VIP experience?

[Stringbean49]

Does anyone have any feedback on this? We are traveling to DL next year and only have 1 day. We are hoping to do a mix of both parks. Would love your feedback!!

 

[ParkHopper1]

Do you mean the VIP Tour?

If so, worth EVERY penny if you can afford it. We did more in 6 hours than most do in three days.

 

[Malcon10t]

I love VIP tours. We can do everything we like in DCA in about 3 hours, then head to DL and get it all done there too. And you can pick night time entertainment for after the tour.

 

[BriannaRuth]

We did it a couple of years ago -- loved it. You can have up to 10 people in your group but we just did our family (4). We were able to do every attraction we wanted in both DCA and DL during the 6 hours we had the plaid, some more than once.

It's not a total "no line" thing -- rides that have FP you still have to wait in the FP line, although without the actual FP of course. My recommendation would be NOT to do it first thing in the AM. This was one of the few times we were able to enjoy a leisurely breakfast in the park without worrying about hitting everything early before the crowds started. We just did PP first thing (because it's not included on the VIP tour), then went and had breakfast and did a few other attractions before our tour started at 10.

On some attractions the plaid will ride with you if you invite them. On some they won't. They can't do water rides, for example, because they can't be wet. You can invite them to eat with you but they may choose to hold a table for you instead, then head off for a break.

Even if you're not still on the tour for the night-time shows, you can get reserved VIP seating for the day of your tour. We were done at 4 but were able to get VIP seating for Fantasmic, for instance.

One thing I wasn't prepared for was how exhausted I was at the end of the day. You don't realize how much resting you do just waiting in line. Covering two parks in one day with no resting by waiting really wiped me out. (We did stop for a sit-down lunch.) The kids and DH were fine, but I had to take a break at Flo's while everyone else did a lot of DCA ... which was actually fine with me because there's a lot of DCA I don't do.

Anyway, lots of fun and would love to do it again sometime!

Finally, please consider tipping your tour guide.

 

[Malcon10t]

Yes, it can be very exhausting, because you do so much without waiting. Also, if you want to do some of the Meet and Greets, let your guide know. They can reserve times for the ones in the Launchbay, for Princess Fantasy Faire, and for Anna and Elsa. And yes, tip your guide. (We are usually at $150 for the guide.) We usually also make sure we supply our guide with food and drinks, but they now have cards where they can pay their own meals and drinks. We really love our tours (and tourguides), but need the next day to recover! We have one coming up this Saturday!

 

[Stringbean49]

Thanks everyone, I talked the hubby into doing an extra day so I think we can save some $ and skip the VIP. But if we change our minds it sounds like VIP is the way to go!

 

[twodogs]

Can anyone PM their favorite guides and why they are your favorites? We've done VIP several times at WDW and thinking of doing it next time we are at DLR. Thanks!

 

[lffam]

Out of interest how much does it cost?

 

[Malcon10t]

It is in the neighborhood of $3K for 6 hours, plus tip for the guide.

 

[ParkHopper1]

Out of interest how much does it cost?

$400/hour with 6 hour minimum for max party of 10...prices go up peak season

 

[Miggee]

We did the VIP tour last month and we LOVED it! like many mentioned already, let your guide know if you like to meet characters, wants VIP reserved seating for Parades, WOC, Fireworks. our guide was so amazing we ended up tipping her $1200. ( a guy on our group thought he might have lost his phone on the previous rides, our guide called to make sure it's there, then she put us on our ride and walked back to get his phone, when we were done with our ride, she was there with the phone.. just so awesome!)

2 parks
13 hours
22 rides
Lunch at wine country trattoria (2 plus hours)
Dinner at blue bayou (2 plus hours)
Main Street electrical parade
Wishing fireworks

 

[Miggee]

cost of VIP, $400-550 an hour depending on the season (busy vs. off season) and a min of 6 hours.

 

[whoever]

The way the parks are these days, this is kinda the only way to have a really great experience at peak times. Would LOVE to experience it if only once.

 

[Steven G]

I did it once. It was enjoyable. I did it on Christmas Day starting at noon for 6 hours. Park was insane. There were two roadblocks that we hit. Haunted mansion fastpass line was very long, and Indiana jones ride got stuck while we were waiting in line... but we still were able to ride everything we wanted, and had a great view of parade and fireworks.

The guide was nice, but not very talkative, maybe because I knew a lot about the park already.

We did all the rides that VIP tour doesn't cover in the morning.

I would definitely do it a lot more often if it was half the price. Don't think I would do it again in the near future.

 

[DLRExpert]

My advice is to book your VIP guide for the afternoon when the park is busiest.
You can do a lot of the park on your own from park opening to about 12pm.

Arrive at the park at opening, avoid Fantasyland and Tomorrowland.
Hit up the westside of the park, grab FP for Indiana Jones, ride Jungle Cruise, Big Thunder, Splash, Pooh, Mansion, grab FP for Star Tours, use FP for Indy, ride Pirates, use FP for Star Tours.

Now you can have an early lunch and then meet up with your VIP guide, and do those attractions you missed in Fantasyland and Tomorrowland. Plus make sure they can give you a nice viewing location for the parade and fireworks.

ME

 

[twodogs]

We did the VIP tour last month and we LOVED it! like many mentioned already, let your guide know if you like to meet characters, wants VIP reserved seating for Parades, WOC, Fireworks. our guide was so amazing we ended up tipping her $1200. ( a guy on our group thought he might have lost his phone on the previous rides, our guide called to make sure it's there, then she put us on our ride and walked back to get his phone, when we were done with our ride, she was there with the phone.. just so awesome!)

2 parks
13 hours
22 rides
Lunch at wine country trattoria (2 plus hours)
Dinner at blue bayou (2 plus hours)
Main Street electrical parade
Wishing fireworks

Sounds like a great guide! I will say that tip is way over what we typically tip?? We only do about 7 hours, compared to your 13, but can others comment on the range of tips? I don't want to be on the low end, but that seems like a lot to me. Maybe I'm just out of the loop...

 

[rentayenta]

We have done 3 VIP tours and they were all pretty amazing. We still keep in touch with one of our guides.

 

[BriannaRuth]

Sounds like a great guide! I will say that tip is way over what we typically tip?? We only do about 7 hours, compared to your 13, but can others comment on the range of tips? I don't want to be on the low end, but that seems like a lot to me. Maybe I'm just out of the loop...

We didn't tip anywhere near that -- although our group was probably easier than the one above since we had 4 guests and 6 hours rather than 13 hours and a bunch of guests. Actually I would feel guilty tipping that much since the guides don't share their tips with others who are working just as hard, and certainly with the amount I paid for the tour I felt it was Disney's obligation to pay the employee a good wage with it. But I digress. I believe we tipped $150 or $200, which I felt was more than adequate.

 

[twodogs]

We didn't tip anywhere near that -- although our group was probably easier than the one above since we had 4 guests and 6 hours rather than 13 hours and a bunch of guests. Actually I would feel guilty tipping that much since the guides don't share their tips with others who are working just as hard, and certainly with the amount I paid for the tour I felt it was Disney's obligation to pay the employee a good wage with it. But I digress. I believe we tipped $150 or $200, which I felt was more than adequate.

Thanks that makes me feel better. We were a party of 6 and do about 7 hours most times. Appreciate your response!

 

[Miggee]

Thanks that makes me feel better. We were a party of 6 and do about 7 hours most times. Appreciate your response!

we defin went over the top as it was an event I took my best customers to and that she stayed with us for 13 LONG hours, personally when doing the tour, we typically tip one hour of what the VIP tour costs. so dont feel guilty! they are happy to get any tips.