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Universal Studios Hollywood VIP Tour Review

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Last month, I was fortunate enough to do the Universal Studios Hollywood VIP Tour when I visited the park for the first time. Given that it’s an expensive day, I thought I would write an overview of the day and a list of pros/cons to help anyone deciding if this tour is worth the high price tag.

Universal Studios Hollywood VIP

Universal Studios Hollywood VIP

Given that I had only one day to experience this park, I decided to splurge and try the VIP tour experience. On the day I took it, a random Tuesday in September, this tour cost $379! Unfortunately, that is one of the cheaper days! Although, that price includes your park ticket, a light breakfast, lunch, and more!

Check-in and Breakfast

When you book this experience online, you don’t receive an email with park tickets. Instead, you check in to the right of the regular park entrance at the VIP entrance. At check-in they give you a special lanyard to wear for the day. Then, you are allowed to head upstairs to the VIP lounge to relax and enjoy a light breakfast. I was impressed with the food spread for the breakfast. I enjoyed a croissant sandwich and a guava cheese pastry with some water. You are free to relax in the lounge until your tour time, however I headed out into the park for the Super Nintendo World Early Access. Then, I returned to the lounge afterwards for my tour.

Park Tour

For my tour, we started with the park portion of the day. Over the course of about 3 hours, we hit all of the major attractions found at the park! The lanyards allow you to skip the ride lines all day long, since it acts as a Universal Express pass. However, the tour guide is able to take you in the back way to some rides and skip even some of those lines! Plus, the tour guide holds all of your bags so you don’t have to deal with lockers! Our tour guide was even able to fit in the Waterworld show for us! I was pleased with how much we were able to accomplish in three hours!

Lunch

About 3 hours after the scheduled tour time is lunch. My tour time was 10:45 AM and my lunch time was 1:40 PM. USH calls it a “gourmet meal” but it’s really an elevated buffet lunch, similar to a nice wedding meal. There were some characters roaming around the dining room. Unfortunately, they all skipped my solo adult table and I didn’t get to see any of them. They mostly focused on the tables with children. I suppose that’s why it’s not advertised as a character meal. The food was pretty good, but nothing stood out as particularly amazing to me personally. Also, there’s only two bathrooms for the whole restaurant. So, don’t wait to use the restroom here.

Studio Tour

After lunch, we had the studio portion of the tour. This was the main reason I booked the Universal Studios Hollywood VIP Tour. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to see the lot where Back to the Future was filmed as it was closed for filming. Some additional areas were closed for Halloween Horror Nights and some of the other areas were closed off for filming and/or refurbishment. I understand that’s the nature of these things, but it was disappointing nonetheless. I enjoyed the brisk walk around the props department.

Pros

  • Skip lines – The longest lines I waited in were for check-in, Early Access entry, and lunch.
  • No lockers – It was so useful to have our tour guide take our stuff before we got on rides and to be waiting outside the ride with our stuff. It was great to not have to deal with lockers.
  • Backstage lot – We got to see where they filmed “The Good Place” and some other places that the regular tram tour doesn’t take you.
  • Tour guide – Navigating a new park can be confusing, so having a knowledgeable tour guide is useful.
  • Includes park admission and Express Pass – On the cheapest days, it’s a little over $100 more than a regular park ticket with Express. So, that probably makes it worth it on those days.

Cons

  • Expensive – $369 is the cheapest this tour gets. Around the holidays, it’s $499!
  • No guarantees – Since Universal can’t predict when something will be filming on the lot, they can’t guarantee which lots you will get to see.
  • Fast paced – I don’t recommend this tour for those who tire quickly. It’s a fast paced day.
  • Not exactly personalized – They try to please a group, so there’s no guarantee will you have time to hit up a certain ride.

Tips

  • Consult park hours – If you want to do both the Early Access Hour and the VIP tour, I recommend booking a tour 30-40 minutes after the park opens. I had a 10:45 tour with a park opening of 10:00 AM. I did the Early Access Hour from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM and then casually walked back up to the upper lot with time to spare for my tour. They ask you to return to the lounge 15 minutes before your tour time.
  • Not ideal for sightseeing or pictures – This was a fast-paced tour. Some people grabbed some Butterbeer and then basically had to chug it. I would suggest taking pictures and being leisurely outside the tour as you should have extra time before/after the tour to explore.
  • Wear comfortable shoes – It’s a lot of walking.

Is the Universal Studios Hollywood VIP Tour worth it?

I think the value of this experience depends heavily on the day you visit and what you value. I think most people will do fine with a regular park ticket and Express Pass. However, it was nice to splurge and enjoy this experience. I don’t know that I would do it again, but it was neat to do once.

Have you ever done it?

2024 Oogie Boogie Bash Review and Guide

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I’ve just returned from a solo trip to California, where I had the pleasure of attending the 2024 Oogie Boogie Bash at Disney’s California Adventure at Disneyland! So, I thought I would do a quick review/guide to the event!

2024 Oogie Boogie Bash

2024 Oogie Boogie Bash

You may recall from my 2023 post on the party or my Disney Halloween Parties compared post that OBB is the separately ticketed Halloween event held at Disneyland. The bash is held at Disney’s California Adventure park. Here’s an overview of what you can expect at the 2024 Oogie Boogie Bash!

Frightfully Fun Parade

I love the Frightfully Fun Parade at this party! In fact, this year it’s the only party exclusive entertainment. The parade is shown twice a night and is worth making the time to see. You can walk up along the parade route up until 15 minutes or so and get an ok view. Personally, I prefer the seated dessert party.

Dessert Party

I wrote a whole separate OBB Dessert Party Review last year. So, I won’t rehash everything here since this year’s was pretty similar. Although, we got a different set of treats! This year, we received a Chocolate Topped Stuffed Vanilla Cake, a Cookies & Cream Tart, a Salted Caramel Macaron, Gummy Candies, a Chocolate Marshmallow Crispy with White Chocolate Drizzle, Patchwork Sugar Cookie, and a Mini Cheesecake with Buttercream. I was surprised to discover that the stuffed cake was filled with an extremely tart lime sauce. It was easily my least favorite treat this year. I really enjoyed the caramel macaron though. The chocolate marshmallow crispy was ok, much better than last year’s cereal treat. The sugar cookie was pretty basic, but ok. The mini cheesecake would have been better with pumpkin or something. Overall, the desserts were just ok. However, I still like the idea of sitting in a chair with a plate of treats to watch the parade. It’s very nice. It’s expensive at $89/person, but very nice after a long day.

Treat Trails

One of the best parts of OBB is the Treat Trails! This year, they replaced Cruella with Hades! They also added Dr. Doofenschmirtz this year, but placed him in the building that used to house the Mickey’s Trick and Treat show. That show is now shown during the regular park day, which is good for regular park guests. However, I was disappointed by the lack of party exclusive entertainment this year.

The types of treats given out this year was a little different that last year as well. Gone are the Sunchips! However, we did receive some blueberry fig bars in their place! I managed to hit up all 12 treat trails this year and received around 4 pounds of goodies!

Villains Grove

I still adore Villains Grove. It’s so neat to walk around and see villain themed areas of the forest. Although, it did appear to be much the same as last year. I still consider it a must do when I attend the event due to the unique nature of the offering.

Character Meets

There were several special characters to meet as this party. However, I think it was mostly the same as last year’s party. I didn’t want to wait in long lines to meet any characters this year, but I appreciate the opportunity to do so.

Is Oogie Boogie Bash worth it?

While I think it’s a fun Halloween party, I’m not sure I will return if they don’t add more or different entertainment. It’s much cheaper and easier for me to attend Mickey’s Not So Scary in Florida, so I will probably return to doing that next year. However, I think this party is worth attending at least once.

Disney Parks Halloween Parties Compared

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The Disney Parks Halloween Parties are very popular on both coasts. So, I thought I would do a post comparing the two options for anyone considering attending one of them.

Disney Parks Halloween Party

Disney Parks Halloween Parties

Both Disneyland and Walt Disney World hold separately ticketed Halloween events every year. I’ve attended the one at Magic Kingdom several times and the one at Disney’s California Adventure once. So, I think I am qualified to discuss the two parties and their differences so you can decide which one is right for you.

Mickey’s Not So Scary

MNSSHP is held every fall at Magic Kingdom at Disney World. Tickets usually go on sale around halfway to Halloween with resort guests getting first dibs on tickets. It starts in early August with parties being held on Tuesdays and Fridays in August. As you get closer to Halloween, they add more nights. So, September has parties on Sundays, Tuesdays, and Fridays. By October, there’s parties on Sundays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays! The party officially kicks-off at 7 PM and ends at midnight, but you can enter the park at 4 PM. The parties have a history of selling out in advance in recent years, but not immediately. If you are looking for some general Mickey’s Not So Scary Tips, check out my guide to it.

Oogie Boogie Bash

Oogie Boogie is held at DCA in the fall. It starts in mid/late August and runs until Halloween. The party begins at 6 PM and runs until 11 PM, but you can enter the park at 3 PM. The party is pretty consistently held on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays for the whole season. Tickets went on sale on June 27, 2024 this year and most dates sold out quickly. However, a few dates remained over the weekend for purchase before selling out. There’s a passholder pre-sale that typically sells out very quickly. Basically, to attend this one, you need to know months in advance and keep an eye on Disneyland’s social media in June/July for ticket sales. You can read my review of the 2023 Oogie Boogie Bash for a deeper dive into what the party entails.

Ticket Differences

Thanks to pent up demand and social media, Oogie Boogie sells out quickly. So, you need to know when you plan to attend by June. Not So Scary doesn’t sell out as quickly, so you have some time to cement your plans before purchasing tickets.

Parties Entertainment Differences

Mickey’s Not So Scary has a good bit more entertainment than Oogie Boogie. Not So Scary has a parade, a stage show, and fireworks! Oogie Boogie just has the parade this year, with the removal of the party exclusive stage show and fireworks being held over in Disneyland park. Although, it also has the party exclusive Villains Grove that is super cool! Admittedly, unless additional entertainment is announced for Oogie Boogie, it appears to be lacking in the entertainment department.

Disney Character Differences

Both parties allow you to meet special characters. So, on the surface that sounds even. However, Oogie Boogie tends to rotate in a few new characters every year. Not So Scary rarely adds many new characters to the party. Additionally, a key difference here is the Treat Trails at Oogie Boogie. Both parties allow you to trick-or-treat regardless of age. However, Oogie Boogie gives you treats and allows you to interact with a villain as you walk by. It’s actually a really neat, unique experience.

Candy Differences

Mickey’s Not So Scary tends to have a good variety of candy available. However, I was surprised by the plethora of other items handed out at Oogie Boogie last year. Candy was handed out, but so were Goldfish treats, baby carrots, and Sunchips! I thought it was a nice change of pace to add some real food to the mix!

Disney Parks Halloween Parties Overall

While they both have characters, entertainment, and trick-or-treating, there are slight differences. It’s hard to say one is better than the other as it depends on what you want to experience at the party. If you want to see a variety of villains, then Oogie Boogie is better. If you like stage shows and fireworks, then Mickey’s Not So Scary is better. Also, I would wager that your distance from the parks is an important factor too.

So, which party do you prefer?

Gatlinburg Rainy Day Ideas

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There’s so much to see and do in the Great Smoky Mountains. In fact, a Gatlinburg rainy day doesn’t have to ruin your vacation plans! Here’s a list of indoor attractions in the area!

Gatlinburg Rainy Day

Gatlinburg Rainy Day Ideas

I know most people think of Dollywood and the National Parks in Gatlinburg when they think of this area. However, there are lots of indoor activities you can participate in if it’s a rainy (or cold) day outdoors! Here’s just a sampling of what you can experience when the weather doesn’t cooperate!

List of Indoor Attractions in the Smoky Mountains

  • Hollywood Star Cars Museum – This one is located right on the main drag of Gatlinburg! It’s filled with lots of famous vehicles from your favorite movies and shows. It’s great for any movie buffs or car enthusiasts. My mom really enjoyed this one. It doesn’t take too long to see everything here. It’s a good time filler for a shorter afternoon shower.
  • Ripley’s Believe It or Not – I’ve not actually visited this location, but I’ve walked by it several times. It appears to be a museum of random weird Ripley’s exhibits. It’s probably good for tweens/teens with a sense of humor.
  • Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies – This aquarium is located near the entrance of the main street in Gatlinburg. My mom and I spent several hours here one time. Unfortunately, things weren’t up and going fully due the pandemic when we went. So, we didn’t do any add on experiences and didn’t stay in one spot too long. It was a nice way to spend an afternoon though.
  • WonderWorks – I’ve not had the pleasure of visiting this place either. However, I can tell you it’s located in an upside down building in Pigeon Forge! It looks like a great place for children to spend several hours learning and having fun!
  • Hollywood Wax Museum – Yet another location in Pigeon Forge that I haven’t been to. There seems to be several options here for entertainment including the wax museum, a 5D experience, and a maze of mirrors.
  • Titanic Museum Attraction – This one is located in Pigeon Forge. I actually covered it several times years ago, including the Titanic Museum Audio Tour Review. It’s a nice experience for any Titanic history buff. They also tend to rotate special exhibits to increase repeat attendance.
  • Go shopping – My mom and I love hitting up the Tanger Outlet mall in Sevierville whenever we are in the area. It is an outdoor mall, but it’s large and the storefronts are covered.

Gatlinburg Indoor Activities

So, there are a few indoor activities you can do on a Gatlinburg rainy day. What is your favorite thing to do when it rains in the Smoky Mountains?

Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party Guide with Tips

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It’s hard to believe but Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party is back in the Magic Kingdom beginning Friday, August 9th! So, I thought I would do a little guide to the event as well as a few tips from my own experiences.

Mickey's Not So Scary

Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party

For those who don’t know, Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party is a separately ticketed event held on select nights at the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World. Unlike at other parks, this party is pretty much the only way to experience Halloween at Walt Disney World. There’s fall decor up all day in the park, but the special entertainment and characters are party exclusives. It’s similar to Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party but for Halloween and with candy instead of cookies!

Trick or Treat

This party is the only way you can trick or treat in the Magic Kingdom! In fact, the young and young at heart are given a bag upon entry to get your fill of candy! It’s so fun to walk down Main Street with a bag of candy while being dressed up. Additionally, this is the only time adults can wear costumes at Disney. Many adults go all out with their costumes. Some people don’t. It’s up to you!

Not So Spooky Spectacular

This is the party exclusive fireworks show! Personally, I consider this is a must-see experience of the party. Usually, you can even book a fireworks dessert party to beat the crowds. I booked a dessert party at the Tomorrowland Terrace back in 2019 on a solo trip. I really enjoyed having a place to sit and desserts to nibble on. However, I will caution people that the view from the Terrace isn’t good for viewing the projections or any extra stage characters. 😉

Mickey’s Boo-to-You Parade

This party exclusive parade is my other can’t miss event at the party. My husband and I really like seeing the gravediggers since they drag their shovels across the ground and emit sparks. It’s a really cute parade that everyone should see at least once. They haven’t made many changes to it over the years, but they do sometimes rotate in different characters. Plus, the music is so darn catchy! The good news is that this parade happens twice a night. So, you have two chances to catch it.

Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular!

This is a party exclusive castle stage show. I’ve seen it a few times and it’s cute. However, the show hasn’t changed since it was first introduced. So, I tend to prioritize getting candy, seeing special characters, or riding rides. If it’s your first time attending or you are a huge Hocus Pocus fan, then you should make time to see it. It’s usually shown several times during the party and I recommend looking over the times guide if this is important to you.

See Special Characters

Around the park, you will be able to see special party exclusive characters as well as more regular characters in their Halloween costumes! I loved meeting Winnie the Pooh and Friends in their costumes back in 2019. In 2016, I met Donald and Daisy in their costumes. I enjoyed meeting Elvis Stitch in 2019 since I was wearing a Lilo dress. There’s even a very popular Jack and Sally meet and greet during this party! However, the wait for them is typically pretty long.

Mickey’s Not So Scary Tips

  • Purchase tickets in advance – The parties tend to sell out weeks in advance. If you wait until the day of the party, you will probably be out of luck. So, buy tickets as soon as you know when you are going.
  • Eat early – You can enter the park as early as 4 PM even though the party doesn’t begin until 7. Typically, I use this time to eat dinner. Although, in the future I may delay heading over to the crowded park and grab dinner at a monorail resort prior to the party.
  • Stake out a spot for the parade early – Unfortunately, there’s not a seated option for the parade unlike at the Oogie Boogie Bash Dessert Party. So, you will have to stake out a spot for the parade in advance. I recommend at least half an hour in advance, if not an hour. Lots of people have advised that the second parade is less crowded, but I’m not sure that’s true anymore. Either way, you will need to stake out a spot in advance.
  • Enjoy some treats – There’s plenty of free candy to be had. However, they also sell party exclusive foods too. So, be sure to save some room for those!
  • Have a rough plan – Consult the park’s schedule and party map ahead of time. Have a list of must-do’s and tackle those first. Then, do the nice to-do’s.
  • Trick or treat later in the night – Maybe get some early in the party to snack on while waiting for the parade, but save the rest for later in the night. This way, you won’t get tired carrying around a bag full of candy.
  • Be prepared for the heat – It’s probably going to be hot. So, drink lots of water and wear a light costume. I say skip the heavy face makeup and wigs/hats.

It’s really not so scary…

Have you ever attended this party? What are your must-do’s or tips?