VIP tour at Christmas- help!

[wendydarling78]

My parents want to do WDW this year at Christmas. It's a bucket list item for my dad! We've already rented DVC points so that the whole family can share a 2 bedroom villa at the Grand Floridian. Now my parents want to book a VIP guide for three of our park days!

Talk about a dream vacation! We usually stay at Fort Wilderness campground! LOL! Which is fun and gorgeous, but this will really be a once in a lifetime trip!

I could use some help planning the 3 VIP days! As the Disney fanatic, I am pretty much in charge of this trip! We will be there December 21-28 and will be doing the Christmas parties on the 21st and 22nd.

We'll have extra days to spend our own time in the park and hit some rides, etc., but how would you structure the 3 VIP days?

Ages 9-74. Want to do a mix of thrill rides and classic rides. Not interested in character meet and greets. Would like to check out Pandora.

 

[Accident]

The easy answer is the hardest rides and best seats for parades, shows and fireworks. They are basically unlimited fastpass, but they can do interesting things like you can pick the track on space mountain so you can do both tracks really fast. They also skip front of park when park hopping with private ready when you are vans to wisk you off to the next place so 1 day you might want to reserve for just reriding the favorites everywhere. Pandora they will be very helpful in getting through the rides quick and opportunity to do fop a few times.

 

[quandrea]

I've heard it suggested that you do quick service dining so not to blow the hourly rate sitting in a full service restaurant. The guide facilitates ordering and bring the food so it is still a relaxing meal. I'd suggest Columbia Harbor House in MK, Sunshine Seasons at Epcot (or Tangerine cafe or Cantina de San Angel), Backlot Express at HS, Satuli Canteen or Flame Tree or Harambe Market at AK.

With your age spread, I'd have a day or two start later to take advantage of night time spectaculars. You will avoid tiring everyone out that way. Lines and crowds won't matter with your guide. No need to worry about rope drop. I'd take it easy in the mornings.

 

[whiporee]

Just out of curiosity and before you get too deep in this, you realize you're talking about more than 10K for this, right? Three days at $3600 a day (if that rate holds, and that's just for six hours each day) on top of park tickets and food. I'm only asking because grandparents might not understand the depth of what they are offering.

If so, you can't go wrong. It'll be crowded, but if it's gonna be crowded then a tour is the right way to do it.

 

[Accident]

Good point on the food, I agree you might to do the more timely table services when your on your own days. You still need to get your own ADRs if you do want to do a table service while you have a guide or have them end their time with you at a place to eat. Keep in mind you can invite them to join in your adr count if you want them to be apart of your days that way. Also they can't get hardest to get reservations but will try so again plan adrs accordingly well ahead of time.

 

[wendydarling78]

Just out of curiosity and before you get too deep in this, you realize you're talking about more than 10K for this, right? Three days at $3600 a day (if that rate holds, and that's just for six hours each day) on top of park tickets and food. I'm only asking because grandparents might not understand the depth of what they are offering.

If so, you can't go wrong. It'll be crowded, but if it's gonna be crowded then a tour is the right way to do it.

Actually, it's $600 per hour during Christmas with a minimum of 7 hours, so at least $4200 per day (more if you keep the guide past the 7 hour mark.) Trust me, I have given them the price!

As much as I don't want to admit that my parents are getting older and slowing down, they are! They are viewing this as their last trip to WDW and want to go out with a bang and watch everyone enjoy themselves!

 

[wendydarling78]

Good point on the food, I agree you might to do the more timely table services when your on your own days. You still need to get your own ADRs if you do want to do a table service while you have a guide or have them end their time with you at a place to eat. Keep in mind you can invite them to join in your adr count if you want them to be apart of your days that way. Also they can't get hardest to get reservations but will try so again plan adrs accordingly well ahead of time.

When we called, they said that they could make our dining reservations for those days. But, yes, quick service would definitely be a more economical use of the time! Except maybe BOG dinner since there will be 8 of us, and I am already stressing over getting that reservation!

 

[Karin1984]

Awesome gift to the family and better to give memories and experiences now then money as an inheritance.

If you do MK/party on day 1, I would do the tours on days 2, 4 and 7, rest in between. You will plenty of time to meet characters if someone in your group would decides so. I would do:
Day 1: Arrival day MK + party
Day 2: Tour with focus on rides in EP, HS, maybe shows in HS? End in HS for Fantasmic
Day 3: rest/resort day maybe FP AK by night. See Rivers of Light
Day 4: Start late and tour at MK, see Happily Ever After
Day 5: rest / resort day, EP world show case after lunch, see Illuminations
Day 6: rest / resort /Disney Springs
Day 7: Tour, whatever anyone wants to repeat
Day 8: Departure day, whatever you want / have time for.

 

[gap2368]

I would make a list of things you would like to do ( rides and if you think you want to do it twice) and any show, parades ride that would be nice if you have time to do or show parades and the fact that you want to do 3 days and 7 hour min. and let them put what you do and where you go together do this at the bering of your trip and just fill in what ever at the end.

 

[alldiz]

OP.... this is amazing for you and your family!! I agree with PP about living the memories now and not worrying as much about what is left behind.

I am an only child, my dad passed a few years ago and Mom lives with is now. She rents out her condo and we use that money for amazing vacations for our family.

DIsney started our love of travel together.......after many years of multiple WdW TRIPS, we have been exploring Europe. This year 1st trip to DL and Aulani with POA cruise around islands. Next year WDW with 3 of DD's friends do her sweet 16 and then Alaska. I know i am blessed, I don't want a big inheritance.... I want these memories!
Happy planning
Kerri

 

[tndisney5]

We did a VIP tour at MK back in October and it was a busy Fall Break day but with this tour you don't feel like it is busy or crowded. Our tour guide was amazing! I too would suggest quick service lunch meals so you get the most out of your 7 hours. We had QS lunch reservations at BOG and it took up a big chunk of time. We should have done Cosmic Rays, Pinocchio's, or anything else. We did not park hop and stayed at MK all day for our tour. We rode everything we wanted to and more, sometimes, rode over and over again! We viewed the parade with VIP seating and had a chance to ride one or two more attractions before the 7 hour mark. You will not regret this -- it is wonderful!

 

[PolyRob]

Utilizing the tour guide every other day with a rest in between is a great strategy that worked for my group. Also, your last full day being a repeat of favorites is a great way to end the trip on a high note. Since you said this may be your parents last trip, I would definitely ask which parade/shows they would like to see with your family and the VIP seating. Having pre-reserved seating on an actual bench/chair really helped take a strain off my mom who has bad knees. The guide can even transport you backstage via car if you do not think your party will be able to walk a lot within the same park. For example, I was driven to Test Track, rode, then driven behind WS for lunch. Very minimal walking involved which again helped out my mom.

How long will you actually have the guide per day (minimum 7 hours or all day)? You can decide to have him/her pick you up and transport you to the parks or he/she can meet you within the park. If you want him/her for a night show, but don't have him/her all day, maybe meeting in a park would work.

The guide is definitely most beneficial in MK. There are so many options and it is the most chaotic. Next I would say AK because of Pandora tiering, all the shows (front row Lion King is AWESOME), and it pretty big. HS and Epcot are harder because they have 2/3 headliners, and then all those other tier 2 attractions. You could easily cover both in one day, or use your FP+ for these places and revisit on your last day to get in all the favorites.

Don't forget, you're still entitled to your 3 pre-booked FP+ per day that you can schedule outside of your tours.

If you want the guide during your MVMCP, he/she can TRY to help you with the characters, but it is not a guarantee as they are not FP+ eligible. I have seen/read they will talk to the character handlers about a return time or get you in between shift changes, but it is not as effective as using th guide for a FP+ attraction. However, you would get the VIP parade viewing and Wishes viewing if you wanted that.