New VIP Tours

[andyman8]

My understanding was that is was 315 per hour, per person!

No, they're per tour guide, so if you were to have 11 or more in your "combined group", you'd have to pay $630 per hour as you would need to hire two tour guides.

 

[Altoqueenkelly]

No, they're per tour guide, so if you were to have 11 or more in your "combined group", you'd have to pay $630 per hour as you would need to hire two tour guides.

Ah okay, makes more sense now

 

[KCSherri]

I think this is a way for them to sell more VIP Tours.

Ding! Ding! Ding!

I actually see this as a way to monetize the FP+. That's basically what they've done - they've created an "Express Pass" - for a cost - to the big thrill rides in the four parks…but they've thrown in a lunch so you can't quite compare it exactly to Universal.

 

[rsimon]

My DW and I own a business where we routinely have work to do while we are in WDW or on any vacation. Time is money to us and I can see this would be a cool option even though we know how to get around in the parks. We don't like lines (well at least I don't). It drives me crazy to wait and since we have been there many times, we pick our battles and get through the parks pretty quick on days we are in the parks.

We may actually try this on our next trip to see how it is. Would feel like we were able to have maximum fun in a minimum amount of time. We could schedule FP+ for Epcot in the late afternoon and have those rides to finish up the day and have some dinner. Might make for a very fun Sunday.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Strangely, ECV's not permitted.

Disney stresses how inclusive they try to be, so unusual. I know it is a bit of a hassle with busing, but I have used ECV on Backstage Magic which did include busing, as well as other tours not requiring busing.

Not that I was planning on doing this tour, just surprised.

 

[Altoqueenkelly]

My DW and I own a business where we routinely have work to do while we are in WDW or on any vacation. Time is money to us and I can see this would be a cool option even though we know how to get around in the parks. We don't like lines (well at least I don't). It drives me crazy to wait and since we have been there many times, we pick our battles and get through the parks pretty quick on days we are in the parks.

We may actually try this on our next trip to see how it is. Would feel like we were able to have maximum fun in a minimum amount of time. We could schedule FP+ for Epcot in the late afternoon and have those rides to finish up the day and have some dinner. Might make for a very fun Sunday.

That would be an amazing Disney day!! If you do this, please come back to the DIS and tell us all about it!

 

[ArwenMarie]

Ding! Ding! Ding!

I actually see this as a way to monetize the FP+. That's basically what they've done - they've created an "Express Pass" - for a cost - to the big thrill rides in the four parks…but they've thrown in a lunch so you can't quite compare it exactly to Universal.

Yep. Selling FPs...that's exactly what this is. (well even better FOTL)

 

[delmar411]

Strangely, ECV's not permitted.

Disney stresses how inclusive they try to be, so unusual. I know it is a bit of a hassle with busing, but I have used ECV on Backstage Magic which did include busing, as well as other tours not requiring busing.

Not that I was planning on doing this tour, just surprised.

They aren't using a bus then. They use vans to shuttle tour groups between parks. No room for ECVs on the van nor is there equipment to load it.

 

[andyman8]

What I wonder about is the admission situation. On The DIS's page, it says "park admission required" (which I wouldn't expect for $299), but how would that even work? Would guests need to have just a one-day MK ticket or need a Park Hopper?

To answer my own question, 1-407-WDW-PLAY says that park admission is not included in the tour price of $299. Not only that but the park hopper option is also required for this tour! Just got really expensive.

 

[Dan Murphy]

They aren't using a bus then. They use vans to shuttle tour groups between parks. No room for ECVs on the van nor is there equipment to load it.

Thanks.

To answer my own question, 1-407-WDW-PLAY says that park admission is not included in the tour price of $299. Not only that but the park hopper option is also required for this tour! Just got really expensive.

Only $142 more if doing a one day, total $460 incl tax.

 

[Biggreen19]

So let me get this straight, WDW wants $300 for essentially 10 fastpasses (for the thrill ride experience ) to key attractions at 3 parks and they throw in lunch to boot, but I need valid park hopper tickets on top of the $300. Over at UO, it will cost me $190 for park to park tickets + unlimited FOTL for one day.............what am I missing here as to what the better deal is???????

 

[jco_direwolf]

I have to agree that not including TT and M:S on the tour is silly.

 

[nugov2]

My DW and I own a business where we routinely have work to do while we are in WDW or on any vacation. Time is money to us and I can see this would be a cool option even though we know how to get around in the parks. We don't like lines (well at least I don't). It drives me crazy to wait and since we have been there many times, we pick our battles and get through the parks pretty quick on days we are in the parks.

We may actually try this on our next trip to see how it is. Would feel like we were able to have maximum fun in a minimum amount of time. We could schedule FP+ for Epcot in the late afternoon and have those rides to finish up the day and have some dinner. Might make for a very fun Sunday.

See I think that is exactly how to do it and I think this has potential to be worth the price! For our family of 5 $1500 isn't nothing, but we view a vacation as a time to pull out all the stops. We plan to go back to the world next fall now that the new HP is opening in Uni/IOA this year for my HP fan and this would be a way to hit all the top attractions. I will be curious to hear reports to see if it is worth it especially if you are there in what can be a less crowded time.

As far as people being wanna be celebrities and cutting the line I think that's just sour grapes. Everyone has their own priorities in life. Some can afford the best of the best, some cannot, but most fall somewhere in between. We have no interest in taking multiple WDW trips a year or even back to back years so when we do go I shell out extra money so that we do everything we want and make it as magical as we can.

 

[KimBean]

See I think that is exactly how to do it and I think this has potential to be worth the price! For our family of 5 $1500 isn't nothing, but we view a vacation as a time to pull out all the stops. We plan to go back to the world next fall now that the new HP is opening in Uni/IOA this year for my HP fan and this would be a way to hit all the top attractions. I will be curious to hear reports to see if it is worth it especially if you are there in what can be a less crowded time. As far as people being wanna be celebrities and cutting the line I think that's just sour grapes. Everyone has their own priorities in life. Some can afford the best of the best, some cannot, but most fall somewhere in between. We have no interest in taking multiple WDW trips a year or even back to back years so when we do go I shell out extra money so that we do everything we want and make it as magical as we can.

I agree. If someone can afford something you can't there is no reason to be jealous about it. Just visit Disney the way you can. The world isn't FAIR!! Lol. That being said it would now be $2300 instead of $1500 for a family of 5 factoring in the 1 day park hopper. A lot for 1 day to me, but of course money is all relative.

 

[nugov2]

I agree. If someone can afford something you can't there is no reason to be jealous about it. Just visit Disney the way you can. The world isn't FAIR!! Lol. That being said it would now be $2300 instead of $1500 for a family of 5 factoring in the 1 day park hopper. A lot for 1 day to me, but of course money is all relative.

Ah, but if I buy my tickets from UT I can get 5 day park hopper tickets for the cost of 4 day...so we could plan it on our free day...at least I could sell it to DH that way We did a VIP tour(not the WDW one ) through a guy who worked at WDW for years. He got us in the park before RD, knew pretty much all the workers and even has some special furry friends there...but the best part was all of the fun facts he shared about the park.

 

[ArwenMarie]

To answer my own question, 1-407-WDW-PLAY says that park admission is not included in the tour price of $299. Not only that but the park hopper option is also required for this tour! Just got really expensive.

Wow. They really have....er, nerve, charging not just for the ticket but for a park hopper ticket

 

[andyman8]

Only $142 more if doing a one day, total $460 incl tax.

Wow! Nearly $2k for a family of 4 for one day seems like a lot!

 

[ZehnJahren]

I've been trying to book this tour since it was announced, but there's a glitch in the system that won't allow AP discounts to book yet. I was instructed to call back tomorrow.

My mom and I always do "something special" on our trips together; once it was staying at the CR and going to the dessert party, another time it was YC and the Segway tour; I personally can't wait for this tour!

 

[JimmyV]

Wow! Nearly $2k for a family of 4 for one day seems like a lot!

Sure. But folks have to reset their understanding of "real wealth". There is an entire sub-industry in Las Vegas that caters to "whales" who plop down $2000 per hand playing Blackjack hour after hour after hour. Then they go to a restaurant and pay $3500 for a bottle of '82 Mouton. Their bar bill in the VIP Lounge at the trendy club is five figures. $2K is "nothing" to them to be treated like a big shot at WDW and avoid "the masses". It is called a VIP Tour after all. Not a "Tour For Regular Folks Who Are Trying To Fake It Til They Make It" Tour. Put another way, spending $2000 if you have an annual income of $5 million is like spending $20 if you have a household income of $50K. #dropinthebucket.

 

[eyehartdisney]

See I think that is exactly how to do it and I think this has potential to be worth the price! For our family of 5 $1500 isn't nothing, but we view a vacation as a time to pull out all the stops. We have no interest in taking multiple WDW trips a year or even back to back years so when we do go I shell out extra money so that we do everything we want and make it as magical as we can.

At that price it's better to get the real VIP tour, then you guys get to pick what you want to do, and eat where you want to eat. And you wouldn't have to be with any strangers on the tour either. For a family of five, the real tour would be, imo, the best option of the two.