If you had a "plaid" (VIP tour guide) for 8 hours, which park would you choose?

[slford00]

Here's the scenario: my family won a Disney contest (Chiquita Just Smile Family Photo Contest) for a free 4 night-5 day trip to WDW sometime between August 2016-August 2017. We are so lucky and it still doesn't feel real yet!

Part of the grand prize package includes the use of a VIP tour guide one day for 8 hours. The rules didn't specify whether that would allow for park hopping, but I'm assuming not (and who would want to waste part of that 8 hrs commuting?).

The obvious choice is to select the Magic Kingdom day as our VIP day since it's the biggest park with the highest crowds and most attractions. But considering all angles, I wonder if it wouldn't save more time to select a park with tiered FP--most likely Epcot, since you can only get a FP for 1 out of Soarin, TT, Frozen, or Illuminations--and then park hop to MK after the 8 hours and have 3 FP planned there. We would also go to MK for another, full day and have 3 FP that date as well. With 6 FP at MK over two days, plus all the more readily-available 4th, 5th, etc. FP at MK, and the overall larger # of attractions to disperse the crowds, I wonder if we wouldn't be able to do just as much at MK and then tour more efficiently elsewhere with VIP.

I'm over-thinking this. The only choice is to use VIP at MK... right?

What would you do?

 

[slford00]

(on previous trips, we've used detailed touring plans and smart FP planning to tour just about all of MK over 1-2 days without ever waiting more than 10-15 minutes for anything--that's the only reason I'm thinking twice about this. I can't see a scenario where we could do Epcot (or even HS) in 1 day without having a significant wait on at least one attraction)

 

[hiroMYhero]

I think you should read up on the Ultimate Day tours and then see if you can do a combo of Epcot and DHS:
https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/events-tours/vip-tour-services/

 

[RafikiTiki21]

How exciting! The tour guides can definitely park hop, and they use cars via backstage routes so the commute isn't the same as park hopping in a bus.

What is your family make-up and history with Disney? I think that drives a lot of this decision. What a fun thing, congrats on the prize and enjoy!

 

[RafikiTiki21]

And-- remember the VIP tourguide is more than just an unlimited FastPass, they will share history and background of whatever park/attractions you're doing. So think about what park you'd like to learn about more in depth too.

 

[Amanda999]

You'll definitely be park hopping (I've seen the VIP groups often in a large black SUV, through a back entrance - you won't take more than 10 minutes to get from 1 park to another).

8 hours with a plaid? I'd do MK, Epcot and HS (not AK b/c we can do everything we're interested in with just the 3 FPs). I'd go during nice weather so the heat/sun don't knock you over before that long a time. Have fun!

 

[MrsJamesPSullivan]

Without knowing the ages in your family it's hard to know what to suggest. If it were my family Wed start at MK and hop to Epcot.
Congratulations and have fun!

 

[slford00]

Wow, sounds like park hopping may be the way to go then, if it's really that easy to go between parks with a guide.

Our kids are 7, 5, and almost 3. The youngest is an inch or two shy of 40" and could maybe make that height requirement if we go in early 2017 (or later). The older two have been to WDW a couple times (most recently Sept '15) and the youngest was there for part of the time during that last trip.

 

[SaintsManiac]

I would do Epcot and MK for sure. You're so lucky! Have a wonderful time and please come back and tell us all about it!!

 

[Shanti]

Here's the scenario: my family won a Disney contest (Chiquita Just Smile Family Photo Contest) for a free 4 night-5 day trip to WDW sometime between August 2016-August 2017. We are so lucky and it still doesn't feel real yet!

Part of the grand prize package includes the use of a VIP tour guide one day for 8 hours. The rules didn't specify whether that would allow for park hopping, but I'm assuming not (and who would want to waste part of that 8 hrs commuting?).

The obvious choice is to select the Magic Kingdom day as our VIP day since it's the biggest park with the highest crowds and most attractions. But considering all angles, I wonder if it wouldn't save more time to select a park with tiered FP--most likely Epcot, since you can only get a FP for 1 out of Soarin, TT, Frozen, or Illuminations--and then park hop to MK after the 8 hours and have 3 FP planned there. We would also go to MK for another, full day and have 3 FP that date as well. With 6 FP at MK over two days, plus all the more readily-available 4th, 5th, etc. FP at MK, and the overall larger # of attractions to disperse the crowds, I wonder if we wouldn't be able to do just as much at MK and then tour more efficiently elsewhere with VIP.

I'm over-thinking this. The only choice is to use VIP at MK... right?

What would you do?

I would do hopper if possible, and do MK and Epcot. The guides can utilize backstage parking & entrances, to make park to park transfers much more efficient. Congratulations on your prize!

 

[kcpinwdw]

Congrats on your win! I'd definitely park hop MK and Epcot with this experience! I hope you do a trip report...

 

[DisneyWishes14]

We park hopped on our VIP tour and it was easy peasy! They will drive you around in an SUV and park in backstage areas so traveling between parks is really quick. I would definitely hop and definitely make EP one of the parks to get those Tier 1's done easily and quickly. I think I would think about which nighttime attraction you want to experience (Illuminations, Wishes, etc.) and make that your second park on your VIP day so you can take advantage of the VIP areas.

 

[slford00]

We park hopped on our VIP tour and it was easy peasy! They will drive you around in an SUV and park in backstage areas so traveling between parks is really quick. I would definitely hop and definitely make EP one of the parks to get those Tier 1's done easily and quickly. I think I would think about which nighttime attraction you want to experience (Illuminations, Wishes, etc.) and make that your second park on your VIP day so you can take advantage of the VIP areas.

Hmm. I think we get the VIP for 8 hours. We're so used to rope dropping every day that I hadn't thought about possibly needing to start later in order to stay for a show. That might be a better idea--who cares if the mid-day crowds are the worst if we're being shuttled around by a plaid? ;-)

 

[beck00]

Oh my gosh! You guys had such a great pic...the one with Baloo right? concrete art? My daughters loved looking at all the pics in the galleries and thought yours was the coolest! Congrats...well deserved!

 

[2PrincessesRmine]

That's awesome! Congratulations!
I have a question for you, are you taking a family of 5? If you are, how is that working with the prize? I'm constantly entering sweepstakes, but I'm always concerned how it would work for our family of 5.

 

[slford00]

Oh my gosh! You guys had such a great pic...the one with Baloo right? concrete art? My daughters loved looking at all the pics in the galleries and thought yours was the coolest! Congrats...well deserved!

Thank you, that is very kind. That was indeed our pic. We thought it was good too, but we are little biased

 

[slford00]

That's awesome! Congratulations!
I have a question for you, are you taking a family of 5? If you are, how is that working with the prize? I'm constantly entering sweepstakes, but I'm always concerned how it would work for our family of 5.

Just to clarify--is the concern that many sweepstakes have an award for 4 people? Or because so many of the Disney hotels only have rooms with capacity for 4?

The grand prize for this specific contest was for a group up to 6 people. I don't know how it will work with the resorts yet (we haven't yet been contacted by the Disney travel agent), but I assume we'll be offered to stay at locations that either have large rooms (capacity of 5), or maybe a suite? I'm not sure quite what to expect.

About 15 months ago we came in 2nd out of 12 semi-finalists in a different Disney contest (KidsRememberContest). Lots of the semi-finalists in that contest became acquainted on social media, and I know the family who came in first had a family of 5 (at the time... it's grown since!) and that specific contest was stated to have a grand prize for 4. In the end, Disney upgraded them to a Grand Floridian Villa and as far as I know, paid for them all regardless of the larger family size. I don't know the specific details though... just that they all got to go and it looked amazing.

Keep trying for contests and hopefully you'll get yours one day! This was not our first--since the KidsRemember one (which was the first), my wife has entered several contests (at least 5-6, or more; some VERY time consuming!) before we won this one!

 

[MataHari22]

Congrats! That would be so amazing. Have a great time.

 

[2PrincessesRmine]

Just to clarify--is the concern that many sweepstakes have an award for 4 people? Or because so many of the Disney hotels only have rooms with capacity for 4?

The grand prize for this specific contest was for a group up to 6 people. I don't know how it will work with the resorts yet (we haven't yet been contacted by the Disney travel agent), but I assume we'll be offered to stay at locations that either have large rooms (capacity of 5), or maybe a suite? I'm not sure quite what to expect.

About 15 months ago we came in 2nd out of 12 semi-finalists in a different Disney contest (KidsRememberContest). Lots of the semi-finalists in that contest became acquainted on social media, and I know the family who came in first had a family of 5 (at the time... it's grown since!) and that specific contest was stated to have a grand prize for 4. In the end, Disney upgraded them to a Grand Floridian Villa and as far as I know, paid for them all regardless of the larger family size. I don't know the specific details though... just that they all got to go and it looked amazing.

Keep trying for contests and hopefully you'll get yours one day! This was not our first--since the KidsRemember one (which was the first), my wife has entered several contests (at least 5-6, or more; some VERY time consuming!) before we won this one!

I didn't realize it was for 6, that's great! Yes, they are usually for a family of 4. I always figure were could somehow upgrade and pay for the fifth, but the fact that most of the rooms are for 4 concerns me. Oh well, I'll keep entering and worry about it if I win. Lol

 

[mindeola]

Congrats on the win! How exciting!