I Did The Disney VIP Tour And It Wasn't What You Think 

Omg thank you so much for doing this review. I’m a former Disney cast member, and I wanted to do something special for my aunt’s last trip to Disneyland. I saw some negative recent reviews about it, but this just finalized my decision to keep my money in my pocket. It’s disgusting what this company charges vs what guests receive now.

I'm a former Disneyland VIP tour guide, I toured VIP's throughout the year 2012, though I had been in the department for a full year prior to that. Based on this video I can say there's definitely a misunderstanding. A VIP tour guide is anyone you want them to be, essentially. But you have to communicate what you want. The reason they don't automatically give you information and history and service is because many people hire the VIP tour guides to be glorified babysitters and don't really care about learning history or getting information...you're there to watch their young kids or their elders while the adults and teens go on rides...that's the majority of it. Many folks who hire a VIP tour guide just want company while they experience the park...so you should have spoken to the tour guide and set your expectations and understood your limits, otherwise they will stay quite and follow YOUR lead. I know that sounds backwards, but very few people actually show up with the expectations that you did. I'm not saying you're wrong, I'm just saying the guides aren't used to it, and will need clear communication to provide you with the experience you want. It's true, you have to pay admission and pay for your own food while visiting the park, the tour guide can often fetch those things for you if you give them cash or cash app card, (things might have changed in the years I have been away from the company), but essentially I had guests who'd hand me their cash and say "when we get off this ride we'd like to sit in the shade and drink some lemonade", and with their cash I went to fetch their lemonade and secure a spot in the shade and flag them down when they exited the ride. You can also ask your tour guide to take you places most people don't get to go...for instance, they can take you to the lobby of Club 33, or take you for a ride aboard the Lilly Belle Private Car on the Disneyland Railroad. Is all that worth the money it costs for a tour? I don't think so... I mean, I may be defending your tour guide, but I still think it's a rip off, but hey, it's a rip off for her too. She doesn't see any of the money you paid for her, instead she works an hourly wage barely above the state minimum and gets no commission. That's part of the reason why I left the department, people were paying thousands to have me lead them through the park, but I was only earning $11.50 per hour. But some people still think the tours are worth it, and to them I say, before you book a tour, ask them what to expect, tell them what you expect out of the tour, and then repeat the process for your guide, you gotta tell them what you would like them to do. And if you're curious about history and information, ask them, and maybe they can answer (Disneyland Tour Guides are not experts on Disneyland History, they are only taught carefully vetted information given on scripted tours they have personally practiced for, otherwise they do their research on Google, on their own time, just like anybody else).

I’m so glad you did this video! I have a season pass and I go a ton and I’ve always wondered if this is worth it! Sounds like I should save my money for more treats at the park👏. I have done the walk in Walt’s footsteps tour, and also Walt’s main street story tour. Both of those tours we got treated like royalty! We got to go in the dream suite, Main Street apartment, and both provided Free food of some sort! The walk-in Walt’s footstep tour even took us to the front of the line on some rides! Fun way to feel special and see cool things without spending thousands! Thanks for the video!

Okay - I did a VIP tour. And I loved it. It was so perfect for our group of 10 people who hadn’t been to the park in a while, and we had elderly people with us too. We were able to hit all of the rides and didn’t have to run across the parks to hit LL’s - we did a circuit (like you mentioned). They told us all the little secrets about the park which was super cool for people who aren’t chronically online (so not me, I need to touch grass). They got us a locker and ran things back… then we got the VIP seats for the fireworks show at the ends of the night. It was GREAT for people again, who haven’t been to the park in a while or who want to knock it all out in a day, or go on the same ride over and over and over (again, me) 😂

In the future, if someone is going to do this, definitely ask what's included, before spending the money, and go from there.

Wow that’s disappointing. I’ve always wanted to do the VIP tour. Thank you for your honesty!

Wow...this has to be the worst Disney VIP tour experience I've ever heard. That sounds like a total rip off and NOT a luxury VIP treatment. Paying for all your own food and drinks on top of the tour is insane. Even Universal offers a whole breakfast AND lunch experience!

I’ve heard about these VIP tours for what feels like my whole life. I’ve been saving for one for 12 years and still don’t have enough. If I ever do get to do one it better be the best day I’ve ever freaking had….but it sounds like I’m better of doing single rider

I think the Paris Disney land lightning lane system lets you choose rides as you go.

Disney VIP tours are not backstage magic tours. They are basically paid to skip the line. It's the same way at Walt Disney World. Food & Beverages are not included ever. At WDW they do arrange for you to hop from park to park without having to use the main entrance, but that's it.

giving you hand sanitizer, pins and sunscreen is a new thing. sure they're cheap but previously you would get nothing so....

I wonder if it’s any different at Disney world Orlando and Disney land 🤔

Thanks for the info. I was going to give this a try but not anymore!

Ugh. Another way Disney is losing it's "Disney-ness". Sad.

To be honest, I was mildly frustrated for most of this video because of how goddamn slowly you talk (😂), but then I got to the end and you totally won me back with the super succinct and beautifully summarized "Rare pin sighting, glorified lightning lane, where are my perks." That was exactly my experience and you articulated it so well in just 10 words. Also, surprised it wasn't 2 stars - 2.5 seems generous based on how you felt.

Are there different tiers of vip?

When you say thousands and thousands of dollars, how much is it?

There is absolutely on reason for someone who is wealthier than you to be able to skip you in line. This is already the case wit lightening lane. All this does is to bring in more money for Disney. At the same time it sets the wrong incentives for them. They no longer need to meet demand for growth of income. They just sell preferential treatment to few and make it miserabel for the standard guest.

I’m a CM at Disneyland and yeah… I truly don’t think it’s worth it unless it’s Disney world lol 💕

Sounds like you should have purchased the ABD Hollywood and Disneyland Tour. You would have gotten all of the things you were looking for. For thousands of dollars more.

Sadly not worth it. Give us the PERKS. 😢

Wish in one hand and.......

UGGGG, Well that was a total rip off...This is on my Bucket list but to do at WDW, hopefully they haven't ruined it their. Sorry you had a C+ experience....

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