2011 Holiday Tour. Who has booked and when?

[merrrydeath]

Meredith, they told me I'd need to pick up my ticket from the Will Call at Guest Services.....so I'm assuming that's City Hall???

Or the one outside the park gates by lost and found, I suppose. We'll be staying at the Grand. I wonder if they can arrange for us to have them there. I'll have to ask when I book our tour.

 

[rentayenta]

My son just told me he wants to do the tour now.

 

[ktkerber]

Disney vacation planning booked our tour and they said we would get the tickets & itinerary when we check in to our hotel. Same with the Fantasmic dessert. They didn't say anything about will call or picking the tickets up anywhere else.

 

[rentayenta]

Tonight they told me to check in at the tour window near City Hall. Gave me a confirmation number and told me to bring that, my ID, and my DVC membership card as we used that discount.

 

[8timesblessed]

After reading this thread I think this is something we should do! DH and I get to go with no kids Dec 8-12 and we just returned from WDW from a 2wk trip in October with all the kids so I needed a break and I can't wait to see Disney Christmas and experience everything with no kids. Now to talk DH into it! Love all the photos. We are DVC members and have the Disney visa so a discount makes it worth it I think!

 

[kirstie101]

Can anyone tell me how long the tour lasts? On a Saturday, 12/17, what times will be offered?
Thanks!

 

[nicolispicoli]

Can anyone tell me how long the tour lasts? On a Saturday, 12/17, what times will be offered?
Thanks!

The tour is 2.5 hours. On the 17th there will be two times since there are two parades. I know that it's 3:00 which ends with the 5:30 parade, but I am not too sure about the earlier tour. The first parade is at 2:30, so I would assume 12:00, but I'll let someone correct me if I am wrong.

 

[Mineu]

I'm trying to convince my teenagers that this is a "must do"...I know one of the questions will be what do we actually "do" during the tour-will we ride the Haunted Mansion & Small World during the tour or is that at our own time later? Any suggestions on how to convince my group-greatly appreciated

 

[DizMe]

I'm trying to convince my teenagers that this is a "must do"...I know one of the questions will be what do we actually "do" during the tour-will we ride the Haunted Mansion & Small World during the tour or is that at our own time later? Any suggestions on how to convince my group-greatly appreciated

There is some variability to the tour depending on crowd size, tour group size, and other unpredictable things. You do get to ride HMH and IASWH--those are givens, barring some break-down of the ride. Sometimes you also ride the train from HMH over to IASW area. You have headsets that play Christmas music and project the voice of your tour guide. The tour guide gives you lots of information about holiday traditions, DLR holiday trivia, including how many lights are on the castle, how many people it takes to put up the decorations, etc. You start on Main St and listen to the guide and the music as you make your way toward the hub. At the Candy Palace, you get to stop and are given a sample or two of fudge. Your guide will usually have your group sing carols and holler out to other tour groups. You will see areas around the castle, Frontierland, NOS, and ToonTown. After you ride IASWH, you go over to Toon Town and get a big keepsake travel mug of cocoa and a Mickey gingerbread cookie with chocolate ears. Then you stroll over to the parade area where there are a couple of rows of padded chairs waiting for you to sit and watch the parade with an awesome view, no wait and no holding a spot. You'll often get high-fives and waves from the characters in the parade. One year we also got a fastpass for a few rides. At the end of the parade, the tour guide gives you a keepsake pin. It's a lot of fun! Teenagers are sometimes finicky creatures, though, so it's hard to say whether yours will agree with you that it was a must-do. If you go on a crowded day, it feels awesome to have everyone stare at you as you casually take your front-row seat that has been reserved for you for the parade, and walk right up to the front of the line to get on IASWH and HMH (and the train, if time permits). If you do the later tour, it begins to get dark and the tour suddenly begins to take on a whole new look. Lots of times, people will sort of gawk at your group, trying to figure out what you're doing and why everyone is having so much fun.

 

[Mineu]

Thanks for the quick response! I am completely sold! I think they will like the ability to bypass crowds for the rides and the reserved seats for the parade if nothing else. Of course, the cookie will go along way with my DH. Thank you again for filling in the details-I am really looking forward to this

 

[rentayenta]

I'm trying to convince my teenagers that this is a "must do"...I know one of the questions will be what do we actually "do" during the tour-will we ride the Haunted Mansion & Small World during the tour or is that at our own time later? Any suggestions on how to convince my group-greatly appreciated

My son is going with me. DH and our girls are heading to DCA to ride ToT and Screamin' over and over and over, both of which DS and I can ride ride once a trip and be fine. Maybe you guys could split for the tour?

 

[rentayenta]

There is some variability to the tour depending on crowd size, tour group size, and other unpredictable things. You do get to ride HMH and IASWH--those are givens, barring some break-down of the ride. Sometimes you also ride the train from HMH over to IASW area. You have headsets that play Christmas music and project the voice of your tour guide. The tour guide gives you lots of information about holiday traditions, DLR holiday trivia, including how many lights are on the castle, how many people it takes to put up the decorations, etc. You start on Main St and listen to the guide and the music as you make your way toward the hub. At the Candy Palace, you get to stop and are given a sample or two of fudge. Your guide will usually have your group sing carols and holler out to other tour groups. You will see areas around the castle, Frontierland, NOS, and ToonTown. After you ride IASWH, you go over to Toon Town and get a big keepsake travel mug of cocoa and a Mickey gingerbread cookie with chocolate ears. Then you stroll over to the parade area where there are a couple of rows of padded chairs waiting for you to sit and watch the parade with an awesome view, no wait and no holding a spot. You'll often get high-fives and waves from the characters in the parade. One year we also got a fastpass for a few rides. At the end of the parade, the tour guide gives you a keepsake pin. It's a lot of fun! Teenagers are sometimes finicky creatures, though, so it's hard to say whether yours will agree with you that it was a must-do. If you go on a crowded day, it feels awesome to have everyone stare at you as you casually take your front-row seat that has been reserved for you for the parade, and walk right up to the front of the line to get on IASWH and HMH (and the train, if time permits). If you do the later tour, it begins to get dark and the tour suddenly begins to take on a whole new look. Lots of times, people will sort of gawk at your group, trying to figure out what you're doing and why everyone is having so much fun.

I am so so so so happy that DS decided to do the tour with me.

 

[8timesblessed]

I booked today for December 9th at 3pm for my husband and I. It's his birthday that day so I hope he enjoys MY plan! LOL

 

[areweindisneyyet]

I am so so so so happy that DS decided to do the tour with me.

LIKE

When have you booked so I can add you back to the list?

 

[areweindisneyyet]

I booked today for December 9th at 3pm for my husband and I. It's his birthday that day so I hope he enjoys MY plan! LOL

What a wonderful way to spend a birthday. I hope you and your husband have a wonderful time.

Mia

 

[aidensmom31]

21 days till I can book. Being patient is hard

 

[rentayenta]

LIKE

When have you booked so I can add you back to the list?

Nov 29!

 

[areweindisneyyet]

Nov 29!

Back on the list... I am so happy for you.

 

[hellotoyou]

I do have another question ... is it customary to tip your Disney "tour" host?

 

[DizMe]

I do have another question ... is it customary to tip your Disney "tour" host?

Nope! Tipping is not allowed or accepted. Technically, Disney employees are not supposed to be tipped at all (and this includes maid service) but that is overlooked. Definitely no tipping tour guides, though!