RDR 494: VIP Battle: Disney vs Universal — Which Is Worth the Price?
Rope Drop Radio: A Disney Travel Podcast
Rope Drop Entertainment
5 • 707 Ratings
🗓️ 31 October 2025
⏱️ 47 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Thinking about booking a VIP tour at Disney or Universal? Doug and Lauren break down the differences, costs, perks, and insider secrets to help you decide which is worth the splurge!
VIP Battle: Disney vs Universal — Which Is Worth the Price?
This week on Rope Drop Radio, Doug and Lauren go full VIP as they compare the Disney vs. Universal VIP experiences. With Lauren fresh off a Universal VIP tour, the duo dives into what each park offers — from pricing, perks, and park access to food, guides, and how far that "front of the line" privilege really gets you.
They'll also share firsthand stories, surprising differences between the two resorts, and who each experience is actually best for. Whether you're thinking about going big on your next Orlando vacation or just curious what it's really like to tour like a celebrity, this episode has you covered.
✨ In This Episode:
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Universal VIP options (shared vs. private) and what you actually get 🎢
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Disney VIP tour cost breakdown and what's not included 👀
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What surprised Lauren most about Universal's VIP experience 🏆
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Honest comparison: which resort delivers the better VIP day 💰
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Bonus: tips for dining and hotel experiences that pair perfectly with a tour 🍽️
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Transcript
Click on a timestamp to play from that location
| 0:00.0 | The good tour guides can kind of, they know when in the tour you were going to want something and they usually have a planned. |
| 0:06.3 | Right. They ask you before you get on like dinosaur, right? Like what do you guys want? And then you get off dinosaur and they're like, poof. |
| 0:15.1 | It's awesome. It's not always dinosaur. I'm just, that was an example. But it's like, here is your Mickey ice cream |
| 0:21.4 | sandwich. Yes. Yeah. We want to give a big thank you to our sponsor, Turin and Cruises. |
| 0:27.6 | Here's something you might not know. Booking with a travel advisor doesn't cost you anything. |
| 0:32.9 | Disney pays them after you travel. You'll pay the same price you see online, but Turin and Cruises |
| 0:38.4 | adds an enhanced level of service. Their expert advisors watch for discounts and apply them |
| 0:43.3 | automatically even after you book. And it's not just Disney, they can help with cruises, |
| 0:49.0 | universal, and all kinds of vacations. Whether you want help planning at all, or just someone in |
| 0:53.9 | your corner, if |
| 0:54.9 | plans change, they're here to help. And yes, they'll wait on hold with Disney four hours, |
| 1:00.9 | so you don't have to. So when you're ready to plan your next trip, head to truing and cruises.com |
| 1:06.8 | and tell them RopeDrop Radio sent you. Now, let's Rope Drop. |
| 1:11.8 | Helping you navigate the Disney Parks. |
| 1:14.3 | With the hope that it will be a source of joy and inspiration to all the world. |
| 1:18.9 | You're listening to Rope Drop Radio. |
| 1:23.8 | Welcome to another Rope Drop Radio. |
| 1:26.4 | I am Doug McKnight here with Lauren Shields. |
| 1:28.6 | And Lauren, you just got back from a trip. |
| 1:32.4 | I did. |
| 1:33.1 | It was an epic trip, if you will. |
| 1:35.9 | An epic VIP trip too. |
... |
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