Last Updated June 2026

Planning one day at Universal Studios Hollywood? This guide covers exactly how my party experienced the VIP Experience – from where we stayed to what we ate, the attractions we visited, and whether the extra cost was worth it.

Why My Party Chose the VIP Experience

Since my party only had one full day to experience Universal Studios Hollywood, we wanted the most efficient way to see everything the park had to offer.

The VIP Experience includes front-of-the-line access to attractions, an exclusive behind-the-scenes Studio Tour, breakfast, Unlimited Express access after the guided portion of the day, complimentary valet parking, and other exclusive perks. Although it costs considerably more than a standard ticket, my family wanted to find out if the Hollywood VIP experience matched up with the Orlando experience.

VIP Experience Price(Spring break time): $450 per person

Where My Family Stayed

The night before our park day, my family stayed at the InterContinental Los Angeles Downtown in a 2 Queen City View room

Located about 20-30 minutes from Universal Studios Hollywood, the hotel offered incredible skyline views, modern rooms, and convenient highway access. It was a nice place to stay before an exciting day at the park

Room: 2 Queen City View

Price: $499 per night

Driving to Universal Studios Hollywood

• We recommend arriving around 10:00 a.m. for a 10:45 a.m. tour starting tour, giving your party enough time to valet, walk through CityWalk, and check in before the VIP Experience begins
• One of the nice perks of the VIP Experience is complimentary valet parking, which is included with your ticket and makes arriving at the park quick and convenient

Parking Cost: Included with the VIP Experience

VIP Check -In & Breakfast Lounge

After checking in, my family entered the exclusive VIP Lounge before the tour began.

• A complimentary breakfast was included, featuring pastries, fruit, coffee, juice, and other light breakfast options. It was a relaxing way to start the day before entering the park. You might even catch Dracula during your meal time.
• The lounge also provided comfortable seating private restrooms, and a much quieter atmosphere than the main entrance.

Meeting Our Tour Guide

Once everyone in our group arrived, we met our VIP guide for the day

• Our guide explained the schedule, answered questions, and led our party throughout the park while sharing behind-the-scenes stories, movie trivia, and interesting facts about Universal Studios Hollywood
• One of the biggest advantages was not having to worry about planning the day ourselves

Attractions Our Party Experienced

Throughout the day, our group enjoyed many of Universal’s most popular attractions with little to no waiting.

Our itinerary included attractions such as:

• Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey
• Flight of the Hippogriff
• Jurassic World
• Transformers: The Ride 3D
• Revenge of the Mummy
• The Simpsons Ride
• Secret Life of Pets
• Despicable Me Minion Mayhem
• Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge
• Fast & Furious

The Exclusive VIP Studio Tour

The highlight of the day for my party was the exclusive VIP Studio Tour

Unlike the standard Studio Tour, our group was able to visit exclusive backlot some of which are inaccessible on the regular tour

Depending on filming schedules, VIP guests may see:

• Historic movie sets
• Sound stages
• Prop storage areas
• Famous filming locations
• Production facilities

For my family, this was one of the most memorable parts of the entire experience.

Where my Family Ate

Breakfast

• Breakfast was included in the VIP Lounge before our tour began. It was a convenient way to start the day without needing to purchase food inside the park.

Lunch

• Lunch was included with the VIP experience at the Margaritaville Hollywood on Universal CityWalk. Offering a large menu with burgers, seafood, sandwiches, and tropical drinks in a lively atmosphere.

The Rest of Our Day

After the guided tour concluded, my party used the included Unlimited Express access to revisit our favorite attractions.

This gave our family plenty of time to:

• Ride favorites again
• Explore CityWalk
• Shop for souvenirs
• Take photos
• Enjoy the atmosphere without rushing

Dinner

• We did not eat food in the park because we were tired and headed back to our hotel, valet parking made leaving very easy

Tips for Your Visit

• My party recommends arriving around 10:00 a.m. for a 10:45 a.m. tour start
• Wear comfortable walking shoes.
• Bring a portable charger.
• Save shopping until after the tour.
• Stay in the park after the guided tour to make the most of Unlimited Express.
• Take advantage of the included breakfast and lunch.
• If you’re driving, remember that valet parking is included with the VIP Experience, which saves both time and parking fees.

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Final Verdict

If your party only has one day to experience Universal Studios Hollywood, the VIP Experience is one of the easiest ways to see nearly everything the park has to offer.

Although $450 per person is a premium price, the combination of shorter wait times, exclusive behind-the-scenes access, complimentary valet parking, included meals, and a well-organized schedule made it well worth it for my family.

Overall Ratings

⭐ Overall Experience: ★★★★★
🎬 Studio Tour: ★★★★★
⏱️ Time Saved: ★★★★★
🍽️ Food: ★★★★☆
💰 Value: ★★★★★

Would my family do it again? Absolutely.