Visiting theme parks isn’t inexpensive. In fact, it’s downright expensive. What should be a day of fun in the sun for families, friends and couples is more of a stressful and expensive occasion more than anything else. Most parks now cost around $100 per ticket and require you to stand in long lines for short rides on hot, busy days. It’s driving more and more people to take the simple – but even more expensive – way out; VIP tours. Almost all theme parks offer a VIP tour package to guests now. See which one suits your travel needs.
Walt Disney World Resort
If you’re in the market for an Orlando vacation that includes a visit to Disney, you’re going to want to book a VIP package. Of course, it could cost you thousands of dollars. To begin with, the tour itself starts at $275 per hour and increases based on the number of people in your group. You still have to purchase tickets to the park on top of that, and you have to pay for a minimum of six hours. Your tour does get you to the front of lines and it does include prime seating at the Disney restaurant of your choice. However, you will then spend about $75 per person (minimum) at dinner. Essentially, the VIP tour is nothing more than a very expensive fast pass. You also get VIP seating along the parade route and parade cast members give you their undivided attention. For a family of four, the minimum cost of a VIP package to Disney runs upward of $2000 per day.
Universal Studios
In contrast to Disney’s VIP ticket, the Universal Studios VIP ticket seems downright cheap. However, it’s still one of the most expensive VIP tickets in the theme park world. This VIP ticket costs $299 and includes a VIP lunch, access to the front of all lines, backstage passes to see the sets up close and personal, valet parking, and a little survival kit with water and breath mints.
Other theme parks offer VIP packages as well, but none quite so expensive as these two. Of course, Disney is the most expensive because it’s the most elaborate and popular theme park in the world, but Universal’s is a bit more affordable considering it entails pretty much the same benefits.
(Photo by Matt Stroshane/Disney via Getty Images)
