Has anyone done a private VIP tour during Christmas Party?

[anomamatt]

It's a bit crazy, but I am considering a last-minute trip to WDW because things worked out, schedule-wise. I'm familiar with the VIP tours in general, but curious if anyone done a private VIP tour during a Christmas party?

I am curious what "benefits" there are (specific to the party, I know unlimited FP+). I assume VIP seating for the parade(s) and shows, but what about character meets?

 

[mom2rtk]

but what about character meets?

Please don't give them more ideas......

 

[HopperFan]

Please don't give them more ideas......

It's a bit crazy, but I am considering a last-minute trip to WDW because things worked out, schedule-wise. I'm familiar with the VIP tours in general, but curious if anyone done a private VIP tour during a Christmas party?

I am curious what "benefits" there are (specific to the party, I know unlimited FP+). I assume VIP seating for the parade(s) and shows, but what about character meets?

I have no idea and I certainly hope not but ...

Someone yell at me if I got any of this wrong ....

Tours are minimum 7 hours and with peak day should be $600 per hour = $4200

To cover the 7 hours, you would need a day ticket and party ticket

I will throw out there are 4 of you so day tickets $520 and party tickets $400

Total for one day = $5120 without food, and any other travel costs

MVMCP is cute and fun but no way worth anything in the range of that kind of money.

 

[alliecat523]

VIP tours get you to the front of the lines for rides, right? Since lines are so minimal during the parties that wouldn't be worth it.

 

[anomamatt]

I totally understand the sentiments, but we have the money and one of my kids has had a rough year (medically). We've really wanted to do a Christmas party at WDW, but our work schedules couldn't make it happen. But a few things opened up today and we can spend two nights there. To complicate matters, 12/22 is the only (whole) day we can go and MVMCP is sold out (VIP said they can likely take care of that).

I'm guessing no special access to characters since they don't have FP+'s.

But yeah, I know we will spend $10k for two nights (for the four of us) and I understand that is a lot of money, but as I said it's not an issue for us, and I want to end the year on a positive note for my kids.

I know that on paper this will never be "worth it" but just curious what "extras" can be has doing VIP during a party...

 

[outlander]

If VIP said they can get you into the sold out party, you should also inquire about what they will be able to do for you during the party.

 

[anomamatt]

If VIP said they can get you into the sold out party, you should also inquire about what they will be able to do for you during the party.

Well, they are "working on it" and "seeing what can be done". I know this might not be common, but while I am waiting on their call back, I thought I would ask here to see if anyone had experience with it. In my very limited experience calling WDW, they know a lot less about what can and cannot be done compared to posters on this board...

 

[outlander]

I understand. As you said, this is isn't a common scenario but there is quite a bit of experience floating around here!! Hopefully you will get the answers you're looking for and most of all, a great experience for your family!!

 

[hiroMYhero]

Well, they are "working on it" and "seeing what can be done". I know this might not be common, but while I am waiting on their call back, I thought I would ask here to see if anyone had experience with it. In my very limited experience calling WDW, they know a lot less about what can and cannot be done compared to posters on this board...

But when it comes to VIP amenities, it's the VIP Guest Relations guides that can answer your questions.

Will you be allowed to cut in the front of the 7 Dwarfs line that is out in the open for all guests to see? Probably not.

Could you be taken to a backdoor entrance for a character meet and greet where lots of rooms are involved? Most likely but that limits you to Tink, Mickey, and the Princesses.

 

[Karin1984]

I thought I read in reviews that during normal VIP tours only those characters with FP queue can be accessed without wait, all the others you have to wait in the regular queue. Probably for reason mentioned above. I think it was mentioned in a review of someone who compared DL to WDW's vip tour.

I would assume that it's the same during parties. Maybe they can get you some pixie dust.

 

[anomamatt]

So they can get tickets to a sold out MVMCP, so that means this trip is on!

I asked about characters and he wasn't sure. But he said that with a few exceptions (Anna and Elsa he specifically mentioned) that it takes a FP+ line to get special VIP access. But he mentioned that sometimes they "have agreements in place with the parks" to get special access and he didn't know whether that was true for MVMCP.

I'd love to hear from anyone with first-hand experience, if there is anyone?

Thanks for all the thoughts in this thread. As I said in the first post, I know this is crazy, but that's what makes life fun...

 

[hiroMYhero]

Another option is to call Special Events where you can schedule a private meet and greet with the character(s) of your choosing.

You can choose their attire and all characters spend a full 30 minutes with your family. You can even set this up as a private character meal held in a banquet room at a resort.

This would work well if VIP during a party doesn't meet your needs.

*Anna and Elsa do not meet in MK.

 

[anomamatt]

Another option is to call Special Events where you can schedule a private meet and greet with the character(s) of your choosing.

You can choose their attire and all characters spend a full 30 minutes with your family. You can even set this up as a private character meal held in a banquet room at a resort.

That sounds awesome. And must cost some coin.... Are these on the website anywhere or do you have to call?

*Anna and Elsa do not meet in MK.

Right, sorry for my unclear post. The VIP coordinator mentioned Anna and Elsa meet as a case where they don't have FP+, but VIP tours have an "agreement" to get special access. So he said there might be possibilities with MCMVP, but he didn't know for sure.

We have not done a VIP tour, but this is the second one I have booked (the other for our supposedly first trip to WDW in Feb/March -- then I go and buy an AP and off the deep end...) and it's a strange process. It's like you have to know what to ask for. And I'm not good at that... I prefer to know what others have done, to know the scope of what I can do and then ask for that. Otherwise, I feel like I'm trying to push the limits of what is allowed.

I just booked Wilderness Lodge CL, so it's on!!!

 

[hiroMYhero]

That sounds awesome. And must cost some coin.... Are these on the website anywhere or do you have to call?

You would have to call Special Events and they'll put you in contact with the correct department.

A single character is roughly $800 with two characters approximately $1500. A Captain/Coordinator accompanies the characters and ensures everything runs smoothly. Characters have been known to dance with the kids, play hide and seek, read books together, and even color pictures.

 

[anomamatt]

A couple updates in case anyone wonders about this...

We did the VIP tour on 12/22. We first went to EPCOT (for FEA and to meet Anna & Elsa), which is super efficient because we parked backstage by Mexico. I don't think the line was long for Anna & Elsa, but we got 'special' access via the exit. Then we went to MK for the party. We were able to get tickets ahead of time even though it was sold out. We did rides via FP+ queue until ~7pm. We didn't have special seating for the castle lighting (frozen show) or Mickey's Party, but our (awesome) guide helped us with finding good places to watch both. We did have VIP seating for the parade and christmas wishes.

So characters... Because there are no FP+ queues, this was tricky. Basically, the guide will try everything they can to get you access, but nothing is in place or setup. I talked before hand with the coordinator and honestly that wasn't so helpful. We tried to see Merida (before she left at 7pm) and could not even get in the standby line because they had restricted additional people due to the time it was. We went back again and still no go. But we did get "special" access to other characters... when they would leave to "take a break" they would get us on their way back and we got pictures (etc). But it was all dependent on whether the guide could "convince" the handlers to let this happen. And to be honest, my wife and I felt really awkward about it.

I had a list of things I hoped we could do and the guide made sure we did it all. Is it worth it (given the cost)? Of course not. But given that the christmas party was "make or break" for this trip even happening, the price wasn't a concern.

 

[Missyrose]

I'm glad you enjoyed it. I just don't know if I'd enjoy feeling awkward while spending thousands of dollars in the process. But it sounds like a fun party for you!

 

[anomamatt]

I just don't know if I'd enjoy feeling awkward while spending thousands of dollars in the process.

I would totally do another tour (actually doing one in early march) but probably not during a party. For me the awkwardness was two fold: 1. Our guide really had to negotiate with the handlers and when it didn't work (Merida) genuinely seemed upset and 2. Given the characters were in the open (like 7 dwarves), they had to go through a lot of hoops (having them depart the meeting area and picking us up outside the meet area and walking us to the meet.

I had asked when we first met the guide about the dwarves and Zootopia characters and didn't realize how much trouble it was going to be. I told him if it wasn't possible that is fine, but he seemed compelled to make it happen. It took him a lot of negotiation to get the dwarves meet.

I will totally do this again for non party days. This one was a one time special thing...

 

[Nancyg56]

I would totally do another tour (actually doing one in early march) but probably not during a party. For me the awkwardness was two fold: 1. Our guide really had to negotiate with the handlers and when it didn't work (Merida) genuinely seemed upset and 2. Given the characters were in the open (like 7 dwarves), they had to go through a lot of hoops (having them depart the meeting area and picking us up outside the meet area and walking us to the meet.

I had asked when we first met the guide about the dwarves and Zootopia characters and didn't realize how much trouble it was going to be. I told him if it wasn't possible that is fine, but he seemed compelled to make it happen. It took him a lot of negotiation to get the dwarves meet.

I will totally do this again for non party days. This one was a one time special thing...

I'm glad for the update. I think the tour guide felt pressure, even though you reassured him, and that is why there was so much negotiation. Like you, I would have felt very uncomfortable once I saw the trouble that meeting and greeting caused.