VIP Tour buddies?

[kaygela]

We are a group of 5 ages twenty something and up that love all the rides. We'll be there Sept 30-Oct 4 and are concerned the crowds will be huge due to Gay Days. We are interested in doing a VIP Tour that allows up to 10 people to split the cost with. We already called and it's $360 an hour for min 6 hrs inclusive up to 10 people. It would gain us access to the fast pass line for all fast pass rides and special seating at events. Please respond if you might be interested in splitting this tour with our 5 fun loving disnerds.

 

[MommyJKM]

We do the VIP tour often and I wouldn't recommend sharing with another group. 6 hours just isn't enough time for everyone to do what they want. For example, Autopia is always a 20 minute wait with your Plaid Guide.
And you only can have the VIP seating for F!, WOC, and Fireworks without your guide..so any other shows you have to have the guide with you.

I think you 5 should just split the cost amongst yourselves.

P.S. you also need to tip your guide and pay for their meals so We usually say it's $400 an hour to be safe.

 

[Nonsuch]

We are a group of 5 ages twenty something and up that love all the rides. We'll be there Sept 30-Oct 4 and are concerned the crowds will be huge due to Gay Days.

I have visited DLR during Gay Days the last 3 years and have also done a VIP tour, so a few comments:

• Crowds on Wednesday and Thursday prior to GD are quite manageable.
• The Friday Halloween Party is very busy.
• Saturday and Sunday are the best use of a VIP tour because: crowds are larger, park hours are longer, all night shows are performed.

 

[calilou]

We do the VIP tour often and I wouldn't recommend sharing with another group. 6 hours just isn't enough time for everyone to do what they want. For example, Autopia is always a 20 minute wait with your Plaid Guide.
And you only can have the VIP seating for F!, WOC, and Fireworks without your guide..so any other shows you have to have the guide with you.

I think you 5 should just split the cost amongst yourselves.

P.S. you also need to tip your guide and pay for their meals so We usually say it's $400 an hour to be safe.

Just curious - I get the tipping but pay for your guides meals? Is it an unspoken rule? How would everyone know that? I consider myself up on manners but I think that is something I would have missed if I hadn't been told.

 

[Lisaloo]

They pay for their own meals, Disney covers it.

 

[MommyJKM]

They pay for their own meals, Disney covers it.

I'm not sure where you got your information but I've ALWAYS paid for the Plaid's meals as has everyone I know whose used a Plaid at Disneyland and WDW.

Just curious - I get the tipping but pay for your guides meals? Is it an unspoken rule? How would everyone know that? I consider myself up on manners but I think that is something I would have missed if I hadn't been told.

They don't tell you directly to pay for the meals not do they tell you to tip, we just knew to do it from others that have done the VIP tour.

 

[Malcon10t]

They pay for their own meals, Disney covers it.

Actually, they don't. Not sure where you are getting your info, but it is not correct.

We've always invited them to join us and we pay for the meals. You could always sit down to your meal and allow them their break at that time (you call them when you are done.)

 

[Lisaloo]

Actually, they don't. Not sure where you are getting your info, but it is not correct.

We've always invited them to join us and we pay for the meals. You could always sit down to your meal and allow them their break at that time (you call them when you are done.)

I got my info from my neighbor who used a guide 2 weeks ago and the call I made to VIP services this week to confirm for our trip later this month.

 

[ADLFAN]

It is definitely generous to tip and pay for lunch, but it should not be required. The vast majority of DLR employees seem to have to do their jobs motivated only by an hourly wage, and it probably is not a huge amount. They have to sort out their own lunches, everyday, or presumably purchase food from Disney at a discounted rate. They are not eligible for tips. The Plaid guide position essentially involves coordination and escorting, it seems like they almost get to be a guest every day. I would hate to feel obligated to tip several hundred dollars to a guide when so many other employees have no hope of this benefit. They are all working hard all day...

 

[Malcon10t]

I got my info from my neighbor who used a guide 2 weeks ago and the call I made to VIP services this week to confirm for our trip later this month.

Should the guide be put in the situation where they are invited to join a meal (like Carthay or something) and then are expected to pay for it, Disney will send a card over to pay for it. However, it is an emergency situation. (We asked our guide when we took them to Club 33 once.) If you aren't going to pay for their meal, allow them their break where they can go back stage and get a meal.

We also supply snacks and liquids. And don't forget bathroom breaks!

 

[Malcon10t]

While tipping is "not required", it is a position where they are giving you personal attention. Your child will fall in love with them. They will make sure you have little things you may forget. They provide a service for you that really adds to your experience. In 15 years, I've had 1 bad guide. But I have 4 guides we use on a regular basis.

And to clarify, you are not required to pay for their meal. That wasn't our comment. Disney will not say you must pay for their meal. But if you invite them to join you, you should pay for their meal. We always invite, we find it to be worth it.

[imghttps://scontent-lax1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xtp1/v/t1.0-9/10891929_10205391555338746_5208688784518084855_n.jpg?oh=fdf6249649179641f984f6121f6fec40&oe=562D0B06[/img]

 

[Lisaloo]

Lol

 

[calilou]

That makes sense to me - you're touring for 6 hours so will most likely do a sit down meal during that time. I can imagine inviting the Plaid to join you which in that case I of course would pay for their meal as I extended the invitation. Or offering them the choice to take a break and meet up after the meal makes sense. I can also see offering a drink or churro or something when it's treat time making sense and feeling natural. However being expected to feed and keep your Plaid comfortable considering what you're paying doesn't seem reasonable. As an added bonus because you're clicking and wanting to enjoy their company and information while dining does.

Anyway we're new to tours just doing our first last visit (Discover the Magic). While we loved it overall (especially my girls), we had a really weird experience with one of the guides. I'll definitely plan more tours but we didn't necessarily get started on the right foot. It's nice to hear others' experiences and it certainly sounds like you can't go wrong with a VIP tour. Hope the guide we had never does those though!

 

[pinksand]

Personally, when we do VIP Tours, we will schedule an early, large lunch and have the tour start right after our lunch. That way you can spend more tour time riding the rides and seeing the shows!

That said, we do always pay for any snacks our guide has in the 6 hours we have our tour.

 

[White Rose]

Ok from what I know...WDW and DL are completely different. Supposedly WDW tour guides food is paid for, and they are not supposed to accept tips.

I read a guide supposedly written by an WDW ex tour guide who explained the differences. Tour guides that receive tips (she called them stickers I believe.) are required to give them to their supervisor and it is either donated to charity or used for bagels etc for the team. Now in the book I read, they said some guides keep the money but if they were found out they would be fired. DW plaids, supposedly, have a card that is swiped that covers their meals. They have to document it...the guide spoke of running around eating lots of food from carts while her guests were on rides.

 

[calilou]

Personally, when we do VIP Tours, we will schedule an early, large lunch and have the tour start right after our lunch. That way you can spend more tour time riding the rides and seeing the shows!

That said, we do always pay for any snacks our guide has in the 6 hours we have our tour.

Very smart use of time!

Ok from what I know...WDW and DL are completely different. Supposedly WDW tour guides food is paid for, and they are not supposed to accept tips.

I read a guide supposedly written by an WDW ex tour guide who explained the differences. Tour guides that receive tips (she called them stickers I believe.) are required to give them to their supervisor and it is either donated to charity or used for bagels etc for the team. Now in the book I read, they said some guides keep the money but if they were found out they would be fired. DW plaids, supposedly, have a card that is swiped that covers their meals. They have to document it...the guide spoke of running around eating lots of food from carts while her guests were on rides.

Well this is interesting.

 

[Malcon10t]

Ok from what I know...WDW and DL are completely different. Supposedly WDW tour guides food is paid for, and they are not supposed to accept tips.

I read a guide supposedly written by an WDW ex tour guide who explained the differences. Tour guides that receive tips (she called them stickers I believe.) are required to give them to their supervisor and it is either donated to charity or used for bagels etc for the team. Now in the book I read, they said some guides keep the money but if they were found out they would be fired. DW plaids, supposedly, have a card that is swiped that covers their meals. They have to document it...the guide spoke of running around eating lots of food from carts while her guests were on rides.

Just to clarify, we are talking about VIP tours. I have a guide who has done VIP on both sides of the US and they said the rules are the same. It will be interesting to see when we eventually head to the east coast.

We usually start out tours right after lunch, but sometimes we haven't had time, so we will start with lunch. I've been known to call and tell our guide "We're at the French Market, come join us!" We use the down time to game plan with the guide the next few hours.

Let your guide know if there are specifics you want to cover and also know what rides you can use your guide to get on, and which ones they don't have access to. It is a waste of time to decide your kids want to do the Funwheel as the guide has to use the regular line, so you should do that on your own time, whereas if you want to ride Screamin' 5 times in a row, NOW is the time to do it!

And be aware that while your guide may not have access to certain things, they do know how to get what you want to do one a little faster!

 

[White Rose]

Ok...I am doing a WDW VIP tour with a VIP tour guide in sept and when we booked it we were told the guides are not allowed to accept tips.

Also, I suggest you check out a book I found called "the ride delegate". I am not sure if it is 100% accurate, but it did say there were differences between the plaids in each park. Some of it is obviously romanticized for the book, but I am guessing there is a part of it that is factual.

According to the person who booked our VIP tour guide tour....WDW VIP tour guides can get you to the fast pass line in every ride except for enchanted tales with belle...including meet and greets.

Remember, in WDW like 95% of the rides are on fast pass...just sayin.

 

[twodogs]

We just did the VIP at WDW in May. I had read here, "no tips". At the end of the day and having no cash on me, I thanked our guide and said that I understood that they couldn't take tips but that we had a great day. She said she COULD accept a tip if she "turned it down three times". Well then it was awkward because I was totally unprepared. Luckily my mom was still with me and I had to borrow cash from her on the spot. I didn't even have time to think about how much I wanted to give her etc. I figured at that point the tip was fairly expected as otherwise she would have just agreed with me that they weren't allowed to take tips and moved on. She said there was a declaration form of some kind that she would have to fill out to report the tip, though many veteran VIP guides told her they just pocket it and don't do the form. I didn't mind tipping but it was very uncomfortable because I was unprepared for it.

Regarding meals, we just did CS and offered to buy her meal. She declined saying her meal is paid for by Disney. Not sure how this compares to others' WDW experiences or those at DLR, but this was our experience at WDW in May.

 

[twodogs]

Here is my full review:
http://www.disboards.com/threads/ultimate-vip-tour-review-from-our-may-trip.3417420/