Which VIP tour.

[KingofJapan]

We have family coming from out of the country and they want to do one of the VIP tours since they have never been to Disney. There will be 6 of us(4 adults, 2 kids who are 12 and 10)plus a baby. We are bringing the nanny with us to take care of the babies (2 of them) so we don't have to worry about ride restrictions. Which tour would you recommend.....the private premium or the ultimate day. We are staying at the Grand Floridian.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I have no personal experience with this. So I found these trip advisor reviews that may help you in planning. You might also call to find out the exact differences to maybe help determine what would suit your family better.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUser...7790159-Disney_Tours_Vip-Orlando_Florida.html

 

[KingofJapan]

I have no personal experience with this. So I found these trip advisor reviews that may help you in planning. You might also call to find out the exact differences to maybe help determine what would suit your family better.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUser...7790159-Disney_Tours_Vip-Orlando_Florida.html

I read all the reviews on line and its mixed. Some say one and some say another. Wanted to get everyone's opinion on here.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I read all the reviews on line and its mixed. Some say one and some say another. Wanted to get everyone's opinion on here.

Good luck. Keep bumping and hopefully someone can advise.

 

[baler31]

We have only done the premium tour. I don't like the description of the ultimate because you do planned activities. Premium tour guide just does whatever you want, unlimited access to fastpass attractions, special seating for parades, fireworks, and shows. Premium guide picked us up at resort and we were able to enter all the parks through backstage areas. We were able to do all the headliners in all parks as well as many other rides, Main Street Electrical, Wishes and Fantasmic.

You let them know ahead of time what parks and attractions you want to do. We usually do an 8-9 hour day so we can catch the night time entertainment. They can get you into most, but not all restaurants for a meal. Our guides have always done small things that made the tour especially nice, bringing popcorn to us while sitting on the Liberty Square Bridge waiting for the parade, getting us into a meet and greet before the line started, fun facts about the parks etc.

This review is only for the tour offered directly by Disney, I do not know anything about any of the Orlando companies that are offering tours.

 

[KingofJapan]

We have only done the premium tour. I don't like the description of the ultimate because you do planned activities. Premium tour guide just does whatever you want, unlimited access to fastpass attractions, special seating for parades, fireworks, and shows. Premium guide picked us up at resort and we were able to enter all the parks through backstage areas. We were able to do all the headliners in all parks as well as many other rides, Main Street Electrical, Wishes and Fantasmic.

You let them know ahead of time what parks and attractions you want to do. We usually do an 8-9 hour day so we can catch the night time entertainment. They can get you into most, but not all restaurants for a meal. Our guides have always done small things that made the tour especially nice, bringing popcorn to us while sitting on the Liberty Square Bridge waiting for the parade, getting us into a meet and greet before the line started, fun facts about the parks etc.

This review is only for the tour offered directly by Disney, I do not know anything about any of the Orlando companies that are offering tours.

We are leaning towards the premium. Question though. Since we are staying at the Grand Floridian which is practically next door to MK, would they still pick us up and do they drive us to all the other parks or do we meet them there. Also what do they do about meals. We plan on being there when the park opens until the fireworks. Do they arrange breakfast, lunch and dinner for you so I don't have to get reservations.

 

[baler31]

We are leaning towards the premium. Question though. Since we are staying at the Grand Floridian which is practically next door to MK, would they still pick us up and do they drive us to all the other parks or do we meet them there. Also what do they do about meals. We plan on being there when the park opens until the fireworks. Do they arrange breakfast, lunch and dinner for you so I don't have to get reservations.

They have picked us up from the GF before. They will arrange whatever meals you would like or you can make reservations ahead of time. They have always been able to get whatever we wanted but we have never requested something really hard to get like BOG dinner for example. We have always invited them to dine with us, Disney picks up the tab for their meal, or at least that was our experience. They will drive you to any and all parks you request to visit and you will enter through a backstage area to save time.

Personally , I would arrange breakfast before you meet the guide. The Grand Floridian Cafe, 1900 if you want a character meal or if you are staying club level the provided breakfast is more than adequate.

 

[KingofJapan]

They have picked us up from the GF before. They will arrange whatever meals you would like or you can make reservations ahead of time. They have always been able to get whatever we wanted but we have never requested something really hard to get like BOG dinner for example. We have always invited them to dine with us, Disney picks up the tab for their meal, or at least that was our experience. They will drive you to any and all parks you request to visit and you will enter through a backstage area to save time.

Personally , I would arrange breakfast before you meet the guide. The Grand Floridian Cafe, 1900 if you want a character meal or if you are staying club level the provided breakfast is more than adequate.

They want to eat all their meals in the park so I assume a nice place to have breakfast somewhere in MK. they don't like counter service or buffets. We are going 3/27-3/31. Is it too late to tell them where you want to eat or will they get you in no matter what. The tour is set already but have no idea how much $$. How much were you charged in the past.

 

[baler31]

They want to eat all their meals in the park so I assume a nice place to have breakfast somewhere in MK. they don't like counter service or buffets. We are going 3/27-3/31. Is it too late to tell them where you want to eat or will they get you in no matter what. The tour is set already but have no idea how much $$. How much were you charged in the past.

It is an hourly rate based on the time of the year. Anywhere from $360-500 per hour with a minimum of 6 hours, all hours must be continuous. You will pay the hourly rate from start to finish. You will pay the hourly rate while dining. I would really try to book at the Grand Floridian cafe for breakfast and then meet your guide or just order room service. They cannot get you in everywhere, they will get you in somewhere. In the time period you are going holiday rates are most likely in effect so the tour would be the $500 per hour. Holiday rates apply during Christmas, Spring Break etc.

Edited to add: Meals are not included in the tour, you would pay for those OOP.

 

[KingofJapan]

Hmm. Not so bad for 6 of us. We are set to go from 9am -close. We plan on having a nice dinner in Epcot where we will invite the tour guide. Sorry for all the questions about this. I am just acting as the middle man. Lots of work to set this all up. Fortunately for all my work, they are footing the bill for us and getting us the premium annual passes for both of us.

Now the way this tour works, do we ever have to wait in lines for the rides or do they bring you strait to the front of any ride you want.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

They want to eat all their meals in the park so I assume a nice place to have breakfast somewhere in MK. they don't like counter service or buffets. We are going 3/27-3/31. Is it too late to tell them where you want to eat or will they get you in no matter what. The tour is set already but have no idea how much $$. How much were you charged in the past.

FYI--pretty sure the only non-CS, non-buffet sit down breakfast at MK is at Cinderella's Royal Table. Pretty sure at all theme parks, there are no sit down options other Than buffet. They just released an updated menu. So I would review it and check availability to make certain that it would work or if something at the Grand Floridian might be better.

 

[baler31]

Hmm. Not so bad for 6 of us. We are set to go from 9am -close. We plan on having a nice dinner in Epcot where we will invite the tour guide. Sorry for all the questions about this. I am just acting as the middle man. Lots of work to set this all up. Fortunately for all my work, they are footing the bill for us and getting us the premium annual passes for both of us.

Now the way this tour works, do we ever have to wait in lines for the rides or do they bring you strait to the front of any ride you want.

The guide acts as an unlimited fastpass. You wait in the fastpass line and the guide will structure it so that you don't have to wait long. However, you will have to wait some. There may be some instances where you are taken to the front of the line but it is not listed in the tour and would be a magical extra. The limit is 10 on the tour so you are well under that.

 

[KingofJapan]

Are these regular cast members or special tour guides who work for Disney. How much would you tip someone like this. Making sure they are not relying on tips for their pay or they make an hourly wage plus tips. Hopefully they don't share the tips with the other guides.
Just spoke to someone in the tours department. I asked them about the dining options. They said we can't get into any of the character meals but they will get us into any other restaurant we want at any time. What do you recommend for a really nice lunch and dinner.

 

[baler31]

Are these regular cast members or special tour guides who work for Disney. How much would you tip someone like this. Making sure they are not relying on tips for their pay or they make an hourly wage plus tips. Hopefully they don't share the tips with the other guides.
Just spoke to someone in the tours department. I asked them about the dining options. They said we can't get into any of the character meals but they will get us into any other restaurant we want at any time. What do you recommend for a really nice lunch and dinner.

Our tour confirmation always states that they are not allowed to accept gratuities. The character meals are all buffets. There is a dining section on the boards where you can look at opinions on where to dine. www.allears.net is a good resource for menus for all the restaurants. The guides are Disney cast members typically receiving special training for the program and often working in guest relations when not acting as a tour guide.

 

[KingofJapan]

Our tour confirmation always states that they are not allowed to accept gratuities. The character meals are all buffets. There is a dining section on the boards where you can look at opinions on where to dine. www.allears.net is a good resource for menus for all the restaurants. The guides are Disney cast members typically receiving special training for the program and often working in guest relations when not acting as a tour guide.

Yes I read that somewhere about no tips. We will still give them one since they will be with us all day and it's a lot of work bringing s family around the parks who has never been there. I know about the menus but want some opinions on a good place to eat n Epcot or one of the resorts. I was thinking of Victoria and alberts since its in the resort we are staying. They are into steaks and seafood.

 

[kmb584]

We have only done the premium tour. I don't like the description of the ultimate because you do planned activities. Premium tour guide just does whatever you want, unlimited access to fastpass attractions, special seating for parades, fireworks, and shows. Premium guide picked us up at resort and we were able to enter all the parks through backstage areas. We were able to do all the headliners in all parks as well as many other rides, Main Street Electrical, Wishes and Fantasmic.

You let them know ahead of time what parks and attractions you want to do. We usually do an 8-9 hour day so we can catch the night time entertainment. They can get you into most, but not all restaurants for a meal. Our guides have always done small things that made the tour especially nice, bringing popcorn to us while sitting on the Liberty Square Bridge waiting for the parade, getting us into a meet and greet before the line started, fun facts about the parks etc.

This review is only for the tour offered directly by Disney, I do not know anything about any of the Orlando companies that are offering tours.

This has been our experience as well. We've done the premium tour twice, and will be doing it for two days on our trip in June. One time we hit all of the parks in one day, another time concentrated on an MK/EP split. This time we're doing AK/MK and DHS/EP days. It's wonderful to have someone else do the driving for the day and accessing the parks via backstage entrances. We're able to select what we want to do and when with minimal waits, don't have to stake out parade spots hours in advance, etc. It's well worth every cent.

 

[KingofJapan]

This has been our experience as well. We've done the premium tour twice, and will be doing it for two days on our trip in June. One time we hit all of the parks in one day, another time concentrated on an MK/EP split. This time we're doing AK/MK and DHS/EP days. It's wonderful to have someone else do the driving for the day and accessing the parks via backstage entrances. We're able to select what we want to do and when with minimal waits, don't have to stake out parade spots hours in advance, etc. It's well worth every cent.

That is what we are doing. One day start at MK, lunch at a resort, AK Epcot, dinner. Next day start at Epcot, lunch, DHS, Disney then dinner. I like the fact they will get you to skip the lines on most of the ride and will get you reservations for meals. Did they get you any reservations? They asked me where I would like to have our meals. Going to definitely do Victoria and alberts one night. Not too sure about other nights and lunch yet.

 

[kmb584]

That is what we are doing. One day start at MK, lunch at a resort, AK Epcot, dinner. Next day start at Epcot, lunch, DHS, Disney then dinner. I like the fact they will get you to skip the lines on most of the ride and will get you reservations for meals. Did they get you any reservations? They asked me where I would like to have our meals. Going to definitely do Victoria and alberts one night. Not too sure about other nights and lunch yet.

We did. Our guide was able to get us into Hollywood Brown Derby, Citricos, Jiko, Le Cellier, and Narcoossee's.

 

[Jennygt]

I have nothing to add as I have never used this, but I am enjoying reading all about it.

 

[mustlovecats]

Yes I read that somewhere about no tips. We will still give them one since they will be with us all day and it's a lot of work bringing s family around the parks who has never been there. I know about the menus but want some opinions on a good place to eat n Epcot or one of the resorts. I was thinking of Victoria and alberts since its in the resort we are staying. They are into steaks and seafood.

We did this for two days in November and absolutely loved it. We will definitely do it again on our upcoming trip.

About tipping though, the tour guide cannot accept cash tips. If they do they run the risk of being fired if they don't turn the tips into management. If they turn the tip down please don't try to insist they take it. Fair or not, it's a serious policy violation and I'm sure you won't want your guide to lose their job.