VIP Tour in MK on an low crowd day?

[TulipMom]

We're planning for late August 2020. Our kids are 8 & 9 and we'll be traveling with some in-laws. We are considering booking a VIP Tour. I have previous experience planning detailed touring plans that worked very well, but we were staying on site and had those benefits. This time we will be off-site. Is it idiotic for us to book a VIP Tour on a low crowd (Level 1/10) day if I'm a good planner? (Our kids have told us that they're no longer into the MK character meet & greets, so that crosses off quite a bit from our to-do list, as well.)

 

[trivan]

Is there really a date in Aug at a 1? I would base it on what your goals of the day are? Are you looking to hit all the parks in a day? If so then the tour would benefit since you’ll be saving value transportation time. If your only planning to do 1 or 2 I won’t think it’s worth the cost if it’s a very low crowd level. I’ve never been to the parks on a 1/10 day but one trip the average crowd was a 5/10 and in 3 days got everything done across all 4 parks. This past tour 10/10 on the 28th started at 1:00 and finished after the fireworks at 10in no order)

• Buzz light year
• mine train
• haunted mansion
• pirates
• peter pan
• christmas parade
• toy story mania
• SDD
• MFSR
• Expedition Everest
• Rocking Roller coaster
• Frozen
• Fireworks
• 30 min food break

 

[TulipMom]

Is there really a date in Aug at a 1? I would base it on what your goals of the day are? Are you looking to hit all the parks in a day? If so then the tour would benefit since you’ll be saving value transportation time. If your only planning to do 1 or 2 I won’t think it’s worth the cost if it’s a very low crowd level. I’ve never been to the parks on a 1/10 day but one trip the average crowd was a 5/10 and in 3 days got everything done across all 4 parks. This past tour 10/10 on the 28th started at 1:00 and finished after the fireworks at 10in no order)

• Buzz light year
• mine train
• haunted mansion
• pirates
• peter pan
• christmas parade
• toy story mania
• SDD
• MFSR
• Expedition Everest
• Rocking Roller coaster
• Frozen
• Fireworks
• 30 min food break

Oh, wow... That's incredible that you got that much done on such a busy day!!

We're looking at last week in August on a MNSSHP day, so crowds are supposedly going to be very low. We are planning on spending the whole day at MK and even doing the MNSSHP, so I do think adding in a VIP tour might be overkill for what we need. Thanks so much for sharing your experience!

 

[trivan]

Yes I would agree with you that a tour would be over kill. Save the $$$ when you kids are bound to a school calendar and you no longer have the options to come on a low crowd day.

 

[Fido Chuckwagon]

We went the last week in August last year and it was very low crowds especially on the mnsshp days. You should be able to get day of fast passes for everything with a little refreshing except maybe 7dmt but even that is possible. I’d save your money and use it on something other than a VIP tour on the trip.

edit: last year being 2018 to avoid confusion with the fact that today is New Year’s Eve.

 

[cgattis]

I’ve never done a VIP tour, but I’ve been in August, and I personally don’t think I’d get my money’s worth. Unless you really just live the heat, I think you’re going to need/want more rest breaks than a different time of year, which will cut into your touring time. I also know that I personally would feel so hot and disgusting by 7:00, that there’s no way I’d enjoy the party. At the very least, I’d say if you really want the tour, do it, but do the party another night—there’s no disadvantage to party night from staying offsite.

 

[twinmom13]

We did a tour on a low crowd party day in 2018, and we definitely got more done than we would have been able to without doing the tour, even with the low crowds. The big caveat is this: a VIP tour is exhausting, especially when the lines are short, because you are basically always in motion -- while waiting in line is not exactly relaxing, it is a break from walking, and if you are not waiting in lines, all you are doing is walking and riding rides for 7 hours straight. If you are anything like me, you will not want to take breaks because you are wasting valuable tour time. The result for us was that we were too tired to enjoy the party. For that reason, I would recommend against the tour in your situation. If you make a good plan and take breaks when you need them, you will get as much or more done between the day and the party than you would if you did the tour and burned out before the party.

 

[TulipMom]

@cgattis and @twinmom13 - Thank you! Those are things I hadn't thought about and all makes so much sense. Thanks again!!