Non-Disney "VIP" tours...

[LAS2012]

Does anybody have any experience or knowledge of the non-Disney VIP tours that are offered by outside companies? We are visiting during the week between Christmas and New Year's and expect wall-to-wall people. The Disney VIP tours, while sounding amazing, are very pricey at $600/hr for 6 hours minimum, totaling $3,600 for our family of four for only one day. While searching out reviews, I came across a couple of companies that offer private "VIP" tours at a much cheaper hourly rate. I am not sure what assistance they might be during this busy week. I think that itinerary planning can only go so far on a week that could see maximum park attendance. One site quotes fast pass entry and amazing seating at shows. Any experience with these types of personal tour guides?

It seems questionable, at best...

But if others have had positive experiences, I would be kicking myself while standing in line hours for IASW if we didn't try it. Thanks for any input!

 

[SnipsNSnails]

Have you been to Disney before, know your way around, understand FP+ and have your own touring plan? If the answer is yes, I can't imagine that the non-Disney VIP tour will help you in any way. For someone who has never been to WDW or doesn't want to put the time in to do their own planning - it probably has some value. I believe the WDW VIP tours have perks like taking you in through the FP+ lines which a non-WDW tour can't do.

 

[Micca]

Looks like the VIP tour is $315 per hr/6 hr minimum. At least that's what it was last Summer. Not cheap, but only about half of what OP thought.

http://www.fodors.com/world/north-a...o-book-a-vip-tour-guide-at-disney-world-10619

 

[minnie mum]

Yeah, the Disney tours will give you FP access to every attraction that has a FP line. I can't see how a non Disney tour could do that- they would be limited to the same 3 FP plus 1 at a time kiosk FPs as everybody else. I have no idea how they would be able to guarantee "amazing" seating at shows. I find all this even less likely with the huge crowds and heaviest demand for SDFPs during the Christmas/ New Year period.

 

[Accident]

They just sound like escorted versions of touringplans to me. I'd do it yourself and check that site/service out. They are really reliable on where the crowds arent' also.

 

[mustlovecats]

Looks like the VIP tour is $315 per hr/6 hr minimum. At least that's what it was last Summer. Not cheap, but only about half of what OP thought.

http://www.fodors.com/world/north-a...o-book-a-vip-tour-guide-at-disney-world-10619

$600/hour is the going rate for holidays. $315/hour was last year's off season rate.

I contacted one of these groups last year and I essentially asked them the same questions. The person I talked to was local (obviously) and both he and his family (4 people total) had annual passes. In theory you could use those passes to get 12 extra fast passes.

I didn't ask about the shows but that definitely sounds questionable to me.

We ended up going with Disney's service and will do so again on our trip in November, but I wouldn't be able to justify holiday pricing.

 

[hakepb]

$600/hour is the going rate for holidays. $315/hour was last year's off season rate.

I contacted one of these groups last year and I essentially asked them the same questions. The person I talked to was local (obviously) and both he and his family (4 people total) had annual passes. In theory you could use those passes to get 12 extra fast passes.

I didn't ask about the shows but that definitely sounds questionable to me.

We ended up going with Disney's service and will do so again on our trip in November, but I wouldn't be able to justify holiday pricing.

$600/hr?

$600/day would get a family of 4 an extra set of tickets ... For 3 extra FP+/day (and less per day with multi-day tickets)
Book a campsite for a party of 8 and get 9 FP+/ person /day

Is the Ultimate thrills VIP available?
https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/events-tours/vip-tour-services/

But, having done Christmas Day last year (with one set of tickets). You don't wait "hours for IASW" if you watch wait times and zig while others zag.

 

[kmb584]

Looks like the VIP tour is $315 per hr/6 hr minimum. At least that's what it was last Summer. Not cheap, but only about half of what OP thought.

http://www.fodors.com/world/north-a...o-book-a-vip-tour-guide-at-disney-world-10619

Prices have definitely gone up. I paid $400/hr in June and will be paying the same in November.

 

[MermaidMommy]

Yeah, the Disney tours will give you FP access to every attraction that has a FP line. I can't see how a non Disney tour could do that- they would be limited to the same 3 FP plus 1 at a time kiosk FPs as everybody else. I have no idea how they would be able to guarantee "amazing" seating at shows. I find all this even less likely with the huge crowds and heaviest demand for SDFPs during the Christmas/ New Year period.

I believe how it works for the rides is that the tour providers can use their tickets to book FP's that the customer could then use, since park entry isn't required for FP's to be used. Depending on how many tickets the tour company has access to -- employees, friends, family -- that could be a substantial number of pre-booked FP's for the customer.

 

[LAS2012]

$600/hour is the going rate for holidays. $315/hour was last year's off season rate.

I contacted one of these groups last year and I essentially asked them the same questions. The person I talked to was local (obviously) and both he and his family (4 people total) had annual passes. In theory you could use those passes to get 12 extra fast passes.

I didn't ask about the shows but that definitely sounds questionable to me.

We ended up going with Disney's service and will do so again on our trip in November, but I wouldn't be able to justify holiday pricing.

Thank you!!! $600/hr for 6 hours is the minimum Disney VIP tour price for that Holiday week. I would love to use it, but as you said it is hard to justify that pricing. It makes sense that the local tour operators are just using several APs' FP+ selections for the day and their customers would just be using those other MBs for additional attractions.

 

[LAS2012]

I believe how it works for the rides is that the tour providers can use their tickets to book FP's that the customer could then use, since park entry isn't required for FP's to be used. Depending on how many tickets the tour company has access to -- employees, friends, family -- that could be a substantial number of pre-booked FP's for the customer.

Thank you! That could be a lot of FPs depending on how the tour operator is set up...

 

[Lisaloo]

We paid $360/hour for two days of touring in July. It was an awesome experince for our family of 6 and we would definitely do it again. I would not risk using an outside guide.