Would you rather...

[mom25kiddos]

stay onsite for 3 nights, or do a VIP tour? We are a family of 7, so staying onsite requires two rooms (going in April) and trying to decide if either are worth the cost. We have been the WDW many times and Disneyland not since our older children were young (none of them remember it). Our priorities are Star Wars and Avengers for the boys, the girls are easy to please. Or, would you skip both and save the $$ for something else? We are going the week after Easter, 4 day park tickets so expect it to be busy. One of my kids has a recent broken femur that required 3 screws-he is not weight bearing yet, but will be by then-I am a bit concerned about the walking for him so he may require some support for the long days.

 

[FeistyDisneyMom]

Gosh both options sound great to me! With likely crowds though, I would lean towards the VIP tour to make sure you get all the rides in that you want. Either way it'll be a trip to remember

 

[Becca1007]

Unless on-site stays get back the Early Entry perk ... I would definitely choose the VIP Tour option. There are lots of hotels within spitting distance of DL that can accommodate large families.

 

[Becca1007]

Additionally, rent a wheelchair from an offsite company that will deliver to your hotel. This way you can take it for the walks to and from the hotels and then just park it in the stroller/wheelchair parking for if he needs it later in the day.
In DCA all the queues are wheelchair accessible, so I would definitely plan to use it then to rest up as much as possible. DL is not as wheelchair friendly so most queues he will need to stand.

 

[SFMommy]

I remember reading something on this forum about the VIP tour not getting to go straight to the front of the lines anymore. Maybe someone with recent experience can chime in. Or do a search for posts about it.

 

[smartlabelprint]

Personally I wouldn’t do either.

If you’re considering GCH that might save some steps. At least from DCA.

I’ve heard the VIP tours can be tiring. Plus, it sounds like they’re not letting you use the LL right now.

 

[DisneylandFan22]

In all my recent trips I haven’t stayed onsite because I haven’t been able to justify the price. However if I had to choose between staying onsite and a VIP tour, I would choose staying onsite. I would rather have the multi-day experience of staying in the bubble, rather than the one day tour (especially without front of line access). Maybe not if it’s PPH though. Lol.

 

[DLgal]

Stay on site. Rent a wheelchair when needed.

Do NOT do the VIP tour. Right now they have to stand in the Lightning Lanes with EVERYONE ELSE and they have to wait however long that line is, and those lines can get LONG. It would be annoying enough to have to deal with that when you paid for G+/ILL access, but I can't even IMAGINE having paid literally thousands of dollars to have the same treatment. They are NOT getting backdoor/immediate access to the rides like they used to.

Have you looked into the 2 bedroom suites at the Disneyland hotel? They can sleep up to like 10-11 people and are somewhat reasonable in price.

 

[DizMe]

Have you looked into the 2 bedroom suites at the Disneyland hotel? They can sleep up to like 10-11 people and are somewhat reasonable in price.

In addition, those DLH suites often (maybe always with that size room?) come with a kitchenette.

 

[mom25kiddos]

I reached out to Disneyland VIP tours and asked about priority access-the reply was 'actually, we just recently received priority access to all attractions at both parks, including our two newest attractions, Star Wars: Rise of the resistance and web slingers.' For those that may have mentioned priority access is no longer as good, does this make any impact do you think?

All of the advice and opinions are greatly appreciated! Going to review tonight with my husband to help decide and offer all your suggestions!

 

[smartlabelprint]

I reached out to Disneyland VIP tours and asked about priority access-the reply was 'actually, we just recently received priority access to all attractions at both parks, including our two newest attractions, Star Wars: Rise of the resistance and web slingers.' For those that may have mentioned priority access is no longer as good, does this make any impact do you think?

All of the advice and opinions are greatly appreciated! Going to review tonight with my husband to help decide and offer all your suggestions!

How recently? Just last week someone posted that the priority access that previously existed wasn’t allowed.

 

[mom25kiddos]

How recently? Just last week someone posted that the priority access that previously existed wasn’t allowed.

About an hour ago I sent the email (they reply super quick). What I can't tell from the phrasing is if they mean priority access beyond the ILL lines (they really just refer to all the rides now being available). It is so expensive I struggle to pull the trigger, because of our family size we don't do much in park experiences (dining etc.) as the per person cost is so high-this tour is somewhat more appealing as it is a group cost, just so hard to tell if it is 'worth it'-which is relative. Kind of thinking of just adding another day to tickets...

 

[Wilcojoe]

We almost pulled the trigger on a VIP tour when we’re there in two weeks but have heard from both members on this board and elsewhere that they were no longer getting from of the line access. That was a deal breaker for us at that price point.

if I am paying that much money I would demand that someone calls you and explains in detail what is included. It’s very possible that they have reinstated front of line access but you need to hear that over the phone (and of course get the name of the person you are speaking with).

 

[mom25kiddos]

We almost pulled the trigger on a VIP tour when we’re there in two weeks but have heard from both members on this board and elsewhere that they were no longer getting from of the line access. That was a deal breaker for us at that price point.

if I am paying that much money I would demand that someone calls you and explains in detail what is included. It’s very possible that they have reinstated front of line access but you need to hear that over the phone (and of course get the name of the person you are speaking with).

This is fantastic advice. I will ask about front of the line access and see what I get back. I agree, it may be worth it for that, but otherwise is not likely. If my elderly parents join us (as they are threatening) it might be worth it for that once in a lifetime experience for them.

 

[smartlabelprint]

About an hour ago I sent the email (they reply super quick). What I can't tell from the phrasing is if they mean priority access beyond the ILL lines (they really just refer to all the rides now being available). It is so expensive I struggle to pull the trigger, because of our family size we don't do much in park experiences (dining etc.) as the per person cost is so high-this tour is somewhat more appealing as it is a group cost, just so hard to tell if it is 'worth it'-which is relative. Kind of thinking of just adding another day to tickets...

Yeah, I meant how recently did they reinstate it? Because the general customer service may not be correct. Often a differ rep will give a different answer. Frustrating! I’d rather add a day in the park or a meal!

 

[smartlabelprint]

You could do at least 6 WOC dessert parties for the price of vip. As far a logic why not have a few smaller experiences on each of your next trips. Maybe it’s more balanced?

 

[DLgal]

About an hour ago I sent the email (they reply super quick). What I can't tell from the phrasing is if they mean priority access beyond the ILL lines (they really just refer to all the rides now being available). It is so expensive I struggle to pull the trigger, because of our family size we don't do much in park experiences (dining etc.) as the per person cost is so high-this tour is somewhat more appealing as it is a group cost, just so hard to tell if it is 'worth it'-which is relative. Kind of thinking of just adding another day to tickets...

Priority access is the LL. Trust me. They are not bringing anyone in through the exits. We use DAS and those groups as recently as last Sunday were waiting in the LL right along with everyone else.

The fact that she references ROTR and WS leads me to believe nothing has changed "recently." For a time, VIP tours were not given ANY priority access to these 2 rides (they had to try for boarding groups like everyone else) and they changed that when the Boarding Groups went away.

I guarantee if you reach back out and ask specifically, WHERE do VIP tours get access from, the answer will be the LL. The only time they get in via the exits is on rides that don't have LL, and they follow the same procedure as DAS guests do. And if there are DAS guests waiting, the VIP tour has to wait their turn as well.

 

[Wilcojoe]

This is fantastic advice. I will ask about front of the line access and see what I get back. I agree, it may be worth it for that, but otherwise is not likely. If my elderly parents join us (as they are threatening) it might be worth it for that once in a lifetime experience for them.

Yeah, I agree it’s worth it to try at least once, as long at is indeed front of line. Let us know what you find out.

 

[Wilcojoe]

Priority access is the LL. Trust me. They are not bringing anyone in through the exits. We use DAS and those groups as recently as last Sunday were waiting in the LL right along with everyone else.

The fact that she references ROTR and WS leads me to believe nothing has changed "recently." For a time, VIP tours were not given ANY priority access to these 2 rides (they had to try for boarding groups like everyone else) and they changed that when the Boarding Groups went away.

I guarantee if you reach back out and ask specifically, WHERE do VIP tours get access from, the answer will be the LL. The only time they get in via the exits is on rides that don't have LL, and they follow the same procedure as DAS guests do. And if there are DAS guests waiting, the VIP tour has to wait their turn as well.

But are they going in front of the LL folks? If not, why would anyone consider it?

 

[smartlabelprint]

But are they going in front of the LL folks? If not, why would anyone consider it?

No