Is "First Family" different from "VIP", and what are the costs and advantages?

[ReninDetroit]

A couple years ago I noticed the VIP service while having dinner at the CG at the Cont, and then in Feb while we were at the AKL I saw the tour guides almost every day. (in plaid)

What is "first family"? I've seen some people talking about it. Is it different from VIP?

Has anyone done either service? Was it worth the extra money? And how much extra was it?

 

[drusba]

I am stumped. The only "VIP" service I was aware of is the "VIP Tour" which for an hourly fee for 5 to 8 hours (something like $85 an hour), you get a guide for a park and more or less priority seating at shows, parades attractions, and restaurants. The only "First Family" I know of is Blizzard Beach: first family in the park in the morning gets some goodies and designated as First Family for the day. Not sure but the family that is chosen to ride in the MK parade might also be the First Family. Disney has traditionally had a First Family award when it first opens a park: on the first day the park is opened, the first family to enter is designated First Family and gets park tickets for life.

 

[WDSearcher]

"First Family" -- as you seem to be using it here -- applies to the family that is chosen to help open the park each day or the family chosen to ride in the parade. This is not something you can reserve or arrange -- the families are chosen at random. You cannot pay for the experience. You can't order it in advance. It's luck of the draw.

"First Family" -- as defined by Disney -- is the literal "first family" that was at each theme park when it opened.

VIP Tours come in two different incarnations -- there are VIP Tours that are given to visiting VIPs (TV, movie and sports stars and other people of note or visiting celebrities) and VIP Tours that anyone can reserve. Disney's VIP Tours provide you with VIP seating for many of the live stage shows, parades and nighttime spectaculars at WDW. VIP Tour guides customize your day and maximize your time, making all your PSs for you, handling FastPasses, etc. They will not usher you to the "front of the line," per se, but they will make sure that your time is spent as efficiently as possible. VIP Tours are pretty pricey, at $125 per hour. Guests staying at a Walt Disney World Resort hotel will receive a discounted rate ($95 per hour) during certain times of the year.