Some info I learned about celebrity/VIP tours yesterday

[ParkHopper1]

If I paid out that much for the plaid, I'd expect front of the line and not waiting in the long fast pass line.

It is actually not a bad deal if you have a large group and everyone is chipping in. I think you can have up to 10 with one tour guide. Yeah, it is not "front of the line" access but you get instant access to all of the FP lines as well as immediate access to 10-12 non FP attractions. They can also get you VIP access for shows, meet and greets, and things like fireworks (that is who is sitting in the benches in the Hub for fireworks). You also get free Valet parking at the Grand for two cars. There are a LOT more perks than just an escort.

I have been on a VIP our that a friend set up. We got more done in 6 hours then most people do in three days whole days in the parks then we were able to spend the rest of the trip enjoying the second tier and little things in the park as we had done every attraction we wanted...and some twice.

That night we sat next to a group at fireworks that comes twice a year with their whole family and they do two days of VIP Tours each trip. They were just average Joe small town business owners and said that would not do Disney ANY other way. You would never suspect that they would be the type to splurge for that...but there are apparently a lot of folks out there that do in addition to Celebrities and the "One Percenters".

Friends that were with us would NEVER have spent that money on a VIP tour on their own from the onset, but once we were done...they were seriously considering it for their next trip going in with another family who they are good friends with...and he is just your average middle class mortgage broker.

Yes, it is much more out of reach to the masses than say a Universal front of the line pass...but for a family that is staying at the Grand, buying a week's worth of tickets, splurging on food and character meals...a few grand more for the VIP tour is not outrageous compared to the rest of the expenses on the trip that some are spending.

 

[Malcon10t]

Personally I find +/-$3,000 for the mandatory minimum 6 hours to be outrageous , especially given that it doesn't seem to come with any perks except just the escort. And even at 2 "plaids" per VIP group, the cost of providing the tour is minuscule compared to the cost. I wonder if anybody but celebrities ever pay for this service and if so, why?

I enjoy the service. We used a VIP tour yesterday. It was nice for TOT Late Check out. We did it 3 times in under 30 mins. Line was 60 mins. Park was pretty packed yesterday. We used most of ours in DL, and were able to get POTC, Haunted Mansion, and Indy done in about an hour and 25 mins. This included getting stuck on Indy for 15 mins. Longest wait we had was probably 10 mins for IASW. Our guide is excellent. No lines entering the park as we use exits. We spent most of our time in DL, but got 2.5 hours in DCA, where the kids did pretty much everything they wanted including Screamin' twice, TSMM twice, TOT 3x, and even Monster's Inc. And finished up with seats for the 1015p WOC. Oh, and to be clear, 2 guides cost 2x as much. And most Disney actors do get comped tours.

 

[ronandannette]

I enjoy the service. We used a VIP tour yesterday. It was nice for TOT Late Check out. We did it 3 times in under 30 mins. Line was 60 mins. Park was pretty packed yesterday. We used most of ours in DL, and were able to get POTC, Haunted Mansion, and Indy done in about an hour and 25 mins. This included getting stuck on Indy for 15 mins. Longest wait we had was probably 10 mins for IASW. Our guide is excellent. No lines entering the park as we use exits. We spent most of our time in DL, but got 2.5 hours in DCA, where the kids did pretty much everything they wanted including Screamin' twice, TSMM twice, TOT 3x, and even Monster's Inc. And finished up with seats for the 1015p WOC. Oh, and to be clear, 2 guides cost 2x as much. And most Disney actors do get comped tours.

I'm either mistaken or confused then. I thought it was mentioned upthread that there was NO front-of-the-line access included with the tours, or am I misunderstanding you as well?

 

[Steven G]

I haven't been on one, but for FP rides you always get in the FP line, and for rides that allow it, you can get immediate access to them. I think an example of that is toy story midway mania.

Most of fantasyland you have to wait in normal lines though.
This is because the queues were built before fastpass were available.

I was on the adventures by Disney tour, and we took advantage of some of these, like the toy story one, we only could do that with our guides though. When we were alone, they gave us special fast passes, which were for any FP ride, at any time we wanted. Got around 4 of them each day (2days total). Each time we gave the FP, the CM who took the ticket kind of did a double take and had to look st the ticket closely. I found it amusing.

 

[ParkHopper1]

I'm either mistaken or confused then. I thought it was mentioned upthread that there was NO front-of-the-line access included with the tours, or am I misunderstanding you as well?

It is not considered "front of the line" but rather "expedited access". If there is a FastPass line, you just get instant access to the regular fast pass line. For the Non FP attractions that are part of the tour like Pirates, Small World and Matterhorn as well as handfull of others (and it is not everything...for example, Peter Pan and most of Fantasy Land was not accessible on our tour)...all of the access varies and is usually through the exit or the same entrance that a GAC card holder uses. Sometimes there is a small wait, some times it is go right on. It is usually quicker than a fastpass line wait, but it is not considered "front of the line" even tough it often is.

...and to clarify, we are talking about the paid hourly dedicated VIP tours, NOT the various guided tours that are available.

I will add that we got to know our guide pretty well and while they do not name drop, he did tell us who and divulged that he is the Guide for one of the most recognizable Pop Star celebrities on the planet when his entourage arrives at the park. When that have that level of VIP, they do still pay for the guide but they do indeed get front of the line access through side doors and perks like dedicated Star Tours cars and private elevator rides down Haunted Mansion, but that is purely from a safety and security standpoint for both the VIP and park guests so they don't get mobbed not because they are any more entitled than Joe Schmoe paying for the tour. Many celebrities wait in the fastpass line.

 

[DisneyJamieCA]

Personally I find +/-$3,000 for the mandatory minimum 6 hours to be outrageous , especially given that it doesn't seem to come with any perks except just the escort. And even at 2 "plaids" per VIP group, the cost of providing the tour is minuscule compared to the cost. I wonder if anybody but celebrities ever pay for this service and if so, why?

There were a lot of plaids out in the parks this week. Some were tours, but those are easy to pick out. Most were single plaids with a small-ish group, so I think there are plenty of people who pay for it. I'm not one of them though! This is the first trip that if there were celebrities in the parks I didn't see one.

 

[Malcon10t]

On Thurs. there were 80 tours out. They were maxed out and were turning people down for tours. It was a busy day, and I think a lot of people expected it to be busy and it was. At 10am, there was a line of 15 guides by the Grand fireplace, and another half dozen on the valet drive waiting for their guests.

Other perks to the guides, they can call and schedule a time to see the Star Wars characters, or a meet and greet with Anna and Elsa, or the characters in Toon Town. And the princesses in the Royal Hall. Works for us.

 

[cruisehopeful]

@Malcon10t, Do you dine with your guide? When I did a VIP tour at the San Diego Zoo, we were required to take an hour lunch break and we had the option of buying lunch for our guide and keeping her with us or having her drop us off and then pick us up. I would think 5 hours at Disneyland would require some type of food break. Also, if you want to go to a parade, do you get a special viewing area? I'd like to hear more about your days with the guide. Do you jam in as many rides as possible in 5 hours and then stay leisurely in the park afterward?

 

[Malcon10t]

We are not required to take a break, but we always do. Our guides generally eat with us. In the past, we have paid our guides meals, but as of this trip, the guides have cards so Disney pays their meals. Last tour, we needed chimichangas almost right away and our guide was right there to get a spot in line, then a couple hours later, we all needed hot chocolate. Then we hit the wharf for dinner. He secured a table while we ordered. And just before we departed for WOC we got ice cream at Giradelli. Being APs, we tend to relax the other days of our trip, then get most of our rides in during the tour. When you book a tour, you need to let them know if you want anything like parade seating, fireworks, or WOC. Parade seating can be in one of 3-4 different areas. All are pretty good. Fireworks seating is at the hub. WOC seating is the level above and behind the dessert viewing. I personally schedule my tour to start in the afternoon, and have our guide drop us at the evening show we chose. Then, we head out after we are done. And we tip our guides. I generally tip $150. I will tip more at CHristmas since it is more work. I know others tip more. And I know some don't tip at all.

We love our guides, and tend to request the same ones.

 

[Malcon10t]

for example, Peter Pan and most of Fantasy Land was not accessible on our tour)

To clarify, in Fantasyland, VIP tours can access Dumbo, Storybook Land Boats, Alice (it changes out with Pinochio), IASW, and Matterhorn.

Your guide can also put you on a ride and hold your spot in a line without access. For example, when Jingle Cruise first came out, it wasn't accessible. Our guide put us on Indy then got in line for Jingle Cruise, then we joined when she got to the front.

 

[GeneralTso]

We were in line at Soarin' with Diane Keaton and her daughter. No plaid.
Eric Stonestreet (Cam on Modern Family) was also in Cal Adventure while we were there and he did not have a plaid either.

 

[Monstropolis]

Personally I find +/-$3,000 for the mandatory minimum 6 hours to be outrageous , especially given that it doesn't seem to come with any perks except just the escort. And even at 2 "plaids" per VIP group, the cost of providing the tour is minuscule compared to the cost. I wonder if anybody but celebrities ever pay for this service and if so, why?

Because I can afford it and I wanted to pretty much sums up why we have done it and will do it again.

 

[Steven G]

Besides all of the fast pass, here are the rides that qualify for expedited access, as of today:


The following selected Non-FASTPASS attractions would also be offered for preferred access:

*Attraction availability is subject to change without notice.

In Disneyland® Park:

• "it’s a small world"

• Dumbo the Flying Elephant

• Pirates of the Caribbean

• Mad Tea Party

• Snow White’s Scary Adventures

• Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage

• Matterhorn Bobsleds

• Pinocchio’s Daring Journey

• Jungle Cruise

• Autopia

•The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh

• Disney Princesses at Fantasy Faire (subject to day of availability)

• Meet Mickey at Mickey’s House (subject to day of availability)

In Disney California Adventure® Park:

• Monsters Inc. Mike & Sully to the Rescue

• Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree

• Toy Story Midway Mania!

• Jumpin’ Jellyfish

• The Little Mermaid - Ariel's Undersea Adventure

• Flik’s Flyers

• Heimlich’s Chew Chew Train

• King Triton’s Carousel

• Anna & Elsa’s Royal Welcome (subject to day of availability)