Inside the Universal Studios Hollywood VIP Experience: What to Know Before You Go

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It’s been more than a decade since I’ve done the Universal Studios Hollywood VIP Experience. I wrote about the tour back in 2013 and it turned out to be one of my most popular stories for years … and for good reason.

I’ve wanted to go back for years, but the timing never seemed to work out. Eventually, I decided to wait until my kids were old enough to really enjoy the experience. So when my son Jack told me he wanted to celebrate his 10th birthday at Universal Studios Hollywood, it felt like the perfect opportunity to finally return. Full disclosure: Universal’s PR department provided us with complimentary tickets but all opinions are my own.

I’m glad I waited because it was a birthday Jack will never forget. Here’s what our day was like and what you should know if you’re thinking about booking the Universal Studios Hollywood VIP Experience.

Valet parking is included

Complimentary valet parking is included with the VIP Experience, which is a nice perk since it normally costs $60. We parked at Jurassic Parking but the valet entrance wasn’t that easy to find thanks to a road work sign partially blocking it from drivers coming from the other direction.

Give yourself plenty of time, especially since you still have to walk from the parking area through CityWalk, go through security and then check in.

Arrive at least 30 minutes early

The park opened at 8 a.m. and the first VIP tour was at 8:15 a.m. We did the 8:30 a.m. tour. Universal recommends arriving at VIP Reception at least 30 minutes before your tour and I would definitely do that. You need time to park, go through security, check in and grab some breakfast before meeting your guide. I would also book one of the earliest tours possible. At 8:30 a.m., the park was still relatively quiet and the temperature was cool. TIP: Pack a sweatshirt for the early morning. You likely won’t need it by afternoon but might be glad you brought it.

There’s breakfast in the VIP lounge

There’s a light breakfast in the VIP waiting area. It was mostly pastries and other light bites and was perfect for grabbing something quick before the tour. There’s also tea, coffee, lattes and hot chocolate.

The VIP lounge and their restaurant have nice bathrooms and plush paper hand towels with ‘VIP’ stamped on them. In fact, they’re so nice, my son asked me to take one home for him, which was hilarious but hey, he’s 10. But funny enough, I then heard a lady in our group say the exact same thing about taking one home.

You don’t need to bring as much stuff

VIP guests are provided with bottled water, sunscreen, hand sanitizer and ponchos. Obviously, bring anything else you absolutely need (we also packed portable fans, some snacks for the kids and a super-compact first-aid kit) but it was nice knowing they had all of these things available.

Meet your guide and get your VIP lanyard

After breakfast, we met our guide and the rest of our group. We were told groups are usually around 12 to 16 people but ours had only nine. We went in late September, which is a slower period, so we lucked out.

Everyone gets a VIP lanyard to wear around their neck. You scan it when you go on the rides so don’t lose it. One of the best perks is that the VIP pass gives you unlimited Express access for the day. That’s different from a regular Universal Express ticket, which gives you one-time Express access to each participating ride, attraction and seated show. With VIP, if you or your kids want to ride something again, they can.

Celebrating a birthday? Get a button

Since it was Jack’s birthday, they gave him a birthday button. He received dozens of birthday wishes from employees throughout the day. I was told that when Team Members see someone wearing the button, they’re supposed to wish them a happy birthday. Every employee we encountered did just that; it was a small touch but Jack loved it.

The first 2.5 hours were all about rides

We spent roughly the first two and a half hours doing as many rides as possible. Our guide would walk us right to the front of the Express line, which saves a ton of time. You also don’t have to ride everything with your group.

We skipped some of the rides that were too extreme for the kids (and for me), find another ride they liked and then just met back up with the group afterward. There was almost always another ride nearby for us to do.

Fast & Furious had a 140-minute wait

The only really long line we saw early in the morning was for the brand-new Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift roller coaster. The posted wait was 140 minutes. Most of our group went on it while we skipped it.

When they came off, I asked what they thought. An Italian couple on their honeymoon told me, “I like roller coasters but this is not a normal roller coaster. I’m glad I did it once.”

Another woman in our group from Sacramento seemed to be a roller coaster expert. She loved it and said she’d never experienced anything like it before. She called it the future of roller coasters and said she planned to ride it three more times that day. Her friend had a different reaction. He was nauseous for much of the rest of the day. That was enough information for me! So know your roller-coaster tolerance level before giving it a whirl!

Whether you ride it or not, it’s super fun to watch and the design of it is really incredible.

Super Nintendo World

We then headed down to the Lower Lot and Super Nintendo World to ride Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge. The kids loved it.

Transformers made me a little nauseous

We also rode Transformers: The Ride-3D, which was a first for me. I didn’t love it because all of the simulated movement made me a little nauseous. The kids, of course, loved it.

Jurassic World: The Ride

Next was Jurassic World: The Ride. We were told that if you sit in the back row, you supposedly don’t get as wet. Unless you’re sitting on the end like me. I got pretty wet but I was wearing a poncho so I was fine.

We skipped Revenge of the Mummy

We passed on Revenge of the Mummy, which is an indoor high-speed roller coaster. My kids aren’t quite ready for it yet and there’s plenty to do while other members of your group are riding.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter

We then headed back upstairs to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. We rode Flight of the Hippogriff (my wife and daughter went on it twice thanks to the VIP passes and not having to wait in line!) but had to pass on Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey because Olivia was about an inch too short. Riders need to be at least 48 inches tall.

If you have younger kids, check all of the ride height requirements before you go so they know ahead of time what they can and can’t ride.

Lunch in the VIP dining room

We then had an hour for lunch in the VIP dining room in the Parisian section of the park.

It’s a buffet with a huge selection of food including salads, fruit, vegetables, hot dishes, sides and plenty of options for kids. There was a lot to choose from and the food was good.

I made a food allergy faux pas

At the buffet, I made a faux pas by using the same utensil to grab pineapple that I had used near another dish. An employee saw it and stopped me immediately. She grabbed the utensil and removed the food it possibly touched to avoid cross-contamination. I should have known better since my son has food allergies and I was very impressed with her swift reaction. A+.

Don’t skip dessert

They also had homemade desserts including Nutella crepes, chocolate chip cookies, macarons, chocolate and vanilla gelato and more.

Let’s just say we didn’t leave lunch hungry or thirsty.

You can charge your phone at lunch

My phone was dying since I’d spent the morning taking so many photos and videos to capture the moments and jot down memories. Fortunately, my wife brought her TESSAN portable charger. If you forget your portable charger, there’s a table inside the VIP dining room with about a dozen charging cables so you can charge your phone during lunch. We sat outside in the open-air dining area, which had fans, so I was happy we had our own charger.

There were also two character actors roaming from table to table. One was dressed as Marilyn Monroe and the other was Gabbie the Cabbie, a gum-chewing New York City taxi driver who really made the kids laugh. Gabbie is one of Universal’s atmosphere characters and can also be found around the New York Street area of the park.

The VIP Studio Tour is much different

After lunch, we met up with another VIP group that had departed either 15 minutes before or after us. We then boarded a smaller luxury trolley for the backlot portion of the tour.

The seats are much more comfortable than the regular Studio Tour tram and there was an ice chest filled with cold bottled water. We could also leave our backpacks on the trolley when we got off.

The tour lasts around 90 minutes and covers many of the same areas as the regular Studio Tour but it’s much more comfortable and personalized.

More importantly, you get to get off.

You can walk around the backlot

This is one of the best parts of the VIP Experience.

We got off the trolley and walked around actual sets and even went inside Soundstage 1, though sadly it was empty that day. Our guide told us about some of the shows that have filmed there over the years, including Columbo, The Mindy Project, Desperate Housewives, the Will & Grace reboot and the Ted TV series.

They also demonstrated just how soundproof the soundstage is. Once they shut the huge doors, it became incredibly quiet with virtually no echo. Our guide explained that the walls are designed to absorb sound and are constructed with layers of soundproofing material held in place by chicken wire, along with wood and other materials. I was amazed by how quiet it became as soon as those doors closed.

The last time I did the VIP Experience, we walked around the set of Parenthood, which was really cool. Since Universal is a working studio, what you see will depend on what’s filming while you’re there.

We saw St. Denis Medical

We also saw the exterior used for NBC’s St. Denis Medical.  That’s what I love about the backlot. Even if you’ve been before, there’s usually something different to see because productions are constantly coming and going.

What’s interesting is when you walk through the Emergency doors, there’s nothing else inside. See photo above.

A little bit of New York in Hollywood

We also drove through the area of the backlot that doubles for New York City. We saw the building used in Home Alone 2: Lost in New York where Kevin throws bricks off the roof at Harry and Marv.

They also filmed scenes from The Mindy Project here. What really surprised me was the small, and I mean tiny, park outside that they’ve used to stand in for Central Park.  Our guide explained that directors can make it work by using really tight camera shots. It’s another great example of Hollywood movie magic because when you see it in person, you’d never believe this tiny patch of green could pass for Central Park on TV.

Back to the Future’s Courthouse Square

We also went through the famous Courthouse Square from Back to the Future. It’s been used for many other productions over the years, including To Kill a Mockingbird and more recently Ted. I’ve seen it before but it’s still fun seeing one of Hollywood’s most recognizable sets in person.

Sit on the right side of the trolley

I asked our guide which side was better and someone in the other group asked their guide the same question. Both guides said the right side.

The right side gives you a good view of Jaws, while the left side has the views of a flash flood scene. Obviously, the route and what you see can change depending on production activity but I’d sit on the right side again.

We toured the prop building

One of my favorite stops was a floor of Universal’s prop building. Unfortunately, no photos are allowed inside. The best way to describe it is like a condensed IKEA store filled with furniture and props used for movies and TV shows.

They even had tags showing how much an item costs to rent for a week or buy if a production is going to need it for a long time. I could have spent a lot more time looking around in there. It’s really very interesting.

Even the dumpsters are props

Outside, they had dumpsters that productions can rent. They look old and disgusting but they’re actually clean. That way actors can touch them or lean against them without getting filthy. It’s one of those little behind-the-scenes details you would never think about.

The War of the Worlds plane crash

One part of the Studio Tour I really don’t like is the plane crash set from Steven Spielberg’s 2005 War of the Worlds. Maybe it’s because I’m a travel writer but it’s just too realistic. I had always thought the plane was a former KLM 747 but it turns out it was actually an All Nippon Airways Boeing 747.

The production reportedly bought the retired aircraft for $60,000 and spent another $200,000 transporting it to the Universal backlot before cutting it up to create the crash scene. The set is still there more than 20 years later.

The Secret Life of Pets

After the Studio Tour, we rode The Secret Life of Pets: Off the Leash. It’s a cute ride and perfect for younger kids.

WaterWorld was a huge hit

Before the 2:30 p.m. WaterWorld show, our guide said goodbye to us after escorting us to our reserved seats. The VIP seats are in the last row near the center. They’re regular bench seats with no cushions but the view is great and, just as importantly, you don’t get wet.

The green seats up front are a different story. The people sitting there get soaked. And not just from the jet skiers during the actual show. Before the show starts, the actors do a funny bit where they dump buckets of water on some people and spray others with huge water guns. My son turned to me and said, “The show hasn’t even started and I love it!”

Both of my kids loved WaterWorld and it appeared everyone else did too. The show has jet skis, explosions, stunts, fire and a plane that comes flying into the set. It’s definitely worth seeing even if you’ve never seen the movie.

Wear comfortable shoes

Even though you’re VIP, you’re still going to do a lot of walking. I walked more than 10,000 steps, and my kids more since they have shorter legs. Wear comfortable shoes.

Halloween Horror Nights was starting to take over

We visited in late September so Universal was already set up for Halloween Horror Nights. Around 2 p.m., the early Halloween Horror Nights crowd started coming in and the park got noticeably more crowded and darker. There are some strange characters walking around Universal this time of year and I’m not just talking about the actors!

FYI: Universal’s VIP version of Halloween Horror Nights is called the R.I.P. Tour. Great name.

We left around 4 p.m.

We called it a day around 4 p.m. You don’t have to leave when your guided tour ends. Your VIP pass gives you unlimited Express access for the rest of the day, so you can keep riding until the park closes.

We’d already packed so much into the day that everyone was ready to go home. Valet is a bit of a walk from the park but once we got there, we waited under two minutes for our car.

How much does the VIP Experience cost?

At the time of writing, Universal lists these starting prices:

• 1-Day General Admission: $99.95
• Universal Express: $189.95
• VIP Experience: $359.95

Prices may vary depending on the date and season.

The VIP Experience includes 1-Day Park admission, unlimited Express access to participating rides, attractions and seated shows, the guided VIP tour, special backlot access, lunch and complimentary valet parking.

Universal says children must be at least 5 years old to participate in the VIP Experience and guests must be at least 17 years old to attend without an accompanying adult.

Is the Universal Studios Hollywood VIP Experience worth it?

I asked my kids what they liked best about the day and my daughter said, “Everything!” She’s right. It was all incredible. The VIP Experience really spoils you. It’s kind of like flying first class on a long-haul flight in a lie-flat seat. Once you go up front, it’s difficult to go back to the back.

Unless you have deep pockets, it’s can be expensive. But for a single person, a couple or a special occasion for your family, I think the splurge is totally worth it since you’ll save so much time and get to experience things regular park guests can’t. For us, the special occasion was our son’s 10th birthday and now it’s one he’ll never forget.

And after waiting more than a decade to do the Universal Studios Hollywood VIP Experience again, I’m really glad I waited until the kids were old enough to experience and truly enjoy it with us.