Who has done a VIP tour recently?

[john7994]

We have a trip booked for May 4-8 and we have a VIP tour on the 5th. We are very excited and have never done one. We plan on starting at Hollywood studios, knocking that out and then heading to MK and ending there. We are doing 8 hours just to have a little extra cushion room for bathroom breaks/getting food. But just wanted to hear any feedback from anyone who has recently done one?! Thanks!

Enjoyed a tour in the first week of January with John (heading back on May 15th). Secured it three days before we wanted it. There are a lot of cancellations in the same week - so be persistent and keep calling! We went for about 9.5 hours, hit all 4 parks and major attractions ending with VIP seating for MK Fireworks and a side exit to a parking lot and transport back in time for dinner reservations at the Contemporary (exiting the park was all of about 10 minutes even with the mass exodus). Sounds like you have your plan, but its worth a few minutes going through it with your guide upfront so that they can plan the right routes / order to take. Our guide offered to find reservations at hard to get places for dinner (he even secured one for 7 people at Space220 - but we kept Steakhouse71 due to the fireworks). We did quick-service based on his recommendation and plan. He kept us in water throughout, park to park hopping was easy and always through a backstage entrance. It felt like we just "appeared" in the park each time. Never waited longer than 5 minutes to ride and he was able to secure the best seating for rides where it mattered. Heard rumored that they might even get you into D33 - we didn't know to ask for our trip. In the end, it was a bit overwhelming to do so much in so little time - and probably not practical for a group with children.

 

[howie4life]

Me and my party of 8 (4 kids 3,3,5&5 in age) plan to do out first ever tour the Tuesday or wed after labor day. We plan to start at Epcot, hit HS, then MK to end in the VIP section for fireworks. We plan to do our fav rides and re-rides. We have a couple that wants to join us but they have a one year old, and that brings the number of people in our party to 11. We plan to add the couple to our part and have them join us at the first park. They will alternate riding with the party of 8 while the other watches the infant. When we leave the first park they will leave and rest and meet us at MK to later in the evening and do the same thing. Talking to the reps at Disney, the infant won't be allowed into the fireworks viewing area. Any advice or suggestions. Are the tour guides flexible? Can the couple and baby secure viewing close to us?

 

[T.G.I.Friday]

Me and my party of 8 (4 kids 3,3,5&5 in age) plan to do out first ever tour the Tuesday or wed after labor day. We plan to start at Epcot, hit HS, then MK to end in the VIP section for fireworks. We plan to do our fav rides and re-rides. We have a couple that wants to join us but they have a one year old, and that brings the number of people in our party to 11. We plan to add the couple to our part and have them join us at the first park. They will alternate riding with the party of 8 while the other watches the infant. When we leave the first park they will leave and rest and meet us at MK to later in the evening and do the same thing. Talking to the reps at Disney, the infant won't be allowed into the fireworks viewing area. Any advice or suggestions. Are the tour guides flexible? Can the couple and baby secure viewing close to us?

I’m not sure that this will work. The Disney site for the VIP tours says a max of 10, including infants. I thought someone had posted something once about the infant counting towards their max, but to be honest, I don’t remember well since it didn’t apply to me. Hopefully they will weigh in. But I don’t think you can have people jumping in and out to keep it at 10 when you are a party of 11. It seems kind of iffy to just have them meet up with you off of the books and hope the guide is cool with it. I would definitely have a plan B.

 

[howie4life]

I’m not sure that this will work. The Disney site for the VIP tours says a max of 10, including infants. I thought someone had posted something once about the infant counting towards their max, but to be honest, I don’t remember well since it didn’t apply to me. Hopefully they will weigh in. But I don’t think you can have people jumping in and out to keep it at 10 when you are a party of 11. It seems kind of iffy to just have them meet up with you off of the books and hope the guide is cool with it. I would definitely have a plan B.

I can confirm that infants count towards the total party size and my goal is not to do anything off the books except may the VIP viewing. The two people who would be alternating would be on the list and count towards the 10 in our party, if that makes sense. They would be switching out and the infant wouldn't be in our party and couldn't ride, so one of them would need to stay with her while the other 9 of us ride. The infant wouldn't be able to ride most of what we plan to anyways. So 8 in the main party, 2 people in the other party along with their infant who is not in the VIP party. So at any given time the 8 from the main party plus one from the 2 person party will be riding while the other parent in the 2 person party watches the child. When we leave the first park the 2+ 1 party will take a break to rest and meet up with us at the 3rd/last park because they are unable to use the VIP transportation because of the infant. So just wondering if they will be kind enough to let the infant in the fireworks viewing area at the end of the tour, or if not, is there anywhere where the 2+1 party could view the fireworks close to us?

 

[T.G.I.Friday]

It sounds like such a unique situation that I doubt you will be able to know for sure until that day. But I also think it’s going to be all or nothing. If the guide considers you 11 at the start at EP and allows it, I’d assume they’d be fine to watch fireworks with you. If the guide has an issue at the outset, then they won’t be with you at all. Because you are a party of 11, no matter who is/isn’t riding.

Maybe have one person stay with the baby for half of the day and then switch off and the other person meet up with you. Then everyone can ride and the baby will still be entertained and get to ride/do things she’d enjoy.

I hope it works out for you!

 

[NicholeB630]

I can confirm that infants count towards the total party size and my goal is not to do anything off the books except may the VIP viewing. The two people who would be alternating would be on the list and count towards the 10 in our party, if that makes sense. They would be switching out and the infant wouldn't be in our party and couldn't ride, so one of them would need to stay with her while the other 9 of us ride. The infant wouldn't be able to ride most of what we plan to anyways. So 8 in the main party, 2 people in the other party along with their infant who is not in the VIP party. So at any given time the 8 from the main party plus one from the 2 person party will be riding while the other parent in the 2 person party watches the child. When we leave the first park the 2+ 1 party will take a break to rest and meet up with us at the 3rd/last park because they are unable to use the VIP transportation because of the infant. So just wondering if they will be kind enough to let the infant in the fireworks viewing area at the end of the tour, or if not, is there anywhere where the 2+1 party could view the fireworks close to us?

I feel like its so odd to count an infant, I mean really under 2. I just feel like they shouldn't count lol, what are they doing holding up lines? I get there needs to be a cut off but most likely no one is going to have 8 kids under 2 to take advantage of the service ha. Plus thats a waste of money anyways with that many little ones. Hopefully you can get it figured out. Good luck!

 

[nw6675]

Has anyone taken an infant in their group? If so, did it go ok? My group would love to do the tour, but our to be 11 month old granddaughter would be included.

 

[howie4life]

I feel like its so odd to count an infant, I mean really under 2. I just feel like they shouldn't count lol, what are they doing holding up lines? I get there needs to be a cut off but most likely no one is going to have 8 kids under 2 to take advantage of the service ha. Plus thats a waste of money anyways with that many little ones. Hopefully you can get it figured out. Good luck!

I don't know how true it is, but I heard that need to limit to 10 is the max capacity in the vehicles that take you between parks. Toddlers and infants would still need a car seat and thus a 2nd guide and van would be need for anyone extra.

 

[Tri-Delta4Life]

Has anyone taken an infant in their group? If so, did it go ok? My group would love to do the tour, but our to be 11 month old granddaughter would be included.

We took our 23mo daughter on a tour in October. For the rides she couldn't go on, DH & I alternated staying with her. The guide offered to watch her if we both wanted to go at the same time, but she wasn't even very happy staying with dad while mom rode - so we didn't attempt it. I had plenty of snacks for when we were waiting for the others. The guide also pushed the stroller!

 

[Tri-Delta4Life]

For our October tour, we started after her nap. For our upcoming tour in May, we're starting at 9am because I think she'll be ok just taking a quick stroller power-nap whenever she needs one mid-day.