Questions on VIP tours

[Bianca and Bernard]

DD#2 is planning a trip, and had a couple of question about the VIP guided tours. I told her I'd ask here, as y'all are the ones in the know.

Are you allowed to tip your tour guide? If so, what is the going rate--15%, 20%, or?

Are they allowed to take a treat from you (for example, if you bring a bag of candy bars to share with the others in your group, can the VIP guide take one?)

Anything she should know about the tours, that they don't cover in the emails?

TIA!!

 

[GoingSince1990]

Tips, while accepted, are genuinely not expected. (When they are, Disney makes sure you know, for example in restaurants by including that note about “we are often asked about gratuities” and suggesting 15-20%). It’s also quite hard to tip, as there is no credit card receipt to add it on to; you have to bring cash, and who carries much cash these days? While we do always tip, I don’t do it on a percentage basis; a 20% tip on a 7-hour tour could exceed $900. Instead, we typically tip $200-$300 in cash, so about an extra $30-$40 per hour in cash for the guide on a 7-hour tour. We are treating our daughter to a tour on an upcoming trip and like most young people she never uses cash, so I made sure to give her $200 cash in an envelope to tip her guide.

 

[FCDub]

What will the guide do with a candy bar, in the hot sun, while they’re working? A kind gesture, but not feasible

 

[F.R.I.D.A.Y.]

Yes, tour guides are allowed to accept tips and very much appreciate receiving them. As far as how much to tip, guides see everything from nothing to crazy amounts, so there really isn't a standard rate. And yes, guides are also allowed to accept treats from their guests and may eat onstage so long as their guests are also eating.

 

[TexanInTheMidwest]

I've gone on several VIP tours (both pre and post Covid) and we try to tip at least $20-$40 per person (with a minimum of at least $300 if it's a super small group)

 

[PalmettoPath]

DD#2 is planning a trip, and had a couple of question about the VIP guided tours. I told her I'd ask here, as y'all are the ones in the know.

Are you allowed to tip your tour guide? If so, what is the going rate--15%, 20%, or?

Are they allowed to take a treat from you (for example, if you bring a bag of candy bars to share with the others in your group, can the VIP guide take one?)

Anything she should know about the tours, that they don't cover in the emails?

TIA!!

We have done a few at both DLR and WDW. We have had varying experiences with the particular Plaids we have had (although never a bad experience, but some guides are better than others and some have given us snacks and water, while others never offered anything so we ended up paying for snacks and water throughout the day on top of the tour cost -- which isn't great when the far less expensive tours usually includes small snacks and drinks). We tip cash. There are only three of us, so a small group. We have one planned for our upcoming trip, so that will be the only day we do rides (to avoid waiting in any lines).

 

[scrappinginontario]

Just a friendly reminder that the coordination of shared tours is not permitted on DISboards as it involves exchanging money.

Thank you.

 

[Trisaratops]

We have done a few at both DLR and WDW. We have had varying experiences with the particular Plaids we have had (although never a bad experience, but some guides are better than others and some have given us snacks and water, while others never offered anything so we ended up paying for snacks and water throughout the day on top of the tour cost -- which isn't great when the far less expensive tours usually includes small snacks and drinks). We tip cash. There are only three of us, so a small group. We have one planned for our upcoming trip, so that will be the only day we do rides (to avoid waiting in any lines).

Any guides you'd recommend?

Also, is there no way around the personal? Max? We'll have 11 but at least 3 adults will barely ride anything because of vertigo and neck problems and 2 members are under 3.

Thanks!!