Hello! I trust this forum for sensible advice so here I go…
I am an L.A. local but treating some AZ friends to a trip to USH in September. I’m not extremely familiar with USH but have visited before.
Any advice about hotels? It will just be a room for 4 - 2 adults, 2 teens. They want to share.
Also any tips about the VIP tour. I went during Fan Fest but wonder if there are best practices on picking time of day, if you can request specific guides, etc.
No interest in HHN this year so that is something I don’t have to consider.
Thank you for reading!
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Calling @Jeff_AZ and @darkmite2 for assistance 
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I have done the group VIP tour. What do you want to know?
We did every single ride or continuous show (Panda) attraction except for the spinning Dumbo style ride in Despicable Me area (which we rode afterwards to knock em all out). But I will say there was a rushed feel to it all and we did not always get the best seats. But the best part was the nice bus for the backlot tour and the ability to get out and walk around in sets both indoors and out. That was really neat and worth it. You get the bus on the RIP tours too. Much nicer than the normal backlot tour tram. Much more comfortable and they have water bottles on board. I really like VIP tours in Hollywood better than Orlando because I like the checkin area with the snacks and drinks better than the buffet thing in Orlando and then you get the mid-tour buffet meal often with roaming characters of some sort. (I’ve also done the RIP Tour so maybe that’s where the characters were but I think both of them had some). What we didn’t do was Waterworld, Ollivanders, or any street shows/character meets. *I’ve also seen famous people in the buffet area on private VIP tours! I respected them though and didn’t ask for photos or autographs. But still a neat thing! **Oh yeah, your VIP lanyard becomes an express pass once the tour is over and you can reride everything as much as you want. Time of day matters not for what you pick except for that you can spend more time reriding or seeing the shows you missed after should you choose an earlier time but on the other hand, for me, one of the benefits of doing these tours is I can sleep in and still see it all so I tend to personally choose a later time for that reason.
I have also stayed in one of the partner hotels (Hilton) that’s within a mile. It was fine. I generally don’t do that because Universal Hollywood is such a one day activity it’s not really necessary but I did it once when the next day we were flying out of Long Beach as my aunt’s house in Laguna Niguel was so much further from LGB than Universal so we just added the one night.
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I have never stayed at the “onsite” hotel (which I can’t remember what it is called - I think it is a Hilton?) but I would recommend that if your primary focus is USH. They have a shuttle that takes you to the park that seems very convenient.
I have never done a VIP tour but they are a pretty good value for those who can afford it! I almost sprang for one last time and kind of wish I had.
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Yes, I am sure you can do this for a private VIP tour, I’d bet it’s much harder on a group VIP tour tho and you’re never guaranteed your request. I have requested a guide before at Disneyland and did not get them as they weren’t working that day.
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I ended up using points to get the Hilton for low cost so I went with that. It seems fine. My points at the closest hotel to the park (Sheraton/Bonvoy/Marriott) did not get me very far!
I was thinking it would be best to go to the first tour of the day so the time afterwards can be spent doing any attractions that aren’t covered by the tour. But GingerSnaps comment that the tour will allow a later start is an excellent point. I have to consider this because there will be teens present!
Any opinions on whether I should get the early morning Nintendo pass or would that be covered in the tour? It’s only one ride. If we are there for one day should someone get a powerup band?
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You will definitely ride Mario Kart with the tour and I did not elect for the Nintendo pass consequently but we did not spend time doing the power up bands. When I went there was no Express Pass for Mario Kart I believe but now there is and your lanyard is an express pass so I’m not sure if you can get back in or not later in the day without a return time given that you have XP after the tour. I’ll leave that answer to someone who has been more recently. I went last year. I do have powerup bands and we used them in Japan, they are fun. *I really like the Universal interactivity stuff like these bands and the wands. To be fair, I like that stuff in WDW too like the Pirates game and DuckTales, I’ve completed them both as a 40+ something with my 40+ DH and we really enjoy this kind of stuff. My teens were less enthralled (They are now 18 and 21). They prefer thrill rides to scavenger hunts but sometimes when we do the scavenger hunts they give away that “this isn’t cool” thing with a smile on their face or a determination to find the next prize. I think deep down they like it too but it’s just not as cool as a roller coaster! LOL
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Looks like you are good with either an express pass or VIP tour and don’t need the early entry pass if you have that: " Alternatively, they can purchase an early entry ticket, Universal Express pass, or VIP experience ticket for guaranteed or expedited access."
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Thank you this is so helpful! I am not exactly sure how “cool” these kids are nowadays so I will have to feel it out and research more on the powerup bands. I love the scavenger hunt type activities too but I am letting my guests be in charge.
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