walk through a soundstage and see exactly what actors experience when shooting a movie or show
• Edith Head Costume and Prop Department: This building is home to countless props used in iconic Universal films. Your tour guide will point out some of the most iconic items along the way
• Walk on a Real Set: You’ll also get to explore iconic movie sets on foot. The best part is each tour is different, so the set you walk on may change depending on the day

Universal Studios Hollywood VIP Tour Ride Perks

No VIP Tour (at Universal Studios Hollywood or Disneyland Resort) is complete without ride perks.

Your Universal Studios Hollywood VIP Tour comes with an Unlimited Express Pass. This means you get to use the Express Lanes on every ride in the theme park, effectively skipping the standby lines.

Right now, this is also the only way to bypass the standby line for Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge at Super Nintendo World.

In addition to Unlimited Express Pass, you’ll have a tour guide who can hold your bags as you hop on a ride. This means no need to waste precious time placing your bags in a locker before riding.

You’ll also have VIP seats for WaterWorld, making viewing this popular show a cinch. And after your VIP Tour is over, your VIP lanyard functions as an Express Pass for the remainder of your day.

This means that if your VIP Tour starts early, you’ll have the rest of your theme park day to hit as many rides as you can until the theme park closes.

Universal Studios Hollywood VIP Tour Meal Perks

Once lunch time rolls around, you’ll have your own VIP Tour meal at the Parisian portion of the Upper Lot.

Here, you’ll be able to enjoy a 1 hour, all-you-care-to-eat experience. The high quality buffet usually features sushi, seafood, meat, salad, soup, an array of desserts, and more. There are plenty of food options for kids, vegetarians, and picky eaters. You might even get the chance to meet a few iconic Universal characters!

You’ll also have access to phone charging stations as well as visits from Universal Studios characters, making for a great experience.

The buffet meal is usually scheduled 3 hours after your tour’s start time.

See the best Universal Studios Hollywood foods and restaurants in our guide!

Universal Studios Hollywood R.I.P. Tour

If you’re a big fan of big scares, you’ll likely love the R.I.P. Tour.

The R.I.P. Tour combines Universal Studios’ Halloween Horror Nights and the VIP Tour. It differs slightly from the regular VIP Tour, but the general schedule is the same. It’s essentially the VIP Tour plus access to Halloween Horror Nights.

Along with the perks we listed earlier, your tour will include:

• A guided walking tour of Halloween Horror Nights
• One-time express entry into each haunted house and available attractions
• The Terror Tram backlot experience in a VIP trolley

If you’re looking for a spooky twist on the all-inclusive VIP Tour, the R.I.P. Tour is up your alley.

Who Should Experience the Universal Studios Hollywood VIP Tour?

There’s no question that the Universal Studios Hollywood VIP Tour comes at a steep price.

However, is it worth splurging on VIP Tour tickets? Here’s who the VIP Tour is geared towards:

• Universal Studios Superfans: If you’re an avid Universal fan who wants to experience as much of the Universal theme parks as possible, the VIP Tour allows you to do that without wasting time or stress. Additionally, there are experiences on the VIP Tour that are exclusive to VIP Tour guests
• Film and Show Superfans: Sure, you might learn a thing or two even if you’re the biggest film nerd. But being able to walk on set of some of the most iconic films will likely make you lose your mind
• Guests Who Want a Stress-Free Theme Park Day: The Unlimited Express Pass along with your own private tour guide makes the VIP Tour worth it if you’re looking experience as many rides and attractions as possible. It’s also worth it for families with younger kiddos who are tired of planning every single detail of their vacation. Having your tour guide plan your entire day takes the stress out of your entire trip

If you think the Universal Studios Hollywood VIP Tour is for you, make sure to reserve your tour on the Universal Studios Hollywood website.

Plan Your Universal Studios Hollywood Vacation

To get a head start to planning your Universal vacation, subscribe to our FREE Deals newsletter. Here you will have access to useful planning information, exclusive Universal deals, and access to the lowest priced Universal tickets anywhere. Find more information on planning your vacation here:

1. Discount Universal Studios Hollywood Tickets
2. Disneyland VIP Tour – Pricing, Details, Tips
3. Universal Studios Hollywood Guide 2024
4. Disneyland Planning Guide
5. Universal Hollywood Halloween Horror Nights Strategy & Tips