Los Angeles
Hollywood
Universal Studios Theme Park
VIP Tour
Oct. 31, 2022
Universal Studios Part 1
Universal Studios Part 2
Description & Accessibility
Universal studios is a combination movie sets and theme park with amusement rides. As you enter the front of universal there are shops and a movie theater
The above link is an overview of the park, there are 2 options when it comes to a Studio tour, the basic tour which is included with your park admission and what they call the ‘VIP experience’ tour.
The above link is the basic studio tour and
This link is to the VIP experience.
Parts of the tour is big on theatrics, special effects, and design to put you in the middle of the movie scene. Like in the middle of King Kong in 3D fighting off dinosaurs, going by Bates hotel where the tour vehicle stops and a man comes out of the motel carrying a body, he puts it in the trunk and then picks up a knife in the car and slowly walks with a large knife over to the tour vehicle and the tour vehicle pulls away as the man gets very close , he follows the tour vehicle around the side of the motel until it is out of sight. What a job that is all he does all day is repeat that sequence for every tour vehicle that comes by.
I never took the basic studio tour so I do not know all the differences between the tours, but the basic tour take you thru the drama effects on putting you into the movie scene, I do not know if you get out of the vehicle to tour certain sections of the lot or not. The VIP tour does get you off the tour vehicle in spots and you tour the props warehouse which I do not believe is included in the basic tour.
The VIP tour is a full day tour and takes to parts that the basic tour simply does not or have time for but of course costs a lot more to take, the VIP experience includes lunch, and front of the line admission to ride attractions.
If you are short on cash then the basic tour will likely do, if you can afford it then consider the VIP experience tour. The first part of the tour you go in a tour vehicle getting off in certain locations, then you leave the tour vehicle and go on foot, certain ride attractions the tour guide will escort to the front of the line (however there is a entrance gate at every attraction that can be used only if you process a front of the line pass which includes your VIP tour ID). You go up a very long set of escalators to the upper lot where you will have lunch before walking to further ride attractions.
Accessibility:
For the VIP experience tour – If you have a scooter or power wheelchair you cannot take them on the tour vehicles, there vehicles are not equipped for roll on, however if you can manage getting into and out of the tour vehicle they will exchange your wheelchair for a manual foldable wheelchair to use on the tour, which means a traveling companion may be needed to push you in the foldable wheelchair. There is a fully accessible transport vehicle to get you from the lower lot to the upper lot, unfortunately you still have the foldable loaner with you at that point but when you arrive at the lunch location someone will bring your scooter or power wheelchair to you at that point and they will take the foldable away from you, the remainder of the tour is on foot or in your electric wheelchair or scooter. The other problem is the it is hard to keep track of the guide you are following when in a powered scooter or wheelchair in a crowded area. If only their tour vehicles could have roll on capabilities then it would be far better and fully accessible. The theme park itself is accessible but amusement rides can vary see…
this gives you information for people with disabilities.
In my opinion it is nice to see the extras included in the VIP experience, but once you get back from the core of the tour you can really just as easy go on your own to the shows & attractions, but that is all included until a certain point when the guide leaves you and you are ultimately at that point on your own anyway.
The basic tour would likely have the same issues in regards to accessibility. You should enquire in advance regarding tour accessibility practically if taking the VIP experience tour so they are aware before you arrive.
By: Donald Kerr