Are you hoping to have the best day ever in Disney World during your visit? Well, of course, you are!
We can’t blame you for wanting the best vacation ever!
You’ve saved and planned for months to visit The Most Magical Place on Earth, and you’ll definitely want to experience as much as you possibly can. One of the ways to get a LOT accomplished in a little amount of time is a VIP tour, and if you’ve ever been interested in this offering, we’re breaking down what all the experience entails!
What is a VIP Tour?
A Disney World VIP tour is a paid, add-on experience where guests will be guided through the park(s) by a knowledgeable Cast Member. During your visit, you’ll get the ultimate VIP treatment — including a customizable itinerary, backstage transportation, and front-of-the-line privileges at attractions.
Magic Kingdom
Throughout the day, you’ll also be able to learn fun facts about Disney World from the guides, seeing and hearing about details that only Disney insiders know. If you’re a Disney history buff or you’re looking for the most luxurious way to spend the day — this could be just right for you!
What Happens Before You Go
When planning a VIP tour, there are a few things to note. First, you’ll need valid theme park admission, and that’s not included in the cost of the tour. If you want to visit multiple theme parks during your tour, you’ll need to purchase Park Hopper tickets.
©Disney
Also, Disney Park Pass reservations are still required for entry on a VIP tour day. You’ll have to make a reservation for every member of your party at the first park you plan to visit.
Animal Kingdom
As far as the tour itself goes, you must book for at least 7 hours, and your party can have up to 10 people. The cost ranges from $425 to $850 per hour, depending on the season. (Remember that you can split that cost with the people in your party, so gathering a bigger group may be a good thing!) You’ll also want to budget for the optional gratuity — it’s just nice to tip your guide.
What Happens On the Day of Your Tour
Rules
Even though you’re a “VIP” for the day, you’ll still have to follow certain rules when in the parks! You won’t be able to use cameras, phones, or recording equipment in any backstage areas of the park that you visit.
You’ll only be able to take pictures in regular guest areas.
Also, children 17 and under must be accompanied by an adult, so don’t plan for your kiddos to go on this tour alone!
Pickup and Travel
At the beginning of your day, you can schedule a pickup from your Walt Disney World accommodations. (Keep in mind that your hotel price is not included in the cost of the tour, either.) The clock starts on your day at your scheduled pickup time, so you’ll want to be on time for this meet-up.
Hotel stay not included!
If you’d prefer to save a little time and meet your guide at the parks, you can do that as well, starting your tour later in the day. Either way, you’ll be chauffeured around to your chosen locations throughout the day in your own private transportation vehicle. You’ll park in backstage areas instead of the regular parking lots and enter through private park entrances. How fancy!
You’ll get to skip the public parking lots!
One of the best parts about a VIP tour is being able to skip the long wait for your favorite attractions. When you arrive at your selected ride, you’ll be directed through the Lightning Lane queue to skip the standby line and get to the front much faster.
Ready to skip the line?!
If the attraction doesn’t have a specified Lightning Lane, then you’ll be able to skip the entire line — what a treat!
Meals
Keep in mind that if you’re touring for 7 hours, you’re likely going to need to stop and eat. Meals are not included in the cost of your tour, so you’ll want to budget accordingly.
Don’t forget to stop and eat!
To save time, it’s probably best to dine quick service on your VIP tour day. Your guide may also give you complimentary snacks and drinks throughout the day, like water bottles, popcorn, and Mickey Ice Cream Bars.
The Cast Members/Tour Guides
The Cast Member guides themselves are (in our opinion) the best part about the tour! They’ll be able to share insider knowledge and facts about the parks throughout the day, and you can ask them questions about how things work in Disney World.
Disney Cast Members are extra special!
Walking around the parks and into attraction queues with someone who can point out all the little details and backstory can really enhance your time at Disney World!
Is a VIP Tour Worth the Cost?
That’s entirely up to you! It’s a LOT of money, but you’re really paying for the ultimate Walt Disney World experience. You’ll get expert knowledge, fast transportation, and you’ll be able to avoid waiting in long lines.
No need to wait in long lines!
If you’re visiting Disney World for a short amount of time, you could easily knock out quite a few attractions in one day with a VIP tour and get more done than you would be able to otherwise. You may be able to work it into your budget if you split the cost between a party of 10, rather than take the tour with a small group. The service you receive throughout the day will be unparalleled, and it’s hard to put a price on that!
You could have a really “magical” day!
However, you definitely don’t NEED to do a VIP tour to have the “perfect” day at Disney! Here at DFB, we specialize in helping guests with all the tips and information they need to know before their trips, and if you walk into your vacation well-informed and prepared, you’ll be able to accomplish much more. If you’re heading to the parks soon, make sure to check out our planning guides and our YouTube channel in addition to following the blog — we’ve got tons of advice to share!
Click Here to Learn More About the 50th Anniversary VIP Tour!
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WE KNOW DISNEY.
YOU CAN, TOO.
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Kind of makes me sad. Everyone in line gives these customers the side eye as they advance past everyone to the front of the line. Disney ought to be more egalitarian and not allow these kinds of services to celebrities or other customers regardless of their wealth.
Quite honestly, if I had the money I would do this for my daughter. We took her to the magic Kingdom for her 6th birthday. It was so crowded she only went on 1 ride. She should have had a magical day. Sadly it was frustrating and boring for her.
Work Harder John, you can do it …I believe in you.
Our tour guide got us into Space 220 for lunch when it was brand new without a reservation. I didn’t even know it was there in Epcot. At Hollywood Studios she parked right outside Brown Derby back stage which saved a ton of walking. It was similar at other parks. She took us to the best viewing level on Soaring when I didn’t know there was a difference. We bought her lunch and she ate with us, took pictures with us and when on many of the rides with us. She was a blast and when I take the rest of the family we are going to go with her again.
Used VIP Tours extensively in the past. Was great for short visits and when traveling with children. You can get everything in with ease. However, the quality of guides has declined since then along with some of the benefits. As for reserving VIP Tours for “celebrities” cannot think of a less deserving group – John must be a millennial…. Like everything else, you can get if you can pay for it…..