Unlock the Magic: Elevate Your Theme Park Experience with a VIP Tour Guide at Disneyland and Universal Studios Hollywood!

If you’ve worked with me before or at least been following this blog for more than a few weeks, you will know that theme parks aren’t really my jam.  We used to take our twins to Disneyland or Disney World just about every year when they were younger and back then I really enjoyed it, but as I’ve gotten older, I’ve started to prefer a different kind of crowd, one at museums and attractions in Europe instead of a crowded theme park. However, now that the kids have their OWN kids, we decided that giving them a trip for Christmas instead of more stuff would help us create memories together that we want so much.  Guess where they chose to go (and why I hired my assistant, Premiere Luxury Travel’s resident Disney and Universal expert) to design the trip?

Well, this week we experienced a theme park in a much different way, and I’ll never be able to do it the traditional way again, and if you’re planning a visit to the magical worlds of Disneyland or the thrilling attractions at Universal Studios Hollywood, pay close attention! While these iconic theme parks promise memorable experiences, the long queues and crowded spaces can sometimes dampen the fun. Luckily, there’s a solution that can transform your visit into an unforgettable adventure: hiring a VIP tour guide. This week, we’ll explore the advantages of having a knowledgeable guide by your side, allowing you to skip lines and maximize your day while ensuring it’s a worthwhile investment.

Skip the Lines and Optimize Your Time

One of the most significant advantages of hiring a VIP tour guide at Disneyland and Universal Studios Hollywood is bypassing the long lines. These parks are immensely popular and attract millions of visitors yearly, resulting in substantial wait times for popular attractions. However, with a VIP guide, you can access a world of expedited queues, enabling you to enjoy more rides and experiences throughout the day. By skipping lines, you save time and avoid the frustration and fatigue often associated with waiting a long time for the rides.

Expert Knowledge and Insider Tips

VIP tour guides are seasoned professionals who understand the parks’ layout, attractions, and hidden gems. They can provide valuable insights, trivia, and anecdotes, enhancing your overall experience. Their insider knowledge helps you navigate the parks efficiently, maximizing your time and seeing all must-see attractions. From choosing the best routes to recommending lesser-known shows or dining options, to arranging character meet and greets at JUST the right time, your VIP guide will curate a personalized itinerary tailored to your interests. By sharing insider secrets about creating iconic rides and unraveling the hidden meanings in the park’s design, their expertise enhances your understanding and appreciation of these immersive worlds.

Personalized Itineraries Tailored to Your Interests 

One of the significant advantages of hiring a VIP tour guide is having a customized itinerary curated to your preferences. Whether you’re a thrill-seeker, a fan of classic Disney tales, or interested in movie-making magic, your guide will customize the experience to match your interests. They can recommend attractions, shows, and dining options that align with your tastes, ensuring a truly immersive and tailored visit.

Creating Lasting Memories Makes A Worthwhile Investment 

While hiring a VIP tour guide may come at an additional cost, it is undeniably worthwhile if it fits within your budget. The time saved by skipping lines and the enhanced experience through expert guidance and insider tips can elevate your visit to Disneyland or Universal Studios Hollywood, creating lasting memories you and your family will cherish.

The Bottom Line

To sum up our personal experience, below is a summary of my pros and cons for each experience:

Universal Studios Hollywood VIP Experience

PROS

• Park ticket is included
• They feed you light breakfast bites in a separate VIP area before your tour begins
• They feed you a nice buffet lunch in a separate VIP area mid-tour for a nice, refreshing break in the day
• Insider Access during parts of the studio tour that are off-limits to the general public (we saw studio space, Europe Streets, and the prop house)
• You get to use your express pass for the rest of the day after your tour is over
• Nintendo World normally requires reservations to enter since it’s so new (they were sold out by 10am that day), but we just walked right up.  Super Mario Bowser’s Challenge ride had a 2-hour wait in the standby line, but we only waited 15-20 minutes (they took us through the back door)
• Complimentary valet parking

CONS

• Shared tour is only $369-489/pp for 6 hours depending on which day you choose (the higher price is for peak days), but you have to share it with other people (up to 12 people max in a group). Private tours start at $2225 for up to 4 people with $399/pp for each additional person (up to 12 ppl).  On the private tour, there is no studio tour
• No character meet and greets
• No shopping during the tour
• No pre-planned day
• Minimum age is 5 years old for shared tour (no minimum for private tour)

Disneyland VIP Experience

PROS

• Ability to skip the line for attractions like Mad Tea Party teacups, DUMBO and Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree, that don’t have a lightning lane skip-the-line option. 
• Coordination of special experiences like princess or Avenger characters meet and greets without having to wait in line or try to figure out on our own where the characters would be available to meet in the parks.
• Concierge service for things like grabbing mobile order food for us so we didn’t have to wait in line, securing a table at a quick service location while we watched a show nearby, or coordinating a stroller pick up for us in the middle of the park day. 
• VIP seating for parades and Nighttime entertainment 
• Seamless park experience without the hassle of coordinating your day on your own or needing to figure out an attraction strategy for your park day.
• Very knowledgeable and engaging guides make the tour experience fun!
• Well planned day/customized to our wishes
• The group could split up and ride the rides everyone wanted to
• We got to ride LOTS of rides
• Food allergies are well-accommodated at Disney parks in general, and there were lots of healthy snack options
• Our special needs granddaughter was well-accommodated
• DAS pass option (for people with disabilities) – ask us how to get one if someone in your party has a disability

CONS

• If you don’t want to wait in long lines, you don’t need to book a VIP Tour to do this.  You can also skip several lines by adding Genie+ to your ticket for about $25/per person per day. You can also pay extra to skip lines for some of the newer attractions like Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance or Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway by buying an individual lightning lane pass.
• During the tour, you still need to wait in lines for any attractions that have a lightning lane entrance, which still could mean a 15-20 min wait (being on the tour doesn’t eliminate waits completely).
• You still need to purchase a park ticket for every person that is in your party and on the tour.
• The premium VIP Tour starts at $500 per hour and can go up to $700 per hour depending on the time of year. You have to book a minimum of 7 hours so this price could be cost prohibited for some families.
• Once your tour is over, your carriage turns into a pumpkin and you’ll have to go back to waiting in the standby lines again (couldn’t resist that little Disney reference!)

Want your own Elevated experience? Reach out HERE to get started!