I’ve learned to manage my expectations at theme parks. With motion sickness, you get used to watching from the sidelines. Universal Orlando, specifically, a private VIP Tour, changed that. If you haven’t gone down the YouTube rabbit hole on the Universal Orlando VIP Tour, consider this your inside look. I suffer from intense motion sickness, so my biggest question going in was simple: would there be enough for me to enjoy and would a private VIP tour actually be worth it?
What is a Universal Orlando VIP Tour?*
Imagine, for a day, having the red carpet rolled out for you, with front-of-the-line access to any ride, exclusive behind-the-scenes entry, and a guide who knows every hidden detail of the park. Picture sipping a Butterbeer they’ve picked up for you, learning the history as you go, and being let in on the Easter eggs most visitors miss. It’s a fully curated day at your favourite theme park.
Universal Orlando has two VIP options:
VIP Experience: Join a VIP Experience tour group for VIP priority access that offers front-of-the-line access to amazing attractions as our guide shows you around Universal Studios Florida, Universal Islands of Adventure and/or Universal Epic Universe. [From their website.] There are options ranging from one park to two. It includes: “(4) hour tour of EITHER Universal Studios Florida OR Universal Islands of Adventure OR Universal Epic Universe theme park”. There is also a 7-hour option which includes breakfast or lunch.
Private VIP Experience: It’s just you and your party. Treat your private group to exclusive VIP extras with an itinerary you customize. Enjoy unparalleled access to rides, attractions and shows, plus mouthwatering meals and much more. [From their website.]
DIVINE Tip: If you have the means to do either experience, plan ahead. The Private Tour is expensive, so you need a clear sense of your ideal day. If you’re a Harry Potter fan, know which rides are priorities and which you’re happy to skip. You’ll get far more out of the experience that way. You can’t fully customize, but you can absolutely make requests.
The Beginning of the Universal Orlando VIP Tour and the Fun Extras
Todd, our VIP Guide, met us and we got our VIP lanyards. It does make you feel special. He asked what we wanted to see that day and delivered all day long. I won’t share all of the details, especially the fun insights that he gives you about the parks. VIP guides are well-trained in the history of the park and the Universal eco-system, so you will get some great insider information that you can share the next time you are there with family or friends.
We also went “behind the scenes” several times, sometimes as a shortcut, sometimes for insider context. At one point, we even went underneath a ride. Photos aren’t allowed, and for good reason. There’s always someone who thinks the rules don’t apply to them. They do. Don’t be that person.
Finally, we also had the chance to taste the famous Butterbeer at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Todd recommended the frozen version, and if your VIP Guide gives you advice, take it. It’s very sweet, but really good. It tastes like butterscotch shortbread in a drink form. If that’s something that you like, it’s worth a try, especially if you are a Harry Potter fan.
DIVINE Tip: Your VIP experience is one of those rare times to be fully present. For many, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime day. Take it in. Listen. You can post later. And remember, you have limited time. Save shopping for after the tour.
The Motion Sickness Guide to Universal Orlando
For anyone who, like me, has ever stood at the entrance of a ride wondering if this is the one that ruins the afternoon — here’s your cheat sheet. We rode twelve attractions in total, and I’ve broken them down so you know exactly what to expect.
| Ride | Park | Motion Sickness Safe? | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts | Universal Studios Florida | ⚠️ Not recommended | Ask your guide to walk you through the queue. Todd did this for me and the Gringotts banking hall with its working animatronic elves is extraordinary and worth seeing even if you skip the ride. |
| Hogwarts Express | Islands of Adventure | ✅ Yes | The best way to travel between Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade. Board at Track 9¾, spot Hedwig keeping watch, and watch the countryside roll by with a few magical surprises. Don’t skip this one. |
| Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey | Islands of Adventure | ⚠️ Not recommended | The ultimate attraction for Potter fans and a genuine disappointment to miss. Known to cause motion sickness even in people who don’t usually suffer from it. |
| Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure | Islands of Adventure | ⚠️ Not recommended | Considered one of the best roller coasters at any park. Motion sickness sufferers will have to take everyone else’s word for it. |
| Jurassic World VelociCoaster | Islands of Adventure | ⚠️ Not recommended | Four inversions. Need I say more? Coaster fans – put this on your must-do list. |
| Jurassic Park River Adventure | Islands of Adventure | ⚠️ Depends | Features an 85-foot drop. May be tolerable for those sensitive to spinning/inversions but fine with drops. Not for me. |
| The High in the Sky Seuss Trolley Train Ride! | Islands of Adventure | ✅ Yes | A genuine delight. Family-friendly, imaginative, and offers a wonderful bird’s-eye view of Seuss Landing. It broke the ice for our group. Once I asked to go on it, everyone was excited. |
| Skull Island: Reign of Kong | Islands of Adventure | ✅ Yes | One of my favourite rides of the day. Think the Studio Tour tram experience at Universal Hollywood, but the extended, fully immersive version. May be intense for small children, but for adults it’s a thrill without the queasiness. |
| E.T. Adventure | Universal Studios Florida | ✅ Yes | Pure magic. If you grew up in the eighties or love the film, this is unmissable. One of the few classic dark rides without motion simulation at Universal Studios Florida. |
| Revenge of the Mummy | Universal Studios Florida | ⚠️ Not recommended | A full thrill ride. Everyone in our group who went on it loved it. |
| Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon | Universal Studios Florida | ⚠️ Not recommended | Motion simulator. I sat this one out. The Tonight Show memorabilia in the waiting area gave me something to enjoy in the meantime. |
| Po Live! | DreamWorks Land | ✅ Yes | An interactive show and an absolute must for families. Smart, funny, and genuinely enjoyable for all ages. Don’t skip it. |
DIVINE Tip: If you’re prone to motion sickness, do your research ahead of time. If you don’t want to read multiple blogs, there are YouTube videos. Another easy way is to visit Universal Orlando’s website under attractions. If the attraction is labelled a thrill ride and/or motion simulator, it likely will cause some degree of queasiness. Your VIP guide can also provide some context. For example, Skull Island: Reign of Kong is labelled as a thrill ride and a motion simulator, but I was fine on it.
What’s New
Universal Epic Universe opened in May 2025. The new park includes How To Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk, SUPER NINTENDO WORLD, Dark Universe, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter — Ministry of Magic, and Celestial Park. Orlando’s major resort parks are constantly changing which means that you can potentially enjoy a new experience every time that you go.
Is it Worth It?
The first question is simple: can you afford it? If yes, it’s absolutely worth it, especially if you only have one day. There is a lot to do in Orlando, and the big parks like Universal and rival, Walt Disney World, are the size of cities. If you are only in the area for a few days, the VIP Tour is a way to cover a lot of ground and get the most out of your visit.
If you are like me, and suffer from motion sickness, it gives you a way to enjoy the park by taking you behind the scenes, seeing those Easter eggs, getting a real sense of what rides you can enjoy, and getting to the front of them. I would never have experienced some of Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts if Todd hadn’t suggested it. We also learned so much just walking through the Hollywood, New York, and San Francisco areas of Universal Studios. It’s a lot of fun. Take your photo with Jaws, stroll down Hollywood Blvd., or wander through the streets of New York, all without leaving Florida.
You still have to plan your ideal day. You can enjoy up to two parks during your VIP experience. If you can only choose one, I highly recommend Universal Islands of Adventure. The rides with the longest wait times will be part of that area, including the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Seuss Landing is also part of the Islands of Adventure, so there is something for everyone.
I get to enjoy some amazing experiences, which I never take for granted, but this was one of the most memorable days I’ve had. Was there enough for me to enjoy? I got my answer somewhere around the third behind-the-scenes moment, when I realized I hadn’t once felt like I was missing out. That, more than any ride, is worth the price of admission.
*Hosted for review purposes, but opinions are my own.
