questions re VIP Tour

[disneydani]

We may have the opportunity to have a VIP Tour on Saturday, September 12th. We have been to DL and DCA before so the priorites would be as follows: Space Mountain, Thunder Mountain, Haunted Mansion, Alice, Peter Pan, Pirates, Soarin', Radiator Springs Racers as well as the fireworks and Paint the Night Parade.

After doing some research, I believe we can tour earlier in the day, take a break and the guides can still reserve space for the nighttime entertainment even though we aren't on the tour.

I would appreciate any feedback or suggestions if the above seems reasonable for a six-ish hour timeframe. Any other recommendations are welcome...I have read that the guides can sometimes arrange the Lillybelle or a tour of the Pet Cemetary at the HM.

Thanks in advance!

 

[pinksand]

We may have the opportunity to have a VIP Tour on Saturday, September 12th. We have been to DL and DCA before so the priorites would be as follows: Space Mountain, Thunder Mountain, Haunted Mansion, Alice, Peter Pan, Pirates, Soarin', Radiator Springs Racers as well as the fireworks and Paint the Night Parade.

After doing some research, I believe we can tour earlier in the day, take a break and the guides can still reserve space for the nighttime entertainment even though we aren't on the tour.

I would appreciate any feedback or suggestions if the above seems reasonable for a six-ish hour timeframe. Any other recommendations are welcome...I have read that the guides can sometimes arrange the Lillybelle or a tour of the Pet Cemetary at the HM.

Thanks in advance!

Couple things: Peter Pan and Alice aren't VIP Tour accessible rides, so your guide won't be able to skip the lines for you on those 2. We've definitely seen the Pet Cemetery with a VIP Tour - little things like this are one of the best parts!

Personally, we like to have an early lunch and have our tour start after that...the parks are slow before 11am or so, even on weekends, so you don't need a guide then. It's nicer to have a guide starting in the afternoon when things really start to get crowded and hot. Just my opinion.

 

[MommyJKM]

We may have the opportunity to have a VIP Tour on Saturday, September 12th. We have been to DL and DCA before so the priorites would be as follows: Space Mountain, Thunder Mountain, Haunted Mansion, Alice, Peter Pan, Pirates, Soarin', Radiator Springs Racers as well as the fireworks and Paint the Night Parade.

After doing some research, I believe we can tour earlier in the day, take a break and the guides can still reserve space for the nighttime entertainment even though we aren't on the tour.

I would appreciate any feedback or suggestions if the above seems reasonable for a six-ish hour timeframe. Any other recommendations are welcome...I have read that the guides can sometimes arrange the Lillybelle or a tour of the Pet Cemetary at the HM.

Thanks in advance!

You are correct, your Plaid can book your seating for any shows and dining without them being present. You can also do the VIP seating at Paint the Night, then Fireworks (from the Main Street Train Station) and a VIP Plaid in that area will take you over to World of Color if DCA is closed and let you in and take you to the VIP seating there. I'm not sure of the timing right now but in the Spring we like to watch Fireworks, then take the Lilly Belle over to New Orleans Square and watch Fantasmic. You get VIP seating for ANY show and only have to arrive 5 minutes before - it's great!! They have a list with your name on it to refer to.

They can either do the Pet Cemetery with you or have it planned for you. The new VIP perk is they can get you to the front of the line for character greetings so factor that in as well.

We've done the VIP Tour about 6 times so if you have any other questions you can DM me

It's worth it to us. We're doing it again in November!

 

[rentayenta]

Character greetings too now? Fun, fun!

We did a VIP tour in December and were able to secure seating although the tour had ended.

Such a spectacular day- highly recommend it.

 

[disneydani]

That is some great information, thanks...especially about the characters! Is there anything else I should be asking for or about?

I like the idea of the early lunch followed by the touring...as long as I can get a bit of a break before the evening entertainment. Does anyone know how far in advance I would need to be in the viewing area for Paint the Night if it runs at 8:45pm?

Thanks again, appreciate the insights!

 

[MommyJKM]

So ideally you do the tour from noon to 6pm when the parks are the most crowded, then grab dinner or rest in the room and return for the parade and fireworks. For the VIP viewing areas you only need to show up 5-10 minutes before the show as they have seats saved for you. Obviously give yourself time to get through the crowds and to the CM who has the guest list, but the perk is you don't have to wait.

Depending on their showtimes, if you ARE trying to do all 4 (PTN, Fireworks, Fantasmic & WOC) you need to let your Plaid know so they can schedule it with the other CM's and have you escorted even though your Plaid is no longer with you.

 

[Nonsuch]

...The new VIP perk is they can get you to the front of the line for character greetings...

That's a great feature.

 

[SuzanneSLO]

How far in advance can you book the VIP tour?
Do infants count towards the maximum number of guests? We will have 7 adults, as well as an 7 month old, a 3YO, a 10YO and a 15YO. Thanks -- Suzanne

 

[Nonsuch]

How far in advance can you book the VIP tour?

30 days in advance.

Do infants count towards the maximum number of guests?

The limit is 10 guests per guide, and infants count toward that limit.

 

[Malcon10t]

Glad to hear the new perk about meeting characters! Will have to try that one!

Yes, infants count into your guests. "If it has a heartbeat..."

I *think* they are only allowing 2 night viewings. It would be hard to make it from fireworks to WOC back to Fantasmic!

 

[SuzanneSLO]

Thanks for the info on infants. If everyone confirms for the trip, we may have to wait until another trip. -- Suzanne

 

[MommyJKM]

Glad to hear the new perk about meeting characters! Will have to try that one!

If only this perk was available when Anna & Elsa lines were 3 hours long in 2013/2014!! I would have used it EVERYTIME just for that alone

Thanks for the info on infants. If everyone confirms for the trip, we may have to wait until another trip. -- Suzanne

Another great perk I forgot to mention is you can tour the Dream Suite if you add it to your pre-plans if noone is staying in there. You can also ask nicely if they will let you watch Fantasmic from there! You can also ask to go in 1901 Lounge in DCA and get a private room to eat in at Carthay Circle.
There are a ton of secret things you can do that aren't advertised.

 

[pudinhd]

Another great perk I forgot to mention is you can tour the Dream Suite if you add it to your pre-plans if noone is staying in there. You can also ask nicely if they will let you watch Fantasmic from there! You can also ask to go in 1901 Lounge in DCA and get a private room to eat in at Carthay Circle.
There are a ton of secret things you can do that aren't advertised.

This is the type of thing I am interested in!!

 

[disneydani]

All super helpful info...thanks so much! I think the timeframe the nightime shows are scheduled, we can only manage to coordinate two. I am thinking Paint the Night at 8:45 followed by the FW at 9:30pm would be our best option. WOC is 9pm and Fantasmic is 9pm and 10:45pm while Paint the Night has a second parade at 10:45pm as well. I am afraid I turn into a pumpkin much past 10pm so the later times are probably not a good idea for us. Are there any guidelines for tipping the tour guide?

Thanks again!

 

[MommyJKM]

We usually tip $20 per person, but if we've provided meals we tip $15 per person.

 

[Nonsuch]

...I *think* they are only allowing 2 night viewings. It would be hard to make it from fireworks to WOC back to Fantasmic!

I have not heard about a 2 viewing limit, but agree it would be hard to park hop for WOC.

...I think the timeframe the nightime shows are scheduled, we can only manage to coordinate two. I am thinking Paint the Night at 8:45 followed by the FW at 9:30pm would be our best option. WOC is 9pm and Fantasmic is 9pm and 10:45pm while Paint the Night has a second parade at 10:45pm as well.

There are 3 PTN reserved viewing locations: Main Street train station, the Hub (south spoke), It's a Small World. Guests may remain in these spots to watch Fireworks, so 2 shows with one reservation. A second reservation could be made for late F!

An alternate plan is early F! seating followed by Fireworks, then see the late PTN.

...Are there any guidelines for tipping the tour guide?

It rather depends on how "magical" the guide makes the day, but I tip at least $100.

 

[MIDisFan]

We usually tip $20 per person, but if we've provided meals we tip $15 per person.

I feel so much better now. We were lucky enough to win a VIP tour as part of the 60th celebration and wasn't sure if I had tipped the guide enough.

 

[whoever]

Any feedback on the frequency of the Dream Suite being on the tour?

 

[pudinhd]

The new VIP perk is they can get you to the front of the line for character greetings so factor that in as well.

I am curious to know if this is only for meet & greets like Anna & Elsa, PFF, Tink & Fairy Friends or also for random line locations for Mickey, Rapunzel, Mr. Incredible, etc.

 

[Malcon10t]

I am curious to know if this is only for meet & greets like Anna & Elsa, PFF, Tink & Fairy Friends or also for random line locations for Mickey, Rapunzel, Mr. Incredible, etc.

It includes the Anna/Elsa meet and greet, Royal Hall, and Mickey.