So many Plaids!

[tlovesdis]

In all my years of going to DLR I have never seen so many plaids! I think people are tired of the crowds and not having FP! They were everywhere with groups of 10 people! These weren't celebrities either! So crazy!

 

[ktlm]

We were there Oct. 6-10 and I said the same thing! There were plaids everywhere. I've never seen so many. It felt like everywhere we went there were plaids. My DH has never before in all the years we have gone to DLR or WDW noticed a plaid (a few times at DLR he has noticed the celebrity that was with a plaid)-- and he even asked me who all those people in red vests were and why it looked like there were so many "tour groups". That and there were WAY more people using DAS than I have ever seen before- at least triple I would say. We have a friend that uses DAS that was there that week and she said she had never seen DAS like that before.

 

[cruisehopeful]

I, too, saw many. In one case it was a family of 4 with younger kids. Another group was just 2 adults. I agree that people are not wanting to deal with all the waits and would rather just pay for the tour.

 

[gpjacobs]

I said the same thing! I didn't even know there WERE that many Plaids on staff at the same time.

 

[Kuilima]

Is it possible the plaids are trainig? And maybe some lucky guests scored discounted tours?

 

[Chickinvic]

And maybe some lucky guests scored discounted tours?

I doubt it. I read in another thread that DL was charging $850/hr for VIP tours in October. 7 hour minimum. Way out of my budget lol.

 

[ParkHopper1]

I has heard at their peak (at least pre covid) they could do up to 70 VIP tours a day.

They are a mix of paid tours (and celebrities usually pay rack rate unless it is a Disney Star they are hosting), VIPs that Disney is hosting, and Club 33 Members (think they get 4-5 a year)

But keep in mind, there are many Guest Services cast members that are "plaids" and not all are on VIP tours.

I have been fortunate to get to be on n a VIP tour...used to think they were overpriced but you can do more in one tour than most people do in three days then it allows you to go do all the little things you would otherwise pass up in the rest of your trip if you can afford the hourly rates!

 

[RunnerMom71]

A friend who worked in Disney Digital Marketing got VIP tours once or twice a year too as part of her corporate perk/job. Always with other employees / not family too.

Don't plaids do other tours too besides the VIP? Those are a lot less expensive than VIP tours as well.

 

[Chickinvic]

I have been fortunate to get to be on n a VIP tour...used to think they were overpriced but you can do more in one tour than most people do in three days then it allows you to go do all the little things you would otherwise pass up in the rest of your trip if you can afford the hourly rates!

While I'm sure it is nice, no way does doing what you could do in 3 days make up for a $6K price tag (for me anyways). I would do it if I were obscenely wealthy, but not in this lifetime I guess lol.

 

[AndrewC]

I’ve noticed at least 8 of them today. I also noticed a couple little podiums under an umbrella around the park… one or two in DCA and at least one in DL but I can’t remember where. They have always had at least one plaid if not two or three and the only other thing I’ve seen are some park maps. Are these VIP check in locations? Or are plaids being used for something else? I didn’t think other yours were back yet…

I’ve also noticed plaids jumping on the rides with their guests… at least on Space Mountain and I think RSR… is that normal?

 

[Chickinvic]

I’ve noticed at least 8 of them today. I also noticed a couple little podiums under an umbrella around the park… one or two in DCA and at least one in DL but I can’t remember where. They have always had at least one plaid if not two or three and the only other thing I’ve seen are some park maps. Are these VIP check in locations? Or are plaids being used for something else? I didn’t think other yours were back yet…

I’ve also noticed plaids jumping on the rides with their guests… at least on Space Mountain and I think RSR… is that normal?

Yes, I believe that is normal.

 

[DLgal]

I’ve noticed at least 8 of them today. I also noticed a couple little podiums under an umbrella around the park… one or two in DCA and at least one in DL but I can’t remember where. They have always had at least one plaid if not two or three and the only other thing I’ve seen are some park maps. Are these VIP check in locations? Or are plaids being used for something else? I didn’t think other yours were back yet…

I’ve also noticed plaids jumping on the rides with their guests… at least on Space Mountain and I think RSR… is that normal?

Those are guest relations kiosks. Their primary purpose is granting DAS return times, but they also help answer questions and such.

 

[DizMe]

We used to do the Holiday Tour and the Halloween Tour. Plaids led those and they were definitely not VIP tours (although enjoyable).

 

[DisSurfer878]

We were there Oct. 6-10 and I said the same thing! There were plaids everywhere. I've never seen so many. It felt like everywhere we went there were plaids. My DH has never before in all the years we have gone to DLR or WDW noticed a plaid (a few times at DLR he has noticed the celebrity that was with a plaid)-- and he even asked me who all those people in red vests were and why it looked like there were so many "tour groups". That and there were WAY more people using DAS than I have ever seen before- at least triple I would say. We have a friend that uses DAS that was there that week and she said she had never seen DAS like that before.

From what I've been reading a lot of people previously were able to get by with just using Fastpass and smart planning, so they never requested a DAS even if they qualify. But without FP, they are choosing to do so this time

 

[DLgal]

From what I've been reading a lot of people previously were able to get by with just using Fastpass and smart planning, so they never requested a DAS even if they qualify. But without FP, they are choosing to do so this time

From actually using the DAS, I can say that the apparent increased use of DAS is actually more VIP tour groups. They use the same entry and often the Plaid scans them in and waits outside. We have been in the return queues with WAY more VIP guests than other DAS users. One time, it was a party of 20 (yes, that's right...it was one family of 20 who actually hired 2 VIP tour guides) in Pirates of the Caribbean. Last week we had a group of 8 in line behind us at the Peter Pan DAS entrance. We hardly ever see other DAS users scanning in at the return points. It's more often a VIP group.

 

[ParkHopper1]

Just as a clarification..."Plaids" are all the Guest Services cast members who are responsible for many things like staffing City Hall and Chamber of Commerce, manning the info Kiosks throughout the park, as well as Guides for the paid guest tours that anyone can book (like Walk in Walt's Footsteps...pre Covid anyway)...VIP tours are just one responsibility of Guest Services and not all Plaids are trained for nor necessarily VIP Tour Guides when you see them out and about.

If you see a Plaid strolling around the park with guests, waiting in attractions lines, dining in restaurants, or on attractions...those are on a VIP tour.

 

[Malcon10t]

Like ParkHopper1 said, "Plaids" are Guest Relations cast members. They have a variety of jobs from City Hall, to Guest Information booths, assisting with DAS, working lost and found, doing tours such as Walk in Walt's Footsteps, Holiday Tours, various backstage tours, escorting important to Disney people (ie Josh D'Amaro, Chapek, various Imagineers who may need an escort) or various other functions on any given day in addition to VIP tours. Most people associate them with VIP tours though. While there may be upwards of 100 tours on a very busy day, there can be 1000 guest relation CMs working too. They also work off site as needed. An example, when Star Wars premiered a few years back, Disneyland VIP Guides escorted DIsney VIPs at the premiere. A friend of mine who is a guide was the regular guide for Marty Sklar.

And it can be fun being on tour. I've had people (usually teens) come up to our guides and ask "Who do you have on tour??" They are very discreet and I love watching them as they say "Sorry, can't tell you...." One time, we had a blast. We had 2 guides (both male) as we had a large group. We were still trying to get pulled together, so we told the guides to take the 3 teen girls and my granddaughter (5-6?) on Big Thunder while we finished up. They were a riot, and kept the girls between them and treated the girls like rockstars, all (guides and girls) had sunglasses on, they had the girls pull their ball caps down over their eyes. The girls thought it was the funniest thing ever. And everyone was trying to figure out who they were.

 

[AndrewC]

Like ParkHopper1 said, "Plaids" are Guest Relations cast members. They have a variety of jobs from City Hall, to Guest Information booths, assisting with DAS, working lost and found, doing tours such as Walk in Walt's Footsteps, Holiday Tours, various backstage tours, escorting important to Disney people (ie Josh D'Amaro, Chapek, various Imagineers who may need an escort) or various other functions on any given day in addition to VIP tours. Most people associate them with VIP tours though. While there may be upwards of 100 tours on a very busy day, there can be 1000 guest relation CMs working too. They also work off site as needed. An example, when Star Wars premiered a few years back, Disneyland VIP Guides escorted DIsney VIPs at the premiere. A friend of mine who is a guide was the regular guide for Marty Sklar.

And it can be fun being on tour. I've had people (usually teens) come up to our guides and ask "Who do you have on tour??" They are very discreet and I love watching them as they say "Sorry, can't tell you...." One time, we had a blast. We had 2 guides (both male) as we had a large group. We were still trying to get pulled together, so we told the guides to take the 3 teen girls and my granddaughter (5-6?) on Big Thunder while we finished up. They were a riot, and kept the girls between them and treated the girls like rockstars, all (guides and girls) had sunglasses on, they had the girls pull their ball caps down over their eyes. The girls thought it was the funniest thing ever. And everyone was trying to figure out who they were.

Well, who ARE you?!

 

[Malcon10t]

I’ve also noticed plaids jumping on the rides with their guests… at least on Space Mountain and I think RSR… is that normal?

Yes, Guides are allowed to ride with guests. And they give you ideas for pics!

Well, who ARE you?!

My kids' mom!! (And we do get recognized in the park!)

 

[DisSurfer878]

From actually using the DAS, I can say that the apparent increased use of DAS is actually more VIP tour groups. They use the same entry and often the Plaid scans them in and waits outside. We have been in the return queues with WAY more VIP guests than other DAS users. One time, it was a party of 20 (yes, that's right...it was one family of 20 who actually hired 2 VIP tour guides) in Pirates of the Caribbean. Last week we had a group of 8 in line behind us at the Peter Pan DAS entrance. We hardly ever see other DAS users scanning in at the return points. It's more often a VIP group.

Oh absolutely that too. Anecdotally though, I have also been reading from a lot of people felt they needed to get it where they hadn't in the past because of the lack of FP. But I think a lot of these reports of people "seeing" a lot of DAS users is VIPs and people with multiple experience attraction passes.