New VIP Tours

[JustCallMeMommy]

This sounds like a happy medium to me. We did a VIP tour at SeaWorld on a busy Christmas week day, and it was fabulous to be escorted from place to place. After that, I looked at the Disney VIP options, but the prices were insanely expensive for a small family. This is not cheap, but a day of this is attainable - I could adjust my budget to handle this by changing resort levels.

 

[andyman8]

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.

Definitely.

And just to clarify, I'm not saying just because you do this type of tour, you're filthy rich or that this is just for those of high affluence. They're plenty of people who will save and put together that change to do this and other similar tours. For me, I just don't see the hassle worth it, considering I could plan and do something similar. Certainly would be harder and more stressful my way though. I can see both sides.

 

[Disney_Princess83]

I ended up booking this today, and one of the informational snippets the guy on the phone gave me for the tour was to "just go and park at the Contemporary and walk over" so we'd be sure to be at the tour on time! I laughed to myself but won't attempt to take that advice; I would be very angry if I only budgeted enough time to walk to MK and they made me turn around and park in the TTC parking lot and I missed the tour starting.

You can valet park there, even if you're not dining or staying there. I believe it's $20 now + tip.

 

[rsimon]

I actually feel bad for people that have to do this....i have the money to spend on this tour I just wont do it. Its a shame that celebrities or the 1%ers cant enjoy WDW like the rest of us. FP+ MB's MDE ADR's 180+10 or 60 days for FP+, Rope Drops, waiting online at Aloha Isle 6 hours for A&E

Please don't feel bad. We've done the rope drops, commando raids, waiting, etc. Been there many times over the years and know how to get around efficiently. However, for some of us, we have many other things we would rather spend our time doing. If the cost of this tour is minimal (when put in perspective for household income) than why not maximize our time in the park so we can do other things while in Orlando?

Everyone has their choices to make and quite honestly, I have less patience waiting in lines now than I did our first trip to WDW. Probably because I have done it with less stress in the past, so if I see the park is crowded, I do something else. That is the freedom an AP provides because you don't feel like you HAVE to be in the parks and get the value of your daily ticket.

We are going to be there for 2 weeks in October for Food and Wine. I think this option would be great to hit all our favorite rides in a single day so we can focus on Food & Wine, golf, hanging out with friends, etc. It works for us, maybe not for everyone which is why we have choices.

 

[nugov2]

I actually feel bad for people that have to do this....i have the money to spend on this tour I just wont do it. Its a shame that celebrities or the 1%ers cant enjoy WDW like the rest of us. FP+ MB's MDE ADR's 180+10 or 60 days for FP+, Rope Drops, waiting online at Aloha Isle 6 hours for A&E

Really, you feel bad for people who want to use their money to have some extra fun....why? Do you feel bad for the couple that spend $300 on a nice dinner out, or a family that buys orchestra seats for a broadway musical or seats behind home plate? All of those things are expensive much like this tour, but not crazy expensive. We have often taken our family on extravagant outings or dh and I have been known to indulge in a high end pricey meal. I don't think there is anything wrong with going all out on a vacation.

 

[alexandlillie]

I called about this today. Basically you meet at park opening. They take up to 40 people each day with 4 guides that "try for" up to 10 rides. " we do the best we can and not always the same rides listed". "You advance the line ahead of standby and fast pass and we move quickly." Must have day ticket and hopper ( or miss out on your tour, they said. They'll leave you at Mk). Transport between parks is by private van. Disney visa holders can save 15 percent.

It's an expensive splurge but I like the option myself.

 

[Disneychick75]

Is this in addition to your park ticket cost? We are bringing down seven in December and will be getting MVMCP tickets...our park tickets plus the party....UGH! I can't imagine even trying one of these!

Yes

$300 pp for 11 rides (and lunch) wow

I guess its cheaper than the original VIP tour which would be $450 pp assuming a family of four.

I think it would be good if you only had one day..value is in the eye of the beholder

When we did the VIP tour, it was about $325/hour ( Spring Break rate at the time) with a 6 hour minimum BUT it was for up to 10 people which would be more reasonable if split between families or friends.
The new tour would cost about the same for us. We always have about 6 people on our trips.
It is worth it during very busy times. The week we did the tour, MK and DHS closed several times due to crowds.

 

[TLSnell1981]

We saw Kobe Bryant with his wife and kids in 2011. We were next in line to meet Ariel & Eric and the CM came over and asked my DD to wait back, she stood in front of us as another CM escorted the family out of some back entrance to the characters. There were body guards asking people not to take pictures (but I snabbed one anyways )

It was pretty cool. Looked like they got an escorted tour around the park. I assume celebrities can pay whatever the price and probably pay a lot more than this experience, they probably also get to custom pick what they want to do.

We saw Mike Miller and his family at WDW a couple of years back. They used Disney transportation, walked through the turnstile and waited in line..like everyone else. He was friendly and very down to earth.

 

[glvsav37]

While not on any tours...during the Christmas holiday in 2000 at The Boardwalk we saw Tim Allen (Buzz) during breakfast at the concierge lounge with his family. Then around on New Year's Day we were waiting outside for the valet and Ken Griffy Jr and Barry Bonds (pre-roids) pulled up with their families. I chatted with them for a few minutes until a bunch of "duuuudes" attacked them wanting pictures and autographs.

 

[delmar411]

No scan necessary. The guests get in with their own admission card and their own fingerprint. The MBs apparently don't need to be scanned each day in order for FP+ to work. At least, that is what is being reported by people who enter the park with a pocket full of them.

Correct. This still works.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I actually feel bad for people that have to do this....i have the money to spend on this tour I just wont do it. Its a shame that celebrities or the 1%ers cant enjoy WDW like the rest of us. FP+ MB's MDE ADR's 180+10 or 60 days for FP+, Rope Drops, waiting online at Aloha Isle 6 hours for A&E

No need to feel bad for anyone. Based on this thread, people from many more economic levels than just the one percenters think the tour is a good value. As for celebrities:

While not on any tours...during the Christmas holiday in 2000 at The Boardwalk we saw Tim Allen (Buzz) during breakfast at the concierge lounge with his family. Then around on New Year's Day we were waiting outside for the valet and Ken Griffy Jr and Barry Bonds (pre-roids) pulled up with their families. I chatted with them for a few minutes until a bunch of "duuuudes" attacked them wanting pictures and autographs.

VIP guides/tours are primarily intended to prevent mob scene.

 

[kaytieeldr]

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???????

The Disney tour doesn't demand participants stay in one of their properties at $180+ per night. The Express Pass available to offsite and Cabana Bay guests allows one - not unlimited - use per ride.

 

[pudinhd]

I called about this today. Basically you meet at park opening. They take up to 40 people each day with 4 guides that "try for" up to 10 rides. " we do the best we can and not always the same rides listed". "You advance the line ahead of standby and fast pass and we move quickly." Must have day ticket and hopper ( or miss out on your tour, they said. They'll leave you at Mk). Transport between parks is by private van. Disney visa holders can save 15 percent.

It's an expensive splurge but I like the option myself.

This information makes me question the tour... I don't like the "try for" up to 10 rides. I am open to possible ride changes, and I'd like to know what they might be before booking something like this, but I would want to be able to experience a total of 10 rides.

 

[AndreaA]

Frankly, if it's going to cost $1200+ for a family of four, I'd rather pony up a bit more and get a true VIP tour where it's just my family and not a hoard of strangers. I'm seriously considering it for our next trip as it will actually cut down on the number of days we will need if we can knock off HS and Epcot on the same day, as well as getting in our favorites at AK and MK. Then we'd only need one more slow-paced day at MK and one more slow-paced day at AK.

 

[LoveThatMouse!]

I ended up booking this today, and one of the informational snippets the guy on the phone gave me for the tour was to "just go and park at the Contemporary and walk over" so we'd be sure to be at the tour on time! I laughed to myself but won't attempt to take that advice; I would be very angry if I only budgeted enough time to walk to MK and they made me turn around and park in the TTC parking lot and I missed the tour starting.

We are taking this tour in a few weeks and saw your post. Did you end up taking the tour? What did you do as far as transportation and getting into the park? I'd love any feedback.

 

[tchrrx]

I noticed a lot more families with plaid CMs (although only one was the full plaid vest. The others just had plaid accents on their shirts.) a couple of weeks ago than I've seen in all my other trips combined.

 

[WillAustin]

The Express Pass available to offsite and Cabana Bay guests allows one - not unlimited - use per ride.

We paid for Express Pass as off-site users and we were able to use it multiple times on the same rides.

 

[Luckybee]

We paid for Express Pass as off-site users and we were able to use it multiple times on the same rides.

You're both right There are a number of different EP options currently avail for offsiters. Unlimited for both parks, unlimited for 1 park only, 1 use per attraction only for both parks, or 1 use per attraction only for 1 park only. Obviously the costs vary.

Just realized this was a zombie thread for anyone interested !

 

[WillAustin]

There are a number of different EP options. Unlimited for both parks, unlimited for 1 park only, 1 ride per attraction only for both parks, or 1 ride per attraction only for 1 park only. Obviously the costs vary.

Thanks. I was just responding to the post saying you could only use it once per ride.

 

[georgina]

I actually feel bad for people that have to do this....i have the money to spend on this tour I just wont do it. Its a shame that celebrities or the 1%ers cant enjoy WDW like the rest of us. FP+ MB's MDE ADR's 180+10 or 60 days for FP+, Rope Drops, waiting online at Aloha Isle 6 hours for A&E

Do you feel bad for people who spend money to stay at the Grand Floridian? I have the money and I won't spend it on that either, but I don't feel bad for people who do. If they want to spend money on the experience, go for it! Doesn't bother me in the least.