VIP Tour?

[NickyKnack]

We're thinking of doing something uber special for my bday and we're thinking about doing a 6 hr tour at MK with a Disney VIP guide. I think with the current FP situation being able to get unlimited turns through the FP might be the best way to deal with MK.

Has anyone done this before? What did you think?
Can they get me to the front for meet & greets?
Can they get me meet & greets not normally on offer (Like from the parade, right after or before the parade?)
Is the VIP seating that comes with it for things like Fantasmic (We might choose to end the night there instead of at the park), or Wishes and the parades any good?

Thoughts, reviews?
And please don't tell me it's expensive, I KNOW it's expensive. That's one of the reasons in the past we never even considered it, we could do the FP just fine on our own. But with legacy FP gone the value this has to offer may have just gone up.

 

[baler31]

When we travel with my husband we use the premium VIP tour guides as his time is at a premium. They provide transportation to and from your resort to off stage entrances to the parks. You may visit multiple parks in the same day and your guide is your fastpass. In general it is not "front of the line" but rather unlimited fastpass access and alternative entrances in some cases. You will also have reserved seating for parades in MK on the Liberty Square bridge and easy access with reserved seating to other shows/parades. You will not "jump lines" that do not have fastpass. In general do not expect to get to the front of the line for M&G's. The seating for shows is excellent especially the bridge for MSEP. There are no special M&G's unless you pay for those in addition to the tour.

Park tickets are not included in the price and must be purchased before hand. We have enjoyed our guides and they are very good with children, pushing strollers, getting popcorn for you etc. We always dine with our guide as we enjoy asking questions and hearing different info about the parks. They can generally get a reservation the day of for MOST but no all dining locations. For example, I would not count on BOG ( but it might be possible depending on time of year) for dinner but most likely anything else in MK would be okay.

Please note my information is for the Premium VIP tour, I believe they used to have a basic VIP tour that worked a bit differently. Not sure if it is offered anymore but I don't have any experience with it as it did not include transportation and other things that were important to us. Also please note that this info is for tour guides offered directly by Disney I don't know anything about others. HTH

 

[NickyKnack]

In general do not expect to get to the front of the line for M&G's. The seating for shows is excellent especially the bridge for MSEP. There are no special M&G's unless you pay for those in addition to the tour.

Can they avoid backstage areas? I would rather not go backstage if I can avoid it... I have a thing about preserving the magic. It's one of the reasons I've avoided the Backstage Tour.

How do you pay for special M&Gs? Who would be available?
Do you know if they can work with me if I need to rent an ECV in the parks?

 

[DetroitDisney]

I've thought about this as well. Personally I think it's worth it. It's difficult for me to take vacation time so I try to get the most out of the time I have. Spare no expense!

 

[Networth]

I don't see the justification in this to be quite honest. Doing the VIP tours because they took legacy FP down seems a little much. I have done their VIP tours twice and never felt I got my money's worth. I know money is time blah blah but if with the income my fiancé and I make(not giving a number it's tacky) I found the tours overpriced for what you get. Just I think you may feel cheated if your expecting that to replace legacy FP, just my two cents.

Also on the tour we took we did not use the FP lines most of the time we either walked through back stage areas or the place they send guest who are wheel chair only etc.

 

[NickyKnack]

I don't see the justification in this to be quite honest. Doing the VIP tours because they took legacy FP down seems a little much. I have done their VIP tours twice and never felt I got my money's worth. I know money is time blah blah but if with the income my fiancé and I make(not giving a number it's tacky) I found the tours overpriced for what you get. Just I think you may feel cheated if your expecting that to replace legacy FP, just my two cents.

Also on the tour we took we did not use the FP lines most of the time we either walked through back stage areas or the place they send guest who are wheel chair only etc.

So basically you didn't even have to wait in the FP line most of the time?
How does that not help make up for losing legacy fp?

 

[Networth]

If you feel like spending the money to skip some lines by all means, as I said I felt it was not worth it. I would not consider a VIP tour a replacement for a free system but hey it's your money, again just giving you my opinion of the tour.

 

[NickyKnack]

If you feel like spending the money to skip some lines by all means, as I said I felt it was not worth it. I would not consider a VIP tour a replacement for a free system but hey it's your money, again just giving you my opinion of the tour.

If I had my druthers I'd rather take the free system, that is no longer an option. I am planning a 1 in a life time visit this year to celebrate turning 40 and what will probably be our last trip to Disney World (As I will probably be moving very soon to Arizona).

It's not just for the line skipping, it's also because I love the reviews I've read on travel sites of feeling like a princess and being spoiled rotten.

 

[Networth]

Well happy 40th and hope you have a great trip whatever you do decide.

 

[swebb0310]

I was fortunate to be able to have a VIP tour guide in October for a day. Molly was our guide and she was great! The ease of getting in and out of the parks was super. She said they have only very specific areas to go backstage so that it doesn't reduce the magic. I actually thought it was interesting.
We had only one day to see mk, HS, and ak. She helped us do it all. The instant fp was great. We ride tsmm twice, rrc, and tot in less than an hour and a half.
VIP seating for fantasmic was awesome. Right at the top of Mickey section.
Molly was very knowledgable about everything from tips to get high scores on buzz and tsmm to backgrounds on rides and parks.
If you can afford it for your once in a lifetime trip, I thought it was great. I know I could probably never afford it as I'm a starving teacher. It was wonderful day.

 

[serene56]

It's not just for the line skipping, it's also because I love the reviews I've read on travel sites of feeling like a princess and being spoiled rotten.

the reviews that you are reading is probably before when the guide could get many FPs for the day.

see if you can find a review for a tour without using the paper fast passes. I would be curious on how they get to the front of the lines today without that feature

 

[patty57]

the reviews that you are reading is probably before when the guide could get many FPs for the day.

see if you can find a review for a tour without using the paper fast passes. I would be curious on how they get to the front of the lines today without that feature

I've never done the VIP tour, however, I don't think the VIP guides used regular paper FP...did they?

 

[serene56]

I've never done the VIP tour, however, I don't think the VIP guides used regular paper FP...did they?

yes, they got FP at times when they were available-- example is they got a FP as soon as theyentered the park-- and another at 9:30 and on and on and on.

the VIP person had runners who would do the running as you were touring

I really dont understand how this will work without the FP for the price and how they will get people to the front of the lines.

I mean Disney did away with the disabilty front of the line since people were abusing it-- i doubt that disney would let people go to the front of the line even if they pay big bucks for it.

 

[NickyKnack]

I've never done the VIP tour, however, I don't think the VIP guides used regular paper FP...did they?

There used to be two levels, the cheaper of the two used regular Fast Pass, while the more expensive (and the only one they still have) just walked you into the line. At least that is what my research has uncovered.

 

[MermaidMommy]

yes, they got FP at times when they were available-- example is they got a FP as soon as theyentered the park-- and another at 9:30 and on and on and on. the VIP person had runners who would do the running as you were touring I really dont understand how this will work without the FP for the price and how they will get people to the front of the lines. I mean Disney did away with the disabilty front of the line since people were abusing it-- i doubt that disney would let people go to the front of the line even if they pay big bucks for it.

PP's are talking about the Disney VIP tour guides - not some private company. The Disney guides don't have to use FP - the front of the line privilege is part of the (very expensive) experience.

 

[DISNEYWITHCHILDREN]

I'm curious how VIP has changed with fp+ I had friends who did it prior to FP+ and they only got FP access for rides with FP. But now everything seems to have a FP! Including some Meet n Greets. Any recent experiences.

 

[goodferry]

We had friends that did it before FP+, they did not need to pull fast passes and they were brought to the front of character lines discreetly. It sounds like fun, enjoy!

 

[serene56]

We had friends that did it before FP+, they did not need to pull fast passes and they were brought to the front of character lines discreetly. It sounds like fun, enjoy!

the friends will not pull FPs the guide and runners pulled the passes for them.

I will have a hard time understanding Disney allowing people with money to go to the front of the lines while bypassing children with handicaps to wait until a specified time to go back to the ride. That just doesnt sound right there

 

[MermaidMommy]

the friends will not pull FPs the guide and runners pulled the passes for them. I will have a hard time understanding Disney allowing people with money to go to the front of the lines while bypassing children with handicaps to wait until a specified time to go back to the ride. That just doesnt sound right there

There are no FP's used by the Disney tour guides. No runners, no pulling FP's. The guide acts a an unlimited FP.

And, it's not something Disney "allows" - it's something Disney sells, because it's a money-maker for them. I believe the current pricing starts at $315 an hour, with a minimum of 6 hours.

 

[mom2aandj]

the friends will not pull FPs the guide and runners pulled the passes for them.

ere

No, you are confusing the Disney Premium VIP tour with something else. The Disney Premium does not have the guide running all over the place grabbing paper FP.