Disneyland Adventure vs Disneyland with VIP tour

[Salf777]

So I have never been to Disneyland and think I may just go once so I want to really experience it. I was looking at booking own my own for me and my wife staying at the Grand California, park hopper and a VIP tour guide for a day at Disneyland and a day at California Adventure.
Then I saw this Adventures by Disney trip and while it’s not a private adventure it seems very reasonable for what you get. Anyone have any insight here as I have never been?
From what I am reading the Adventures by Disney trip gives you VIP access plus meals and some others experiences. Is it a good way to see Disneyland for the first time?

 

[Karin1984]

I dont know if I would do it for a first visit, but I do think the value is higher with Adventures By Disney and you get experiences a VIP tour doesnt get you. I would read some reviews in this section on ABD and in the Disneyland section on the VIP tours, quite a lot of people have done VIP tours lately.

 

[sayhello]

The ABD and it's VIP access focuses a lot on Walt Disney the man, the Walt Disney company, and behind the magic/scenes, historical and other aspects of Disneyland and California Adventure. Plus, the regular ABD (not the Escape, which currently has no departures on the schedule) also spends time in Hollywood, and at Walt Disney Studios (and possibly Imagineering again at some point - that's not clear). So if your goal is to see and do as much as possible at both Parks, the ABD is probably not what you are looking for. It's not necessarily the best way to get the full Disneyland/California Adventure experience for a first timer. That said, most Disney fans really love the ABD. It's a very unique experience.

Sayhello

 

[Mathmagicland]

Not sure when you are planning to go to Disneyland. If you decide to go on your own, you might want to inquire whether the Walk in Walt’s Footsteps tour will be available. It has not been offered again yet since the pandemic reopening, but we are starting to see more things available here in CA so who knows.

It is approx 3-4 hours and covers a lot of Walt & the history of Disneyland, with ride access (not behind the scenes) to a couple of attractions. I’ve not yet done the SoCal Disneyland AbD so can’t compare the two, but as @sayhello noted the AbD does give you a lot more of Walt info. They haven’t offered the DCA equivalent in many years (I don’t think it was as popular or well-known), which is too bad as it was a very interesting tour about how Walt ended up and got started in California.

https://disneyland.disney.go.com/events-tours/disneyland/walk-in-walts-disneyland-footsteps/

 

[Steven G]

VIP Tour: 7 hours (or more) on one day (you could do multiple days). You can customize what you see and go to. You do not go backstage. You do not see anything special that a normal guest wouldn't see. You get special seating for parades and nightime specatculars (fireworks, fantasmic, etc.). For a LL attraction, you would go through the LL line like a normal guest, but you don't need to book the LL. For a non-LL attraction, the VIP guide will direct you to skip most of the line. Note that not all non-LL attractions are included, but most are. Generally about $4000-$6000 for 7 hours, not including tip. Focuses on the two parks (Disneyland and DCA). You still need to buy your hotel stay, the actual disneyland tickets, food, etc.

ABD trip: Everything is taken care of for you over multiple days. There are parts of the trip where you are not in the parks (Hollywood, Archives, etc.) There is no customization, except when you are on your own time (i.e. Disney/your guides decide where you will go). You do go backstage multiple times. You do see things a normal guest would never see. You get special seating for the parades and nightime stuff, but you go with the group. Your guide has similar abilities to let you enter a LL line or skip a line as a VIP tour guide. You will get extra LL passes that you can use during "on your own" time, which should allow you to use them at any time for that day. Many of the meals are part of the trip.


I would say that an ABD trip is more for someone who wants to learn more about Walt Disney, his life, and the parks, then someone who wants to see everything at the park.