So for the people who have visited Paisley Park and have done both tours. Do you miss out a lot not doing Ultimate? Is Ultimate worth it? What is your feeling about the whole thing in general?? I think those prices are pretty steep and the fact that you can't cancel and can't transfer really is fucked up and almost doesn't make me want to go. Also the no photo thing is kinda annoying. I visited Graceland and you could take photos to your heart's desire. I visited Neverland and there were no photos allowed, but Michael was still living there. I don't get why there are no pics allowed at PP. That said, I waited too long to get a ticket and Ultimate on the day I can go is sold out. Typical. In a way I'm pissed, as I'm feeling I'm only doing this once and would like the get the most of it, in another I'm glad, because I think the whole thing is way overpriced. What was your experience like?

I haven't been since it became a museum, but I think if you're going to take the time and effort to visit, you may as well get the best ticket they're offering, and see everything you can.

When I did the tour, the guide said the "no photos" rule was to comply with Prince's wishes.

We took the Ultimate VIP and for a three-hour tour. Wear comfy shoes, those floors are hard.
You can now take photos of dsisplays in the soundstage but not elsewhere.
Prince's rules were primarily to avoid snapshots of him that he could not control.

I've done both and I think the difference is on the Ultimate Tour you get to go in the control rooms of Studios B and C and VIP you don't. On VIP you can see the control rooms through glass. They take a picture of you in Studio B on both VIP and Ultimate. You can take your own pictures in the Soundstage and NPG Club room. When I did the Ultimate Tour they had one of Prince's guitars you could hold. Not sure if they still do that. Now that I think about it, I think you do get to go into Studio C for a singing thing on the Ultimate and "select" VIP Tours on Thursdays.

When I did the VIP tour, I got to sit at his piano while they took a photo of me.

RJOrion said:

170.00 for the Ultimate is not alot of money at all...its well worth it

To walk through a building?? I think it kinda is.

lurker316 said:

When I did the tour, the guide said the "no photos" rule was to comply with Prince's wishes.

Duh. Yeah. It sill sucks though. Especially since now it's basically a museum.

motherfunka said:

I've done both and I think the difference is on the Ultimate Tour you get to go in the control rooms of Studios B and C and VIP you don't. On VIP you can see the control rooms through glass. They take a picture of you in Studio B on both VIP and Ultimate. You can take your own pictures in the Soundstage and NPG Club room. When I did the Ultimate Tour they had one of Prince's guitars you could hold. Not sure if they still do that. Now that I think about it, I think you do get to go into Studio C for a singing thing on the Ultimate and "select" VIP Tours on Thursdays.

Oh, okay. So you actually get to see the extra room, but just can't go inside? Yeah, I suck at singing, so I don't need that. So on the VIP tour you didn't feel like you missed out too much? They say though they also show video footage which they don't show on VIP. Is that rare stuff? And what about the audio playback session?

laytonian said:

Prince's rules were primarily to avoid snapshots of him that he could not control.

You'd think they could lift that ban now.

leecaldon said:

I haven't been since it became a museum, but I think if you're going to take the time and effort to visit, you may as well get the best ticket they're offering, and see everything you can.

Yeah. That was my thought too, but since it was sold out (of course when I first was looking into it some weeks ago, the one day I could go was the only sold out day and the second day I'm in Minneapolis, the whole place is closed. That's in the last week of May. In June they are open on that day. ), I got the VIP tour. Kinda wondering if I should e-mail them and beg them if I could get an upgrade for Ultimate if someone drops out, though I guess they don't give a shit.

PatrickS77 said:

PJMcGee said:

PatrickS77 said:

To walk through a building?? I think it kinda is.

Agree. Ghost of Prince sings a song? Then it's a bargain.

Yeah. Then I won't complain. But how big are the chances?

PJMcGee said:

Well, Prince is magic.

Yeah. I guess. If anyone can, it's him.

PatrickS77 said:

motherfunka said:

I've done both and I think the difference is on the Ultimate Tour you get to go in the control rooms of Studios B and C and VIP you don't. On VIP you can see the control rooms through glass. They take a picture of you in Studio B on both VIP and Ultimate. You can take your own pictures in the Soundstage and NPG Club room. When I did the Ultimate Tour they had one of Prince's guitars you could hold. Not sure if they still do that. Now that I think about it, I think you do get to go into Studio C for a singing thing on the Ultimate and "select" VIP Tours on Thursdays.

Oh, okay. So you actually get to see the extra room, but just can't go inside? Yeah, I suck at singing, so I don't need that. So on the VIP tour you didn't feel like you missed out too much? They say though they also show video footage which they don't show on VIP. Is that rare stuff? And what about the audio playback session?

It's been a few years since I did the VIP, but they did take you to the video editing bay on VIP and that's where they show the video footage. They have shown some stuff that is unreleased, but it's never more than a few minutes of it. The audio playback was just them playing some of the isolated tracks on a song you would probably know, nothing major.

You are going to all the same rooms on the VIP vs Ultimate, just Ultimate is spending a little more time in each. So, you wouldn't miss much if you stuck with VIP.

PatrickS77 said:

RJOrion said:

170.00 for the Ultimate is not alot of money at all...its well worth it

To walk through a building?? I think it kinda is.

You're not paying to walk through a building. You're paying for a curated experience. There's a big difference.

.

That's like saying you're paying for a theatre ticket to sit in a seat.

I wonder if you can feel his energy in Paisley.

leecaldon said:

paisleyparkgirl said:

PatrickS77 said:

Graceland and you could take photos to your heart's desire. I visited Neverland and there were no photos allowed, but Michael was still living there. I don't get why there are no pics allowed at PP.

I thought you could take pictures near that giant picture of Prince (the one with the fro). I've seen many of them online.

PJMcGee said:

motherfunka said:

PatrickS77 said:

Oh, okay. So you actually get to see the extra room, but just can't go inside? Yeah, I suck at singing, so I don't need that. So on the VIP tour you didn't feel like you missed out too much? They say though they also show video footage which they don't show on VIP. Is that rare stuff? And what about the audio playback session?

It's been a few years since I did the VIP, but they did take you to the video editing bay on VIP and that's where they show the video footage. They have shown some stuff that is unreleased, but it's never more than a few minutes of it. The audio playback was just them playing some of the isolated tracks on a song you would probably know, nothing major.

You are going to all the same rooms on the VIP vs Ultimate, just Ultimate is spending a little more time in each. So, you wouldn't miss much if you stuck with VIP.

Yeah. That's what I want to hear.

leecaldon said:

PatrickS77 said:

To walk through a building?? I think it kinda is.

You're not paying to walk through a building. You're paying for a curated experience. There's a big difference.

.

That's like saying you're paying for a theatre ticket to sit in a seat.

You're kinda doing the same at Graceland, but the tours are longer and cheaper. And having a guy walk 25 or whatever people through a building is not really the same as putting on a theater play, is it.

RJOrion said:

leecaldon said:

You're not paying to walk through a building. You're paying for a curated experience. There's a big difference.

.

That's like saying you're paying for a theatre ticket to sit in a seat.

Exactly...but the broke and bitter people, who have nothing to be grateful for, will complain about everything...ive been multiple times and ive NEVER heard anyone who's done the Ultimate Experience tour complain about the price...its only the people who cant/wont afford it, that are complaining about the price...bless their hearts.

Oh, yeah. And then there are the fools who feel high and mighty paying too much on stuff, thinking their arrogance is a good look on them. Well, it isn't. But bless their hearts too, they don't know any better.

paisleyparkgirl said:

PatrickS77 said:

Graceland and you could take photos to your heart's desire. I visited Neverland and there were no photos allowed, but Michael was still living there. I don't get why there are no pics allowed at PP.

I thought you could take pictures near that giant picture of Prince (the one with the fro). I've seen many of them online.

Yay. 1 picture.

PatrickS77 said:

PJMcGee said:

Aaaand he doubles down on the arrogance. Good job.

Yeah. Comical, isn't it?