help with welcome to DL tour

[princess lovers mom]

Ok starting th plan the what we are doing when part of our trip- need some help with details...

planning the "welcome to Disneyland tour" - say you get PS for a meal - can it be that night - do you tell them when and where or do they tell you choices? also says special seating for parade - can you say which one and which time or do they? and WHERE is the special seating?

thanks

 

[QueenDoOver]

I did this tour.

They seem to be flexible about the priority seating provided there is space available. You are going at a busy time of year, so there may not be as much flexibility. I would be inclined to make sure that I had all my PS reservations made as soon as possible, and then take advantage of that opportunity if I change my mind, or want to add one. That way, if they can't get something you really want, it won't be so dissapointing.


Parade seating: For Disneyland, it is the Mainstreet Railway platform. (I have sat here and it is great viewing. For DCA, it is in front of Playhouse Disney. Also good, just not as necessary, as it seems pretty easy to grab a spot for that parade at the last minute.

You also can choose Aladdin, but all the seats at Aladdin are great, so I wouldn't worry about that.

My vote is for Disneyland ( I assume they will have the "real" parade running?)

 

[princess lovers mom]

so I can pick which parade we see? and I can choose Aladin if I want instead?

we are also doing the Holiday Tour the next day and will have parade seating for that so think perhaps aladin might be better bet?

thanks

 

[QueenDoOver]

Oh Yes! And I believe the parade seating for the holiday parade is located near Small World as I recall? I could be wrong, but have heard it is really a great way to see the parade with hot chocolate and cookie in hand. Sounds wonderful!

 

[princess lovers mom]

thanks

 

[princess lovers mom]

do you remember what 3 rides you got to do?

 

[QueenDoOver]

I remember that we didn't use any of them!

I went on the tour at Halloween time, so DCA closed early.

They gave us Soarin, but it wasn't good until like 6:00, Buzz Light Year was around 6:30, and then I don't remember the 3rd one.

I do remember thinking this is stupid, and didn't fit in with our plans for the rest of the day at all, since we were all tired after the tour and needed lunch and then nap.

That being said, our tour guide was awesome, and I think if I would have looked at the passes before we left, she or someone in the tour center would have exchanged them for us. Some folks have reported getting passes that are good for any ride (fastpass ride) at any time the rest of that day. Not what we got.

But we had smallish, cranky kids and were really done by the end of the tour, and grabbed our stuff and jetted.

 

[princess lovers mom]

what rides did you go on as part of the tour - it says you go on 3 rides? not the fast passes after..

 

[Alinasan]

I've been trying to research this tour as well, but I don't have personal experience with it. Still, from all the comments and trip reports that I've read, it sounds like it just doesn't seem to have a consistent route/perks as the other tours do.

A lot will depend on how many people are in the group, how crowded the park is, and the guide you draw. I've seen people mention Jungle Cruise, Soarin', and Tower of Terror, but then I've noticed some mention other rides as well. One person said the guide asked them what they wanted to see, another said the guide didn't ask, and just followed a pre-set route with no expedited entries onto rides or anything, just walked them around to use fast pass machines. Another said it was like a private tour, they got on the Lilly Belle, got 4 bonus fast passes and lots of Disney magic. Some said they were told they had to choose a parade or show in DCA.

So I wish I'd bookmarked all the posts as I went along, so you could see the original posts that I'm basing my opinion on. But I just kept searching phrases and reading, trying to get a sense of what the Tour really is.

I'm quite on the fence about the Welcome Tour versus the Holiday one. I like knowing what I'm going to get, but DH likes the idea of not spending quite so much money as the Holiday Tour . A lot of people seem to say since it is the least expensive tour, it is worth the gamble.

I'd be eager to hear any other experiences too, especially recent ones.

 

[princess lovers mom]

thanks for your summary - kind of what I am getting too - a feeling like you get what you get....that would be fine, but I am wondering if we would be better off using the time in the morning to aquire our own fast passes, rather than tie up 2 1/2 hours -

I was hoping they would take us on rides that do not usually have fast passes - that would make it worth while to me - we are going at peak Christmas crowds and really just trying to find a way to do the most with the least lines!

We are difinately doing the Holiday tour though - our girls will feel very special going front of the line for IASM and HM and front row for parade!