do you tip disney vip tour guides

Disney World VIP Tour Guides (cost, tips, + a review)

By: Author Heather Thomas

Published: August 5, 2021 Updated: October 17, 2023

If you ever thought that Disney VIP Tours were only for celebrities and lottery winners, you’re not alone.

At one time we kind of thought that, too.

But an interview awhile back on the WDW Prep to Go podcast opened up our eyes to how this amazing private tour service might just fit into the travel budgets for lots of Walt Disney World guests.

So, in the name of research, we spent a day with 2 fantastic Disney VIP Guides checking out how it works.

(And before you ask, the experience was purchased with cold hard cash; nothing was comped. We went into the experience the same way any family visiting Disney World might.)

Here’s what we learned.

In this article

All the details

First of all, the price (at first glance) is not cheap, so don’t freak out when you see it:

The cost for reserving a Disney VIP Tour Guide runs between $425 and $850 per hour (busier times of the year will cost more), with a minimum duration of 7 hours.

You’ll need 1 guide for every 10 guests in your group, and infants DO count towards the 10.

So, on the “low” end, you are looking at a total of around $3000 for up to 10 people.

And that does not include your park ticket.

Everybody in your group will need a valid theme park ticket, and if you are planning on multiple parks during the day, you’ll need to have the Park Hopper option, too.

So, yes, that is expensive and may seem out of reach, but don’t say “no way” just yet.

We have some scenarios that make the cost seem a lot more affordable. More on that below.

How to book

Using a travel agent.

Whether you already have a travel agent OR you just want help with booking a VIP Tour, using a travel agent is a fantastic option.

They are experts in the park and if you’ve booked your trip through them, they’ll be able to help you weave the VIP experience into the rest of your trip.

Remember, these tours aren’t cheap. It would be silly to accidentally double up on something or waste time on a non-VIP day doing something you could have easily done with the guide.

Let your travel agent help you coordinate all of that!

Interested in connecting with a travel agent for help booking a VIP Tour? Get a quote now.  

On your own

You can also book guides up to 180 days in advance by calling (407) 560-4033.

In some instances, you can even book them same day, although we don’t recommend that since that would leave you very little time to plan out how you’ll spend your day.

Disney mentions on their website that space is limited; however, in reality, they have a vast network of guides and backup guides and are able to accommodate nearly all requests. They aren’t in the business of turning away guests requesting this experience.

What happens after you book?

If you booked through a travel agent, they’ll work with Disney and you to put together a plan for your time with the guide.

If you’ve booked on your own, you’ll receive an email confirmation shortly after booking that will list out all the details of your booking, including the cancellation policy which is a liberal 48 hours in advance with no penalty. If you cancel within 48 hours, you pay the equivalent of 2 hours/guide.

From that point, you’ll be asked to email Signature Services (which is the name of the department in charge of things like these tours) the list of the people that will be attending and a list of attractions you’d like to see.

That plan isn’t set in stone, however. You’ll be able to tweak it as you go, but it helps them get a feel for how their day will look.

What does a day with a guide from Disney’s VIP Services look like?

Try to imagine the most magical day ever at Disney World and that is pretty much what your time with a VIP Guide looks like.

You are in total control of the day, and as long as your request doesn’t break any rules or go beyond the scope of their job, your VIP Guide will try to make it happen. Like magic.

If an attraction has a Lightning Lane, you’ll have access to all of those with your VIP guide.

Want to ride Slinky Dog Dash multiple times? You can do that.

And Rise of the Resistance (which is notoriously difficult) is no problem either because your VIP Tour Guide can get you on without having to worry about snagging a Boarding Group .

Feel like stopping for a snack or a break in some AC? You’re with an expert that knows all the best places.

Want to watch fireworks without having to fight the crowds? Yep. That’s an option, too.

Officially, this is how Disney describes the services offered:

• Pre-arrival planning
• A flexible start time, picked by you
• Visits to multiple theme parks in one or more days, if desired
• The ability to enjoy some of your favorite attractions efficiently, even repeatedly
• VIP viewing areas for parades, select stage shows and nighttime spectaculars
• Shared insight from your highly knowledgeable VIP Tour Guide throughout your tour

See what we mean? An entire list of magic.

Two ways to make Disney VIP Tours “affordable”

Stay fewer days and use the money saved to book a vip guide.

For many years, suggesting guests consider adding a VIP Tour to a trip frankly wasn’t something that was on our radar.

But then we heard something that changed our entire perspective.

In a trip report interview on the WDW Prep to Go podcast , a guest was traveling to Disney World with her parents. For that trip, her parents set the budget and told her to plan the trip however she saw fit as long as she stayed within the allotted dollar amount.

Knowing that they wouldn’t be able to do a long trip, she instead opted to shorten the trip and use the money saved on hotel rooms, food, and park tickets to pay for a private Disney VIP Tour Guide for 2 days.

Not only did she stay within the budget , they still saw and did everything they wanted to because of their VIP Guide.

Mind blown.

The lesson learned here is that a VIP Tour becomes way more affordable when you realize that having a guide for a day (or more) means you’ll be able to get the same amount of stuff done in a less amount of time.

Split the cost across 2 (or more) families

When you book a VIP Guide with Disney, you get to choose the people that will be in your group, and as long as you stay within the 10 person/guide ratio, you’re free to put together your group however you’d like.

So, if you’re traveling with multiple families or couples, you can easily split the cost.

Even just splitting with one other family can be a huge savings and make a day with one of Disney’s VIP Tour Guides much more affordable than you might have thought.

(Click chart to view it larger.)

Who should consider booking a Disney VIP Tour?

While we think that anybody that can should give it a try (because it is just an overall amazing experience), we definitely think that there are a few times when it really might make sense:

Families short on time

If your time at Disney World is limited but you still want to see and do as much as you can, this is a fantastic option for that.

With a VIP Tour, you could easily hit most of the headliners in all 4 parks in 1 day, or split out your fun over 2 or 3 days instead of 7 or 8 days.

People staying offsite

Remember how we said up above that splitting the cost makes it more affordable?

Since lots of families share villas or houses they’ve rented offsite, that is the perfect opportunity to share the cost of a VIP Tour Guide at Disney World, too.

Plus, staying offsite is a great way to save some money on your trip, which would then free up some of your budget for extras, like a VIP Tour Guide!

Groups traveling together

Between conferences and sporting events and trade shows, there are lots of times groups of people travel to the Orlando area when (gasp!) Disney isn’t always the main focus.

But that doesn’t mean you can’t still have a lot of Disney fun, and since you can split the cost with others in your group, it can make it quite affordable to add on a day of magic.

Families considering lots of “extras”

If you are considering adding a bunch of extras to your trip to give you a better view or go on more rides (things like After Hours Boo Bash or Disney Very Merriest ) you may find that it makes more sense to instead work with VIP Services and a VIP Guide.

Not only can your VIP Guide assist you with gaining access to the attractions, they also have access to VIP viewing locations for all the nighttime shows.

Tips from the experts

After spending 7+ hours with Disney VIP Guides, we were able to put together a list of their top tips and suggestions for people booking Disney VIP Tours.

Here’s what they had to say:

1. Wear matching shirts

If you were ever going to wear matching shirts, Disney World is the place to do it. On our last experience with a VIP tour, our group of 11 had matching shirts, and we were told multiple times by both our guides and the Cast Members working the attraction entrances how much easier it made it for them to do their jobs.

2. Make sure kids know height requirements

Even though you’ll be with a VIP Guide, you’ll still have to follow all the height requirement rules. So if you know you have little ones that aren’t going to be tall enough to ride certain attractions, don’t wait until you get there to let them know, and definitely don’t leave it to the VIP Guides to do the dirty work. It can be hard for them to build any sort of relationship with the kids if they are seen as the bad guy.

3. Follow the rules

Despite what you might think, unless your name is Beyoncé, you’ll still be standing in the Lightning Lanes. Only when safety is a concern are celebrity guests ushered in and out through back ways. Don’t ask your guide to break the rules or to let you skip the Lightning Lane because that’s not something they can do.

4. Don’t try to sneak extra people into your group

The rule is 10 people per guide, so if you have 11, you’ll need to get an additional guide. Don’t try to sneak an extra person into your group or think that 1 more person won’t matter. The VIP Guides have rules that they must follow, and if you try to have more than allowed, you’ll be asked to narrow it down to 10 or pay for an additional guide.

5. Start your time with your guide at the first attraction of the day

It may seem like a good idea to have your VIP Tour Guide pick you up from your resort (after all, driving you around is part of their job), BUT the clock starts ticking as soon as you meet up with them. Instead of wasting time driving to your first attraction, opt to meet them there.

6. Eat quicker meals

Lunch at any Quick Service location that has Mobile Order is a fantastic way to minimize the time you spend eating, so you can maximize the time you spend riding.

7. Think about tipping

Though the rules on this are a bit fuzzy and tour guides will tell you they don’t need to be tipped , you should spend some time thinking about what you want to do, especially since any tips will need to be in cash and it could be a lot of money.

In the end, we ended up tipping about 10%, but have heard reports of people tipping much more and less than that. Be sure to plan ahead so you’re not scrambling to figure it out when you’re there.

Our day going VIP

Hands down our day spent with 2 fantastic VIP Guides was one of the most fun days I’ve ever had at Disney World.

But it didn’t start out that way.

Note: Our adventure with a VIP Tour Guide was in the before-times (aka pre-pandemic).

Off to a rocky start at Epcot

Originally our plan was to have a lovely breakfast at Garden Grill and then meet up with the guides at the podium just outside the restaurant.

But, because we were a group that know how to party be on time, we were early to breakfast and then done way ahead of schedule.

With an hour to kill, we decided to head downstairs from Garden Grill to take a whirl on the not-so-much-a-thriller known as Living with the Land.

Only today, “Living with the Land” was a lot more like “Shipwrecked with the Squash” or “Marooned with the Melons.”

Don’t get me wrong, the first few minutes of our voyage were amazing. In fact, all was going great until just past the farmhouse.

That’s where our boat came to a screeching halt, right by the part where they loudly say “Here at Epcot, we’re learning to reduce the need for pesticides by using natural predators like ladybugs and wasps to control pests.”

Over and over and over we listened to that spiel as we slowly crept forward.

As we waited (and regretted those 2nd and 3rd refills of water we had at breakfast), we stressed out as our hour buffer before meeting our guides slowly dwindled away.

Once we knew there was no way we were going to get off that boat and back upstairs by noon, Shannon picked up her phone and called Signature Services and told them the problem.

And as expected, they were amazing!

Not only did they contact our guides for us, they also changed the meeting place to the exit of Living with the Land which was a huge relief. The guides also reset our tour starting time since the delays weren’t our fault.

Not long after (and right when we had just started a rousing game of Rock, Paper, Scissors to determine who was going to swim to safety to secure emergency supplies like Diet Coke and chocolate), help appeared and the Cast Members working at Living with the Land pushed our boat to the safety of the Aquaculture room.

There we were able to climb out and wind our way out through the greenhouses to our new meeting place where our our 2 guides, Carson and Lyssa, were waiting.

After a few short introductions (and a much needed restroom break), we were off!

Let the attractions begin!

Our goal for the day was to knock out most of the main headliners in all 4 parks.

Ambitious? Maybe. But if ever there was a time to try it, today with our VIP Guides was the day.

To start our journey, we started our day at everybody’s favorite glider-based Disney attraction: Soarin’.

As was the procedure at all of the attractions, one of our guides would always lead the way to let the person working the FastPass+ line (now called Lightning Lane) know how many people were coming through with them. This is where the matching shirts came in so handy!

It was so easy for them to say “11 people coming through – they all have on shirts that look like this!” and then they’d point at our cute shirts.

At Soarin’, we were quickly through the line and we were even able to request the top row middle, which are the best seats in the house.

The entire time we were in line our guides were chatting us up and we were peppering them tons of questions.

Have I mentioned yet just how lovely our guides were? They were not just regular Disney-friendly, they were top-tier Disney-friendly.

Our guides waited for us at the exit and then, since our next stop was Test Track, instead of walking out the “regular” exit, they took us out the back door of Soarin’ where they had 2 vans waiting for us – and they drove us over to Test Track!

Of course, since we were backstage, we couldn’t take any photos, but just know if you’re into Disney stuff like that, it was very, very cool. And, not having to walk over there saved so many steps on what was going to be an extra-long day.

Lesson learned: Having the vans gave us a safe spot to stash stuff – like our bags – if we didn’t need them. That was a nice perk when you’re just hopping out for a couple rides!

After a trip around the backside of the World Showcase, our guides parked near Test Track. We made our way from backstage out to the front of the attraction and before we knew it, we were in the preview room making our cars and then out racing around the track.

After we were done there, we headed over to Frozen Ever After where we had the perfect number for our own boat which made for an adorable photo. There may also be video of the whole boat singing, but we’ll keep that for ourselves.

With the Epcot headliners done, we headed back to our carriages white vans so we could continue on to our next stop, which was Hollywood Studios.

Meeting some *REAL LIFE* winners at Hollywood Studios

We were all really looking forward to Hollywood Studios because we were meeting up with a lovely family that had won a WDW Prep contest that gave them the chance to tour with us (and our VIP Tour Guides) in the new Toy Story Land.

Considering that at this point it was the middle of the afternoon, having the guides there to get us into the FastPass+ lines instead of having to use the long standby lines was a huge blessing because I’m 99% sure that Andy must live on the sun as hot as his “backyard” is.

Seriously. Toy Story Land is brutally hot in the middle of the day.

Before we could make our way to the sun Toy Story Land, we had to get parked.

Our VIP Guides expertly navigated to a lot that was kind of back by Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster and Tower of Terror. Upon our arrival, we were met by other VIP Guides with iced down water and snacks – something we all desperately needed.

Then, since we were entering a new park, we were required to have our MagicBands scanned, but instead of having to go all the way to the front of the park, they used an iPad and scanned them right there in the parking lot.

Lesson learned: Being able to bypass the front gates is one of the perks (and time savers) of entering the parks with a VIP Guide. We only had to go through security and the turnstiles once (on our first park) and then every park after that, somebody either met us to scan our MagicBands or our guides took our MagicBands and scanned them for us while we were busy having fun on an attraction.

One of our guides needed to step away for a few minutes. While she was gone, another lovely guide stepped in to help our crew. All of that was totally seamless and very well choreographed.

After meeting up with the winners, we headed into Toy Story Land where we Rode Slinky Dog Dash, Alien Swirling Saucers, Toy Story Mania, and then Slinky Dog Dash one more time.

After we were “Toy Story Land”ed out we took a group photo with the lovely winners and then said our goodbyes. fyi – after telling 1 of our guides we wanted a group pic, this photo was choreographed between our guides and a PhotoPass photographer.

At that point we were a little bit ahead of schedule so we decided to give Tower of Terror a ride on our way back to the vans.

After finishing up at Tower of Terror we were ready for our next destination:  Pandora!

By now we were getting hungry and we were all ready to sit down for a bit which fit perfectly into our original plan of an early dinner at Satu’li Canteen.

So, to maximize our time, we all took out our phones and did Mobile Order on the ride over so that we wouldn’t have long to wait for our food once we arrived.

Dinner & Animal Kingdom

The parking here put us right behind Pandora. Like, RIGHT behind one of the walls there so it took just a minute to walk from the vans into the park.

There were no lines at Satu’li Canteen, but the seating there is always kind of a hassle, but have no fear –

Our lovely guides snagged us 2 tables in the air conditioning, which meant by the time our mobile orders were done we had a place to sit.

Our guides grabbed their dinner, too, and then we all relaxed and enjoyed the air conditioning for a bit.

After eating, we decided we should do Na’vi River Journey first (to give our stomachs a bit longer to rest) and with our stomachs full, we all headed that way.

Of course, we couldn’t leave Pandora without a stop by Flight of Passage, so that was next.

Lesson learned: one thing we didn’t really account for was how much harder it is on your stomach to do thrill rides back-to-back. Even things that didn’t usually bother us were a little iffy after riding so many attractions. If you’re prone to motion sickness when riding attractions, you might want to take that into consideration when mapping out your day!

After Flight of Passage we said “Eywa ngahu” (which Google tells me is Na’Vi for goodbye) to Pandora and we were off to our next stop: Magic Kingdom.

Ending the night with a BANG!

As we pulled up to Magic Kingdom, our guide reminded us to grab our stuff, which was a harsh reminder that we wouldn’t be coming back to our royal carriages  the handy vans again.

Our first stop here was Big Thunder Mountain which was followed up by Seven Dwarfs Mine Train and then Space Mountain and, because we had some time left before Happily Ever After, Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin.

By the time we were done with Buzz, it was 15 minutes until the fireworks were set to star which made me very nervous that there wouldn’t be any space left, but our guides assured us there would be.

And, of course, they were right.

They led us to a roped off area in the middle of the Hub, at the perfect distance from the castle.

The spot was partially full of other families and groups and their VIP Guides, and even though the crowds outside the ropes were shoulder to shoulder, we had plenty of room.

Knowing that our time with our guides was up, we all hugged and thanked them before the fireworks started.

At that point in the day, we were all close to (or over) 20,000 steps and exhausted, so a few tears of gratitude for our VIP Guides might have been shed and of course, Happily Ever After always brings us to tears so we were a puddle of sappiness by the time it was all over.

And just like that, the fireworks ended and our time with our VIP guides was done.

I’m not going to lie, it only took a few hours to get very used to having somebody lead the way, so to suddenly be left without that was a little disorienting.

But, we sucked it up and slowly made our way with the rest of the crowds towards the front of the park – exhausted, but still grinning ear to ear.

Do you have any questions about booking a VIP Tour? Let us know in the comments .

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Wednesday 7th of June 2023

How much was your tip

Scott Bonar

Sunday 5th of December 2021

What is a good guideline for tipping the tour guides?

Shannon Albert

Friday 24th of December 2021

About 10% is a good guide. Have had to make a quick ATM stop to make that happen since it's a lot of cash to have on hand.

Wednesday 6th of October 2021

Hi!! We are doing a vip tour on Friday - thanks for this article, it was helpful to know more of what to expect.

So, how exactly does the “waiting in line” part work? Do you actually wait in the fast pass/lighting/whatever we want to call it lines or do you just go on up to the front and hop on? My husband was under the impression you walked right onto the rides….just wondering how that really works!!

Thursday 5th of September 2019

Love all your advice, Shannon! Quick update on VIP Tour Pricing: between Christmas and New Years is $750 per hour (still 7 hour minimum).

Thursday 30th of May 2019

Awesome tips! How many attractions should I prioritize for 2 adults, a 5 and a 7 year old girl with 7 hours across Animal Kingdom, Hollywood and Magic Kingdom? I have 17 listed... Thank you!

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• Travel Guide

How Much To Tip A Disney Vip Tour Guide

Published: December 13, 2023

Modified: December 28, 2023

by Evanne Mullaney

• Plan Your Trip
• Travel Tips

Introduction

Welcome to the magical world of Disney! As you embark on your Disney vacation, there may come a time when you want to take your experience to the next level. That’s where a Disney VIP Tour Guide comes in. These knowledgeable guides are available to enhance your trip by providing personalized assistance, insider tips, and expedited access to attractions.

Whether you’re a first-time visitor or a seasoned Disney enthusiast, a VIP tour guide can make a world of difference in ensuring a memorable and stress-free visit. In this article, we’ll explore why using a Disney VIP Tour Guide can be an excellent option for maximizing your Disney adventure.

With a VIP tour guide by your side, you’ll have the opportunity to enjoy the parks in a whole new way. From skipping long lines to gaining exclusive access to special experiences, a VIP tour guide can help you make the most of your time in the magical world of Disney.

So sit back, relax, and let’s dive into the enchanting world of Disney VIP Tour Guides, where dreams really do come true!

Why Use a Disney VIP Tour Guide?

When it comes to experiencing the magic of Disney, there’s no denying that it can be overwhelming, especially with the crowds and long wait times for popular attractions. That’s where a Disney VIP Tour Guide can make all the difference. Let’s explore some of the top reasons why using a VIP tour guide can be a game-changer for your Disney vacation.

• Time-Saving: One of the greatest advantages of having a VIP tour guide is the ability to save precious time. With their extensive knowledge of the parks, attractions, and best times to visit, they can create a customized itinerary to maximize your time. They know the most efficient routes, hidden entrances, and can help you avoid long queues, allowing you to experience more of the magic without wasting time standing in line.
• Insider Knowledge: Disney VIP Tour Guides are experts when it comes to the parks. They possess an incredible amount of insider knowledge, from the best places to grab a quick bite to the hidden gems and little-known facts about the attractions. This insider knowledge can enhance your experience by providing you with unique insights and behind-the-scenes stories, making your visit even more memorable.
• Personalized Attention: With a VIP tour guide, you’ll receive personalized attention throughout your visit. They will cater to your specific needs, whether it’s accommodating dietary restrictions, assisting with mobility issues, or simply ensuring that your Disney experience is tailored to your preferences. They can provide recommendations for attractions that align with your interests and help you make the most of your time at the parks.
• Stress-Free Experience: Let’s face it, planning a Disney vacation can be overwhelming. From booking accommodations to navigating the parks, there are numerous details to consider. By hiring a VIP tour guide, you can alleviate much of the stress and enjoy a seamless experience. They handle the logistics, reservations, and provide real-time updates on wait times and show schedules, allowing you to focus on creating lasting memories with your loved ones.
• Exclusive Access: Another significant perk of having a VIP tour guide is the opportunity for exclusive access. They can arrange special experiences such as backstage tours, character meet and greets, and even reserved viewing areas for parades and shows. These exclusive privileges add an extra touch of magic to your Disney adventure, creating memories that will last a lifetime.

Now that we understand the benefits of using a Disney VIP Tour Guide, let’s take a closer look at how these guides are assigned and the range of services they provide.

How Disney VIP Tour Guides Are Assigned

Disney VIP Tour Guides are specially trained cast members who are passionate about creating magical experiences for guests. When you book a VIP tour, your guide is assigned based on availability and the specific needs and preferences of your group.

Assignments are made to ensure a seamless experience and to match the guide’s expertise with the interests of the guests. Each guide has extensive knowledge of the parks, attractions, dining options, and entertainment offerings, allowing them to provide valuable insights and recommendations throughout your tour.

When assigning a VIP tour guide, Disney takes into consideration factors such as the size of your group, the attractions you wish to visit, and any special requests or accommodations needed. They strive to create a personalized experience catered to your preferences, ensuring that you have the best possible time at the parks.

It’s important to note that the availability of VIP tour guides is limited, so it’s recommended to book in advance, especially during peak seasons. By planning ahead, you can increase the likelihood of securing a VIP tour guide for your desired dates.

Now that we understand how VIP tour guides are assigned, let’s delve into the array of services they provide to make your Disney experience truly unforgettable.

What Services Do Disney VIP Tour Guides Provide?

Disney VIP Tour Guides go above and beyond to ensure that every aspect of your Disney experience is seamless and magical. They provide a wide range of services tailored to meet the needs and preferences of your group. Here are some of the services you can expect from a Disney VIP Tour Guide:

• Personalized Itinerary: Your VIP tour guide will work with you to create a customized itinerary based on your interests, preferences, and the attractions you wish to visit. They will optimize your time by recommending the best order to experience the rides, shows, and dining options, taking into account wait times, crowd levels, and park hours.
• FastPass+ Assistance: Disney VIP Tour Guides are experts when it comes to utilizing the FastPass+ system. They will help you secure and manage your FastPass+ selections, ensuring that you have priority access to your favorite attractions with minimal wait times.
• Expert Knowledge: Your VIP tour guide will have an in-depth understanding of the parks, attractions, dining options, and entertainment offerings. They will share insider tips, trivia, and little-known facts about the park, adding an extra layer of enjoyment and discovery to your visit.
• VIP Treatment: As a VIP tour guest, you’ll receive special treatment and perks throughout your visit. This can include preferred seating for shows and parades, access to VIP viewing areas for fireworks and nighttime spectaculars, and even backstage access or meet and greets with Disney characters.
• Priority Access: With a VIP tour guide, you’ll have priority access to attractions, allowing you to bypass long lines and make the most of your time at the park. Your guide will navigate the parks efficiently, utilizing secret shortcuts and alternate entrances to minimize wait times.
• Dining Reservations: Your VIP tour guide can assist with making dining reservations at popular restaurants, ensuring that you have a memorable dining experience without the hassle of searching for availability.
• Crowd Management: Disney parks can get crowded, and navigating through large crowds can sometimes be challenging. Your VIP tour guide will help you navigate the parks strategically, avoiding congested areas and providing guidance to ensure a smooth and enjoyable experience.
• Flexibility and Assistance: Your VIP tour guide is there to assist you throughout the day. They can help with stroller and locker rentals, provide recommendations for attractions based on your group’s preferences, and help with any special requests or accommodations needed.

By utilizing these services provided by Disney VIP Tour Guides, you can truly make the most of your time at the parks and create magical memories that will last a lifetime.

Now that we’ve explored the services offered by Disney VIP Tour Guides, let’s delve into the cost of hiring a guide for your Disney adventure.

How Much Does a Disney VIP Tour Guide Cost?

Hiring a Disney VIP Tour Guide comes at an additional cost, but the personalized and exclusive services they provide can make it well worth the investment. The cost of a Disney VIP Tour Guide varies depending on several factors, including the duration of the tour, the size of your group, and the time of year you visit.

Disney VIP tour pricing typically starts at around $425 per hour, with a minimum tour duration of six hours. This cost covers the services of the tour guide for your group, and it does not include park admission or any other additional expenses such as food, souvenirs, or transportation.

The hourly rate for a guide may increase during peak seasons and holidays, so it’s important to factor in these potential price variations when planning your Disney vacation. The total cost of hiring a VIP tour guide can add up quickly, especially for longer durations or larger groups, so it’s essential to consider your budget and priorities when making the decision.

It’s worth noting that the cost of a Disney VIP Tour Guide can be split among the members of your group, which can help make it more affordable for each individual.

While the cost may seem high, many guests find that the benefits and savings in time and stress outweigh the expense. The personalized attention, insider knowledge, and exclusive access provided by a VIP tour guide can significantly enhance your Disney experience and make it more enjoyable for you and your loved ones.

Now that we have an understanding of the cost associated with a Disney VIP Tour Guide, let’s explore the factors to consider when tipping your guide.

Factors to Consider When Tipping a Disney VIP Tour Guide

Tipping a Disney VIP Tour Guide is a common practice to show appreciation for their exceptional service and ensure that they are recognized for their hard work. When deciding on the tip amount, there are several factors to consider:

• Length and Complexity of the Tour: If your tour was longer or involved more intricate planning, such as securing hard-to-get dining reservations or coordinating multiple park visits, a higher tip may be appropriate to acknowledge the additional effort put forth by your guide.
• Quality of Service: Consider the level of service provided by your VIP tour guide. Did they go above and beyond to make your experience memorable? Were they attentive, knowledgeable, and accommodating? If you were impressed with the service you received, a generous tip may be warranted.
• Group Size and Composition: The size of your group can impact the workload and level of attention required from the VIP tour guide. If you had a larger group or individuals with specific needs or preferences, the guide may have had to put in extra effort to ensure everyone’s enjoyment. Taking this into account when determining your tip is important.
• Overall Satisfaction: Consider your overall satisfaction with the tour. Did the tour meet or exceed your expectations? Did it enhance your Disney experience significantly? Your level of satisfaction can serve as a guide when determining an appropriate tip amount.
• Budget Considerations: While tipping is customary, it’s essential to consider your budgetary constraints when determining the tip amount. It’s not necessary to go beyond your means, but it is important to acknowledge the guide’s efforts within your financial capabilities.

It’s important to remember that tipping is a personal choice, and there is no set rule for the exact amount. It ultimately comes down to your discretion and the level of satisfaction you experienced during the tour.

In the next section, we’ll discuss the average tipping amount for Disney VIP Tour Guides as a general guideline.

Average Tipping Amount for Disney VIP Tour Guides

When it comes to tipping a Disney VIP Tour Guide, there is no set standard or mandatory amount. However, as a general guideline, many guests tend to tip between 15% to 20% of the total cost of the tour. This range allows for flexibility based on your satisfaction level and the factors mentioned earlier.

For example, if your VIP tour guide provided exceptional service and went above and beyond to ensure a memorable experience, you may consider tipping on the higher end of the range. On the other hand, if you were satisfied with the service but did not have any exceptional experiences, tipping on the lower end of the range would still be considered appropriate.

It’s important to note that the total cost of the tour may already be significant, depending on the duration, group size, and time of year. Therefore, when determining the tip amount, it’s essential to assess your overall budget and ensure that the tip aligns with your financial capabilities.

Remember, tipping is a gesture of appreciation and acknowledgment for the service provided by your guide. It is not obligatory, but it is a nice way to show your gratitude for their expertise and assistance during your Disney adventure.

Now that we have discussed the average tipping amount, let’s move on to the etiquette for tipping a Disney VIP Tour Guide.

Etiquette for Tipping a Disney VIP Tour Guide

When it comes to tipping a Disney VIP Tour Guide, it’s important to follow proper etiquette to ensure a respectful and considerate gesture. Here are some tips to keep in mind:

• Wait Until the End: It’s customary to give the tip at the end of the tour or on the last day of your service. This allows you to assess the overall experience before determining an appropriate tip amount.
• Hand-Deliver the Tip: It’s recommended to directly give the tip to your VIP tour guide in person. This gesture shows appreciation and allows for a more personal interaction.
• Express Your Gratitude: Along with the tip, consider expressing your gratitude verbally by thanking your guide for their exceptional service. A simple heartfelt “thank you” goes a long way in showing your appreciation.
• Use Common Currency: When providing the tip, it’s best to use common currency such as US dollars. This ensures that the guide can easily accept and utilize the tip.
• Be Discreet: While it’s customary to give a tip, it’s best to be discreet when doing so. Avoid drawing attention or discussing the tip amount in public areas, as it can make your guide uncomfortable.
• Consider a Thank You Card: In addition to the tip, you may also consider writing a heartfelt thank you note or card expressing your appreciation for their exceptional service. This personal touch can further convey your gratitude.

Remember, tipping is voluntary, and the amount you choose to tip should reflect your satisfaction and the level of service provided. It’s essential to be respectful and considerate throughout the tipping process.

Now that we’ve covered the etiquette of tipping a Disney VIP Tour Guide, let’s wrap up this article.

A Disney VIP Tour Guide can truly elevate your Disney vacation and provide a seamless and unforgettable experience. From personalized itineraries to insider knowledge and exclusive access, these guides go above and beyond to ensure that you make the most of your time in the magical world of Disney.

When considering whether to use a Disney VIP Tour Guide, weigh the benefits they offer against the additional cost. The time savings, stress reduction, and enhanced experience can make it a worthwhile investment for many guests.

When it comes to tipping your Disney VIP Tour Guide, use the factors discussed to determine an appropriate amount based on your satisfaction and appreciation for their service. Remember to follow proper etiquette by waiting until the end of the tour to give the tip, expressing your gratitude, and being discreet throughout the process.

Whether it’s your first visit to Disney or you’re a seasoned fan, a Disney VIP Tour Guide can provide a level of service and expertise that takes your experience to new heights. So, consider the benefits, assess your budget, and decide if a VIP tour guide is the right choice for your Disney adventure.

Now, go forth and enjoy the magic of Disney with the assistance of a dedicated Disney VIP Tour Guide!

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Coming from a country where tipping isnt the norm, I'm looking for advice on tipping etiquitte for Disney world VIP experiences.

My family(3 of us) and I are fortunate in being able to do 3 experiences, ultimate day of thrills, ultimate night animal adventure and a one day Private VIP. How much should I be looking to tip if we receive great service. This would help give me a reference point where I could pay more if we are blown away by the service while not offending by giving too little.

You don’t need to tip on the group ones.

The private day you should tip. Given the variable

Pricing per hour depending on time of year, I’d be hesitant to say a flat percent recommendation. There’s a big difference between $425 and $625 an hour. Number of people in the group would affect how much I personally would choose to give as well over a flat percent.

We are going in a couple of weeks on a weekday so was 425/hr for 7 hours and for a family of 3.

Sounds like 15% or so is about average for Private VIP guides. So tip $450.

This post has been removed at the author's request.

Not ridiculous. You're hiring a very specialized guide with excellent service. If you can't afford a 15% tip on a incredibly luxurious experience then maybe you shouldn't do it.

I think $50-100 is fine. I don't think 15% is the norm for a service like this.

Paying a $100 tip on a $3k tab is pretty insulting, IMO.

FYI- you should do more research:

"What about tour guides? Do I tip them?

https://blog.touringplans.com/2018/03/05/tipping-walt-disney-world-everything-need-know-2018/

I would confirm that that is the current policy. YOu can just contact Disney and ask.

A positive letter to corporate customer service would be a nice "tip"- that can go a long way for them to get bonuses, promotions...

Interesting assumption that I had done little research. The pages/clips that I found (yes read that one along with many like it) give wildly varying answers not unlike this thread.

The reason for posting was to reaching out to a community of travelers some of whom would have done some or all of these experiences first hand in the hope to gain some clarity.

I do thank all for their responses though.

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Do You Tip Disney VIP Tour Guides? (Complete Guide)

Yes, it is customary to tip your Disney VIP tour guide.

This is because they are providing you with a service that goes above and beyond what you would normally receive at the park.

Their job is to make sure that you have the best possible experience while you’re visiting, and they go out of their way to ensure that happens.

As such, it’s only fitting that you show your appreciation for their efforts by giving them a little extra something at the end of your tour.

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Is the VIP Tour at Disney Worth It?

If you’re someone who doesn’t like lines and wants to be able to see and do everything with minimal wait, then yes, the VIP tour is definitely worth it.

However, if you don’t mind waiting in line or planning ahead, then the VIP tour might not be necessary.

It really comes down to personal preference and what you want to get out of your Disney World experience.

In our opinion, the VIP tour is worth it if you can afford it because it truly does make for a magical day.

What is a VIP Disney World Tour?

A VIP Disney World tour is a private guided tour of the park that includes priority access to all attractions, FastPass+ reservations, and no wait dining.

You will also have a dedicated tour guide who will take care of everything for you so that you can just sit back and enjoy your day.

Keep in mind that this does not include the cost of admission to Disney World.

So if you’re thinking about booking a VIP tour, be sure to factor that into your budget as well.

Who Should Take a VIP Tour 

VIP tours are perfect for families with small children, people who want to avoid lines, and those who want to see and do everything in one day.

If you fall into one or more of those categories, then a VIP tour is definitely something you should consider.

Keep in mind that because the tours are private, they can be customized to fit your specific needs and interests.

So if there’s something you really want to see or do at Disney World, just let your tour guide know and they’ll make sure it happens.

What are the Benefits of Taking a VIP Tour of Disney World?

There are several benefits to taking a VIP tour of Disney World, but the three main ones are that you’ll get to skip the lines, enjoy priority access to attractions, and have a dedicated tour guide.

Skipping the lines is probably the biggest benefit because it can save you hours of waiting in line.

And when you’re on a VIP tour, you don’t have to worry about making FastPass+ reservations because your tour guide will take care of that for you.

Lastly, having a dedicated tour guide means that someone will be there to take care of everything for you so that you can just sit back and relax.

If that sounds like something you’re interested in, then a VIP tour is definitely something to consider.

How Long Does the Tour Last?

The length of the tour depends on what you want to see and do, but most VIP tours last between six and eight hours.

Of course, you can always add on additional time if you want to see and do more.

What Does a Disney Tour Guide Do?

A Disney tour guide does a lot of things, but the main thing they do is help you plan your day and make sure you see and do everything you want to.

They’ll also take care of getting FastPass+ reservations for you and making sure you have a place to eat.

Basically, their job is to make sure you have the best possible experience at Disney World.

Do You Tip Disney VIP Tour Guides?

Yes, you should tip your Disney VIP tour guide.

While it’s not required, it is customary to tip tour guides for their efforts by giving them a little extra something at the end of your tour.

At the end of the day, it’s up to you how much you want to tip, but we recommend tipping at least a little something.

After all, they are there to make sure you have an amazing time at Disney World.

And that’s definitely worth a few extra dollars.

How Much Do You Tip Disney VIP Tour Guide?

There is no set amount that you should tip your Disney VIP tour guide, but a good rule of thumb is to tip them $20-$50 per day.

Remember, the amount you tip should be based on the level of service you received.

So if you had an amazing tour guide who went above and beyond to make sure you had a great time, then a larger tip is definitely warranted.

On the other hand, if you felt like your tour guide didn’t do much or they were just average, then a smaller tip is probably appropriate.

At the end of the day, it’s up to you how much you want to tip, but $20-$50 per day is a good starting point.

Final Thoughts

In a private VIP tour, guests work with a guide to create their own custom touring plan and the group is guided throughout the park(s), getting FastPass access to all rides, and the guide serves as a concierge and guide.  

One thing that’s important to note about these tours–they’re perfect for small children who need breaks from waiting in lines or those who don’t have much time because they can get on every ride without waiting.

If you’re interested in booking a VIP tour for your next trip to Disney World, be sure to factor the cost into your budget and keep in mind that you should tip your tour guide at $20-$50 per day.

Do you have any questions about Disney VIP tours? Let us know!

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I am a Dreamer who has always believed dreams are meant to be the path to your future. Walt Disney, I believe, felt the same way, "All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them." Disney has always been proof that endless imagination and the passion to make them come to fruition is possible. I will never be to old for Disney, it is home to all of us Dreamers. 

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Everything You Need to Know About Disney VIP Tours 

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If you have ever been to a Disney Park, you’ve probably seen those cast members in plaid walking around the park with a family, skipping you in line, and making you wonder how exactly they were able to do that. Well, that was a Disney VIP tour guide! Any family is able to purchase a Disney World VIP tour, allowing them their own personal park guide to traverse the parks, offer insights and history on the lands, and most importantly – SKIP ALL THE LINES!

Disney VIP tours are a great way to maximize your time at Disney World, since they are the only way to actually skip the lines in the parks. However, this perk can come at a rather steep cost.

A Disney World VIP tour costs $425-$850 per hour, depending on the time of year. Busier times of the year, such as Christmastime, summer, and U.S holiday weekends, will be approaching the $850 mark, while slower seasons such as late winter/early spring and early fall will get you the lower price.

Since a minimum of seven hours for a single day is required for your booking, you’ll be paying a minimum of $3,000, plus a tip and the cost of the park tickets which are NOT included in the price.

Therefore, the maximum total price tag can exceed $10,000 for a single day in the park. If that price tag isn’t too hefty for you and your family, a Disney World private tour may be a good option for you! Alternatively, there are ways to share the cost with other families. It’s not an official policy, but one you can organise yourself with other families. There are even Facebook groups dedicated to this.

Below is a summary of the perks, answers to questions you may have, and some things to consider before you reserve your private tour.

How do I become a VIP in Disney World? What are the rules?

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Getting your own Disney private VIP tour is relatively simple. Much like any other reservation, you can go on Disney’s website and make a reservation for a VIP tour guide on any specific date that you’ll be visiting. You need to call for this.

Note that you still need park tickets and a reservation, and keep in mind that like many of Disney’s most popular experiences, VIP tours can sell out or be unavailable on specific dates. Be sure to check for reservation availability as soon as you can!

Normally, Disney will let you book reservations 60 days in advance. Reservations can easily be made via Disney’s website or by phone. As long as your desired tour day is available and you have valid park tickets for your whole group, you’re good to go!

For the VIP tour, you are allowed 10 total guests – including infants. It is somewhat common for a couple of families to team up to mitigate some of the costs of the experience, since the price for the tour is NOT per person – it’s the same whether you have a family of 3 of a group of 10! 

What are the Perks of a Disney VIP tour?

The biggest perk of a Disney World VIP tour is that your group will be able to skip the line on every attraction you want. Want to ride every ride in Magic Kingdom back to back? Easy.

Want to hit all of the best rides at two parks in a single day? Done.

You’ll be able to walk right up to the front of the line – sometimes through Lightning Lane and sometimes through special backstage entrances. Note that a couple of the rides are not unlimited.

For example, a VIP tour would allow you to ride Rise of the Resistance or Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind without having to go through the trouble of reserving a boarding group, but you will usually only be allowed to ride once. Most other attractions you could do over and over again if you desire! 

Another perk is that Disney will offer some basic planning for your trip and can answer any lingering questions about how you will want to spend your time in the parks. You won’t have to worry about getting to the parks early or hiking around in the hot Florida sun, because your tour will allow you to skip right past all of the stress!

They will lay out a general itinerary for your visit, but you are totally in control and get to call all the shots, so just let them know what you want!

In addition to the being the only real way to skip the lines at Disney, the tour guides are extremely knowledgeable on park history, secrets, and fun facts .

If you’re a huge Disney fan, you can get a lot of value by asking questions and asking for secrets as you walk around the park. As you’re walking around the parks, be sure to walk with the guide to ask questions and have them point out cool facts!

Love some Disney facts ? The VIP guides have you covered! Did you know the gravestone for Mr. Toad is at the exit of the haunted mansion? Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride was a former attraction in Fantasyland which was taken over by Winnie the Pooh – you can also see a picture in the ride of Mr. Toad giving Owl the deed to the property! 

Your VIP tour guide will also help your group out by fetching drinks and snacks (like ice cream Mickey Bars!). For example, while you’re taking a bathroom break, your guide can wander off to grab some drinks for you and meet with your party after!

The same can happen while you’re riding a ride, as tour guides normally will simply wait for you at the exit of the ride. If someone in your group wants to wait out a ride (maybe roller coasters aren’t for them!), the tour guide can keep them company.

Effectively, your VIP tour guide will help you out with whatever your family needs! Though this is seemingly a minor perk, those $5 a bottle drinks and ice creams can really add up for a large group, so don’t be afraid to ask for more of what you want!

Note that this does not include most food or dining – it’s more of snack types of refreshment or other items which don’t cost Disney all that much to procure (such as ponchos if it starts to rain). I have seen kids make a best friend out of their tour guide, with the tour guide pushing them around in a stroller and generally creating magical memories for young visitors. 

Lastly, VIP tour guides can grant you access to a few behind-the-scenes things in the parks, taking you into areas usually unseen by guests.

For example, you may be allowed to park directly behind Main Street at Magic Kingdom ! There, you’d meet up with your VIP tour guide, get your special VIP lanyards, and head off into the park to start your day.

Normally, you’ll walk around ‘on stage’ from ride to ride, but you can also step backstage in some areas. If you have your guide up to fireworks time, you can also get special viewing for Disney’s nighttime shows. You’ll also obtain a special VIP Tour pin which you can’t buy elsewhere, so it can be a truly unique addition to your pin collection!

Is a Disney VIP Tour worth it?

That depends on how much money you’re willing to spend and how much time you have in the parks! The biggest question you should ask yourself is “is my time so limited that I need to get EVERYTHING done as fast as possible?” If the answer is no, I recommend that you simply take more time on your vacation to enjoy the parks.

Take two days to go to Magic Kingdom instead of one, buy a Genie+ and individual lightning lanes every day, and visit all of the parks. You can also spend your extra budget on a nicer resort experience, fine dining, or something else.

The total cost of your holiday will still likely be cheaper than the total cost of the VIP tour. A 7-day vacation with 2 Magic Kingdom days will still ensure you’re able to ride everything you wanted! Sure, you’ll have to wait in a few lines, but you will have more time to slow down and truly enjoy the parks. You can have park days, relaxation days, and days off to explore the rest of Florida. 

On the other hand, if you’re flying in for Disney, only have 1 or 2 days on your visit, want to do EVERY ride, and enjoy being pampered, the VIP tour could be worth it for your family. It can really take all of the stress and planning away in a snap.

If you break all the money down by what you get for the value, you will (depending on many factors) end up paying around $25-$40 per ride for a day at Magic Kingdom. 

Another reason that the tour may be a good idea for your group is if you’re visiting the parks at a ridiculously busy time of the year.

Since the COVID pandemic, Disney has kept attendance limits on the parks, so nothing has been as crazy at it used to be (Magic Kingdom capped at about 90,000 people!). However, if you’re visiting right around Christmas, the parks WILL BE BUSY, so even if you purchase Genie+ and Lightning Lane, you may struggle to experience every attraction in a couple of days.

At the end of the day, if that few thousand dollars is burning a hole in your pocket and you want a completely unforgettable experience, go for it!

If you think a VIP tour may be for you, but are worried about the total cost, you may be able to find another group of 4 or 5 (to get your total near 10) to split the cost with. There are also social media groups for this exact reason.

Keep in mind that this means you might be spending an entire day with a family you don’t know, which has the potential to really dampen your trip. At the end of the day, even if you’re able to skip lines and get way more done, the whole point of your trip should be to create memories with your family.

FAQ’s on VIP Tours

What will my day look like? You’ll start your day by following Disney’s instructions to park in a special spot and typically enter the park through a backstage area.

Then, your VIP tour guide will introduce themselves, give you your special lanyard, and lead you into the park. From there, you get to call all the shots. You can let them know where you want to go and what you want to do, ask them any questions, and generally do whatever you want.

On your way to attractions, you are allowed to walk in some backstage areas to see certain things most normal guests don’t get to see, such as the Utilidors under Magic Kingdom.

You can stay with your guide as long as you want. If you want them to stay around all day into the night, they can help get you special seating for the nighttime spectaculars at the parks. When you wrap up, your guide will say goodbye and give you the special VIP tour pin.

Will a VIP tour get me into Club 33? No. Club 33 is member only access (unless you make friends with someone who is a member and enter as their guest!). If you don’t already know, Club 33 is an exclusive club Walt set up for himself and special guests in Disneyland above New Orleans square. As of a couple of years ago, Disney World now also has a club 33 in each of its parks!

Are there any other types of special tours? Yes! Disney offers backstage tours of their parks (such as the popular Keys to the Kingdom tour which) which take guests backstage and around the park, giving them all sorts of neat Disney knowledge.

If you’re a Disney lover looking to have more appreciation for the parks, these tours may be a better option for you than a VIP tour. The cost is much cheaper, will take about half your day, and still give you a special experience.

What do I need to bring on my tour? Treat your tour day like any other park day. You’ll still need sunscreen, diapers, strollers (though a VIP tour guide can get you a rental), and anything else you’d be taking to the park, so keep that in mind. The only items you might leave at the resort for your tour day would be snacks since your tour guide can usually help with that!

How do I get the most out of my tour? To get the most value out of your tour, you’ll want to focus on rides. If you’re spending a lot of time wandering around the park, eating lunch and dinner, you’re not making the most of the time with your VIP guide.

If you go straight from ride to ride, you’ll be able to do everything very quickly! Most people tour Magic Kingdom because it has the most attractions, and therefore the most bang for your buck. You can also start your day at Magic Kingdom, then hop to another park and clear out the rides there too! You could even go to all 4 parks in a single day if you wanted. (Note you do need a Park Hopper ticket.)

Do I need to tip my Disney VIP tour guide? Yes, VIP tour guides are some of the only tipped cast members at Disney world. You will be expected to tip 10-20% of the total cost of your experience. You are allowed to tip with value other than cash (if you’re averse to carrying a lot on your trip), though this is generally frowned upon.

If my plans fall through, can I cancel a VIP Tour reservation? Yes, you can cancel your reservation without being charged if you cancel before your trip. If you’re trying to cancel within 48 hours of your scheduled time, you’ll be charged a fee of 2 hours per the rate you booked the tour.

Do I get free food? For the most part, no. Tour guides will be able to get you all sorts of basic snacks and drinks, but don’t expect them to pick up the tab at a restaurant. Also keep in mind that if you are wanting to sit down for a nice meal during your park visit, you’ll still be paying for that time with your VIP tour guide.

How many people can go on the tour?

Up to 10 people may go on a tour. This includes babies and toddlers.

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It may seem like a dream. A shiny black SUV arrives at your Disney World hotel. Out steps a private Disney VIP tour guide, and soon you’re off on your own personal adventure through Disney World parks. No lines, no waiting and royal magical treatment fit for a prince or princess.

As a travel agent specializing in Disney vacations , it’s incumbent upon me to try as much as Disney has to offer firsthand, to help my clients plan the best Disney World vacation . So, when a friend offered me the chance to join her on a VIP tour of Disney World, I certainly wasn’t going to pass up the opportunity.

While a Disney VIP tour certainly sounds like an elite experience, you may wonder if it really lives up to travelers’ expectations, and more importantly, is it worth the cost? I’ll answer these questions and more as I delve into my recent experience in this Disney World VIP tour review.

Table of Contents

What is a disney vip tour.

In case you’ve heard of a Disney VIP tour but aren’t quite certain what one entails, let’s start with the basics. A Disney VIP tour is a paid, premium experience at Disney World for travelers with deep pockets or anyone who would like a little extra vacation splurge.

Disney VIP tours are designed to whisk you out of the typical park experience into a more magical world where you wait in fewer lines, get access to Disney secrets, walk through backstage areas, and of course, wait in much shorter lines.

How Does a Disney VIP Tour Work?

When embarking on a VIP tour to Disney World, you’ll be assigned your own personal tour guide, whose job it is to see that your visit to Disney parks is magical and filled with enchanted wonder. The Disney VIP tour experience includes:

• Private pick up at your hotel. Smaller groups can enjoy the comfort of a decked-out SUV. Larger groups will travel in a passenger van.
• Snacks and drinks upon pick up and throughout the day.
• Personal escort through the parks and onto rides.
• Personal service, including assistance with park planning and tips to make your day more enjoyable.

Parties of up to 10 guests may book a Disney VIP tour, though you could certainly make this a solo experience or include a party of a smaller size. VIP tours are booked for a minimum of 7 hours and a maximum of 10.

You’ll be charged an hourly rate and billed for the first 7 hours 2 days prior to your tour. You have up until that time to cancel, or you’ll be charged the equivalent of a 2-hour rate.

Once on the tour, you may add additional hours up to the maximum of ten hours. This flexibility is great for accommodating a full slate of plans without having to worry about running out of time. However, if you want to stick to a certain timeframe, your tour guide will offer guidance to keep your day on track.

A Disney World VIP Tour Review: Our Personal Experience

Since I’m offering an overview of my personal experience here, I’ll say one thing up front in this Disney World VIP tour review: It’s an exhausting experience. Fun and magical, yes, but plan on being very tired by the day’s end.

Here’s what we experienced on our VIP tour:

The Disney VIP Tour Hotel Pickup

Every Disney VIP tour includes personal pickup at your Disney hotel or any other location you choose. Our personal VIP tour began when our tour guide, the amazing Helen, pulled up in a white passenger van.

Since we were looking for a nice luxury SUV, we were a little surprised (and disappointed?) but had to be realistic. Our group consisted of 8 adults and 2 children. That’s 10 total passengers, and we just weren’t going to fit into even the largest SUV. And that was fine, since Helen’s engaging personality made it clear from the start that she was going to do everything she could to ensure we had the best day in the parks, regardless of how we got there.

Helen began by introducing herself and speaking with our party lead, Sandy. While I, as a travel agent, had booked the tour for our party, Sandy was the planner behind it. She told me the parks she wanted to visit when I booked the tour with Disney, so I was able to convey these details at that time. Helen spent a few minutes confirming these plans and then helped us all get loaded into the van, even pulling out a stool for easier step up into the interior.

She chatted amiably with us throughout the drive to Hollywood Studios , our first park of the day. She offered little tidbits of information about the tour and little pieces of breaking news as she drove. It was hard to hear her in the back of the van, but we all appreciated her spirit and the bits of wisdom we were able to catch.

Arriving at Disney Hollywood Studios—Our First Park of the Day

If you’re thinking a Disney VIP tour guide is going to pull into the regular parking lot and drop you off at a magical location exclusive to tour guests, it gets better than that. Helen drove into a gated backstage area for our first stop, where several cast members were waiting.

They enthusiastically greeted us and offered us a selection of snacks. These included a variety of options for kids and adults alike, such as Mickey shaped Rice Krispie treats, Kind bars and potato chips. It’s not a meal by any definition, but we could take as many as we wanted.

Cast members also passed out pins for us to wear. These identified us as VIP tour guests, so we could have access to all of the included experiences. This will become particularly important later for gaining entry to expedited ride queues.

After taking care of the formalities and our stomachs, Helen escorted us into the park. This particular portal led us in beside the Rock ‘N’ Roller Coaster queue, so we made that our first stop. Helen scanned her magic Disney VIP tour guide card at the entrance to the Lightning Lane and held up the line for all 10 of us to proceed.

Once at the next check point, she showed her badge again. The cast member in charge here held us until we could be the first into the pre-show area. Once we were waved in, Helen led us inside and made sure to position us in front of the doors that would open to the ride queue.

When the doors opened, she ushered us in, holding off other guests who may have pushed their way into our party, to ensure we were first out the door and into the queue. Here, she worked her magic again, speaking to the cast member in charge of row assignments and telling them in which rows she would like her party to be seated. Her goal was always to place us in the best spot to experience the attraction, and she always got her way.

One incredibly nice thing about a VIP tour, is that your guide will take care of all of your bags during the ride. Helen gathered up an armload of backpacks, waist packs and the like as each rider took their assigned row.

Sandy and I decided to opt out of this coaster, since we’d already ridden earlier in the week. We’ve found that over time, that Aerosmith’s wild limo ride is a little too much for our aging joints, so Helen accommodated us by leading us to a backstage waiting area at the exit. We chatted for a bit until the riders in our party returned and then we were off to our next adventure.

In general, you can expect your tour guide to bring you into each attraction through the Lightning Lane . In the case of our next ride, Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway, we skipped all queues to the ride and entered through a backstage access door . This entry point led us right outside the doors to the pre-show.

Since Helen was allowed to enter the preshow first, she positioned us in a prime location. Once the preshow ended and the gate to the queue opened, we were once again the first ones in line. While we did have to wait in the last portion of the queue for this ride, we did skip the wait in the Lightning Lane. All in, we probably only waited a minute or 2 before Helen was instructing the cast member to seat us in rows 6-9 since these were the best for experiencing the attraction.

One thing to note here during our Disney VIP tour review, is that your tour guide will not ride on the attractions with you. Instead, they will work behind the scenes to prepare for the next steps in the itinerary or to take care of other tasks dedicated to your comfort. In this instance, it was heading out into the park to get ice cold bottles of Smart Water for all of us.

For those who are unfamiliar with Disney parks, you generally have 2 options when it comes to bottled water: Dasani or Smart Water. While Dasani is definitely cheaper, the Smart Water has a more palatable taste to most guests. The fact that Helen chose the more expensive Smart Water for our morning refreshment just underscores the fact that Disney recognizes the premium expectations of guests who book a Disney VIP tour.

We finished up our time in Hollywood Studios with a visit to Millennium Falcon Smugglers Run, Star Wars Rise of the Resistance , 2 rides on Slinky Dog Dash and a final show down on Toy Story Midway Mania. I’m proud to say that I hit my trip high score during our VIP tour, though as usual, it really was not much to brag about.

Off to Magic Kingdom, Second Stop in Our Disney VIP Tour Review

To head off to Magic Kingdom , the next stop on our Disney VIP tour, we made our way back to our van. I was pleasantly surprised to find the AC already running and a completely cooled interior, thanks to the Disney pixies hiding somewhere in the dedicated backstage area.

Our arrival at Magic Kingdom was greeted by some very visible pixies who assisted us out of the van and enthusiastically passed out Disney Rice Krispie treats. This time, we could even choose from treats with chocolate covered ears or candy-coated toppings.

As we munched, Helen led us into another backstage passage. For anyone who has attended a holiday party at Disney, this will look familiar. It’s the same pathway to the right off Main Street USA just past the Confectionary, where you start your trick or treating during Halloween.

We began our Magic Kingdom VIP experience by taking this path toward Magic Kingdom’s newest ride, Tron Lightcycle Run. This attraction was running a virtual queue during our visit and also offering guests the option to purchase an Individual Lightning Lane (ILL) experience . Since we were VIP for the day, she led us directly to the ILL lane and into the preshow.

Since Helen took care of all of our bags and such, she told us not to stop at the lockers after the preshow and to head directly to the queue. This saved us a little time and put us ahead of the many guests who had to stop and stow their cargo before riding.

Understanding the Virtual Queue :  New rides at Disney World are usually operated with a virtual queue. Guests log into the My Disney Experience app at 7:00 am and are assigned a position to ride. You can keep tabs on where you are in the virtual queue using the app, and when it’s your time to ride, you’ll receive a push notification. You have one hour from that point to appear at the virtual queue entrance.

As we emerged from the ride, we found Helen overloaded with our bags as well as an armload of Mickey pretzels and churros. It seems the aim with a VIP tour is to give you a taste of each park. Since these are 2 of the most popular snacks in the Magic Kingdom, she wanted to make sure we had the chance to experience them.

As we ate, we walked over to 7 Dwarfs Mine Train. This was the first bottleneck in our Disney VIP tour review, and it was consistent with every other day we had spent at Magic Kingdom during the trip. This seems to be one ride where people are more than willing to pay the price for the Individual Lightning Lane, so the Lightning Lane queue was always very long, even for VIP tour guests. However, it went quickly with Helen escorting us to the second scan in point to ensure we got priority treatment here.

While we rode, Helen once again grabbed some water for us to wash down our snacks. We then headed over to the castle for a quick photo op and for some members of our party to grab an additional snack at Casey’s Corner. One thing that needs to be mentioned in any Disney VIP tour review is the fact that regular meals are not included. The previously mentioned snacks were all a part of the VIP experience, but if you choose to stop at Disney restaurants, you’ll need to make your own purchases.

With the number of snacks you are provided during a tour, it’s honestly hard to imagine wanting to eat. After munching on rice Krispie treats and churros or pretzels, we were provided a Mickey Ice Cream Sandwich or ice cream bar before getting back in the van and heading to EPCOT.

EPCOT, the Last Stop in our Disney VIP Tour Review

Our arrival at the EPCOT backstage area was similar to the previous stops mentioned in this Disney VIP tour review. We were greeted by cast members and offered more treats before Helen led us off to our next great adventure: Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind.

With this ride, we needed to fight our way to the ILL line like every other guest. If you haven’t experienced this attraction, I’ll explain.

The way the entrance is designed, there’s a bit of a bottle neck since there isn’t much room for guests to queue as they scan in for either the Lightning Lane or the virtual queue. Also, the Lightning Lane is poorly signed, leading many guests to try to scan in through the virtual queue instead of the correct point of entry. This leads to delays, as guests try repeatedly to get their card or MagicBand to work. The poor signage also has guests standing in front of the entry points, blocking access as they try to determine where they should be.

Since a VIP tour guide will never plow through guests inside the park, we had a bit of a delay to get to the scan point. It was nothing significant, but I mention it as part of the Disney VIP tour review for any guest who may be expecting to be whisked on and off rides away from all of the crowds.

Once inside the Lightning Lane queue, we were led directly to the pre-show. Helen accompanied us and again positioned us so we would have first access into the queue. This would have worked if some disrespectful guests hadn’t opened the door during the preshow experience. What transpired after was a stampede of guests, all thinking they had to leave the show.

Unfortunately, this is a new trend at this ride which we hope Disney finds a way to deter quickly. This happened 2 different times that we rode, as repeat guests tried to get to the ride faster by skipping the pre-show. If you’re ever so inclined, please be considerate of other guests and wait out the preshow. As Helen explained, by opening the doors, the guests shut down the preshow experience for the other riders in line, robbing new guests of the chance to understand the backstory so vital to the ride.

Once we found our way down to the ride, Helen as usual told the cast member in charge of seat assignments that she wanted her party to be placed in the front cars. If you haven’t been on the ride before, this is truly the best place to experience the attraction, so we were thrilled.

Following Cosmic Rewind, we planned to visit Frozen Ever After. However, since we had told Helen we wanted to keep the tour to 7 hours, she was always keeping track of time. After checking the wait for Frozen she let us know that we’d likely be over time if we wanted a second guide on Cosmic Rewind. Since Frozen is no match for EPCOT’s newest coaster, our group was happy to skip it.

That meant, we headed over to Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure . Again, Sandy and I sat this one out to avoid motion sickness, so we had a chance to chat again with Helen. We talked about how tired we were and how we were dreading having to wait until our 7:00 reservation at Space 220 to eat and head back to the hotel.

This is where I think the biggest perk of a VIP tour can be experienced—dedicated attention. She offered to try to try to get us an earlier Advance Dining Reservation, while we took our last ride on Cosmic Rewind. Miracle worker that she is, she succeeded.

She met us at the exit to Cosmic Rewind and ushered us right to Space 220. We were a little late, so the restaurant had officially closed to new guests in order to prepare for the dinner rush, but she got us right in. We took one last final picture and headed to the turbo lift to dine in space.

Advantages of a Disney World VIP Tour

While I mentioned several of the advantages of a VIP tour in the Disney VIP tour review above, it’s worth speaking to some of the perks in greater detail. While it may sound like a simple perk, the private transportation to the parks is actually a tremendous timesaver.

If you’ve ever used Disney’s complimentary transportation , you know that waiting for the next bus, boat or monorail can come with a wait mid-day when park hopping. You don’t have to worry about this with a Disney VIP tour, and since you use backstage entrances, you don’t have to scan in at the entrance to parks and make the trek past the entrance to the attractions. In most instances, you’ll be entering right into the heart of the magic.

Also, keep in mind that your VIP tour will transport you back to your hotel, a restaurant or anywhere you’d like to go on Disney property at the end of your tour. We had dinner reservations in the EPCOT park, so we simply ended our experience there. However, you may ask for a final round of transport to end your tour, saving you a lot of time and hassle when it comes to getting back to your hotel.

The second big perk of a Disney VIP tour is the access to the Lightning Lane , or in some cases, directly to the final ride queue. While the Lightning Lane will always provide faster access to attractions, the fact that your tour guide will ensure that you are always placed at the head of the line is another time saver, helping you to do more with your day and tour.

Aside from time-saving perks, the biggest advantage of the tour is the premium experience. Our tour guide was knowledgeable, personable and dedicated to ensuring that we had the most magical experience possible. The fact that she thought of little things, like taking all of our bags while we rode rides and anticipated our needs, provided the perfect touch.

While I can only speak personally to our tour guide, I have honestly never spoken to anyone, client or friend, who had a bad experience on a Disney VIP tour. The only complaint I’ve ever heard is how tiring a VIP tour is, mainly because you’re trying to fit so much into the time with your guide.

How Much Is a Disney Private VIP Tour:

Disney VIP Tours are a premium experience with a star-quality price tag. You can expect to pay anywhere between $550 and $750 an hour for a VIP tour. Prices will vary depending on the day of the week and your dates of travel. In general, expect to pay more on weekends and around holidays. Keep in mind, that you will need to commit to a minimum 7-hour experience.

Is a Disney VIP Tour Worth It?

Whether a Disney VIP tour is worth it depends a lot on your vacation budget, how much you value the celebrity treatment and the $3,800 – $7,500 price tag. Since up to 10 people are allowed on each tour, guests with more limited budgets may split the cost across 2 or 3 families and find the experience more economical and magical.

On the other hand, guests with bigger budgets may enjoy several VIP tours during their trip. In speaking with Helen, she indicated that most people she works with will book a VIP tour for each park they visit, rather than hopping from park to park as I discussed in my Disney VIP tour review.

Taking this approach allows for a more leisurely pace. Guests may actually stop and dine at restaurants and still have time to enjoy each of the attractions, since waits in queue lines will be minimal.

On the other hand, if you’re thinking to book a VIP tour to completely avoid crowds, you may not find the experience worth the expense. There is a common misconception that a Disney VIP tour will take you from ride to ride via backstage passages, thereby avoiding park crowds completely. This isn’t the way a VIP tour works, nor do I think it’s completely desirable.

A Disney VIP tour guide will lead you through the parks, allowing you to experience all of the wonder you will find there. If you come across an impromptu character greeting, you can stop and enjoy the show. Every Disney park employs elaborate, realistic theming elements to take you different places and times. It would be a shame to miss this critical aspect of the experience in favor of tunneling through backstage areas just to avoid a few bottlenecks.

In truth, as we moved from place to place with our tour guide, I hardly noticed the other people in the parks at all. I was focused instead on the fun informational tidbits she provided or following her lead down different routes I might not have thought to take on my own.

How to Book a Disney VIP Tour

One of the most important things to understand when booking a Disney VIP tour is how to book. There are a number of third party companies that offer experiences they label as VIP, but there are only two ways to book the experience described in this Disney VIP tour review: directly through Disney by calling the tour booking line, or through a travel agent that specializes in Disney travel.

We’ve heard and read reviews where guests have had terrible experiences with third party guides. Part of the problem is access. Anyone not officially authorized by Disney will not have access to the backstage areas or Lightning Lane queues to help you make the most of your experience. If you want the VIP level treatement described in this review, be sure to book with a travel agent or call Disney yourself and book directly.

Have questions about a Disney World VIP tour not answered here? Just ask!

Disney World VIP Tour FAQs

While I’ve covered most of the VIP experience in the Disney VIP tour review section, there are a few other questions that guests often have. I’ve taken a few moments to address those here:

Does a Disney VIP tour include food?

While multiple snacks a day are included in your Disney VIP tour, if you wish to eat at a Disney World restaurant or stop at a kiosk not included in the snacks provided, you will be required to make your own purchases.

Do Disney VIP tours skip lines?

Guests on Disney VIP tours will skip the regular queue on rides and attractions. They will access lines via the Lightning Lane. While there will be some wait for the attraction using this approach, wait times are minimal.

Is Disney VIP Tour priced per person?

Pricing for a Disney VIP tour is assessed hourly for a party of up to ten people.

Do Disney VIP tours sell out?

Yes, Disney VIP tours do sell out. When I spoke with our VIP tour guide about this, she told me that Disney does offer a waitlist for guests who aren’t able to secure a VIP tour booking, but can’t guarantee a spot will open up. She also mentioned that the waitlist had been closed for the last three weeks of December 2024. Because there were far too many people wanting tours, even the waitlist slots had filled up. The important point here is to book early!

When to book a Disney VIP tour?

Since Disney VIP tours do sell out, it’s important to book your tour as soon as you are able to do so. For guests of Disney World resort hotels, that’s 60 days prior to arrival at your resort hotel. All other guests are eligible to book 60 days before the date they wish to take a tour.

Do you tip Disney World VIP tour guide?

It is customary to tip your Disney World tour guide. While there is no recommended rate or percentage, most people indicate that they tip between $200-$500 a day. However, your tip should reflect the quality of the experience the knowledge and dedication of your tour guide.

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Tipping at Disney World: Info & FAQ

Tipping at Walt Disney World can be confusing. Is gratuity included on the Disney Dining Plan? Do you tip your Magical Express driver? Is it okay to give money to Cast Members who make a magical moment? In this post, we’ll answer questions about when tipping is expected, appropriate, and how much to budget for tips at Walt Disney World.

I hesitated a while before tackling this topic on the blog. Gratuities have come up in the comments with some frequency, often by international visitors who are unaccustomed to tipping culture in the United States. Nevertheless, it wasn’t a topic I’ve been particularly eager to cover, primarily because I have strong personal opinions on tipping.

Ultimately, I view this as an unnecessarily convoluted topic, with an emphasis on unnecessarily. As such, rather than my normally verbose text, I’m going to cut to the chase here with categories and bullet points and suggested best practices…

Before that, there are a couple of important pieces of background information that will provide useful context in understanding gratuities at Walt Disney World. First, Florida law allows certain positions to be categorized as tipped employees, which entitles the employer to a tip credit of ~$3 per hour. Stated differently, tipped employees can be paid $3 per hour less than normal minimum wage.

Second, Cast Members in positions that are not categorized by Walt Disney World as tipped are required to refuse a tip three times before accepting. Even if you do decide to press ahead in this uncomfortable exchange, be aware that any tips given after refusal are required to be turned in to managers, and are not received by the Cast Member. It’s very well possible some just pocket the money (we hope so!), but you should not bank on that.

Instead, if you receive exemplary service from a Cast Member in a position that is not tipped, your best option is to go to Guest Relations and ask for the Great Service Fanatic Card. This isn’t just a way to say thanks, but is an important in receiving official (internal) recognition and can even be a factor in promotions.

If you forget to do this during your trip, you can either email ( [email protected] ) or tweet @WDWToday using the #CastCompliment hashtag. Making a point of doing this for under-appreciated roles like custodial, parking, etc., is a great practice. Praise is often heaped upon thoughtful princesses or superlative servers, but not so much for roles that traditionally have less guest interaction.

As you can probably surmise from the above, it’s awkward and unproductive to attempt tipping Cast Members who are not in tipped positions. Unless they are in some grey area or questions are anticipated, we won’t cover every position Cast Members can fill below. If they are not listed, assume tipping is not necessary or appropriate.

Transportation

• Disney’s Magical Express Driver – Yes, regardless of whether they handle your luggage. Base tip of $3-5 per party, plus $1-2 per bag. (Note that Disney’s Magical Express drivers are not Cast Members. They’re Mears–same as the taxis around property.)
• Lyft/Uber/Taxi – Yes. In their idealistic nascent stages, ride-sharing apps sought to eliminate tipping. As more has come to light about their drivers being under-compensated, the solution has been making them dependent upon tips, rather than paying them more and increasing base fares. We recommend tipping between 15% of the fare (longer rides) and 20% of the fare (shorter ride). Our rationale for this range is the proportionate sunk-time of the shorter ride (particularly true for ride sharing).
• Minnie Vans – Yes. These are now categorized as tipped positions by Disney, and these Cast Members can accept cash or in-app tips without following the “refuse three times” rule. Same tipping practices apply as for Lyft/Uber/Taxi.
• Valet – Yes. $2-5 to anyone who touches your car keys.
• Any Other Free Disney Transportation – No. Whether it be monorail, boat, or bus drivers, the answer here is no. Unlike Disney’s Magical Express drivers, these are all Disney Cast Members, and tipping is no more appropriate here than it would be to the Cast Member who operates Tomorrowland Speedway.

• Bell Services – Yes, $1-2 per bag. As a general rule, you should tip anyone who touches your luggage in your view. This is also probably a good reminder that you should bring cash if you normally wouldn’t carry it, since most luggage-centric tipping situations will be cash-only.
• Concierge – No. While they may cheerfully provide great service and assistance in helping plan your day or make reservations for you, these are not tipped positions. (This is most definitely not the custom at off-site hotels, where you should tip the concierge.)
• Mousekeeping – It depends. This is probably the most controversial one on this list. While Mousekeeping is not classified as a tipped position, their workload and the personal service-oriented nature of their position leads many guests to leave them tips. At a minimum, we would recommend tipping if you leave a mess. In this case, $5 per day per room seems like a fair amount. (Even more if your kid pees the bed or other “labor intensive” accidents necessitate a deep clean.) If they are just changing the trash, making beds, and bringing fresh towels, consider tipping more of a polite gesture. Put a ‘thank you’ post it note over the money, or place it into an envelope addressed to Mousekeeping. Don’t want to hassle with a tip here? Leave the “Room Occupied” sign up.
• Personal Services – Yes. This covers things like spa services, golf caddies, rental boat operators, carriage guides, fishing guides, etc. This is also the one area that also extends into the theme parks, with locations like Harmony Barber Shop, Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, and the Pirates League, all of which call for around the same tip as you’d leave in a table service restaurant. (You do not tip in-park tour guides.)

• Table Service Servers – Obviously. It does not matter whether you’re on the Disney Dining Plan or paying out of pocket, you need to add a tip. (Gratuity used to be included on the Disney Dining Plan, but were eliminated a decade ago.) Custom in U.S. cities is 18-20%. This might surprise those of you from smaller towns who are used to 15%, which may very well be the norm there, but in Orlando, it’s 18-20%. Be mindful that in some cases, an 18% gratuity is automatically added to your bill–review that to ensure you don’t double-tip.
• Buffet Servers – Yes. There is prevailing sentiment that you can tip buffet servers less than traditional table service servers, which is likely predicated upon you doing part of the “work” by getting your own food. Just keep in mind these servers generally bring you drinks and clear more plates than a normal server would. Our rule here is no different than table service.
• Bars & Lounges – Yes. Either $2-3 per drink in cash to the bartender or, more likely, the standard 18-20% on a tab.
• Fast Casual Servers – I think so? Few things are more uncomfortable for me than venturing into a new fast-casual (read: fancy counter service) restaurant, ordering and paying, and then having an iPad flipped over to me to enter a tip. It’s always unclear whether this is a default feature of their software, or if they do provide some sort of ‘extra service’ that might cause their employees to be categorized as tipped. Usually, I’ll err on the side of caution and tip 10-12%, but this varies by location and is not a hard and fast rule.
• Counter Service Servers – No. There’s not even an option to leave gratuity at the register or on receipts.
• Outdoor Vending Carts – No. Even though this, in some cases, is basically just a mobile bartender, you don’t tip here.

All told, there are a lot of situations that necessitate tipping at Walt Disney World. How often and how much you need to tip depends on several variables, including how many people handle your luggage, how often you use paid transportation, personal services, etc. When it comes to how much you should budget for tips, it’s really impossible for us to say. It could be as little as $40 if you don’t do any table service meals, or in the hundreds of dollars if you do a lot of sit-down dining.

What we will say is that we’d recommend bringing at least $8-12 in cash for every night of your trip (so around $60-80 for a weeklong trip, give or take) in a variety of denominations. We say this as people who rarely carry cash at home, and have been in the awkward position of scrambling to try to find money for tips while at Walt Disney World. It’s better to err on the side of caution and have too much cash than not enough.

Finally, regardless of your personal feelings on tipping, don’t take that out on service industry workers in tipped positions. It is a myth that gratuity is a reward or incentive for exceptional service. Under Florida law, employees in tipped positions have a lower minimum wage, meaning that their tips are literally an assumption built into their salary. It’s simply a burden that has been shifted from their employer directly to the consumer for some reason.

You may disagree with this approach, particularly if you’re an international visitor used to employees being paid a living wage and not dealing with these shenanigans (or if you’ve read up on systemic discrimination reinforced by tipping culture ). That’s fine, but you cannot “opt out” of tipping just because you disagree with it as a matter of policy. You are not going to effect social change by stiffing a server who has zero hand in writing Florida laws or in dictating societal norms and mores in the United States.

Unfortunately, since these are mostly unwritten rules and norms, there is a lot of room for interpretation; tipping practices do evolve, and also vary by region and even city within the United States. This is in part due to differences in employment law, standards of living, and local custom. All of this makes tipping a particularly tricky topic to tackle, and in no way should our advice here be viewed as definitive. The above is our understanding of tipping at Walt Disney World and our personal practices, but your mileage may vary.

Planning a Walt Disney World trip? Learn about hotels on our Walt Disney World Hotels Reviews page. For where to eat, read our Walt Disney World Restaurant Reviews . To save money on tickets or determine which type to buy, read our Tips for Saving Money on Walt Disney World Tickets post. Our What to Pack for Disney Trips post takes a unique look at clever items to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Ride Guides will help. For comprehensive advice, the best place to start is our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide for everything you need to know!

Your Thoughts

Do you agree or disagree with any of our suggestions on tipping? Any supplemental information to add, or things we missed? Any questions we can help you answer? Hearing feedback about your experiences is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!

Written by Tom Bricker

Hi Tom, When you say you do not tip in park tour guides, that means VIP tours??

Have booked TREX in May, a party of 8. As gratuity will be added to the bill are we still expected to tip?

No. The mandatory gratuity is to prevent a large table (requiring more service) leaving a small or no gratuity in relation to the amount of the bill.

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Disney VIP Tours: Everything You Need to Know  

• By Bailee Abell
• March 14, 2022

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When it comes to  experiencing Disney luxury , there aren’t very many experiences better than a Disney VIP tour. We love to picture ourselves strutting down Main Street, U.S.A., coffee in hand, sporting trendy sunglasses and a handbag, and accompanied by one of the “plaids” — a Disney VIP tour guide and theme park extraordinaire. 

A VIP tour is one of  the most luxurious Disney theme park experiences  money can buy (outside of the super-exclusive Club 33, of course). Available at  Disneyland  and  Walt Disney World , Disney’s VIP Tour Services provide guests with  a private tour of the theme parks , including skipping the line for every ride, backstage access, and as much park hopping as you want. 

But how much does a Disney VIP tour really cost, what are the perks, and what should you keep in mind when booking? We’re covering it all right here.  

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Disney VIP Tour Cost  

Per Disney, a VIP theme park tour offers you priority access to attractions, hassle-free planning of your day at the parks, and VIP service from your own personal guide, which helps with all your needs and entertainment. Tours start at $2,975 for a minimum of seven hours.   

Typically, up to 10 guests can take a VIP tour with one tour guide. You can add more people to your tour, but the price will increase, as a second tour guide will need to accompany your group.  

The price will vary depending on the season, too. At both Disneyland Resort in California and Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, a Disney VIP tour starts at $425/hour for a minimum of 7 hours.  

However, if you’re looking to book a  Disney VIP tour  during peak seasons like Christmas and New Year’s or Spring Break, then you can expect the price to be much higher than the minimum. A 10-hour tour during the busy season, for example, could cost $8,500. Due to popularity, you should book your tour ASAP.  

Even with the steep price tag, valid theme park admission (i.e., a Disney theme park ticket or Annual Pass) is required to take a VIP tour. This is something to factor into your budget if you’re considering booking.  

Disney VIP Tour Benefits  

Without a doubt, one of the best perks of a VIP tour is feeling like a VIP. Have you ever seen a Disney Cast Member dressed in plaid taking a group of guests to the front of the line at an attraction, or even placing a VIP order at Starbucks? The same Cast Members who accompany celebrity guests also accompany guests who book VIP tours. So, if you want to feel like a celeb at Disney and you have some serious cash, book a Disney VIP tour.  

The tour guides are more than Disney park experts — they are some of the kindest, most accommodating Disney Cast Members you will ever meet. Disney hires them for a reason, and when they are not booking tours, many of them are working in Guest Relations to make magic for everyday guests. 

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A VIP tour is also a fantastic option if your time at the theme parks is limited. If you are only planning to be at Disney for one day — or you are taking a quick trip — and you want to get on as many rides as possible, a VIP tour could be a great way to go.  

But even if you’re willing to spend the money and are seriously looking into booking a VIP tour, we wouldn’t recommend it for a first visit to the Disney theme parks. The Disney parks offer an exceptional kind of magic for guests. And because many VIP tours offer backstage access and bring guests through the parks in a rushed, exciting way, they aren’t always great for a first visit.  

A VIP tour is an incredible way to get as much done as possible in a single day, but if you’ve never been to Disneyland or Disney World before, we’d suggest taking everything in on your own before splurging on the VIP treatment.  

Tips for Booking a VIP Tour at Disneyland or Walt Disney World  

Book during the slower season  .

Is there a “slow season” at Disney anymore? We’re not so sure about that, but we are sure about VIP tour pricing.  Disney VIP tour services  start at $425 an hour and can be as expensive as $850 an hour, depending on the time of year you book. If you have flexible travel dates and you want to save as much money possible on a VIP tour, give Disney a call and ask for more details on booking during the “off-season” — or, at least, booking during a time when you can get a tour for the lowest price available.  

Get a big group together  

A VIP tour will cost you the same amount whether you’re a group of 10 or flying solo, so get a big group together if you want to make the experience more cost-effective. This is a convenient tip if going on a VIP tour is on your Disney bucket list, but you don’t have thousands of dollars to burn.  

For example, a seven-hour tour for eight people could cost under $500 per person if divided equally, whereas the same tour for three guests could cost under $1,000 per person. No matter what, Disney VIP tours are expensive, but they can be more attainable the more people you invite to the experience.  

Know your must-dos  

Your  Disney VIP tour guide  will be an expert on the theme parks — that’s a given. They’ll share secrets and history, fun facts, and an all-around great time with you throughout the entire day.  

Extra experiences are bound to come up during your VIP tour, but it doesn’t hurt to have some of your must-dos in mind as you head into your day. Want to ride Space Mountain as many times as possible? Looking to get the full Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge experience? Needing a Disney fairytale-themed day? Your Disney VIP tour guide can make it happen.  

Other Tours to Consider  

If you want a tour of the theme parks with a much more laid-back feel, then we’d recommend trying one of Disney’s other tours. At Disneyland, the  “Walk in Walt’s Disneyland Footsteps” Guided Tour  allows guests to explore Walt Disney’s life through Disneyland, the original theme park and the only Disney park that Walt himself opened.  

Similarly, Magic Kingdom offers the  Disney’s Keys to the Kingdom Tour , offering an in-depth look at Magic Kingdom’s history and a glimpse at “secret locations you’ve always wondered about. Neither of these guided tours is considered a private VIP tour, so you will likely be with other guests. Still, they are great for anyone who wants a closer, more historical perspective on the flagship theme parks at Disneyland Resort in California or Walt Disney World Resort in Florida.  

Follow for More Disney Tips  

We’re all about splurging on a Disney vacation for luxury experiences that feel truly magical. For more tips on how to elevate your next trip to the happiest place on Earth,  follow us on TikTok  and subscribe to our newsletter.  

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Everything You NEED to Know About VIP Tours in Disney World

By Lydia Storks 2 Comments

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.

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

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! 

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 s omeone 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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Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation.

Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever!

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Have you ever been on a VIP tour in Disney World? Let us know in the comments!

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April 28, 2023 at 10:35 am

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.

July 13, 2023 at 5:18 pm

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.

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Disney Private VIP Tours

Are disney world’s vip tour services worth the cost .

Back in 1965, Walt Disney started something called the Disneyland Resort Ambassador Program. The idea was to personalize Disneyland’s in-park experience and make a trip to the park as memorable as possible.

This Disneyland program served as a forerunner to Disney VIP Tour Services, a division of Disney which offers exclusive in-park experiences at Walt Disney World Resort. Each of these Disney VIP Tours has its own dedicated tour guide to give you a personalized experience.

Yes, Disney Tours are pricey. But they do give you expedited services onto the most popular rides, a behind-the-scenes glimpse into what makes Disney World so magical, and special treatment that you can get anywhere else in the park.

With that said, let’s first discuss the benefits of Disney Private VIP Tours and why they are considered the crème de la crème of Disney World experiences. Then we’ll examine the cost of Private VIP Tours cost and ways you can make VIP Tours more affordable. We include a breakdown of the 4 other VIP Tours that Disney currently offers in order to help you decide if one of these tours may be a better fit for your family vacation.

And finally, once you decide that Disney VIP Tours are something you wish to participate in, then it’s time to contact The Vacationeer ( https://vacationeer.com/private-vip-tours ) to make your arrangements.

So let’s get started!

What are Disney World’s Private VIP Tours?

As part of the VIP Tour Services  program, Disney offers Private VIP Tours as a way to fully maximize your Disney World experience.

Think of them as the ultimate Disney choose-your-own-adventure: you customize your own multi-park itinerary and then embark on your personalized dream adventure with practically no wait times at all.

You will receive an array of special perks including expedited door-to-door transportation to the parks, expedited entry onto most attractions of your choosing, and a knowledgeable Disney tour guide to accompany you at every step.

Here are some of the benefits:

• Pre-arrival planning and customization
• Explore the theme parks with your own personal Disney VIP Tour Guide
• Expedited access onto your desired attractions for everyone in the group
• Ability to visit multiple theme parks per day
• VIP treatment including private vehicle transportation to and from your hotel
• Special reserved viewing areas for parades, select stage shows, and nighttime spectaculars
• Flexible start and end times (7-hour minimum)

Disney’s Private VIP Tours – Cost, Reservations, Services

Cost of Disney Private VIP Tours

Disney VIP Tour Services offers several tours that are priced on a per-person basis. These include The Ultimate Day of Thrills VIP Tour , Ultimate Disney Classics VIP Tour , Ultimate Nights of Adventure VIP Tours ), and the Taste of Magic Kingdom Park VIP Tour . We will discuss these tours later.

Disney’s Private VIP Tours , on the other hand, are not priced on a per-person basis. Instead, the cost of Private VIP Tours is based on an hourly rate for a group of up to 10 people.

Private VIP Tours Details

Here are some details of Disney World Private VIP Tours:

• Depending on the season, tours will cost is between $450 and $900 per hour, per group ( not per person) — subject to change
• A maximum allowance of 10 guests per Private VIP Tour
• A minimum of 7 continuous hours is required per day
• Valid admission is required for each theme park (not included as part of tour cost)
• VIP Tour Services allows you to book up to 180 in advance (recommended)

While Disney’s Private VIP Tour s are the ultimate way to spoil yourself at Disney World, they’re also an easy way to spend cash.

Cost-Effective: Share a Private Disney VIP Tour w/ Friends and Family

As we mentioned, Disney allows your group to include up to 10 guests . This is an important detail because the 10 guest allowance opens up a lot of possibilities. By sharing Disney VIP Tours with other interested couples and families, you could effectively reduce a $3000 or $5250 overall expense down to as low as $300-$525 per person.

Sounding good! But how do you go about forming a group of up to 10 people?

For safety concerns, Disney doesn’t allow Disney travel agencies   (or any other organization) to match you up with random people to form a group of 10. In this day-in-age, these types of policies make sense because you never know who you will be matched up with!

That said, you can still form your own group – comprised of friends and family members – to reduce the cost per person.  So ask your friends, your aunt, your nephew, your favorite neighbor, or your co-workers. Who knows – they may just love the idea of taking a Private Disney VIP Tour with you…and saving money in the process!

Even if you don’t come up with a full 10 people, you will still save a significant amount of money if you just add a few more friends and family members to your Private VIP Tour.

Other Disney VIP Tours

Private VIP Tours aren’t the only Disney VIP Tour Services option. Here is a summary of the other 4 other VIP experiences that Disney World offers:

1. The Ultimate Day of Thrills VIP Tour

The Ultimate Day of Trill VIP Tour is a 7-hour experience that gives you expedited access to Disney’s top attractions.

This tour has a good mix of fun, fantasy, and fast-paced thrill rides. Guests start their day at Magic Kingdom Park where they benefit from special access (ie, you don’t wait in the normal line) on select rides such as:

• Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
• Space Mountain
• Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
• Splash Mountain
• Haunted Mansion

Then you will take a break to enjoy your lunch at a quick-service restaurant (included in the cost!) before embarking on a few exciting Epcot attractions like Soarin’.

During the afternoon, guests are whisked over to Hollywood Studios to experience some of  the best Hollywood Studios rides such as:

• Slinky Dog Dash
• Toy Story Mania!
• The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
• Star Tours – The Adventures Continue
• Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith

2. Ultimate Disney Classics VIP Tour

The Ultimate Disney Classics VIP Tour lets guests experience the Magic Kingdom’s most beloved classic attractions. The small-group tour is lead by a Disney VIP Tour Guide to make sure your experience is hassle-free, relaxing, and fun!

During the tour, you will receive special access to Magic Kingdom’s iconic attractions, which may include:

• “it’s a small world”
• Peter Pan’s Flight
• Dumbo the Flying Elephant
• Jungle Cruise
• Mad Tea Party
• The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
• Under the Sea ~ Journey of the Little Mermaid

This tour is great for kids of all ages because there are no height restrictions for any of the attractions on this tour.

3. Ultimate Nights of Adventure VIP Tour

Ultimate Nights of Adventure VIP Tour is a wild, 4-hour guided group tour of Disney’s Animal Kingdom park at nighttime. Guests receive expedited access so that exploring the lands and riding attractions is a breeze.

The Animal Kingdom rides   on this tour include the following attractions:

• Kilimanjaro Safaris
• Avatar Flight of Passage (44” height requirement)
• Na’vi River Journey
• Expedition Everest – Legend of the Forbidden Mountain (44” height requirement)
• DINOSAUR (40” height requirement)

As well as the following show:

• Rivers of Light nighttime spectacular (select nights)

Guests will also receive signature snacks and a specialty beverage (alcoholic (21+) or non-alcoholic).

4. Taste of Magic Kingdom Park VIP Tour

Taste of Magic Kingdom Park VIP Tour is a brand new experience where guests have the opportunity to go inside the kitchens of several Magic Kingdom restaurants and sample several of Disney’s most iconic menu items.

During this 3-hour tour, guests will interact directly with Disney’s chefs and learn of the rich food history of the park. Guests head backstage to experience what goes into the production of Disney’s busy restaurant scene.  Guests will sample an amazing assortment of sweet and savory food items along the way as their VIP Guides make sure your experience is as enjoyable and informative as possible.

Cost of other Disney VIP Tours

Cost of other Disney VIP Tours 

Here is a breakdown of the cost of Disney’s 4 other VIP Tours:

The Ultimate Day of Thrills VIP Tour

• $349 per person (plus tax)
• Valid admission for each theme park is required (not included as part of the tour cost)
• The Ultimate Day of Thrills VIP Tour is currently offered on Monday, Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday.
• Tour begins at 8:30 AM and lasts around 7 hours
• There are blackout dates, especially during holidays and other busy periods

Ultimate Disney Classics VIP Tour

• $249 per person (plus tax)
• Lunch is included in this price!
• Valid admission ticket to Magic Kingdom is required (not included as part of the tour cost)
• Tour begins at 10:00 AM and lasts around 4 hours

Ultimate Nights of Adventure VIP Tour

• Valid admission ticket to Animal Kingdom is required (not included as part of the tour cost)
• Tour begins 4 hours before that evening’s first Rivers of Light performance and lasts around 4 hours
• The tour operates 7 days per week, except on blackout dates

Taste of Magic Kingdom Park VIP Tour

• $99 per person (plus tax)
• This tour is currently offered on Monday, Tuesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, except during blackout periods
• There are blackout dates, especially during holidays and other busy periods.

Contact The Vacationeer to Book your Disney VIP Tour

The Vacationeer is our preferred Disney Travel Agency and we recommend contacting them today if you are interested in Disney’s Private VIP Tours or one of the other VIP Tours currently offered at the resort. Here is what to do next:

✔️ Fill out the contact form HERE to request more information

✔️ A Disney travel planner will contact you with a price quote

✔️ Do you have any questions? Concerns? Your Vacationeer is there to assist you with your Disney World VIP tour

✔️ When you book, The Vacationeer will handle all of the leg-work of your VIP Tour and make all of your Disney World trip reservations (tickets, hotel reservations, dining reservations, Disney Genie+ , Lightning Lane Passes , and more)

✔️ As part of booking through The Vacationeer, there are absolutely no fees for this service and you get the lowest price

We hope our Disney VIP Tours page is helpful.

Are you ready to book your Disney VIP Tour? Please contact the Disney Travel Agents at The Vacationeer .  They will explain how you can participate in these unique experiences!

For more useful Disney World information, please review some additional pages on  MagicGuides  like our   Disney Dining Plan Calculator ,  Disney World Map , Disney World for Adults , Why Use a Disney Travel Agent , Disney World Payment Plan , Free Disney World Photos , and Disney World Weather articles.

Thank you for reading our page, and we hope you have a magical Walt Disney World vacation!

Related Posts:

DISNEY VIP TOUR GUIDE: IS IT WORTH IT AT DISNEY WORLD?

by Magic Family Getaways | Jul 20, 2023 | Magical News , Magical Stories

AS TO DISNEY ARTWORK, LOGOS, AND PROPERTIES: ©DISNEY

The author is Shaun Knight , a Travel Advisor at Magic Family Getaways.

______________________________________

When it comes to a Walt Disney World vacation, the options for upgrades & special experiences are bountiful. From After Hours events to Lightning Lanes to character dining, there is no shortage of unique opportunities to be had at the Most Magical Place on Earth. One of the more under-the-radar experiences, though, is booking a VIP Tour Guide for your Walt Disney World theme park day.

To most people, the sound of booking a VIP Tour Guide for their own traveling party seems like a far-off dream; either unobtainable financially, unavailable to the public, or both. However, both of these myths are wrong, & booking a VIP Tour Guide is not only available to the general public, but it’s actually quite a fantastic value overall!

The first factor that most families assume is unobtainable when it comes to booking their own VIP Tour Guide is price. While it’s true that a private tour guide isn’t cheap, the reality is that it’s a great value when you crunch the numbers. A VIP Tour Guide at Walt Disney World for 2023 runs anywhere from $450-$900 per hour per party. For slower dates (such as September), prices hover in the $400 range, while more in-demand dates (such as Christmas, Thanksgiving, 4th of July, etc), the price generally rises to between $700-$800. For the sake of ease, we will assume a price of $550 per hour, as that is the general median price for 2023 VIP Tour Guides. Walt Disney World requires each party book a VIP Tour Guide for a minimum of 7 hours, bringing our grand total for the day to $3,850 per group. Now here’s the fun part, & the piece that most guests forget to factor in when pricing out a guide for their party – that price is for your ENTIRE group, and you can bring up to TEN people in your party! At that rate, the VIP Tour Guide comes out to around $385 per person for SEVEN HOURS of incredible service, backstage access, & seemingly never-ending perks (as we’ll get into later). Of course, each member will still need valid park admission for the day (standard day ticket, multi-day ticket, Annual Pass, etc.), and thousands of dollars for one day is certainly far from cheap, but when you consider the perks & the alternatives, the value is easy to see.

To get a better taste as to the terrific value of a Walt Disney World Tour Guide, let’s factor in the average price for a family of 5 for one day at a Walt Disney World theme park (assuming said family wants to maximize their day & ride as many attractions as possible). First off, each member of the family is going to need to purchase Genie+, which currently averages around $25 per day Next, each family member will need to purchase individual Lightning Lanes for (potentially) up to four attractions per day, assuming they are park-hopping. Let’s assume the family only rides three headliner attractions out of four, paying an average of $20 each for the Individual Lighting Lanes. We are now at a total of $425 for the day for a family of five. Add on Memory Maker to get your photos for the trip and you are somewhere around $600 per family. Since each VIP Tour allows up to TEN guests, we will double the $600 for two families of five, and now those two families (or one giant family) are looking at somewhere around $1,200 for their one day. Unfortunately, they are also at the mercy of the Genie+ and Individual Lighting Lane rules, meaning hours & hours spent on the cellphone to book rides, only one ride max per attraction, waking up early in the morning to book your first ride, only a one-hour window to access each selected ride, etc. As you can see, if a visiting family is attempting to prioritize attractions during their Disney day, the price can add up QUICK.

Now that we’ve broken down the math between a VIP Tour Guide (~$385 per person) and a regular Genie+/Lightning Lane day (~$120 per person), let’s take a look to see if the price difference is truly worth it by studying the perks of a VIP Tour Guide. When most people hear the word “Tour,” they assume a guided, pre-planned trip around the parks. Fortunately, that is nowhere near the case with a Walt Disney World VIP Guide. These 7 (or more) hours are ENTIRELY customizable by you & your party. Want to ride Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind non-stop until you puke with no waits? Done. Want to dine at the most hard-to-get restaurants like Cinderella’s Royal Table and Be Our Guest? Done. Want to ride rides all night until right before fireworks begin, but still get a perfect fireworks spot with no crowds around you? Done! A VIP Tour Guide is truly what you want it to be. Of course, your guide will still give you the best tips, tricks, & history on the parks, as each guide is incredibly knowledgeable on all things Disney. They’ll also take you backstage in areas not accessible to normal guests. All of these are woven together to make your day as magical as possible, and exactly how you want it! Little-to-no wait times for attractions, front-row seating for shows, direct Tour Guide transportation for Park-Hopping, backstage access, no waits for dining, & concierge-level planning BEFORE your day even starts. The perks truly are almost endless when it comes to a VIP Tour Guide.

One of the best aspects to the entire land is the roaming characters. Everywhere you look & every corner you turn, a brand new superhero pops up to greet you or take a photo. We spent over 10 hours combined at the land during our trip, & we still felt like we didn’t get to see every character that was available. Not only do these roaming superheroes make the land feel vibrant & alive, it also makes you the guest feel apart of the action! Not to mention the fantastic photo-ops for the little superheroes in your party, too. Whether you’re a die-hard fan of the Marvel Cinematic Universe or just a casual theme park fan who enjoys character meet-n-greets, the characters of Avengers Campus are one of the coolest aspects to any land at the entire resort.

We could probably go on for pages & pages with the ample amount of other perks available to VIP Tour guests besides these, but that would just be spoiling the magic. A large part of the fun (& value) of a VIP Tour Guide is being surprised around every corner at what kind of magic your guide is able to make for you & your party! VIP Tours may seem far-fetched to most, but once you book one yourself, you’ll be hooked for life!

As you can see, booking a Walt Disney World VIP Tour Guide for your family/friends is not only available & obtainable, it’s also quite an incredible value. While most families likely can’t spend thousands of dollars each day (on top of their tickets, food, & lodging) while visiting Walt Disney World, there is no denying that splurging for a day (or two) on a VIP Tour Guide will create unforgettable lifetime memories while allowing guests to experience a Disney Park like never before. 

Shaun Knight Travel Consultant Magic Family Getaways LLC  An Authorized Disney Vacation Planner MagicFamilyGetaways.com Phone  +1 (253) 332-3190 Fax  +1 (973) 969-3010

Office Hours:  Monday through Saturday 9:00am – 7:00pm PST Sunday & evening hours by appointment

Shaun became a travel advisor after 4+ years in the banking industry. He is a self-proclaimed travel extraordinaire, although his go-to destinations are Orlando & Southern California. Shaun met his wife at Disneyland Resort in 2018 while they were both on solo trips to the park. He told her he loved for the first time in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle 4 months later & proposed to her in front of the Rivers of America 3 months after that.

When he is not actively planning a future Disney trip for himself or his clients, Shaun spends his time making Disney ranking videos for his YouTube channel, interacting with the theme park community on Twitter, & playing basketball. He is dedicated to using his vast knowledge & experience with the resorts on both coasts to give you the Most Magical Vacation Ever!

Shaun has a Bachelors Degree from Washington State University (Go Cougs!). He has spent his entire life living up & down the west coast, from Seattle to San Diego, & currently resides in Seattle with his wife & puppy.

At  Magic Family Getaways , advisors plan and design unforgettable vacation experiences for families who want the confidence that every step is handled. Its team of expert advisors can save you time and money and attend to the smallest detail so you can focus on creating memories that last a lifetime.

Disney Private VIP Tours

Making our kingdom yours.

Explore the parks* with your own VIP Tour Guide during a customizable experience filled with attractive benefits.

The team at Disney VIP Tour Services will plan the most efficient, enjoyable way for groups up to 10 Guests to see and do the things on your list. Just tell your personal VIP Tour Guide what you'd like to see, and they'll customize your day to your desire!

After being picked up in a private vehicle from your Walt Disney World Resort accommodations or branded partner resort accommodations, enjoy unparalleled hospitality and experience some of your favorite attractions alongside a VIP Tour Guide.

Some of the personalized services include:

• Pre-arrival planning
• A flexible start time, picked by you
• Visits to multiple theme parks* in one or more days
• The ability to enjoy some of your favorite attractions efficiently through most Lightning Lane entrances
• Shared insight from your highly knowledgeable VIP Tour Guide throughout your tour

*All VIP Tours require valid theme park admission, which is not included in the price of the tour

Pricing and Reservations

• Pricing:  Ranging from $450 to $900 per hour, depending on the season (valid park admission is required for each park visited on tour and is not included in the price of the tour).
• Reservations: Call (407) 560-4033 to book. Guests under the age of 18 must have parent or guardian permission to call. Learn when advance reservations can be made.

Know Before You Go

• All VIP Tours require valid theme park admission, which is not included in the price of the tour
• Disney VIP Tours participate in full security screenings (including bag checks) during your Disney VIP Tour. Guests should be prepared for screenings with their appropriate government issued identification.
• Disney Private VIP Tours at the Walt Disney World Resort are very popular and may be limited in availability. Advance reservations are highly recommended. Learn when advance reservations can be made.
• All Private VIP Tours must be booked for a minimum duration of 7 continuous hours, and your party may include up to 10 Guests, including infants.
• Entertainment offerings are subject to availability and may be restricted by capacity constraints at the time of booking.
• You will incur a cancellation fee equal to 2 hours at the booked rate per tour if you do not provide at least 48-hour notice when cancelling any Private VIP Tour.
• No cameras, video equipment or cellphones may be used while in backstage areas.
• Guests 17 years and under must be accompanied by a paying participating parent or guardian.
• Pricing and information are subject to change without notice.

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VIP tour tipping

• Thread starter CaptainRogers2021
• Start date Oct 14, 2022
• Tags vip tour

CaptainRogers2021

Earning my ears.

• Oct 14, 2022

My family of 4 was gifted 4 days of VIP tours in December. What is the tipping recommendation for each day? And how does that work? Cash? Venmo? And are we supposed to buy the guide food? This is so out of my league I’m overwhelmed! TIA  

scrappinginontario

This thread had a lot of input in the past.  

Curioser and Curioser

Not sure on tipping but I do know Disney pays for the guides food. And that's probably the most awesome gift ever!  

scrappinginontario said: This thread had a lot of input in the past. Click to expand...

DIS Veteran

We tip $600-800 per day for our family of 5. We use venmo. Our guides have always taken care of their own lunch and, in fact, they give you some snacks / drinks along the way as part of the package.  

Mouseketeer

• Oct 21, 2022

The guides used to eat with families pre-COVID and Disney paid for their meals. Since COVID, guides don’t eat with families (at least not since last we were there a few months ago) and get their own Disney bought food when you eat. In terms of tips, it’s all over the board. The best advice we’ve seen is roughly the cost of one tour hour per day as a tip. Last time we were there, our guide did have venmo which made tipping exponentially easier because carrying around an envelope with a large stack of $20s (thanks, ATMS!) was a nightmare! And whoever gave you that gift is one heck of an amazing gift giver! Enjoy!  

• Oct 22, 2022

We tipped $600 for each of our tours - cash. At $2400 in tips, that’s still a bargain! What a nice gift!  

stinkpickle

Gifted 4 days of VIP tours?!?!?! WOW! Your tips will be almost the cost of one VIP tour. LOL!  

GoingSince1990

We tip $200-$300 per day, cash in an envelope. We gifted our daughter and her boyfriend a 2-day tour; they gave $200 at the end of both days and the guide (same guide on both days) seemed very happy. Tips are genuinely not expected or required, and Disney actually makes it quite hard to do; there is no option to add it to the credit card payment and maybe I’m a bit old-school but I would feel awkward asking for the guide’s Venmo, so we’ve always done cash. For a 4-day tour if it is the same guide every day I would suggest $200 at the end of each day, and consider adding an extra $200 at the end of the last day to round it up to a total of $1000 if you have bonded with your guide and had an amazing time.  

PalmettoPath

Wdw since 03/72.

We only do one day VIP Tours when we do them. Family of three. We tip $550 cash usually, assuming the guide was good. We have had a very poor guide in the past and the tip was less accordingly.  

• Oct 23, 2022

stinkpickle said: Gifted 4 days of VIP tours?!?!?! WOW! Your tips will be almost the cost of one VIP tour. LOL! Click to expand...

Addicted since 1971

What an awesome gift!!! We have a VIP tour in 2 weeks (HOORAY!!), and I’m planning on $5-600. I’ll bring cash if I remember, but we used Venmo before.  

gottalovepluto

MEC004 said: Does this include the Wild Trek Safari? I didn’t think about tipping Click to expand...

• Oct 24, 2022

2vets said: What an awesome gift!!! We have a VIP tour in 2 weeks (HOORAY!!), and I’m planning on $5-600. I’ll bring cash if I remember, but we used Venmo before. Click to expand...

CaptainRogers2021 said: My family of 4 was gifted 4 days of VIP tours in December. What is the tipping recommendation for each day? And how does that work? Cash? Venmo? And are we supposed to buy the guide food? This is so out of my league I’m overwhelmed! TIA Click to expand...

MinnieFan4ever

<a href="http://www.wdwinfo.com/dis-sponsor/" targ.

Just did a VIP tour last week and it was incredible!!! There were just three of us. Our guide did eat lunch with us and grabbed a snack later midday. We tipped her 1 hours rate cash.  

2vets said: As an aside, they just told me that we can only do Guardians once on our tour. Grumble grumble… Click to expand...

SkyGuy said: That was also the rule with Rise when it was VQ. Click to expand...

stinkpickle said: Yep, we have one planned for Saturday, and Rise is still a one ride deal. Click to expand...

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Is the Disney VIP Tour Worth It?

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At some point, in hour five of your day at a Disney park, you’re probably tired of standing in lines. The magic of Disney theme parks is undeniable, but when the sweat sets in and your feet begin to ache, you may be wondering if there’s another way.

The Disney VIP tour allows you to skip the lines with a dedicated tour guide and a custom itinerary. But, of course, it’s pricy, so let’s take a closer look at the Walt Disney World VIP tour, how much it costs and whether it’s worth it.

What is the Walt Disney World VIP tour?

Disney offers a variety of enhanced experiences for those willing to shell out extra money. This includes group tours and behind-the-scenes expeditions; however, its most premium product is the personalized VIP tour. The VIP tour isn’t just limited to Walt Disney World — you can also book these private tours at Disneyland and other Disney parks.

The VIP tour at Disney grants you your own Disney tour guide who’ll whisk you from ride to ride without waiting in long lines. In addition to this, you’ll also get special access to restaurant reservations and entertainment seating, including fireworks.

Disney VIP tours do not include park admission. You’ll have to pay for this separately.

You’ll tell your tour guide what you’d like to see and do, and they’ll plan the day. You can even park hop with the VIP tour, which means you’ll be escorted to another park in a private vehicle.

» Learn more: How to plan a trip to Walt Disney World

Disney VIP tour cost

The Disney VIP tour is costly and doesn’t include park admission. The rate for a tour depends on the season and the crowd levels. So just how much is the Disney VIP tour? Prices range from $450 to $900 per hour, and you must book for a minimum of seven hours. The price includes up to 10 people, including infants.

Be aware that cancellation policies differ across parks.

At Walt Disney World, canceling with less than 48 hours' notice will incur a cancellation fee of two hours at your booking rate.

At Disneyland, VIP tours are nonrefundable if canceled less than four days in advance.

» Learn more: How to go to Disney World for cheap

Are Disney VIP tours worth it?

The Disney VIP tour is expensive. Although unlimited front-of-the-line access and guaranteed seating are nice, you’ll really need to budget for an expense like this. Let’s break this down using Walt Disney World as an example.

The cheapest rate you’ll pay for a Disney VIP tour will cost you $3,150. In exchange, you and up to nine of your friends will receive seven hours of unlimited front-of-the-line access, a personal tour guide, premier access to dining reservations and dedicated entertainment seating.

At this rate, the total cost of the tour will be $315 per person. So it’s unlikely that you’ll want to book a VIP tour for multiple days unless you’re trying to squeeze in as much activity as possible.

Use a credit card that’ll maximize your bonus points on your Disney vacation.

If you’re a large group with a relatively limited amount of time, a tour can help maximize your vacation. It’s probably best for family reunions, bachelorette parties or other family group trips for special occasions. These are the kinds of people who will be able to maximize the Disney VIP Tour.

You should probably skip the Disney VIP tour if you're on a budget, traveling in smaller groups or can afford to spend multiple days at Disney.

Disney VIP tour vs. Genie+ and Individual Lightning Lane

When comparing costs in the following examples, let’s say you’re booking the VIP tour for just one day.

In October 2021, Disney introduced the paid Genie+ system, which replaced the now-defunct (and free) Fastpass Plus program. Genie+ operates similarly, with the ability to book individual return times on most Disney rides.

At Walt Disney World, this experience costs $15 per person per day.

Sadly, Genie+ doesn’t include some of the most popular rides at each Walt Disney World park, including Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance and Space Mountain. Instead, the fast lane for these rides is priced separately and available a la carte via Individual Lightning Lane.

You’ll need to pay per person, per ride, for attractions included in the ILL. Costs vary according to demand but can be as high as $15/person. In addition, you can only purchase ILL access once per ride, per day. So there’s no way to use the fast lane for Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance continually, for example.

» Learn more: How to book the new Star Wars hotel on points

Under the old Fastpass system, a return time didn’t guarantee you a front-of-the-line spot. Instead, you’d experience a shorter, separate line from the main queue.

Now let’s say that your party of 10 has chosen to head to Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios for the day. Naturally, you want to skip as many lines as possible, so you’ll pay for Genie+ and Individual Lightning Lane attractions.

Genie+ comes out to $150 for the day for all 10 of you. It’s a little more challenging to predict ILL pricing, but let’s say it’s an average of $11 per ride. Everyone rode all four ILL available, two at Magic Kingdom and two at Hollywood Studios, which means you’ve paid $440 for ILL rides.

Altogether, you paid $590 to take advantage of Genie+ and ILL, which will have granted you shorter lines at most rides.

There’s a massive difference between paying $3,150 for a VIP tour or $590 — one option is five times the price of the other. But, of course, you can also choose not to spend any additional money at all, in which case you’ll pay for park admission and elbow it out with everybody else.

» Learn more: The best travel credit cards right now

The best benefit of the Disney VIP tour? Time saved

Consider the range of benefits you’ll receive when comparing a Disney VIP tour vs. Genie+ and ILL. Disney VIP tours give you a whole host of special perks, including one that’s almost impossible to find — time.

You’ll save time moving between parks in a private car. You’ll save time waiting for a good seat for the fireworks and save time in the Lightning Lane lines because a VIP tour jumps you past those who have paid for that luxury.

In this case, the Disney VIP tour makes a compelling example for those with limited time, especially if you can max out the tour group with 10 people. If you only have a day or two to experience the parks, why would you spend it waiting in the vast lines?

This is especially true when you consider the already high costs of a Disney World vacation, which can climb into the thousands of dollars for a big family and multiple days at the parks.

» Learn more: Best Disney World hotels to book with points

How to book a Disney VIP tour

You can start booking a VIP tour up to 60 days in advance.

For Walt Disney World, bookings can only be made by phone. So you’ll need to call the VIP tour office at 407-560-4033. The office is open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily.

If you’re looking to book a Disney VIP tour at Disneyland instead, you can book by email at [email protected] or call the office at 714-300-7710.

» Learn more: How to budget for a family trip to Disney

If you want to book Disney’s VIP tour

There’s no doubt that a Disney vacation can be magical, but you’ll need to pay up to experience all that pixie dust. A Disney VIP tour is undoubtedly a splurge but can make sense for those looking for as much convenience as possible.

Before you book, make sure to do the math on costs and whether it is affordable. Otherwise, stick to options such as Genie+ and Individual Lightning Lanes to help re-create the experience at a fraction of the cost.

Photo courtesy of Walt Disney World.

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You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2024 , including those best for:

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TPG approved: Using a VIP tour guide at Disney World to escape the crowds

Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here .

In general, waiting in line is not my cup of tea, which is why I highly value TSA PreCheck , CLEAR membership and Global Entry . When it was time to take my niece and nephews on a family trip to Disney World this summer, I decided to do whatever I could to minimize waiting in line and maximizing having fun.

Since we only had one full day together on the ground, we went all-in on a private Disney World VIP tour. To set the scene, my three nephews and one niece are all under 6 years old, and I wanted to squeeze in more than a few rides myself on a busy day when I hadn't had the luxury of lots of advance theme-park planning and FastPass maximizing.

For us, this tour proved to be well worth the money. Here's why I thought a Disney VIP guide is worth the investment, if you can swing it -- and what to do if it's a bit out of your budget.

Related: TPG Guide to Visiting Walt Disney World

Pick-up and arrival

I knew the day was off to a great start when our personal driver greeted us at our hotel, Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge . This is included in the cost of the VIP tour. Our driver was super friendly and helpful right off the bat with water at the ready for everyone inside the cool, air-conditioned van.

Once the seven of us all piled in (the price for a VIP tour guide is the same whether you have one person in your group or 10), we made our way to the Magic Kingdom. There, we entered through a secret entrance and got dropped off right in front of Main Street. Disney cast members welcomed us to the park with snacks and more water, which was perfect given the summer heat.

FOR NO COST ASSISTANCE WITH PLANNING AND BOOKING YOUR NEXT DISNEY VACATION, CHECK OUT TPG'S DISNEY BOOKING PARTNER, MOUSE COUNSELORS .

The park experience

Our first stop was Space Mountain, which had a two-hour wait, but we were able to get through the first time in six minutes and rode a second time within 20 minutes thanks to the unlimited FastPass+ access that comes with the tour guide. I almost felt guilty passing the same people twice, but that alone made the VIP tour well worth the splurge for us. In addition to jumping to the front of lines, our guide was also super attentive and helpful with the kids by pushing the stroller and even offering to watch them so the adults could have some fun on the rides.

Our guide, Clark, was excellent -- he wasn't just our personal FastPass for the day, but he was also a walking Disney encyclopedia and fascinating to talk to about the park.

In the seven hours we were there (the minimum length of time required to hire a Disney VIP tour guide), we were able to ride 11 rides, have dinner and finish up the day with a fireworks show at Cinderella's Castle.

The fireworks were the perfect end to both our day and the whole VIP experience, as we were able to enjoy them in a private, crowd-less spot in the VIP area with a great view.

When it finally came time to head home, we were able to get out of the park with ease, even as a mass of people were heading out after the fireworks. Instead of heading toward the bottleneck at the main exit, we were ushered through a private gate with no foot traffic. All-in-all, it took us about 20 minutes to get from Magic Kingdom back to the Animal Kingdom Lodge on the other side of the Disney World property (which is about the size of San Francisco). It felt very efficient.

Pricing and booking a private Disney VIP tour

If you want to book a Disney VIP tour, you'll have to do it over the phone by calling (407) 560-4033. All tours are booked for a minimum of seven hours and maximum of 14 hours. As for the price — it's a lot. The private tours start at $425 an hour, but exact pricing depends on the season. For example, I paid $525 an hour for my late-June weekend trip. Each tour can accommodate up to 10 guests (infants included) at no additional charge, but if you want to add more people, you'll need to book another guide at the hourly rate. The tour also doesn't include park admission, so you also have to purchase those tickets separately. If you plan to visit multiple parks with your tour guide (which is allowed), you will need Park Hopper tickets. ( Here are the best ways to use points for Disney tickets .)

For your $425 per hour (or more), you receive:

• A very knowledgable personal guide for a group of 10
• Door-to-door private Disney transportation from beginning to end in an air-conditioned van
• Unlimited FastPass+ access
• Complimentary snacks and water
• VIP tour of Disney with access to otherwise private areas
• Preferred viewing area for fireworks and parades

Since purchases from Disney can code as travel, entertainment or something else entirely, I used my Chase Freedom Unlimited that gives 1.5% cash back (or 1.5x points) on purchases to be on the safe side. In the end, I earned 5,374 points on the charge, which when moved to my Chase Sapphire Reserve, are worth about $107 in travel by TPG valuations .

Overall, this splurge cost me $3,565, which is by no means cheap — but the number of things we were able to do, the lack of stress and the reality that this was done last-minute and without a bunch of advance planning with such a large group made it well worth it for us.

Related: Best Credit Cards for Theme Parks

Express service without a VIP tour

Even if a private VIP tour isn't on the radar for your next trip, there are ways to replicate some elements of the tour at a much lower price. First, if you can handle the early morning wake-up call, consider Extra Magic Mornings, which can speed you on select rides in the Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios for about $79 per person.

Disney also offers group VIP tours with behind-the-scenes access, knowledgable guides and walk-on rides from a couple hundred dollars per person.

Finally, Disney World lets all guests pre-reserve three FastPass+ attractions per day (30 or 60 days out, depending on if you are staying at a Disney resort) for no additional fee. With advance planning, you can have a very short wait for a few key attractions, and then continue getting additional FastPass+ attractions throughout the day using the Disney app after you use your original three. If you have the budget for Club Level access at at Disney Resort, you can purchase three extra FastPass+ reservations at a cost of $50 per person, per day on stays of three nights or longer. You can book these FastPass+ rides 90 days in advance, so they are extremely useful in getting quick access to popular rides.

Bottom line

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the door-to-door service from beginning to end. Our Disney guide was extremely attentive and super helpful, which added to the experience. Given that theme parks have a reputation for long lines that can wear you down a bit (especially with young kids along), I found the VIP tour to be well worth the money. Even though our family time was brief that weekend, we were able to maximize the time and fun we had together.

Read on for more tips for planning an Orlando theme park vacation:

• Inside a Universal Orlando Private VIP Tour
• The Best Times to Visit Disney World
• Save on Disney Hotels By Renting Disney Vacation Club Points
• Why Disney World is Better Than Disneyland
• How to Save Money on a Disney World Vacation
• Everything We Know About Disney's Star Wars Hotel
• How to Maximize One Day at Universal Orlando

Tipping for Behind the Seeds Tour

Do you tip the tour guide? Yes or no?

No tipping allowed

DH tried to hand off a $20 and she politely declined. I did a compliment (I think in the app but that was a yr ago). Our tour guide was so funny and quirky. I loved her!

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