VIP in the days of covid

[G'sWatersprite]

So for those of you who have done a VIP tour during covid - Would you do it again? Was it still worth the money? Contemplating it for November but want to make sure it’s still worth the $$$$

 

[stsomewhere]

We were just at the parks earlier this week. We saw a few VIP tours in each park.

 

[KerryCM]

We are doing one on March 26th, thanks to my very generous son! He decided to invest in one so his children could get their favorite rides done during our short 4 night trip. Will let you know how it was.

 

[G'sWatersprite]

We are doing one on March 26th, thanks to my very generous son! He decided to invest in one so his children could get their favorite rides done during our short 4 night trip. Will let you know how it was.

thank you so much!! I’m sure you guys will have an amazing time!

 

[KerryCM]

thank you so much!! I’m sure you guys will have an amazing time!

Well, our tour was yesterday and oh wow, what a day! Tha guide offered to pick us up at the hotel, but since we are staying at the Grand Floridian we decided to just meet the guide at the Magic Kingdom. We all given beautiful pins, that said VIP tour on them. The kids loved them and put them right on. Our guide’s name was Sam, and he was amazing. My son gave him the list of rides and Sam took us in the most efficient way to get them done. In the span of an hour we did Pirates, Splash, Thunder, Mine Train(2 times), Space Mt. and Buzz, oh and Peter Pan! It was awesome. On Pirates we went in a back way right on the ride, other we went in the old fast pass line, no waiting at all.

Next park was Animal Kingdom. The kids only wanted to do 3 rides and quick lunch here. River ride, Dinosaur and the Pandora. My husband and I only did the river ride. We sat with the youngest one for the other 2 rides. Sam always found us a shady place to sit and wait for him and the others to return. We then ate at Restaurasaurus, and headed to the Studios. Here they did Millenium Falcon, slinky Dog (2 times), Buzz, (2times) and MMRR.

Next was Epcot. Here Sam parked behind Test Track. Nana and Pop were dragging at this point! We did Test Track, waited a little here because of cleaning the cars. Back in the nice van and drive over to back entrance behind China and Norway to ride Frozen. Got back in van to drive to back entrance to Soarin. This is Nana an Grampa and Oliver say goodbye to Sam and head to the bus! Jimmy and his family ended the tour also, but stay in Epcot for dinner in Mexico.

I will say for a young family it was definitely worth the money. My son said he will do this every trip now. He will go for 4-5 days only and do the tour and hang at the pool, casually going into parks later in the day. He has a job that he can afford to do it and I am happy for him. For me, it was nice, but my husband and I go to enjoy the sights and sounds of the parks more at our age and it was go, go, go. We are 68 and 70, it was beyond our pace to do all 4parks, like my husband said, 2 parks would have been perfect for us! We did 7 hours and it flew by. Sam was great and I know Jimmy gave him a great tip.

 

[holden]

Well, our tour was yesterday and oh wow, what a day! Tha guide offered to pick us up at the hotel, but since we are staying at the Grand Floridian we decided to just meet the guide at the Magic Kingdom. We all given beautiful pins, that said VIP tour on them. The kids loved them and put them right on. Our guide’s name was Sam, and he was amazing. My son gave him the list of rides and Sam took us in the most efficient way to get them done. In the span of an hour we did Pirates, Splash, Thunder, Mine Train(2 times), Space Mt. and Buzz, oh and Peter Pan! It was awesome. On Pirates we went in a back way right on the ride, other we went in the old fast pass line, no waiting at all.

Next park was Animal Kingdom. The kids only wanted to do 3 rides and quick lunch here. River ride, Dinosaur and the Pandora. My husband and I only did the river ride. We sat with the youngest one for the other 2 rides. Sam always found us a shady place to sit and wait for him and the others to return. We then ate at Restaurasaurus, and headed to the Studios. Here they did Millenium Falcon, slinky Dog (2 times), Buzz, (2times) and MMRR.

Next was Epcot. Here Sam parked behind Test Track. Nana and Pop were dragging at this point! We did Test Track, waited a little here because of cleaning the cars. Back in the nice van and drive over to back entrance behind China and Norway to ride Frozen. Got back in van to drive to back entrance to Soarin. This is Nana an Grampa and Oliver say goodbye to Sam and head to the bus! Jimmy and his family ended the tour also, but stay in Epcot for dinner in Mexico.

I will say for a young family it was definitely worth the money. My son said he will do this every trip now. He will go for 4-5 days only and do the tour and hang at the pool, casually going into parks later in the day. He has a job that he can afford to do it and I am happy for him. For me, it was nice, but my husband and I go to enjoy the sights and sounds of the parks more at our age and it was go, go, go. We are 68 and 70, it was beyond our pace to do all 4parks, like my husband said, 2 parks would have been perfect for us! We did 7 hours and it flew by. Sam was great and I know Jimmy gave him a great tip.

We are hoping to book one this summer. I hear they are booking quickly. Did your son have any trouble booking?

 

[KerryCM]

We are hoping to book one this summer. I hear they are booking quickly. Did your son have any trouble booking?

Yes, when he called they we fully booked! We were lucky that I have a very good friend that was able to pull strings and get us a guide. I do understand they are calling more back, but I would call as soon as booking opens for you.

 

[holden]

Yes, when he called they we fully booked! We were lucky that I have a very good friend that was able to pull strings and get us a guide. I do understand they are calling more back, but I would call as soon as booking opens for you.

Will do! Thanks!

 

[sophy1996]

@KerryCM, thank you for the report! It's great to get a sense of how many things can reasonably be done in the minimum 7 hours.

 

[2vets]

We did one in November and it was worth every penny (we did ours on a Saturday, so that's saying a lot) both for safety and line/crowd avoidance. It's best if you have an easily wrangled group who is ready to walk a lot, and if you've come up with a list of rides and priorities beforehand. We had our list down pat did every headliner (except RotR) in all 4 parks and adored our guide.

We weren't planning to do another one for an upcoming weekend in April since all adults are vaccinated now, but we kept thinking about how fantastic it was, and I actually caved and tried to get us one a few weeks ago (less than 60 days before the Saturday we wanted). No dice, all taken and the wait list full. There's no deposit, so if you're considering it at all, sign up right at 60 days.

 

[JessicaW1234]

How much does it cost?

 

[btk2333]

How much does it cost?

According to the wdw website

$425-$750/hour with a 7 hour minimum

 

[btk2333]

how far in advance can these be booked right now?

 

[sophy1996]

how far in advance can these be booked right now?

60 days ahead

 

[btk2333]

60 days ahead

Thanks!

 

[Boardwalk III]

We are considering booking this at the 60-day mark for our Nov trip. Curious as to how you came up with your attractions list, and more importantly, how to properly allocate the right amount of time at each park, considering travel time etc over the 7 hours. Many thanks!

 

[Minuet888]

According to the wdw website

$425-$750/hour with a 7 hour minimum

PER HOUR?!?!?! Well forget that notion for me lol

 

[Minuet888]

Is there a maximum number of rides they can get you on? Can they get you into restaurants too? Did you do the tour multiple days? Is it 7 hour minimum per day or spread out through your trip?

 

[KerryCM]

It is 7 hours a day. They get you on the number of rides in the allotted time. Our guide was great. My son had a list of rides they wanted to do in each park. Sam, who has been a guide for 22 years, took us the most efficient way to do the rides. The children wanted to do Mine Train 2 times, so they did. You park backstage at each park and everything is done to maximize your time. It really was wonderful. My son said he will do it every trip now.

 

[holden]

Is there a maximum number of rides they can get you on? Can they get you into restaurants too? Did you do the tour multiple days? Is it 7 hour minimum per day or spread out through your trip?

You come up with the list of attractions. They can get you onto everything except ROTR. We didn't use them for restaurants because we didn't want to pay that rate to sit and eat. We just grabbed snacks and ate throughout the day. They also provided water/snacks when we were in the van going from park to park. The guides know how to move things along quickly so that you can accomplish what you want. We got to ride/see everything on our list in 7 hours.