VIP Tour - anyone done it?

[browneyedplanner]

Hi everyone!
I'm not sure if this is the right place to post, but I'm wondering if anyone has done the private VIP tours and what you can tell me about this.
Our family (2 seniors, 2 adults, 2 kids - 7 and 4 at time of travel) will be going next year but only staying for 2 days. We were thinking of doing a VIP tour to get everything we want into the trip.

Thanks in advance!
D

 

[jcjen519]

We've done them most trips for the last couple of years. They pick you up at your resort at an agreed upon time and they come up with a game plan for the day based on what you want to do. We have never waited in line when we do this. Either we go through fast pass or they will take you in some other way. It's a great way to get to do all you want and takes a lot of the stress out of the parks. I can't remember what we have paid exactly ( I want to say 500-600 an hour?) and there is a minimum no of hours. What exactly were you wondering about? Happy to answer questions

 

[jcjen519]

The first time we did it so my 100 year old grandmother could more easily enjoy the parks and we just got addicted to using the service. we did it last month with just our 6 year old, 7 month old and my mother who is in her late 60s

 

[DisneyWishes14]

We've done the private VIP tour and if you only have two days and want to do and see a lot, I would highly recommend it. As the PP pointed out, the guide will pick you up at your resort and basically act as a human fast pass. They will also get you prime spots for shows and fireworks. If doing it, I would highly recommend buying park hopper tickets and only doing QS meals during your touring time to maximize your time with your guide.

 

[browneyedplanner]

Wow, thanks everyone! I guess I just wanted to know if it is worth booking one. We will be doing park hopper tickets, possibly the dining plan with a character dinner (Chef Mickey - yay or nay?). We are newbies with kids - but the last time hubby and I were there was probably 15-20 years ago! Lots of changes so we are trying to make this worth it for the kids. Who knows when we will be able to go back to Disney!

 

[jcjen519]

Wow, thanks everyone! I guess I just wanted to know if it is worth booking one. We will be doing park hopper tickets, possibly the dining plan with a character dinner (Chef Mickey - yay or nay?). We are newbies with kids - but the last time hubby and I were there was probably 15-20 years ago! Lots of changes so we are trying to make this worth it for the kids. Who knows when we will be able to go back to Disney!

Worth doing for sure! We aren't fans of chef Mickey food but for the kids I think it would be great! If you want to do vip tour the same day I would start early and end before dinner. Then head on your own over to chef mickeys.

If part of what you want out of the vip tour is the seating for parade/fireworks then I would do breakfast at chef mickeys and then head out on your vip tour. I'd do meals at qs while on the tour as pp said

 

[browneyedplanner]

We were thinking of doing VIP the evening we get there when we check in (staying at Bay Lake). Then doing the tour the next day at MK and possible HS and then doing HS on the day we check out and drive back to southern Florida.

Would the VIP tour give us access to the Jedi training so we don't have to rush to sign up? Perhaps we could use that to our advantage too!!

 

[kmb584]

We've done the private VIP tour and if you only have two days and want to do and see a lot, I would highly recommend it. As the PP pointed out, the guide will pick you up at your resort and basically act as a human fast pass. They will also get you prime spots for shows and fireworks. If doing it, I would highly recommend buying park hopper tickets and only doing QS meals during your touring time to maximize your time with your guide.

This, definitely. I book a VIP tour for two days every trip and find the expense to be well worth it. We do one day at MK and one split between EP/DHS. It's a 6-hour minimum, but I tend to book for longer, usually 8:45a (so we're at the park right when it opens) until 5:00p. You can also extend at the end for $100/15 minute increments. It's really nice to have a couple of days where I don't have to plan. Homer or Tom pick us up at BLT, get us onto or into the attractions and shows we desire, and take care of all of the planning.

 

[whiporee]

We were thinking of doing VIP the evening we get there when we check in (staying at Bay Lake). Then doing the tour the next day at MK and possible HS and then doing HS on the day we check out and drive back to southern Florida.

Would the VIP tour give us access to the Jedi training so we don't have to rush to sign up? Perhaps we could use that to our advantage too!!

I'm not sure this makes a lot of sense for you. You've got a six-hour minimum, so if you're checking in at 3, maybe you hook up at 4, then you're going to be VIPing until 10 (at a cost of $2400-3600) on a day you're already tired from driving/traveling from SoFla. Seems like lot of money on a day where the young ones will likely be tired. Then to tour again will be another $2400-3600 minimum, and in all likelihood much more because six hours will still leave you with non VIP time to kill.

And, to be honest, you don't appreciate the VIP tour unless you've lived the other way -- waiting in lines, shuffling around on busses and monorails. After youv'e done that and get frustrated with it, the VIP tour is awesome, Until you have, you might not think it a great deal because you'll still have some waiting and some frustration, just not as much as the regular park goer.

So I'd arrive, do MK with your FPs and yourselves, and save the VIP tour for your last day. I'm fairly sure you can get everything done you want to get done in a VIP tour day, and it will seem like a perfect way to end as opposed to being disappointed and frustrated with the regular parks after the VIP experience.

 

[browneyedplanner]

Whoops! I need to proof-read my posts!! I meant we wanted to do the character dining the evening we get there, then do the VIP tour the next day when we have a full day and can possibly park hop.

 

[whiporee]

That makes more sense. If you'e only got one full day at the parks, then the VIP makes a lot of sense. If you've got two, I'd do the first without the tour and the second with it, because you'll appreciate it more after having dealt with WDW the without-tour way.

Either way, hope it's a great time!

 

[DisneyWishes14]

I think that's a great plan. Check into BLT, dinner at Chef Mickey's (food isn't great, but for a first-time visit with the kids, it's a great way to start off the trip!). You also may want to take a monorail ride around that night to check out the Poly and/or GF or even a boat over to Ft. W for playground and pony rides at the stables. You can also watch Wishes from the 4th floor observation deck at CR.

Do the VIP tour the next day! When we did the tour a few years ago, the guide could not get us into Jedi Training and we had to stand in line to sign up. Another recent thread indicated the VIP tours now have access to a few Jedi Training spots a day, so when you call to book your tour, make sure to ask if they can sign you up for Jedi Training so you don't have to wait in line.

 

[monique5]

Good info. VIP tour on my Disney bucket list. Not a fan of Chef Mickey's, but I get it b/c of the characters. We love CM during holidays for peppermint chocolate chip pancakes. Yes, we pay just for the pancakes. Are you wanting to dine outside of parks? Children, girls or boys? Thought about 'Ohana or 1900 PF?

 

[Accident]

I really enjoy their more structured tours like the vip ultimate thrills tour if you want to have a taste of vip for the price of what is normally 1 hour with a vip guide per person.

I have joined some friends performing at disney that got the tour guides as part of their playing at disney and it's nice.. Not sure I find it worth the cost but if you have the means, it is great to just be able to do disney with minimal planning.. (get your adrs, but they are your fastpass). being dropped off from backstage near the first thing you want to do and having that pickup and dropoff switching parks from backstage is a huge time saver as well.

 

[catmegs]

Great post- I had many of these same questions! Does anyone know how character meet and greets work with the VIP guides? Do they have fastpass access for those characters with fastpasses (I've heard mickey and tinkerbell seem to be the common meets for VIP tours)? Also, any guesses if the new Frozen attraction and Anna and Elsa meet and greet can be accessed with a VIP guide?

 

[browneyedplanner]

Good info. VIP tour on my Disney bucket list. Not a fan of Chef Mickey's, but I get it b/c of the characters. We love CM during holidays for peppermint chocolate chip pancakes. Yes, we pay just for the pancakes. Are you wanting to dine outside of parks? Children, girls or boys? Thought about 'Ohana or 1900 PF?

We will be dining on-site between the parks and the hotel I believe. My kids are boys They will fall over when they meet Mickey! We considered Ohana....but is CM that bad at dinner? I feel like as long as they have salads and some protein for the adults and chicken fingers or mac and cheese or something for the kiddies, then we will be fine! LOL

Thanks everyone for your pointers This newbie appreciates it!

 

[monique5]

We will be dining on-site between the parks and the hotel I believe. My kids are boys They will fall over when they meet Mickey! We considered Ohana....but is CM that bad at dinner? I feel like as long as they have salads and some protein for the adults and chicken fingers or mac and cheese or something for the kiddies, then we will be fine! LOL

Thanks everyone for your pointers This newbie appreciates it!

The character interaction is great! Most do not have good reports for dinner @ CM. I won't go back for dinner, but there are restaurants that some love & some just plain dislike. So go where your family will enjoy, not always about the food. Most wouldn't pay that price just for photos & special holiday pancakes @ CM -- but we do! IMO, it's all about expectations, I know we'll have to eat sooner rather than later after that breakfast, so I plan accordingly.

CM D menu
http://allears.net/dining/menu/chef-mickeys/dinner

 

[Kelleydm]

I booked the VIP tour for my next stay and there was a minimum 7 hour required. The rates depend on the time of year but was told they usually go up in October. I specifically asked about character meets and was told that they will take you to those that have fastpass lines. Those that don't you wait like any other guest. Hope that helps!

 

[DisneyWishes14]

We will be dining on-site between the parks and the hotel I believe. My kids are boys They will fall over when they meet Mickey! We considered Ohana....but is CM that bad at dinner? I feel like as long as they have salads and some protein for the adults and chicken fingers or mac and cheese or something for the kiddies, then we will be fine! LOL

Thanks everyone for your pointers This newbie appreciates it!

The food at CM is fine. Nothing to write home about! But getting to sit and meet the Fab 5 while the monorail passes by? Priceless! Plus you are arriving at BLT that day - it's a great way to start off your vacation!

 

[DisneyWishes14]

Great post- I had many of these same questions! Does anyone know how character meet and greets work with the VIP guides? Do they have fastpass access for those characters with fastpasses (I've heard mickey and tinkerbell seem to be the common meets for VIP tours)? Also, any guesses if the new Frozen attraction and Anna and Elsa meet and greet can be accessed with a VIP guide?

If the characters have FP, the VIP guide will take you through the FP line. Anna and Elsa don't have FP, so I would recommend asking VIP services how to best handle that meet and greet when you call to book the tour. I have a feeling the response will be to pick you up early and get to Anna and Elsa immediately at RD. They will be able to park backstage so you won't have to walk from the entrance.