Has anyone don't the holiday tour at Disneyland?

[LivingforDisney]

Hi, I am in two minds whether to book this next month for our visit in December.
I have found a couple of reviews and it seems good, but $280 US for 4!
You get a tour, some fast passes and reserved seating for the Xmas parade and hot chocolate, cookie and a a pin.
Just wondering if any of you guys have done it.
We only have 3 full days for DL/DCA, arriving 16th Dec.
Oops , just realised should say done, not dont

 

[Bluesteyzz]

I haven't done the Holiday Tour ....yet, but I think I will book that tour as well. ANY Disney Park tour is worth the money, whether at Disneyland, Walt Disney World, etc. I'm am going on a Disney Cruise soon and if they have a tour of the ship, I will be the first to sign up. The tours are so educational and fun. You will be escorted by a Disney Park VIP guide who holds the magic key to places that are not available to the General Public. As an example, we went on the Walk In Walt's Footsteps tour back in 2010 and then again in 2015. In 2010 our Guide took us into the Club 33 lobby. This year she took us into the Dream Suite! Imagine my elation!! Plus, your VIP guide gets you on certain rides that are part of the tour using his/her magical and unlimited "Go To The Head of the Line" Ticket (which is better than a FastPass). I know during the tour we took, it also included a very nice lunch and a wonderful souvenir keepsake pin. The holiday tour comes only once a year. I would totally do it, especially if it gets you VIP seating to the fireworks. Us Anaheim Locals can spend hours sitting in front of the Castle saving seats for fireworks (on New Year's Eve we start saving our spot at Park opening and sit there until midnight!) Some nights after all of that waiting, it is too windy and they cannot do the fireworks show. I AM going to book this tour right after I get home from Halloween Aboard the High Seas! PS, here in Anaheim we refer to the Disney Park VIP Guides as "Plaids," because that is what they wear. The Plaids are the ones who escort all of the celebrities around the Disney Parks so if you see one, be sure to see who they are escorting! Feel like a Star and be escorted by a Plaid yourself! Have a Magical time!!

 

[AussieCaribou]

We did the tour three years ago. It was well worth the money (as all Disney tours are). I did it because we had limited time and it was the first time that my daughter (a HUGE Nightmare before Christmas fan) would be in Disneyland when Haunted Mansion Holiday was open. So, I bit the bullet and paid the price. We had a BLAST! Get ready to learn to say merry Christmas in a lot of languages (and be prepared to use them to out do the other tour group...it gets very competitive!) Also, singing Christmas carols. Sadly for us, the parade was cancelled due to rain (so we saw the cavalcade) but even with that, the immediate access to the holiday attractions, the explanation of decorations, the fun times, and the food made it all well worth the price. Just one mum's perspective...but we enjoyed it.

 

[LivingforDisney]

Ok thanks for that.
What's the cavalcade?

 

[AussieCaribou]

If the parade doesn't run due to rain, they will bring some of the characters out in the covered Main St vehicles (like the bus). They wave at you and you wave back. I guess its done so the littlies can still see the characters in their winter bests.

 

[jacs1234]

My mum and I did the tour and it was lovely. I really enjoyed it. How old are the kids? I don't think I'd take my kids on it just because of who they are and they probably wouldn't appreciate. But I'm glad I did the tour. We also got rained out for the parade Maybe we were on the same tour Aussie Caribou lol We also did the discover the magic tour with the kids and that was awesome.

 

[LivingforDisney]

Thanks Jacs, kids will be 17 & 14.
The 14 year old has said no, and I am a bit worried about rain.
I think we will just stake out a spot for the parade on our first park now day now and not bother with it.

 

[AussieCaribou]

My mum and I did the tour and it was lovely. I really enjoyed it. How old are the kids? I don't think I'd take my kids on it just because of who they are and they probably wouldn't appreciate. But I'm glad I did the tour. We also got rained out for the parade Maybe we were on the same tour Aussie Caribou lol We also did the discover the magic tour with the kids and that was awesome.

Perhaps we were! Lol. My then 11 year old said it was the best hot chocolate she's ever had (and has compared everything else since to it - lol). I think she thinks that that has made up for the parade. Heehee

 

[jacs1234]

Perhaps we were! Lol. My then 11 year old said it was the best hot chocolate she's ever had (and has compared everything else since to it - lol). I think she thinks that that has made up for the parade. Heehee

It was a good hot chocolate, but my 15 year old claims that the best hot chocolate EVER comes from Trader Sams terrace lol

 

[aussiegirls]

We've done it 3 times. Worth every single cent!!!!

 

[LivingforDisney]

Aussiegirls, did you book it when it first became available? I think it says 60 days out.
My main concern is it rains and the parade is cancelled, awful lot of money if it it, just to see a few things.
I will call them when it's available and see if cancelling is a option closer to the date, if I pre book

 

[aussiegirls]

Yes, I booked straight away. They tend to fill up very quickly. To be honest, the thought of it raining had never occurred to me. It has never rained on us when we have done it. I highly doubt they would give you a refund if you chose not to do it because of the rain

The only time I ever got a refund in Disneyland was once when we had booked fantasmic dessert seating (which sadly they don't do anymore) and it was raining so hard that they cancelled fantasmic. Even then they only gave us a refund after management had made a final decision to cancel fantasmic. If we had just decided we didn't want to sit in the rain and watch wee wouldn't have got a refund.

To be honest though. I do love the parade but it's like 10% of the awesomeness of the tour. It goes for hours and takes you everywhere and you learn so much, get to ride rides and eat yummy treats. The parade is awesome as a wind down afterwards but I'd still do the tour even if the parade wasn't a part of it.

Good luck and if you have any questions about it just ask. Holiday parade is my fave thing!!!