Considering a VIP guide just before Christmas

[EllinK]

My 12 yr old son and I went to WDW for the first time last Aug. Fun but hot and tiring. I could never get him to the parks at night because he just wanted to be in the pool. This year, we have a Dec trip planned (17-22) and my DH will be joining us. But, we are very crowd avoidant (which is why we went in late Aug last year).

So, we are considering a VIP guide. I know Disney guides are $600/hr and non CM are less. Please weight in on your experiences with each.

For this trip, we would really like to concentrate on WDW at night -- especially parades and fireworks. We will be booking the guide for late afternoon or early evening (and then for 6 hrs).

We are newbies, so anyone who has done this -- how did you orchestrate moving from one fireworks display in Epcot to one at the MK? WAs there enough time to see both? And what else should we include -- parade at MK? Anything at HS? Water pageant?

Thanks for your help!

 

[winterwhite]

They actually aren't always $600 per hour, though they likely are at that time of year. We paid $400 per hour in a low season recently.

The private tours include backstage private transport. We were picked up from backstage and driven to the other park, again backstage. The transfer time was minutes compared to taking transport or even a cab.

However, I didn't really try to do fireworks viewing. I would assume that they can get you a premium location (at the MK I think it is the train platform) but I don't know that for sure.

We found it to be a good deal overall. I hate crowds and waiting in line and trying to book fastpasses - I took a friend and her two kids with me. Our guide was funny and she took on a lot of the job of entertaining the kids so we could kind of be adults. It was nice and overall I think it is one of the better deals that Disney offers if you don't mind the price.

 

[soniam]

I would only use an official guide from WDW. I don't know how the other guys get their fastpasses. Their abilities could easily disappear. There's a guy who wrote a review of the VIP tour. If you search you can probably find it. He did it over last xmas. Good luck. I recommend reading The Ride Delegate: Memoir of a a Walt Disney World Tour Guide by Annie Salisbury. It has lots of great insight about what the VIP guides can do and what you should ask them to do upfront.

 

[EllinK]

It was nice and overall I think it is one of the better deals that Disney offers if you don't mind the price.

Good to know! And we will also be staying at YC for this trip.
Anyone who can advise about these night time events? They would specifically be our focus.

 

[EllinK]

There's a guy who wrote a review of the VIP tour. If you search you can probably find it. He did it over last xmas.

I will do some more searching but haven't found much. If you happen to have a link, that would be great. Thanks!

 

[Enna]

We had a 7 hour VIP tour on Saturday afternoon/evening of Thanksgiving weekend last year. There wasn't really a good VIP area for Osborne lights, but there was special seating for MSEP and options for watching Wishes! The backstage transportation alone was a life (and leg!) saver!

 

[EllinK]

Good to know!

I would love more info about scheduling -- can you see all the fireworks and the parade without bending the time space continuum?

 

[winterwhite]

Good to know!

I would love more info about scheduling -- can you see all the fireworks and the parade without bending the time space continuum?

You would not be able to see MSEP and illuminations unless there is a second MSEP on the day you choose.

Similarly you could not overlap Fantasmic and illuminations, or the SW fireworks with Wishes, because they occur at the same time. You would need two dates to make this happen and I can't help but think that $4000 could be better spent elsewhere than just watching fireworks shows.

The value in the tours is really the transport, and the unlimited fastpass. If you're not using it for that, you are reducing the value a fair bit, at least in my opinion. It's not like they can give you a private showing of the fireworks or parades - you will still be in with the masses.

 

[EllinK]

It looks like in Dec (at least last year) there was a 10 PM MSEP and 11 Wishes. Can anyone confirm?
That way we could do Fantasmic at 7, Illuminations at 9, MSEP at 10 and Wishes at 11.
When (and where) are SW fireworks?

 

[ellie05]

We were there that time last year. I personally think you are going to waste your money hiring a guide. Buy some WDW guide books instead. A good touring plan is what you need.

 

[EllinK]

We were there that time last year. I personally think you are going to waste your money hiring a guide.

Good to know that you didn't find the crowds too overwhelming. I think for the rides a touring plan is great but not sure that will help much with parades and fireworks KWIM?

 

[DisneyWishes14]

Star Wars fireworks are currently at DHS. There is also a nighttime show coming to AK.

Just an FYI, there is now a 7 hour minimum for the tours, pricing ranging from $2800 - $4200 depending on season. For your travel dates, I would be looking at the higher end of that range.

Is it possible to get all of those shows in? Possibly. I think the only way to get a real answer is to call the VIP guide office. They will be able to let you know if this is doable. To get from EP Illuminations at 9 pm to MSEP at 10 pm will be quite a feat as Illuminations will end around 9:15 pm and then you have to walk out of EP, drive to MK, park and get to the VIP area for MSEP/Wishes. Yes, you park backstage, but it's not as if you park, open a door and you are right where you want to be.

We've done the VIP tour and it was fantastic, but we used it to park hop and hit major rides. With your dates of Dec. 17 - Dec. 22, why not consider booking the Wishes dessert party, Fantasmic dining package and any other nighttime dessert parties/dining packages that are available during that travel period? You can even get FP+ for Fantasmic and Illuminations (and most likely the new AK show.) With the dessert parties, you get a designated viewing area that has a capped number, so you aren't fighting crowds for spots. You could do one per night and not have to rush around to see everything in one night.

I don't have personal experience with hiring the VIP guide just for nighttime shows, but I'm going to wager a bet there is no way you can see all the nighttime shows in all 4 parks in one night.

 

[Nancyg56]

I agree with the above posters. The evening shows all have special events you can purchase tht give you decent viewing along with food. I am not suggesting that you skip the guide, but that you use a VIP tour to gain you better access to the attractions and to allow you to hear any information and insights the guide can provide. I would not pay that kind of money so we all could sit and watch shows and parades and fireworks. You can do that by booking packages.

 

[VillainFavs]

So you're basically looking to spend $4,000 for fireworks? I mean I love the Disney night time shows, too, but that's a whole other vacation!

Why is it a must that you see them all in one night?

 

[ArwenMarie]

Maybe that's what she wants to do!

 

[winterwhite]

To get from EP Illuminations at 9 pm to MSEP at 10 pm will be quite a feat as Illuminations will end around 9:15 pm and then you have to walk out of EP, drive to MK, park and get to the VIP area for MSEP/Wishes.

We did not have to walk out of EP on our tour. We were picked up backstage and dropped off right near whatever ride or area we wanted. I imagine you could be picked up from backstage in whatever country you were closest to and brought right to backstage main Street quickly.

I don't think you can do all four parks but it didn't take us more than 20 minutes to move between any of them on our VIP tour. Of course, I wanted to walk as little as possible. You can do more if you want to see more of the parks.

 

[rwdavis2]

Good to know!

I would love more info about scheduling -- can you see all the fireworks and the parade without bending the time space continuum?

Not likely. Try looking taking a look at park hours for May or June (google it) and see the scheduled times for these attractions. Many of them occur at the same time or close to each other so there may not be time go from park to park and see them all.

 

[21stamps]

If you find out more info please update!

I've read general information online, we are also going in December, and I would be interested in a guide for Epcot and HS. I can't find if this exists or if you have to do all of the parks.

I don't care about using a vip tour for fireworks, mainly for rides and meet and greets (Star Wars specifically).

It looks like there is also a less expensive version that focuses on the ride attractions.

Anyone know if there is an Epcot package that would benefit for Holidays around the World?

 

[21stamps]

We had a 7 hour VIP tour on Saturday afternoon/evening of Thanksgiving weekend last year. There wasn't really a good VIP area for Osborne lights, but there was special seating for MSEP and options for watching Wishes! The backstage transportation alone was a life (and leg!) saver!

Did you do all 4 parks or could you only do 2 if requested?

 

[JaxDad]

I will do some more searching but haven't found much. If you happen to have a link, that would be great. Thanks!

There is a little box at the top right of your screen with the word "Search..." Click there and type "VIP." I would suggest selecting "Search titles only." Click "Search." You will get pages of other threads.