vip tour of disney world

Disney Private VIP Tours

Walt Disney World® Resort

Set off on an adventure that includes door-to-door service and an array of personalized perks.

Making Our Kingdom Yours

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 during your visit
• 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.
• Should plans change and you need to cancel your VIP Tour, please contact us at (407) 560-4033 3 days prior to the date of your VIP Tour to avoid a cancellation fee equal to 2 hours at the booked rate of the tour. Guests younger than 18 years of age must have parent or guardian permission to call.
• 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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Is the Disney VIP Tour Worth It?

After spending seven years in the U.S. Air Force as an Arabic linguist, Carissa is now a freelance writer using points and miles to fund a four-year (and counting!) adventure. She previously worked as a reporter for The Points Guy. Her writing has since been featured in numerous publications, including Forbes, Business Insider, and The Balance. When she's not flying, you'll usually find her in a Priority Pass lounge somewhere, sipping tea and cursing slow Wi-Fi.

Meghan Coyle started as a web producer and writer at NerdWallet in 2018. She covers travel rewards, including industry news, airline and hotel loyalty programs, and how to travel on points. She is based in Los Angeles.

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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.

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are some of the best travel credit cards of 2024 :

Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

No annual fee: Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express

Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

on Chase's website

1x-10x Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases.

60,000 Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

1x-5x 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases.

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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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We know disney. you can, too..

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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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

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 during your visit
• 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 00 800 2006 0809 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.
• Should plans change and you need to cancel your VIP Tour, please contact us at 00 800 2006 0809 3 days prior to the date of your VIP Tour to avoid a cancellation fee equal to 2 hours at the booked rate of the tour. Guests younger than 18 years of age must have parent or guardian permission to call.
• 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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Disney World VIP Tour: Worth The Extravagance or Not? Updated March 2024

Last Updated on June 5, 2024 by Leslie Stroud %AUTHOR_NAME% -->

Imagine walking onto any ride at Disney World, riding however many times you want, all while having your own personal Disney Guide.  Magical is just the beginning!

We’ve now done two Disney VIP Tours, and the resounding review is that they are tons of fun, incredibly cool, and a once-in-a-lifetime experience, especially for hard-core Disney fans . However, they are also extremely, ridiculously expensive! They would have to be to make them truly VIP, right?

Let me start with something else: this is 100%, hands-down, one of the most frivolous and expensive things we’ve ever done. We did our first tour with our kids and my parents (who had NEVER been to Disney before—keep reading to learn why that wasn’t the best idea). We used our second VIP Tour to treat our company’s management team, which was such a fun surprise.

* Disclaimer:  This post may contain affiliate links. Opinions shared are my own, and I only endorse products I support. By clicking on any of the links below, I may get a small commission if you purchase at absolutely no additional charge to you. I appreciate your support. *

Table of Contents

• 1 Why We Chose To Do A Disney VIP Tour
• 2.1 The main benefits of the Disney Private VIP Tour Guide are:
• 2.2 What is NOT Included in Disney Private Tours?
• 3 How Many Rides Can You Do During Your Disney VIP Experience?
• 4 Wait, You Still Wait In Line?
• 5 What Are The Downsides To These Magic Disney VIP Tours?
• 6 How Much Does The Disney VIP Tour Cost?
• 7 Speaking Of Which, How Do I Book My Disney VIP Tour?
• 8 How Many People Can Do The Disney World VIP Tour?
• 9 What Else Do I Need To Know About The WDW VIP Tour?
• 10 Do You Tip Your Disney VIP Tour Guide?
• 11 Overall, Was The Disney VIP Tour Worth It?
• 12 How Many Days Should I Go To Disney If I’m Doing a Disney VIP Tour?
• 13 Will You Do The Disney Private Tour Again?
• 14 Additional Reading

Why We Chose To Do A Disney VIP Tour

Why did we do it?  Well, a few reasons:

• We’ve known about it for a while and always wanted to do it!   We found a reference to it long ago when booking a Disney trip… a guide to walk you around Disney?  What in the world?  However, we called and got the price and had a hearty laugh to ourselves.
• We’ve been really blessed. Since then, our businesses have seen a lot more success.  That initial figure that made us laugh isn’t as out of range as it once was.  Not to say it wasn’t still a total splurge, but it wasn’t out of the question anymore.
• The grandparents! My parents really surprised me by agreeing to come to Disney for a day!  This is a real shocker as they’ve never been.  Ever.  And we’ve been to all of the parks in the world . I think my parents were finally curious enough to see what it was really about.
• Park Hopping. Park hopping isn’t allowed until after 2 pm.  It was going to be hard to pick just one park to show my parents in one day.  We also would only get in 2-4 rides, realistically, all day.  Knowing with a VIP guide we could visit ALL the parks and do ALL the rides, we went for it!
• Future Company Trip . We wanted to check out the VIP Tour to see if we would want to take our management team or not later on. We did take our management team in May 2023, and it was even more fun than I expected it to be! Surprising a bunch of adults was much more difficult but also a lot more fun.

What Can You Do With Your Disney VIP Tour Guide?

Not anything you want, sadly, but about as close as you’ll ever get at Disney!  Our guide, Roy, was a rockstar.  He helped us to change our reservations to another park, got us a free stroller, worked to get us dining reservations, etc.  This was on top of all the rides!

He would not take us into the castle (yes, I did ask!) or any crazy areas like that.  However, you do see parts of the parks that you wouldn’t be allowed to see otherwise!

The main benefits of the Disney Private VIP Tour Guide are:

• Walking onto nearly any ride as much as you want.   Any new, super popular ride might be excluded from the VIP Tour, as Rise of the Resistance was when we did our first VIP Tour. However, on our second tour both Guardians and Tron were brand new and we were allowed to both twice!  The limit was two times. This may also vary depending on the time of year (as does the price of the VIP Tour) and the amount of time the ride has been open.
• You are transported in a private vehicle between parks. You enter backstage employee areas, sometimes right into a ride! We literally walked into the Tower of Terror. The Disney SUVs include any car seats you need.
• Being able to park hop , as much as you want to and when you want to. You can go back to parks you’ve already been to, but it does take time form your tour to travel between the parks.
• Learning about the parks and their history from your guide’s extensive knowledge.
• Maximizing your time in the parks .

What is NOT Included in Disney Private Tours?

• Your park admission
• Food (you buy your own or bring your own- they don’t care!)
• Your accommodation

How Many Rides Can You Do During Your Disney VIP Experience?

Honestly, as many as you want!  You have to pay for the Disney VIP Guide for 7 hours at a minimum.  You can also extend up to 10 hours. You pay by hour and can even d 15 min increments if there is a ride at the end of the day you just really need to do!

Our friends on Instagram that I saw do it logged 33 rides in a day!  Wow.  We only got to 20, but we did a lot of back and forth trying to get onto the Rise of the Resistance ride.  

My best advice would be to let your guide lead you.  They have the best routes mapped out, and with years of experience, they know how to do all the rides in a park in the quickest manner!

You can also do rides more than once.  We did several rides twice.  However, our guide warned us this could be a bad time loss, especially during Covid. They cleaned the rides every two hours, and on the VIP tour of not, you had to wait in line. This can also make you surprisingly sick! When we took our team, a couple of our managers were sensitive to motion sickness and nearly threw up after doing two big rides back to back.

Wait, You Still Wait In Line?

Yes, sometimes.  On some rides, Roy would walk us to the ride itself, like put us in our seats.  

On other rides, he would just put us in the fast pass line.  He walked into the ride with us and sometimes even rode with us unless there was a single ride line or even number.

Have a disability?  Talk to Guest Experiences at the front of the park about it and see if you can get this.  It basically allows you to come back to a ride after checking in at the ride to ride it and not have to wait in line.  However, if the wait time is 60 minutes, you have to come back in 60 minutes.

What Are The Downsides To These Magic Disney VIP Tours?

Really, are there any downsides to a private tour of Disney?  No.  Haha.  But there are a few things I noticed:

• You miss out on the anticipation of the ride when you are doing them constantly.  It sounds dumb, but as you wait in line, you build up your excitement and anticipation.  Like opening a present!  If you are just handed a chocolate bar, it’s still way cool, but a little less exciting than opening a gift.
• You don’t get to see the inside line queue part of the ride .  Again, not a big loss, but Disney Imagineers do a lot to make those line areas really cool!  For example, when you wait in line for Avatar, you get to walk through the lab and see a life-size avatar floating in a tank!  It’s way cool!  You don’t see any of that when you just walk into the fast pass line.
• It’s a LOT of stimuli .  Disney rides are designed to encompass as many parts of your brain as possible.. sight, sound, smell, etc.  Doing 4-7 of these in an hour is INTENSE.  I was feeling a little nauseous and certainly exhausted as the day wore on. 
• You don’t really want to stop and eat.   Eating at Disney right now is kind of hard.  You MUST be sitting.  Mobile ordering or a restaurant are the only options to buy.  You are NOT allowed to eat in your tour guide’s private car.  You also don’t want to waste (or at least I didn’t!) an hour of your tour guide to stop and eat.  This meant we had quick snacks in the parking lots, sitting on the ground, before going into the parks.  It wasn’t very glamorous.

Bringing my parents to Disney for the first time and throwing them into a VIP tour was probably a bit too much for them. Not only did they not have time to build up any excitement or anticipation for Disney, but the tour experience can also be intense. It is a lot of rides quickly. It’s also not worth much if you’ve never experienced Disney anyway and don’t know what you like. Oh well. We enjoyed having them along!

How Much Does The Disney VIP Tour Cost?

I know, this is your first question and I’m JUST getting there.  I’m not going to put exact prices in this blog post as Disney will likely change it.  It is also a range based on when you are going.  

However, I will tell you it starts at just over $700 per hour with a seven-hour minimum.  When I got a quote for New Year’s Eve, it clocked in at over $1000 per hour! You must pay that amount when booking, but I do think you have a period you can cancel without a fee.  For our first tour, we booked it only two days before, so our window had already passed to cancel.

That price is up for 10 people.  The amount of people doesn’t change the price.

If you extend past 7 hours (up to 10 hours), you will be billed to the same card after the tour for the extended hours.

You are also expected to tip. We couldn’t swallow 10% but did something closer to 5%, which is still a ton of money. Future career goals: Disney VIP Tour Guide.

Speaking Of Which, How Do I Book My Disney VIP Tour?

You have to call Disney.  Before COVID, there were several tour options, such as a big group tour that let you see inside the castle (yes, please!!).  

Right now, only the VIP Tours are running, but you still have to call to book any of them.  

If your requested date is full, you can be put on a waitlist.  I was told we could find out we got a tour any time, including the morning of , depending on staffing for that day.  

If you are better at planning, you can book up to 60-days in advance.

When you move from the waiting list, you are given a call.  I believe you have a couple of hours to call back before you lose your spot.

Our guide told us they do 30-40 tours like this PER DAY.  Sure enough, the day after and all the rest of our time at Disney, I saw the tour guides all over!  I never had noticed them before.

How Many People Can Do The Disney World VIP Tour?

Up to 10 people can be in your group.  The amount of people doesn’t change the price.

In theory, this means you could gather up to 9 friends and only be charged a little over $70-120/hr for a tour guide!  We just have too many kids 🙂

I also saw two groups going together when they had a group over 10.  It was a large group of about 12 with two guides. Other groups were small families with only one child or even guides with an adult couple. I’ve since learned that the 33 Club, a Dinsey exclusive, invite-only members club, includes several VIP Tour each year. However, it’s like joining a country club with a massive price tag.

What Else Do I Need To Know About The WDW VIP Tour?

Other things I learned:

• The Disney Tour Guide may or may not stay with small children while others ride .  There is no hard and fast rule.  We still did ride-switch for most of the day, which ate up a lot of time.  Our guide told us it just depends on the situation and their comfort level.  Will the child stay calm with a stranger?  Can they watch an iPad while you ride?  It’s just case by case.  We did have Roy stay with Grace near the end of the day.
• You can book your tour guide again in the future.   Once you’ve found the one you like, you can request them again.  Roy told us he has families that come to see him every year and he already knows what they want, so it’s great for everyone!
• Every tour is totally different.  Some groups might want to sit for a 2-hour lunch while others want to get in 30 rides.
• It’s best to tell your guide your top desires and let them guide you.   However, they will do anything you want when it comes to rides and which park to visit.
• With Covid restrictions, your guide could not eat with you.   However, on our second tour, Roy did join us and ate some of our fries and such. I am not sure if it’s expected to buy your guide food or not, but we enjoyed a quick snack with Roy on our second visit.
• No photography or video is allowed in special backstage areas.
• Your guide will pick you up from your hotel and can drop you off also, or you can stay in the park longer.
• You MUST have a ticket to Disney and a park reservation.   This is NOT included in the tour price.

Do You Tip Your Disney VIP Tour Guide?

This was a question we were scrambling to answer ourselves!  From what I’ve seen online, yes.  However, you can’t tip through Disney, so you need to do it another way. 

You can bring cash, of course, or our guide gave us his PayPal address.

How much?  I’ve seen all kinds of answers from 10-20% of the total to $100 per person.  We ended up tipping about $300 for our day for our first tour and then around $500 for our second.  Since we never carry cash, I was so glad Roy took PayPal!

Overall, Was The Disney VIP Tour Worth It?

Yes.  It was so cool.  It totally spoiled us for the next few days at Disney.  

However, it also took a lot of pressure off our remaining days at Disney.  We didn’t feel like we had to rush to the park to get on our favorite rides.  We were able to go and enjoy other parts of the park we usually don’t take the time to see.  I really like that part.

Our staff members also echoed this sentiment. With several Disney fans in our group, it was good to hear their perspective. They also felt completely satisfied after the VIP tour and didn’t need to go back to Disney for a while.

I would never recommend going into debt for this, but if you can invest this much into your Disney Vacation, I’d absolutely recommend it!

How Many Days Should I Go To Disney If I’m Doing a Disney VIP Tour?

We did our tour on the first of our five scheduled days.  I liked that a lot for a few reasons:

• We had the most energy on the first day! Disney can wear you down after days in the park.
• We were able to take the rest of our days slow and didn’t feel a ton of pressure to wait in the lines.
• What an awesome way to start your vacation!

I think doing it on your last day would also be pretty cool!  What a way to end your vacation (although you might be sleeping on your plane ride home).

If you wanted to just do one day of Disney, a tour would be amazing!  However, you will not see a lot of other areas of the parks.

How many days also depends a lot on if you are taking kids with you .  Kids make everything a bit slower, so you might want extra days, if possible when you go.

Ultimately, let your schedule and budget decide.  There are no wrong answers.

Will You Do The Disney Private Tour Again?

I think we will definitely do so with our management staff. We took them to Disneyland Paris in 2019 and only had one day.  This kind of tour would have been amazing in that situation! It was super fun to take them in 2023, but one of our group couldn’t make it last minute, and I’d love to do a repeat. As for splurging this on our kids, I doubt we will. It’s just too much money for something we can manage well with Lightning Lanes.

Or I’d do it with friends (does anyone want to?) to help offset some of the cost.  As fun as it was, I did feel a bit guilty at the end of the day!

If you have been on a tour or plan to go on one, drop a comment below!  I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Planning for your Disney trip? Catch great fare deals from Booking.com , Skyscanner , Kiwi.com , or Expedia

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Additional Reading

Eating Gluten-Free At Disney World

Spending Halloween at Disneyland with Kids

Visiting Disney World During COVID: Finding Your Magic in a Pandemic

14 Comments

How do I get on your staff-ha! J/k. So interesting. I always thought these were famous people when I saw them doing this at Disney-although ya’ll are kind of famous. I really enjoyed this article and appreciate that you pointed out both the pros and cons. Thanks for sharing!

Hi! this was really informative as we were recently gifted with this for our upcoming trip, and had no idea how Covid played into everything. I have a few questions, if you don’t mind answering. First, do you need to have a park-hopper ticket, or just a one-park ticket for that day? Second, do they still give out the special VIP tour pin, or is there one available as an add-on? And, finally, how did you manage the RotR ticket? We’re worried if we don’t get one in the morning, we might have to arrange to be back at HS in the afternoon to try again. Is that what you did? Thank you!!

Hi Lynn! How exciting, you’re going to love it! To answer your questions: 1. You just need a one-park ticket. 2. Yes, all 9 of us got the VIP pin! 3. Yes, that one is tricky. We had to be in HS at the afternoon release time and got it then. We then went to another park and had to get back to HS. However, I’d recommend not paying for tour time with this ride.. we spent over an hour in line and it was a huge waste of our VIP tour guide!

Hope this helps! Enjoy your trip 🙂

Great tips! Thanks! We’re hoping we get RotR before our tour time starts, but knowing this we probably won’t try for a later time. I *think* that since one of our party has a DAS card, we have an extended time for return, so maybe if we got a late time, we could just go after the guide dropped us off at the end of our tour. But…that’s a lot of ifs. We have park hoppers for all but 1 day of our trip, and I’m definitely going to change that to be on the tour day, and then we can park hop every day! Thanks!

Can I borrow your tour guide? I am booking tomorrow and heard not all guides are created equal! Do I just request Roy or does he have a last name? Haha

Yes, ask for Roy! He didn’t give us a last name, but there are only about 20 VIP guides right now, so you won’t have trouble!

Thank you SO much! Will do!!

Hello, we were gifted a VIP Tour and were told we needed to buy one day ticket with park hopper. Did I understand your previous response as that is not necessary? Thank you!

Yes, only a one-park pass is required!

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Leslie Stroud

Welcome, Fellow Traveler! I'm Leslie, a mom of five crazy kiddos. Along with my husband, Chris, we've been full-time or part-time traveling the world as a family for over 4 years! We continue to invest in memories as we travel the world and love to empower other families to explore full-time travel or add more travel into their family life. Besides travel, we are foodies and love to explore through our tummies and can't keep away from Disney parks around the world. We currently reside in Portugal and are exploring expat life and learning a new language. Please explore our blog and reach out to us!

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The VIP Tours at Walt Disney World

Last Updated: July 3, 2023

One of the more unique ways to enjoy as many attractions as possible in a day at Walt Disney World is by booking a VIP Tour. VIP Tours are a great way to enjoy one or all four Disney parks with friends and family without waiting in long lines. We have gone on several VIP Tours and done different things each time, so we’ll share information as well as our thoughts and ideas for these below.

Please note: there are VIP Tours at Disneyland, and some of their rules are different than Walt Disney World’s VIP Tours. We have not done a VIP Tour at Disneyland, so we don’t know all of the differences.

What Is Included with a VIP Tour?

VIP Tours include a tour guide for each tour group up to 10 people, access to the Lightning Lane lines for every attraction in all four parks at Walt Disney World (the exception being some brand new rides depending on popularity), a VIP Tour pin, snacks, backstage access into the parks to save time, and a van or suburban to get from park to park.

Is My Park Ticket Included with a VIP Tour?

No. Your park ticket to get into one or all of the Disney Parks is not included in the cost of your VIP Tour. If you are only going to one park, each person in your group must have a ticket to get into the park. If you plan to go to more than one park in a day, every person in your group must have a park hopper ticket to get into the parks. Anyone who has an annual pass can get into the parks as long as you are not there on a blackout date of the pass.

How Much Does a VIP Tour Cost?

The price ranges from $450 to $950 per hour for a VIP Tour depending on the time of year and if a major event is happening (opening of Toy Story Land, Galaxy’s Edge, etc).

One of the ways that makes a VIP Tour not as expensive is by splitting the cost between 10 people. We like to get a group of friends or family members together to split the cost between all of us so the cost is much less per person than the total of the whole tour. Whether you have one person or 10 people, the price is still the same per hour, so if you split it up between all of you, it makes the total less and easier to make a reality.

How Many People Can Go On a VIP Tour?

A VIP Tour can have up to 10 people in one tour group. If you have more than 10 people who want to go on a VIP Tour, you can have multiple groups, but each group of 10 travels separately in vans from park to park and has their own tour guide.

What Rides Are Included on a VIP Tour?

Currently, you can go through the Lightning Lane line of every ride in all four Walt Disney World parks on a VIP Tour, including Tron Lightcycle Run.

Does the Tour Guide Ride the Rides with You?

This is completely up to you. If you would like them to ride with you, they will. Especially if you have an odd number of people riding, it is always nice for everyone to have a ride buddy. But if you would prefer they not ride or need them to stay near a wheel chair, stroller, hold bags, and hats, they can do that too.

How Long Is a VIP Tour?

VIP tours are at least 7 hours long. You can book up to 14 hours for your tour, but you must have a minimum of 7 hours booked for a VIP tour. You can book 7 hours and add on time the day of if you decide you would like the tour to continue.

We’ve found that 8 hours tends to be our sweet spot, but depending on how much you want to do in a day, you may want more time. One thing to consider though is that walking for that amount of time is exhausting. If you have plans to rest throughout the day, it will be more enjoyable for everyone.

How Do You Get From Park to Park?

On a VIP Tour, you are driven from park to park in a van or suburban, depending on the size of your group. You park backstage and drive along back roads to get to each location quickly and not waste time.

Do We Go Through Security?

When you are on a VIP Tour, your bags are checked at the beginning of your tour one time by security. After that, you can carry your bags with you or leave them in the vehicle if you’d like.

Where Does a VIP Tour Start?

Your VIP Tour begins anywhere you’d like on Walt Disney World property. You can choose to be picked up at your resort or a restaurant or meet your guide at the first park you plan to be at.

We prefer to meet at the first park because the time it takes to get to the park is on us, and it means we can arrange the time for our tour to start at the park and not at the resort. We try to make every minute count without stressing. If you have little ones or are concerned about your whole group getting somewhere on time, the best option is to be picked up at your resort then. It is much faster to ride in the van to the park than to end up on a stopped monorail or miss the bus to the park and be late for your tour. Your time starts whether you’re there or not.

Can the Transportation Accommodate Car Seats and Wheel Chairs?

In both cases, the answer is yes. VIP tour vehicles can accommodate car seats and wheel chairs. Car seats are included if you let them know ahead of time, but they should ask you if you’ll need one and what size.

We had a VIP tour group that had someone in a wheel chair, and our tour guide pushed her from ride to ride all day, helped her on rides, and helped her into the van from park to park.

Does The Time Stop for Food, Bathroom Breaks, Etc?

During your tour, the countdown on the clock does not stop. Any stops for food, restroom breaks, travel, and shopping are all part of the time in your tour. If your tour starts at 9 a.m. and is 7 hours long, everything from 9-4 is part of the VIP tour.

We focused on the most important parks and rides to us first to ensure we did the main attractions, and when we wanted food, we would mobile order through Disney’s app to save time. This allows you to rest from walking for a short time and talk about the fun you’re having without stopping for too long. We generally mobile order while in line for Flight of Passage so we can exit the ride and head straight to Satu’li Canteen to eat and then continue the tour.

Snacks on a VIP Tour

You can bring your own food and drink on a VIP Tour and leave the bag in the vehicle for those times you’re driving from park to park if you’d like. Small snacks and water are offered by the Tour Guide when you arrive at Hollywood Studios and Epcot.

I don’t have any pictures of the snacks they offer because they are given to us backstage where we can’t take pictures.

Planning a VIP Tour

When you book your VIP Tour, you can choose to plan out your day, wing it when you get there or your tour guide can plan the day out for you. The Tour Guides are great at figuring out the best way to get to each of the locations you want so you can ride the rides your group definitely won’t want to miss. They know the parks like the back of their hands, and they can help you plan an epic day.

One thing to note is that many things can change a plan. Larger crowds than expected, rain slowing everyone down, someone getting sick from a ride, etc. It’s great to have a plan, but at the end of the day, the best thing to do is trust your tour guide and go with the flow.

Does Everyone in the Group Have to Ride Together?

Everyone in the group does not have to ride every ride. The tour guide will take those who want to ride the ride through the Lightning Lane lines while the rest of the group waits at the exit for the ride to be over.

There are several rides I don’t prefer, so I wait outside while everyone else gets on the rides. Usually there’s a couple of us that end up waiting together. It isn’t a long wait, and we use this time for bathroom breaks, snacks, chatting, shopping, and posting pictures.

Fireworks Viewing on a VIP Tour

For Walt Disney World, if your VIP Tour overlaps or goes up to the time of a fireworks show, you can get preferred viewing for the fireworks show of the park you’re in. For instance, if Happily Ever After is at 8 p.m., and your VIP Tour ends at 8, you can use those last few minutes to get preferred viewing for the fireworks.

We have not personally done this, but it’s a great way to see the fireworks without waiting an hour or two for a good spot and still get to enjoy the fireworks show.

How Do You Book a VIP Tour?

In order to book a VIP Tour, you must call Signature Services at (407) 560-4033 or you can book through your Travel Agent. You must put a credit card on file, but your card is not charged until 24 hours before your VIP Tour. You can book up to 60 days in advance.

What if I Need to Cancel My VIP Tour?

If for any reason you need to cancel your VIP Tour, as long as you cancel at least 48 hours before your VIP Tour, there is no charge for the cancelation. If you cancel within the 48-hour window, a two hour charge at your hourly rate will be charged to your card.

Should You Tip Your VIP Tour Guide?

As a general rule, tipping your tour guide shows how much you appreciate how great they made your day. Tipping must be done in cash as they won’t have a way for you to pay through a credit card, but you can also tip with gifts as well.

We have asked so many tour guides and cast members what a recommended tip is for a tour guide, and we have yet to get a straight answer. If everyone in your group tips something, it can add up quickly though, and every bit is appreciated.

Tips From Our Personal Experiences

Our favorite schedule for a VIP Tour is to start around 10 a.m. so everyone in the group is rested and ready to take on the day. It also means we aren’t fighting through the initial crowds waiting for the park to open. We like to start with Hollywood Studios as it has the most thrill rides and gets the adrenaline going. We then head to Epcot because it’s so close to Hollywood Studios and knock out our favorite rides there. Animal Kingdom is next, and we usually ride Flight of Passage two or three times. This is also where we mobile order lunch at Satu’li Canteen. It’s a great time to refuel, and we love the food because we can get some carbs and protein without filling ourselves too much or eating normal theme park food like hot dogs and hamburgers. With whatever time we have left, we head to Magic Kingdom and ride our favorite rides until the time is up. Then we part ways with our tour guide and continue riding rides until it’s time to watch Happily Ever After.

Is A VIP Tour Worth It?

When you consider the benefits of a VIP Tour , it’s hard to say that they aren’t worth it. You can knock out all the rides your group wants to do in a day or knock out a whole park or two of every ride, and that in turn saves you money in park tickets another day. Plus the added benefit of the more stress-free time you have waiting in Lightning Lane lines instead of the normal lines, it makes for a great way to spend time in the parks with friends and family. If you ever have the opportunity to take a VIP tour, we highly recommend doing so. It’s a unique and fun experience that makes the Disney parks easier to maneuver and more manageable, especially in really busy seasons.

What about Unofficial VIP Tours?

“Unofficial” VIP Tours are third party companies who offer their services to help you book your Genie+ and Lightning Lanes for the day, guide you through the park, share Disney trivia and fun facts, wait with your wheelchair or stroller, and just overall help make your day stress-free. The best part? Unofficial VIP Tours are much cheaper than Disney VIP Tours, so you can get all the help and services at a fraction of the cost.

While each tour guide company has different offerings, we’re going to share the one we recommend and what they offer. WDW Park Guide offers a park guide for up to 10 ticketed guests and will book all of your Genie+ and Lightning Lanes throughout the day so you can enjoy your time in the parks and not be on your phone constantly booking them. The price is also much cheaper than Disney VIP Tours ranging from $1100-$1700 per day depending on the time of year. Park Guides do a lot of the same thing a VIP Tour Guide does (guide you around the park, stay with the stroller or wheelchair, share Disney trivia and fun facts), but they do not have unlimited access to the Lightning Lane lines. Instead, they book your Genie+ and Lightning Lanes for you throughout the day so you don’t have to. They also use their knowledge of the system to focus on the more popular rides at first to help your family get the rides they truly want to enjoy the day. For more information about WDW Park Guides, what they do, and what is included, check out the FAQ page on their website.

30 Comments

Do the VIP tours include character meet and greets? I have a 4 year old daughter and I know characters will be the biggest thing.

Thank you for the review! I’m about ready to reserve a few days of VIP tours, but have one concern. I’ve seen reviews elsewhere that suggest that tours can go quite poorly depending upon the guide that you end up with. Have you experienced this, and do you have any advice for insuring that we end up with a guide that makes for a successful day?

We have not had a bad experience with any of our guides on our VIP tours. My only suggestion for that is if you book several days and find after the first day you aren’t happy with your guide, call and request a different one. VIP tours cost too much for you to not have an amazing time 🙂

We are doing the VIP tour at Disneyland in a few weeks and we have eleven people. A couple of us are not going on rides. Can we all still tag along together?

do you visit all four parks or do you pick pick which park? it states on the disney website you must have a park ticket and a park reservation. Theresa

VIP tours are completely customizable. You can park hop or choose not to, but everyone needs to have an appropriate park ticket for whatever you’re doing (park hopper ticket if you’re park hopping, etc). And you do have to have a park reservation for the first park you start in.

No. Disney will not allow extra people on the tour. If you have more than 10, you’ll need to book a second VIP tour.

If you wanted to buy food at the resort is it included in the price of the tour or is it separate too?

It’s separate. No meals are included with a tour.

We asked at one of the resorts today, and there has been no discussion of bringing these back anytime soon. 🙁

What if a kid goes through a line for something like DINOSAUR but then doesn’t want to go on it

They can exit the ride with the guide and wait for everyone while they ride

We will have a small group – would it be possible to randomly select a small family to join us in skipping a line? Just thought it might be fun to spread a little magic.

If you had a family with you the whole day, yes, but they wouldn’t allow you to include other guests randomly throughout the day. Love the thought though as that is very sweet. 🙂

Do you know where the VIP viewing areas for fireworks are for Enchantment and Harmonious?

I know it was sometimes on the top of the train station for HEA but once the Christmas tree is up where would it be?

We aren’t sure yet. We did see they have private viewing at the train station in Magic Kingdom, but we don’t know if they other locations are the same as where they used to be. For Harmonious, we didn’t see any boats tonight when we were there, so we aren’t sure where those will be. We’re hoping they have a new spot to watch the fireworks than where it used to be because the other location they had for Illuminations is not a great spot now, but we haven’t found out if it has changed yet.

I loved my vip Disney Tour. I’m. Not sure how I’ll ever do Disney normal Again.

Does the tour include the photo package?

No it doesn’t

Just signed up for a tour today and received this in the confirmation email:

“Also, Guests experiencing a Private VIP Tour will receive digital downloads of their Disney PhotoPass® attraction photos, taken in the park on the day(s) of their tour, at no additional charge.”

Hi! How long did it take you to get on and off each ride?

It really depended on the ride. Some rides we walked right on, but others had other people in the fastpass queue, so we’d have to wait a few minutes before getting on. It was never more than 10 minutes waiting to get in though. Getting off goes quickly and then you can head to the next ride once your party is all together.

Do they count little babies as part of your 10 people? If not, what age do they start counting?

Yes, children of all ages count for the 10 people. The reason we were told is that they have to be within the legal capacity limits of their vans.

Hi! Great review, one quick question though. For the fireworks viewing, do you know where each of the preferred sections are? We’ve done a lot of dessert parties, and the view is always fantastic. Is that where you’d be? Have a magical day and sparkle on! NonnaT

In Magic Kingdom, the viewing area is on the “outer sidewalk” of the Hub, on the east side just before the pathway to Tomorrowland – so in front of the dessert party garden and to the right. That’s the only one we have experienced personally, but we have been told that the other parks utilize the dessert party and/or FastPass+ viewing areas. When you book your tour Signature Services is great about helping you plan the day exactly as you want, and I’m sure they have many options available for things like this.

I agree – a VIP Tour is a fantastic way to get the most out of a day at Disney! (We did the Toy Story Land VIP Tour with y’all, but we were in a different van.)

Thanks for sharing!

That day was so fun! Glad you had a great time too!

Was photopass or memory maker, or whatever the photo thing is included as well? Or do you have to purchase that separately?

That must be purchased separately

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Disney Worlds Private VIP Tour – Everything You Need to Know

Recently I experienced a Private VIP Tour at Disney World.  You don’t want to miss this magical extra!  Here’s why!

My Private VIP Tour Experience

Table of Contents

I went on a Private VIP Tour with a large group, 13 total including myself.  Each Private VIP Tour has a maximum of 10 people and therefore we needed two guides for our group size.

In our 7 hour tour, we wanted to cover all 4 parks and the majority of the E-Ticket attractions in one day.

E-Ticket means the most popular attractions. This term comes from when Disneyland first opened and guests bought ticket booklets to ride the different attractions instead of the all-encompassing ticket we purchase now.

Our guides picked us up at 10 am at Disney’s Polynesian Resort.  This is where the excitement really began!  We piled into our two private vehicles and we were off to Magic Kingdom!

Park One: Magic Kingdom

One of the greatest perks on the tour is entering each park from backstage and skipping the long ticket and bag check lines!

At the Magic Kingdom, we entered through “Park One” near Space Mountain.  This parking lot is heavily restricted and only the most important Cast Members are allowed in.  In fact, after your VIP Tour Guide lets you out of the vehicle and escorts you into the park another Cast Member moves the vehicle out of the way until your return!  That’s just how small and coveted this parking space is!

After arriving in Park One/Magic Kingdom we were given water bottles and snacks, our Magic Bands were scanned and off we went!

We entered Magic Kingdom via the bypass that runs behind Main Street USA.   The bypass is only opened on really busy nights after fireworks or during Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party.

Attraction One: Buzz Light Year’s Space Ranger Spin

From there we walked straight to Tomorrowland and rode Buzz Light Year’s Space Ranger Spin.  We went into through the exit door, loaded the attraction and off we went.  I was lucky to ride with one of our tour guides Kelvin. He pointed out all the targets to shoot for the highest score!  It seems however if you can’t aim very well, you still can’t win!  Even the greatest tour guide can’t fix my lousy aim!

Attraction Two: Seven Dwarfs Mine Train

Unfortunately, Space Mountain was temporarily closed so we passed it up for our next great attraction Seven Dwarfs Mine Train.  This attraction consistently has a 90 – 120 minute wait time and a FastPass can be pretty hard to get if you don’t grab them at 60 days prior to arrival.

Another perk of the Private VIP Tour Guide is unlimited FastPasses so to speak!  We entered Seven Dwarfs Mine Train via the FastPass line and went straight to the front!  In a matter of minutes, Heigh Ho, Heigh Ho It’s off to work we went!

Seven Dwarfs Mine Train is one of my favorite attractions at Magic Kingdom. This short smooth roller coaster is great for all ages.  A starter coaster I sometimes call it!

I don’t get to ride if often because of the long wait so this was a real treat for the day! An extra treat was riding it with our other VIP Tour Guide, Julia, where she pointed out TWO hidden Mickey’s!  I’ll give you a clue, they’re both in the mine!

Attraction Three: Haunted Mansion

After Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, we walked through a crazy congested Fantasyland and straight in the back door of the Haunted Mansion.  We entered this attraction in the same place as I did with the Keys to the Kingdom Tour , another magical extra that you must try!

This special entrance takes you right into the holding room, skipping the standby line and FastPass line.  We then entered the stretching room.  (Did you know there are actually two stretching rooms?)  After the stretching room, we made our way to the attraction queue.  (Another side note, when touring by yourself always stand under the “Pink Lady” the door opens under her!)  We entered behind the crowd in order to keep our large group together but were then escorted from the back of the line to the front of the line bypassing the remaining queue.  I tell you this VIP Tour has perks!

Because I had ridden Haunted Mansion on the Key’s to the Kingdom Tour I knew the magical secrets being shared here!  It’s fascinating how this attraction works!  And of course, there’s a hidden Mickey and a few other great secrets in here as well!  I don’t want to give them all away so if you want to know more take the Keys to the Kingdom Tour!

Attraction Four: Big Thunder Mountain

By the time we’d exited Haunted Mansion, it was about 11:15 am.   We had been in the park for just over an hour and already ridden three of the most popular attractions.  We continued our loop around the Kingdom and over towards Big Thunder Mountain.  The crowds were insane at this point and it took some maneuvering to get through Liberty Square and Frontierland.

At Big Thunder Mountain we joined the FastPass queue which was somewhat backed up.  The wait was not long by any means but we didn’t hop right on as we had at the other attractions.  At most I’d say we waited 10 minutes which truly isn’t a bad wait!

Once again I rode with our VIP Tour Guide Julia and she shared the hidden Mickey at Big Thunder.  Big clue, it’s near the end as you make your way back into the mine house.

Attraction Five: Pirates of the Caribbean

Our fifth and final attraction at Magic Kingdom was Pirates of the Caribbean.  We used the FastPass entrance and were whisked right through to boarding the boat.  Our tour guides stayed behind to have our VIP vehicle called back to Park One while we enjoyed the attraction.  As our boat pulled away our guide yelled from behind the jail bars “the Hidden Mickey, he’s in the locks scene”.

This is an attraction I have ridden so many times that I couldn’t even begin to count but I loved listening to the guests who have never ridden this infamous ride!  And of course, help them locate that Hidden Mickey in the locks scene!

From there we walked through Adventureland and across Main Street USA, stopped for a quick picture with the castle and continued our march back to the bypass and out of Magic Kingdom.  It was an odd feeling to have experienced Main Street and the “Castle shot” and the end of our Magic Kingdom tour and not in the beginning but it’s a feeling I could get over if it meant I got to tour the park VIP style!

Park Two: Animal Kindom

After getting back to our private vehicles we headed across Disney property to the other side of the World and Animal Kingdom.  If you’re a park guest it’s a long way to the other side!  A minimum 20-minute drive and that’s if the traffic is decent.  But when you tour with the VIP Tour Guides everything magically takes less time!

We drove from Magic Kingdom to Animal Kingdom in 10 minutes via a back road that only Cast Members have access to.  I’ve seen this road many times and have wished to enter but never been able too.  One of the downsides of living with a Cast Member is knowing all of the cool backstage access they have and wondering what it’s all like!  I’ve seen a few things here and there while participating in RunDisney events but this Private VIP Tour took me all the places!  (ok not all the places but quite a few) and this magical shortcut road to the Animal Kingdom was one of them!

Attraction Six: Flight of Passage

This is arguably the best ride in all of Disney World!  I say arguably because there are so many elements that go into a ride being the best! Therefore we could choose other attractions based on various factors, however, Flight of Passage definitely earns the best attraction for the most innovative and immersive attraction at Disney World.  Here you are truly whisked away on the back of banshee inside the world of Pandora.  I LOVE to watch newbies experience this and listen to their awes and exasperations as they dip, drop and smell their way through this awesome attraction!

Lunch Break

We stopped for a quick lunch at Pizzafari with the kids, which I mobile ordered while waiting in line for Flight of Passage.  The adults opted for Flame Tree Barbecue. (My favorite quick service location inside Animal Kingdom).

Ideally, we would have mobile ordered this as well but the service was not working.  The adults instead walked over to order and brought their good back to Pizzafari to join the kids.  After lunch, we proceeded to our next attraction!

Attraction Seven: Expedition Everest

Expedition Everest was our next stop!  I was surprised when the VIP Tour Guides loaded us back into the vehicles and drove us around the backside of Animal Kingdom to get closer to the entrance of Expedition Everest.  We parked behind Finding Nemo – The Musical building and quickly walked to Everest.

Did you know Animal Kingdom is the largest park at Disney World?  Magic Kingdom has more ground for guests to cover and a manages a higher capacity of people but because of the large savannah that is part of  Kilimanjaro   Safaris Animal Kingdom is actually the largest of the parks!

Here we used the FastPass entrance to board the attraction and ride through the Forbidden Mountain Pass and past the trouble making Yeti all on full tummies!  This may not have been our smartest move of the day but everyone survived so that counts for something!

With our final descent from Everest, we were off to our forth park of the day just a little over 4 and a half hours from our 10 am start time.

Park Three: Hollywood Studios

Our next stop on this Private VIP tour was Hollywood Studios.  At Hollywood Studios, you park behind Rockin Rollercoaster and walk the entire length of the park to do the attractions on the other side.  Granted this is the smallest of the four parks at Disney World and therefore fewer steps to cover it all.  But it can also feel the most crowded due to its smaller size. By 3 pm when we arrived it was really crowded!

Our guides warned us that we were starting to cut close our ability to do four parks in one day.  Even though we were able to utilize the FastPass lines for everything we had done, it still took some time to maneuver around the parks with the crowds.

Because we wanted to cover all four parks without adding any time to our private tour, we opted to only ride Slinky Dog Dash and The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror at Hollywood Studios.

Attraction Eight: Slinky Dog Dash

After grabbing a quick coffee we joined the other toys in Andy’s Backyard, bypassed the 180-minute wait to ride Slinky Dog Dash, and slinked our way over the backyard on the backside of Slinky Dog catching a quick glimpse of Galaxies Edge in the distance.  This attraction always has me giggling like a kid and living up the endless childhood nostalgia that screams 90’s kid!

Attraction Nine: Twilight Zone Tower of Terror

I have a lot of favorites at Disney World!  In fact, I have so many that if you ask me what my favorite is I can’t tell you!  I can’t choose just one.  But Tower of Terror is right at the top of my list!

I love Tower because it’s different every single time!  Yes, I know what’s going to happen, but the order of elevator drops is never the same, always leaving me in the same childhood anticipation that every great theme park ride gives you.

What I had forgotten I loved so much about this attraction was experiencing it with someone who has never ridden it before!  This was the case with my group of 12!  The majority of them had never been on the ride and it was terrifyingly funny listening to their every gasp as doors opened and closed and the elevator car moved about the storyline.

When the elevator finally clicked into the drop zone and the ride truly began all I could do was laugh and scream as we all experienced this part for the first time.  One of those first-timers may have let out an “I hate you all” on the final drop!  I”ll never tell who.

There is something about laughs of joy, screams of delight (ok maybe terror) that make family theme park days so much fun!

Park Four: Epcot

And with that, it was time for Epcot!  At this point, we’d already walked over 15,000 steps and everyone was Disney exhausted!  You only know exactly what this means if you’ve walked Disney World through your exhaustion and kept on moving by the magic of Disney!  Somehow your feet just keep going!

We parked behind Test Track and entered to the side of it which was fantastic because that’s exactly where we were headed!

Attraction Ten: Test Track

The kids on our tour we’re dying to try out Test Track and that’s just what we did!  We joined the FastPass line, built our streamlined cars in the waiting queue and then buckled ourselves in!  After break checks and a responsiveness test we went from 0 to 60 in seconds and circled the outside of the building with the cool breeze in our hair.  It was the perfect carefree ride to end our VIP Touring day!

After loading back up into the van our guides dropped us back off at Disney’s Polynesian Resort were our VIP Tour had come full circle.

This was a truly amazing, one of a kind park day that I highly recommend!  4 parks, 10 E-ticket attractions all in 7 hours on the day before Thanksgiving with holiday-sized crowds! Wow!

Why 4 Parks in One Day?

Four Parks in one day at Disney World is a Disney bucket list item for many Disney parks fans.  It can be done many ways but often includes one to two E-ticket attractions at each park to say you’ve done it.  I have to say it was exhausting doing it on a Private VIP Tour and I’m positive it would be even more exhausting if I’d had to navigate Disney parks transportation, ticket ques and bag checks.

It’s a Disney World bucket list item I have not done in the past simply because I’m spoiled by having Disney in my backyard and access to the parks weekly.  I will say however that I have the Parkology Challenge has been looming in the back of my head to be completed at some point.  I should do that soon since it’s only going to get harder to accomplish with the opening of Galaxies Edge in the Fall of 2019!

How Disney’s Private VIP Tour works

• Tours have a maximum guest count of 10 people per tour guide.
• All guests including infants count in the guest count for the group.
• There is a minimum touring time of 7 continuous hours
• The start time is flexible, you can begin when you’d like.
• Guests can add on time in increments of 15 minutes to their touring time prior to the start of the tour or while the tour is taking place.
• Tours are prepaid 48 hours prior and range in price from $425 – $625  per hour, per tour guide.  (Prices can change at any time)  Holidays and peak season will be higher in price.
• VIP Touring guides will pick you up at your desired location and return you to your next destination at the end of your tour.
• Everyone in your group will ride in the VIP Touring vehicle that your tour guide will drive.

How to reserve your VIP Tour guide:

• To book your VIP Tour guide call your Love of the Magic Vacations travel agent or 407-WDW-PLAY (our travel agents make a small commission off your tour and help us keep our blog running.  Your price is the same as if you booked it directly)
• VIP Tour guides can be reserved 180 days prior to arrival.

What’s included?

• Included in the cost of your VIP Tour is one Disney VIP Tour Guide specific to your group.
• Access to any of the four parks from backstage skipping the ticket entrance and main bag check.
• Your VIP Tour Guide will tour you through any of the four parks, your choice, and give you FastPass access to any attraction with a FastPass queue.
• VIP Tour Guides will make suggestions based on your attraction style and offer expertise in touring the parks and the parks history and details if you’re interested.
• VIP seating at most parades, stage shows, and live nighttime spectaculars.

Do you need a Disney World park ticket for the VIP Tour?

• Yes, all guests need a park admission ticket for the tour.
• The VIP Tour price does not include park admission.
• If you’ll be touring more than one park in a day like I did you’ll need the Hopper option added to your park ticket.

Is lunch included?

• The cost of lunch is not included on your VIP Tour, however, your Tour Guide will be happy to stop for lunch (or any meal) as desired.
• Tour Guides can make suggestions of where to eat in each park.
• Keep in mind that time spent eating is less time touring the parks and truth be told, make for a very expensive meal if you eat slowly!

Should you tip your VIP Tour Guide?

• It is customary to tip your VIP Tour Guide 10% of the total cost of your tour.
• Please keep this in mind when budgeting for your tour total.

Do I have to do the same tour you did?

• You do not have to do the same touring plan or attractions our group did on our tour.
• Your groups VIP Tour can be customized to the experience you want to have at Disney World.

Does Disney offer group VIP Tours?

• Yes, Disney offers a handful of group tours that you can join.  These tours are not customizable and have a schedule the VIP Tour Guide follows.
• View the Ultimate Day of Thrills VIP Tour, Ultimate Disney Classics VIP Tour, and Ultimate Nights of Adventure VIP Tour here .

Can you go to the front of the Photopass/Character lines?

• VIP Tour Guides have the ability to move you through any attraction or character meet and greet through the FastPass line.
• Guides can not cut other lines or lines without FastPass ques.  For example, if you’d like your picture taken on Main Street by a Photopass photographer you will have to wait in line like other guests or have your guide take your picture with your camera.
• Other examples include characters that have lines to meet guests on the streets do not have FastPass ques and therefore VIP Tour Guides do not have the ability to get you to the front of the line.  You will have to wait in the same line as non VIP Touring guests.

Was it worth it?

• 100% without a doubt YES! I’m a Disney World local and visit the parks weekly.  I know my way around all four parks, never need a map and know the ins and outs of the parks like any great Disney junkie does. I have literally ridden ALL of the attractions more times than I can count (yes I love it every single time, it never gets old) and I still say this tour is 100% worth it!
• Why? Because it’s a Disney experience like none other!  Having the ability to have unlimited FastPasses to the attractions is just part of the fun.  Skipping the lines is great but skipping the ticket lines, parking lots, trams, and bag checks all while seeing backstage and having your VIP Tour Guide share cool Disney news with you is what makes it worth it for me!  I LOVED it!

Do you recommend dining with your VIP Tour Guide?

• We all have to eat something during the 7-hour tour timespan and a snack probably isn’t going to cut it so do plan on eating a meal while on your VIP Tour.
• I would suggest a quick service meal that you can mobile order from your My Disney Experience app.  Your VIP Tour Guide can help suggest when and where to do so on your tour.
• I do not recommend a table service (think waitstaff) dining experience while you’re on your VIP Tour simply because of the amount of time it takes for a sitdown meal.  I don’t personally think it’s a good use of your VIP Tour time or expense.

Can the VIP Tour Guides get a reserved parade or show spot?

• Yes, your VIP Tour Guide can utilize VIP reserved viewing areas during parades and shows including the fireworks displays.  Simply let them know that’s one of the items you’d like to do on your tour.

Can the VIP Tour Guide get you in to hard to eat places?

• As part of the concierge level of services the VIP team provides they will check on and make your dining reservations at 180 days prior to your arrival for the entire duration of your Disney World vacation, not just your VIP Touring day.
• However, they do not have the ability to book reservations at restaurants that show no availability.
• While you are in the parks your VIP Tour Guide can inquire at any location you’d like to eat to see if there is an opening.  They can not guarantee you’ll be able to eat at your desired location.  See above about using your VIP Touring time for table service restaurants and my thoughts on that.

Are your bags checked on entry?

• Yes, your bags are checked as you enter the backstage parking lots in your VIP vehicle.

Are your tickets scanned at each park?

• Yes, your park admission ticket or MagicBand is scanned at each park you enter on your VIP Tour.
• Valid park admission is required for any of the four parks you enter.

What if I cancel my Private VIP Tour?

• VIP tours can be canceled at any time prior to 48 hours of your scheduled tour without penalty.
• If you cancel inside the 48-hour window you will pay a cancellation fee equalling two hours of the booked tour rate.

What kind of vehicles do the VIP Tours use?

• Depending on your party size you will be driven around in a large van or Suburban.

How to do a VIP Tour more affordably.

If you’re dying to try out the VIP Tour but it’s out of budget consider these options to make the experience more affordable:

• Book your tour during low season.  Use my crowd calendars to determine lower crowd levels and off-peak seasons.
• Gather a group of 10 friends and split the cost.  At the lowest price of $450 per hour and 7 hours that makes the cost of the tour around $315 per person plus tip.
• Instead of doing the Private VIP Tour you can choose one of the group VIP Tours Disney offers.
• Consider taking off one of your park days to help defer the cost.  With the VIP Tour you will cover more attractions in one day and theoretically can shave off a day of your park tickets or even a night of your stay.

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I've gone on 10 Disney World VIP tours that cost up to $900 an hour, and I swear they're worth it

• I'm a Disney fanatic who's lived less than five minutes from Disney World for the last six years.
• A VIP tour , which costs up to $900 an hour, offers experiences not available to everyday guests.
• I've been on 10 (and counting), and each tour guide makes the experience so special and unique. 

You get to spend a perfect park day with nine of your closest friends.

I moved to Orlando in 2017 to live closer to Disney World . Fresh out of college, there were many experiences on my Disney bucket list, and a VIP tour was always at the very top. 

Five years later, I've been on 10 tours — each more fun than the last — and I swear they're worth it.

Each VIP tour lasts for a minimum of seven hours, and up to 10 guests can take part in the experience. Tours cost $450 to $900 an hour for the whole group, depending on the season, and don't include park admission. 

Although they're pricey, it's an absolute blast to be able to share this experience with fellow Disney lovers, or even with friends and family visiting the parks for the first time.

Ride more rides than ever before.

As a Disney local, even a quick trip to the parks can take some serious planning.

In some cases, I have to purchase Genie+ Lightening Lanes (expedited line passes) if I want to ride a specific attraction like the newest coaster Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind . 

But on a VIP tour, all guests in the group bypass lines, which means more time riding, and less time waiting. Plus, the stress of planning the day and making it onto all the best rides is removed.

No more scheduling down to the second. You simply let your guide know which attractions and experiences are most important to you and your group, and the day is taken care of.

Visit all four parks with ease.

Before the coronavirus pandemic, park-hopping (visiting more than one theme park in a day) was easy at Disney World .

Today, because of the new reservation system, guests with park-hoppers tickets have to wait until 2 p.m. to go from one Disney park to the next.

But on a VIP tour, the guide takes you from park to park whenever you're ready, which I love. 

Plus, transportation is included in the day. Guides drive large vans that fit the entire tour group and utilize backstage entrances to ensure that everyone has as much time as possible in the parks.

Snacks are included in the cost of the tours.

I'm a bit of a Disney foodie , so snacks are always important to me. You'll never go hungry on a VIP tour as there's always some type of snack available. 

Whether you crave a Mickey-shaped pretzel or an Olaf strawberry-lemonade bar, the guides take care of it. Once our guides even treated us all to our favorite Starbucks drinks.

Plus, guides can grab your snack while you're on an attraction, so it's ready and waiting when the ride ends.

VIP tour guides have a wealth of Disney knowledge.

Disney VIP tour guides are typically huge Disney fans themselves, and they have the best little-known stories and information to share.

They have endless knowledge about the history and current happenings in the parks — like the latest attractions , Easter eggs, and hacks .

You get exclusive swag for your Disney collection.

I have a huge collection of Disney merchandise , but commemorative buttons and pins are among my favorite pieces.

Disney VIP tour guides give out lanyards, buttons, and pins so a bit of the tour can be added to your collection.

Even better, these exclusive trinkets are not for sale and are only available to people who've been on a tour.

The experience is tailored to each group.

The best part is that no two Disney VIP tours are the same.

Some people want to see all four parks, and others want to stay at their favorite — or even ride the same attraction on repeat all day. Some guests just want to stroll and chat with their guide.

It's a Disney experience that's completely tailored to your favorite things.

This story was originally published on January 14, 2023, and most recently updated on January 18. 2024. 

• Main content

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 VIP Tours: What You Need To Know: Cost, Perks, and Types

Robin Hutson

February 20, 2023

It’s not just about skipping long lines in California or Florida. Here’s what to expect booking Disney VIP tours.

I had so many questions about hiring a VIP tour guide at Disney World.

• How do private tour companies differ from the official Disney tours? 
• When are the services worth it?
• What is actually included?
• What is the cost of a Disney VIP tour?
• How much gratuity to pay your Disney VIP guide

Here’s my best effort at answering questions regarding Disney VIP tour guides you may be considering for your Disney World vacation , which is definitely the indulgent and desirable “Enchanted Extra” in Disney speak, or “Expensive Extra” in my speak.

Read on for Disney’s private tours, non-Disney private tours and when to use each. There’s a time and place for each kind. Looking for a Disneyland VIP guide ? Read about our experience in California.

Different Types of Disney VIP Tours

I have used both private companies and the official tours from Disney. Disney World offers more options because there are more parks, more group VIP tours, and more unofficial tour companies in the market.

The most exclusive option is the Disney Private Premium VIP Tours where the “plaid vests” escort you around the park like a celebrity. You’ll use backstage areas to maximize your time park-hopping in less time and have access to all Lightning Lanes (the expedited priority line at rides) with your guide. It’s not truly front of the line access, but it’s close, and your wait times will be minimal.

If you plan to use a non-Disney tour company, stick with a company that has been around a few years and check their Trip Advisor reviews. We only book the best private companies for our clients that we use for our own families.

Be wary of any tour company that seems too good of a deal or whose promises include things like “Any ride you want” which indicates bending Disney’s rules or worse, exploiting Disney’s disability passes, the lowest of the low.

Disney VIP Tours Cost?

Disney World Private Premium VIP Tours cost significantly more than the non-Disney VIP tour companies.

The official Disney World Private Premium VIP Tours vary from $425 to $900 per hour with a seven-hour minimum. The dynamic pricing surges during three-day weekends and holidays. Best hourly rate is midweek outside of the high cost of Spring Break and Christmas season.

Disney allows guests to tour up to 10 continuous hours, and those hours beyond the first seven can be added while on your tour. You do not have to book your total hours in advance beyond the minimum seven. That brings the total Disney VIP tour cost between $2,800 to $4,200 for the experience, before gratuities.

Disney VIP Tour Tips and Gratuities

It is critical to incorporate your guide’s tip into your tour budget. A minimum of one hour’s rate should be given, and more if you can offer it. It is easy to bring cash, but most guides will share their Venmo account to make it easy to pay at the end of your tour since you cannot use a credit card.

VIP Tour Maximum Party Size?

All Disney VIP tours are designed for parties of no more than 10 people. Disney will require a second cast member guide for parties larger than 10. Infants, unfortunately, are included in that headcount of family members.

That second guide will stay close to the first group, but it offers a change for families to divide up by thrill level, too. Also, the 10 guests registered for the tour must be the same 10 guests throughout the tour. No changing family or friends within the parks allowed.

What is the Disneyland VIP tour cost?

Just like a Disney World VIP tour, here’s what to expect for a Disneyland VIP tour (Read our review of a tour from start to finish). They cost between $425 and $850 per hour with a 7 hour minimum. You can bring up to 10 people, including infants.

Non-Disney companies run from $200 to $350 per hour, typically with a six-hour minimum, bringing the total from $1200 to $2,500. The cost per hour for all companies varies due to the demand of the season.

The holiday week of Christmas and New Year’s Day is the busiest time of year. VIP services are most useful and in demand, so book early. The second busiest time is in March when Florida public schools are on Spring Break. Big states like Texas often share the same week, making it one of the toughest weeks to get hotel and dining reservations.

VIP Disney World Planning Services

Don’t stress, it’s a vacation. Luxe Recess is the leader in planning luxury Disney vacations, especially for those families who aren’t Disney die-hards. Read more about our services and fees. We’ll plan a five-star Orlando adventure for your family.

Disney World VIP Tour FAQs

What exactly does a disney vip tour guide do compared to a non-disney guide.

This is where the experience differs between the official Disney VIP Tours and the non-Disney companies. 

Join the  Luxury Disney World  Facebook group if we can answer questions about your next Disney vacation.

Pre-arrival and dining reservation assistance.

Disney’s Private Premium VIP Disney Tours only offers assistance for the day of your tour. They can assist with park tickets and reservations and dining, but they can only procure a dining reservation that was available on the public site. They also do not begin booking these until 9AM, and you could be booking your hard to get table as of 6AM that day.

Private companies will offer more hand holding in vacation planning, sometimes for an additional fee. This will include ticket booking, as well as park and dining reservations.

The day of your VIP Disney Tour

Your Disney guide can pick you up at your hotel or meet you inside the parks. I usually discuss the advantages of each option with my clients.

The Disney guides have access to all Lightning Lanes and can put you in the expedited lines to reduce wait time. The guides stay with you in line until you board the ride, so we would also get the first seats of each ride. Some rides have secret entrances that the Disney guides use at Magic Kingdom, but I don’t want to spoil the surprise!

When you are ready to move to the other parks, you can use backstage entrances where a VIP vehicle is yours for the duration of the tour. We were met with a snack basket by another guide outside our van to grab some chips.

After certain rides, our guide would meet us with bottles of water, Mickey bars, and Mickey pretzels. Not all guides do this, but the ones I request do. We did a 10-hour stint this summer in the crazy heat, and those snacks and waters made it physically possible.

People rarely book sit down meals during their tours. It’s a day for ordering quick service meals using the mobile app. There is a VIP fireworks viewing area for Magic Kingdom if you time your tour to conclude when the fireworks begin. I can help you map all of this out.

The Non-Disney VIP Experience

Our non-Disney guide introduced herself by phone and asked us about our ride priorities to create a loose plan for our tour. She offered to arrange private transportation or guide us on the best parking options.

Our non-Disney guide used her detailed knowledge of the rides, their duration, their wait time patterns, and locations to maximize our time so that we saw as much as possible. She asked what we had never done and weighed in one rides we should try at least once.

While she didn’t have Disney’s line access, there are definitely patterns to learn when you do this every day that gives you far greater expertise than a typical Disney park goer, even an enthusiast passholder.

In addition to a park plan, there are several concierge-type experiences that our guide offered. At each ride, she parked our strollers and waited for us with our stroller at the exit. She would go get waters, popcorn, or iced tea while we were on a ride and had them waiting for us.

Our VIP guide took pictures of us with her phone, and she extracted my camera from around my neck a few times so that we now have proof that I was actually at Disney World with my family, a wonderful perk for me that lasts long after the tour.

Towards the lunch hour, she took our orders, set us on rides, and then we met her at the Columbia Harbor House where she waited for us with our plates of salmon and broccoli at the table. My husband thought this service was worth its weight in gold.

The perks of a true Disney World expert

They were, of course, many moments where our guide’s park knowledge surpassed my own, and I loved it. On the Buzz Lightyear ride, we were playfully competitive shooting lasers at Zurg’s various targets.

She sat with me and showed me where to shoot my laser gun. By the time we had gone through the first room, she had maxed out the score at 999,999. Sit on the left side. Now I know. Lots of little insider tricks of hers made the rides more fun.

What if you already know the Disney parks really well?

There were many intangible perks to using a guide, too. I still found Disney VIP Tours different because I was able to enjoy the day without being the family navigator, planner, and boss. I could truly check out and not be in charge. This gave me the opportunity to let the experiences reach my own inner six-year-old much more easily. I smiled a lot more. Worth every penny.

Another benefit is how the dynamics shift when a neutral party is involved and in charge. If you are traveling in a group where more than one person wants to take charge, a tour guide smooths the tension. Especially for multi-generational trips where there may be too many cooks in the kitchen.

After we finished our day with our guide, we pulled into the Four Seasons Orlando , my daughter gave our guide a big hug, and I was so grateful to experience Magic Kingdom park in a way that felt like a real vacation for me.

When to splurge for Disney’s Premium Private VIP tours for ultimate backstage access

Ride access is more challenging now, and even the best Genie Plus users will adit it is harder now to get ride access. So if you are going to ride all of the new rides, ride all of the best rides, or try and combine more than one park in a day, you need a VIP tour.

With the Premium Private VIP tours, you are paying for their VIP Lightning Lane access for any ride (formerly the FastPass line) to avoid long waits. These Lightning Lanes are at most of the rides at all of the theme parks, especially guests’ favorite attractions.

Younger children’s energy will put a ceiling on the special access you have paid for, and some attractions offer no Lightning Lane, so you are still might wait in line for things, even with a VIP escort and the magic access they offer.

If you have small children and you are still traveling with strollers, I think the private guides can give parents a major perk of a much needed break leading the family around Magic Kingdom or Animal Kingdom with a pro. You’re tired. You deserve it. Make this the best day for all of you.

Which parks and attractions work best with Disney VIP guides?

Truthfully, all parks are on the table now given that Epcot, where guides didn’t use to visit, is now the hot park to take people on the latest Guardians of the Galaxy coaster. (It’s that good!)

Magic Kingdom’s number of rides and roller coasters puts it in its own league compared to the other Walt Disney World Resort parks. It has more Lightning Lane experiences than any other park, and the layout is vast and can be overwhelming for newbies. The timing of all the attractions and crowd formations is not easy to learn if you’ve only been a few times. And Hollywood Studios has many great rides and a very confusing layout, so I never suggest people visit their first time without a guide there, either.

In our four park whirlwind tour with our Disney guide, we got to ride the following rides. Rise of the Resistance, Smuggler’s Run, Star Tours, Flight of Passage, Toy Story Mania, Slinky Dog Dash, Space Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Tower of Terror, Haunted Mansion, Jungle Cruise, Pirates of the Caribbean, and the Kilimanjaro Safaris, Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway, Expedition Everest, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, just to name a few.

If I were organizing a multi-generational family vacation to Disney World, I would also use the services of a VIP tour. To assign the leadership to a knowledgeable nonmember of the family keeps everyone happy.

People who go to Disney once and hate it simply don’t know what they were doing. It is a complicated trip. The goal is to have fun, and you’ll have a lot more fun and better memories when your kids aren’t seeing you stressed trying to figure out where to go or what to do when you don’t have a clue.

I would also book a tour if I dreaded the idea of going to Disney and wanted the “one and done” approach. Warning : I thought I was going to be one of those people, but several thousand dollars later, Disney has the last laugh.

Need an expert to take over the planning? We  plan your Disney World vacations . I’ll share what VIP experiences are worth every penny and tell you what to skip.

Headed to Universal Studios? Check out why the Universal VIP Tours are worth every penny, and we book those, too!

Disneyland Hotel Club Level: Celebrating Walt In Style

These luxury portugal resorts were designed for families in every detail, 17 thoughts on “disney vip tours: what you need to know: cost, perks, and types”.

A VIP tour sounds like a great way for Mom to be able to sit back and enjoy the time as well and not have to worry about planning or feeling like you are going to miss something. Also like the idea of having one with a group so there is no question of who is in charge!

We are going to Disneyworld Orlando in December and would like a VIP Guide. Do you have a person/company you can recommend please? Thanks

That is all outlined in the above article. ?

I really really enjoyed this article as I have long wondered what these tours did and now finally know. I’d love to try one – sounds so much less stressful than the degree we had to take in Disney Studies for our trip!

Honestly I had no idea these tours existed before reading your article. It sounds like an amazing way to save yourself (and your family) some stress if you can afford it. I know we would have loved this option a few times we went to the park when our kids were younger and when we traveled with my parents. It would have made things a lot easier.

You missed a few perks of using Disney’s Premium service.

We’d love to hear more! What else besides the pixie dust Fast Passes did you enjoy?

One of the best perks for us involved them transporting us around property. We park hopped all four parks going to just the rides on our list. We were loaded into their white vans and transported via backstage to the different locations saving us a ton of time. We maximized our time and never felt rushed.

Yes, that’s true in that it can make a big difference in parking hopping multiple times in one day. I can’t imagine my kids handling more than two parks in a day, but that might be just be my own preference projecting. If getting on rides was my priority, I would probably prefer to do the Ultimate day of thrills and spend the other thousand dollars saved elsewhere on food and spa and extend my stay at the Four Seasons or Waldorf!

So interesting! There is SO much strategy to navigating the parks; I can see why having a Cori could make a HUGE difference. Thanks for sharing!

Yes, Paula! I consider myself savvy but Cori helped us use our time on a whole new level.

I am reaching out to anyone who would like to share with our family a VIP private tour (up to 10 people) we are a family of 3 so 7 of you would like to share $450.00 an hour for 8 hours at Disneyworld – we want to schedule a private tour on 6/16/2017 from 2pm to 10pm somewhere during this timeframe Pandora and elsewhere – Anyone interested email me at [email protected]

Patricia, you should join the Luxury Disney Facebook group and ask there. The link is in the article.

We splurged for a private VIP tour a couple of years ago when we took our kids to Disneyworld for the first time. We started out at the Magic Kingdom and managed to fit in 10 rides in 90 minutes! Many of these rides had wait times of at least 30 minutes. The pace slowed down at the other parks since the rides are more spaced out geographically but it was very stress free having our guide drive us to the different parks and lead us to the fastest routes to get where we needed to go. We were able to get to every ride on the kids’ wishlist in 1 day and ended up the day in a prime reserved section for the night show at Hollywood studios.

That sounds like it was an incredible vacation! Would you do it again?

We decided to take a last minute trip to Disney, taking our niece for her first time. Since we are only 1 month out and have nothing planned, would you recommend Disney Private VIP tour or MyVIP?

How old is your niece? Is the goal to see the most in the shortest amount of time? Or just someone to maximize your time arranging so you can enjoy and not plan?

Comments are closed.

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 during your visit
• 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) 939-5277 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.
• Should plans change and you need to cancel your VIP Tour, please contact us at (407) 560-4033 3 days prior to the date of your VIP Tour to avoid a cancellation fee equal to 2 hours at the booked rate of the tour. Guests younger than 18 years of age must have parent or guardian permission to call.
• 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.

Related Activities

Celebration at the top – sip, savor, sparkle, specialty cruises, custom-designed celebrations & gatherings.

Are Disney Private VIP Tours Worth It?

11 Reasons Why This Luxury Experience May Be Worth The Money

Disney Private VIP Tours are the ultimate way to experience Walt Disney World. You get unrestricted access to all the rides and attractions and a personal guide who can help make your day extra special. However, luxury and service come at a price – they aren’t cheap. So are Private Disney VIP Tours worth it? Here are 11 reasons why this premium service is worth the money.

1. Disney World VIP Tours Are Customizable

One of the best things about Disney VIP Tours is that they are entirely customizable. With the assistance of your Disney travel planner or VIP tour guide, you can customize your itinerary to include only the things you are most interested in. You’ll be able to choose your start and end times, as well as the rides, shows, and theme parks you wish to visit. Whether you want to focus on the best roller coasters or learn how Disney magic happens behind the scenes, you can create an itinerary tailored to your interests – the choice is yours! In short, a Disney VIP Tour offers the most personalized and customized experience at Walt Disney World.

To learn more about Disney Private VIP Tours or to start customizing your itinerary, don’t hesitate to contact The Vacationeer , our recommended Disney travel agency.

Their free Disney planning services and personalized assistance will help you plan the perfect Private VIP Tour and Disney vacation. Click HERE to get started!

2. You Select The Tour Participants

Disney Private VIP Tours are unique because they allow you to select who joins your group. You will get more one-on-one time with your guide and smaller groups than any other Disney tour. Additionally, Disney will never pair you up with tourists you don’t know. You can choose to bring family, friends, or whoever you want – as long as there are no more than ten people in your group. The tour is perfect for those who desire a more personalized and VIP Disney World experience. In addition, it’s ideal for families with young children and grandparents because everyone is welcome.

3. You’ll Be Guided by a Disney Expert VIP Tour Guide

Disney Private VIP Tours are a great way to see the parks without worrying about logistics. Each tour is led by a Disney tour guide wearing a plaid vest. This Cast Member is highly-trained and hand-selected by Disney specifically for this role. They’re friendly, personable, professional, and knowledgeable about everything Disney. They’ll handle all the logistics so you can relax and enjoy yourself. And because they’re great with kids and attuned to families’ needs, they’ll ensure everything goes smoothly. So if you’re looking for a stress-free way to experience the magic of Disney, your VIP tour guide has you covered.

4. Save Time by Skipping Lines

A Private Disney VIP Tour is the best way to experience the most rides in the shortest amount of time. You’ll have access to special entrances that bypass the standby lines, so you can easily whisk onto rides. How does it work? Essentially, your tour guide serves as your express pass to breeze through the Lightning Lane or a side entrance. By cutting in front of everyone in line and moving up to the front, there is no waiting. It’s definitely one of the most satisfying perks of a VIP tour! Moreover, you can go on any ride as many times as you like, even the most popular ones. Skipping the lines will enable you to make the most of your time at the park and create wonderful memories.

5. Learn the Secrets of Disney

Disney Private VIP Tours are great for various reasons, but one of the best things about them is that you can learn the history of Disney World from your tour guide. They will be with you every step, providing insider tips and tricks on making the most of your visit. In addition, they can answer any questions you might have, so you’ll come away with a deeper understanding of Disney and its fascinating inner workings. So, a Disney Private VIP Tour is an excellent option if you want an educational experience in addition to the thrills.

6. Access to Backstage Areas

When you take a Disney Private VIP Tour, you’ll have backstage access to areas of the park that are typically off-limits to regular guests. You’ll be able to enter the theme parks through backstage entrances and use the backstage doors to different areas of the park. While VIP tour guides take you through Lightning Lane entrances on most rides, you’ll also access some through backdoors or side doors. It’s a fantastic opportunity to get a peek behind the scenes! Just request backstage access from your VIP Tour guide, and they’ll be happy to take you to areas only Cast Members can access.

7. A Disney VIP Tour Has Fixed Hourly Pricing

Disney VIP tours are some of the most popular tours offered by Disney. They are also some of the most expensive. Disney Private VIP Tours range from $450 to $900 per hour , depending on the season and date you take it. However, one of the benefits of a Disney VIP tour is that it is a fixed price per hour, regardless of how many people are in your group. So, if you have a large group of up to 10, the cost per person may not be as expensive as you think.

Note : As our Guide to Disney Private VIP Tours article explains, VIP Tours must last at least seven consecutive hours. You are welcome to add extra hours (or additional days) to your tour, but 7 hours should give you enough time to do most of what you want. Eat breakfast or lunch right before or after your tour, so you don’t have to sit at a restaurant while the clock is ticking. You can maximize your money’s value by meeting your guide at the park rather than at your hotel — the clock starts when you connect with your guide, and if you meet at the park you can start riding attractions immediately.

8. Complimentary Treats Throughout the Day

As part of Disney Private VIP Tours, you will receive complimentary snacks and beverages throughout the tour. For example, your guide might give you bottles of water, Mickey pretzels, or Mickey bars when you exit a ride. In addition, some people receive snack baskets containing fruit, trail mix, and other snacks. Not all guides do this; however, those who do find that it helps to keep guests hydrated and energized, especially on long tours or hot days. So if you’re looking for a way to beat the heat and refuel during the tour, be sure to ask your travel agent or guide about getting some complimentary snacks and beverages on your next tour.

Note : Besides food and drink, VIP tour guides always carry umbrellas and ponchos in case of rain . They have you covered!

9. VIP Viewing for Shows, Parades, and Fireworks

One of the benefits of Disney Private VIP Tours is its premium viewing areas for shows, parades, and fireworks. Guests have exclusive access to reserved viewing areas for the nightly fireworks and Disney Festival of Fantasy Parade at Magic Kingdom. In addition, VIP guests have premium seating for Disney live shows , including the popular Festival of the Lion King and Finding Nemo shows. The reserved viewing areas allow you to get close to the action and take some great photos.

10. Door-To-Door Transportation From Start to Finish

Disney World is a large and sprawling resort, and getting around can be challenging for visitors. Fortunately, Disney Private VIP Tours offer door-to-door transportation all day long. Hence, you can rest assured that you will always have a ride to your next destination, whether it’s another park, ride, hotel room, or restaurant.

Disney World transportation is abundant all around the parks, but only VIP Tours shuttle you privately from resort to park, ride to ride, park to park, all day long. Imagine not having to walk all the way across the park to get from Space Mountain to Big Thunder Mountain! This is how celebrities do Disney World , and it’s the best way to ensure that you make the most of your time at the resort. With Disney Private VIP Tours, you can sit back and enjoy the ride while someone else handles the driving.

11. Enjoy Hassle-Free VIP Planning with Disney Travel Agents

Planning for Disney World trips can be stressful and confusing. But with the help of a Disney travel agent, you can simplify the process and ensure your trip will be magical.

Prior to your Private VIP Tour, your Disney vacation planner will work directly with your tour guide to customize the itinerary. They will consider factors such as the size of your party, the ages of your children, and any special interests you may have. An itinerary tailored to your needs will maximize your time at Disney World.

Your Disney travel agent won’t just help with your Disney VIP Tour. Since they’re familiar with all the ins and outs of the park, they can help you choose suitable ticket options, make restaurant reservations, and book hotels and transportation. They can advise you on what to see and do and provide you with custom-made touring plans that fit your family’s interests. The best Disney travel agents will take care of all the details for you, so all you have to do is focus on having a great time. Plus, they can often help you secure special perks and amenities often overlooked by the general public.

Working with a Disney travel agent is a great way to ensure you have a hassle-free and truly memorable Disney VIP experience. Contact The Vacationeer and speak with a Disney expert today!

Disney Private VIP Tours: The Pros and Cons

A Disney Private VIP Tour provides many advantages over a regular theme park experience (and non-VIP group tours). Here is a summary of the main benefits, as detailed in the previous section.

Pros of Disney Private VIP Tours:

• A Disney VIP Tour is customizable and completely private, so you can do what you want with the people you choose.
• Disney Private VIP Tours provides you with a dedicated tour guide, so you don’t need to worry about logistics.
• You’ll avoid long lines and maximize your fun with priority access to all rides and attractions.
• Guests can access premium viewing areas for shows, parades, and fireworks.
• You will learn all about Disney World’s history and inner workings during the tour
• Your guide will provide complimentary snacks and beverages throughout the tour.
• You will have door-to-door transportation all day, so you don’t have to worry about getting around from place to place.
• The fixed hourly rate covers up to 10 people, including infants.
• Disney treats you like a celebrity from start to finish!

While this type of tour can offer many benefits, there are also a few drawbacks. Here are some of the main cons of taking a Disney Private VIP Tour.

Cons of Disney Private VIP Tours:

• Disney VIP Tours are not cheap! The price range for this luxury service is $450 to $900 per hour.
• The hourly rate varies depending on the time of year you go to Disney World , so you can expect to pay more during the vacation and holiday seasons when the park is most crowded and less during off-peak times.
• There is a minimum booking window of 7 consecutive hours. You’ll be able to book more than 7 hours if you want, but never less.
• Tickets to theme parks are not included in the tour price, so participants must purchase them separately. If a tour visits a single park, you only have to purchase a ticket for that park. A Park Hopper ticket will be necessary for tours that cover multiple parks. Contact The Vacationeer to arrange your ticket purchases.
• If you cancel with less than 48 hours’ notice, you will be charged two hours at your booking rate.
• Meals are not included in the cost of the tour. However, you are welcome to dine during the tour if you wish.
• Disney Private VIP Tours usually sell out well in advance. You must book one well in advance, particularly if you plan to go during peak season.

Many people ask, “Are Disney VIP tours worth it?” The simple answer is YES… if you don’t mind paying for premium services and luxury experiences. Considering how quickly Disney VIP Tours sell out, most people think they are worth it. But several factors play into whether or not a VIP Tour is suitable for you and your group. Here are some things to consider.

• One crucial factor to consider is your budget. VIP tours can be expensive, so they might not be the right choice if you have a strict spending limit.
• Another factor to consider is how much time you have planned for your trip to Disney World. If you have a long vacation planned, you may not need the help of a VIP tour guide to maximize your time in the parks. However, a Private VIP Tour can help you make the most of your visit if you are short on time. Your tour will maximize your time so you can see and do everything you want in a single day or two.
• Another consideration is why you are taking a trip to Disney World. If you celebrate a special occasion, plan a multi-generational trip, take the grandkids to Disney World , or whatever, a VIP tour can add extra magic to your experience. Your trip may be more memorable if you add this service.
• Finally, a VIP Tour is a must if you demand nothing but the best. You get unlimited front-of-the-line access to all rides and attractions, priority seating at shows, and unmatched access to backstage areas. You also get a personal tour guide who will take care of all the details, so you can simply enjoy your day. Plus, the door-to-door transportation will make you feel like a celebrity.

There are many reasons why luxury travelers and families may choose to take a Disney Private VIP Tour, but the chance to avoid crowds and be pampered throughout the day are tops. Those who want to experience the best of Disney should choose a VIP Tour, which is undoubtedly the ultimate luxury Disney experience . So while it is not a cheap option, it is worth it for those who have the resources, demand the best, are celebrating a special occasion, or want to maximize their limited time at Walt Disney World . Overall, it’s worth it if you fall into any of these categories.

We hope this information helps you decide whether Disney Private VIP Tours are worth it. Ultimately, only you can decide if a Disney VIP tour suits you.

Note: If you’re planning on visiting Orlando’s other theme parks, you’ll be happy to know that Universal Orlando offers VIP tours , too!

Are you Ready to Book your Private VIP Tour at Disney World?

When you book a Disney VIP tour with The Vacationeer , you can rest assured that you’re getting the best possible service. You’ll work with only one expert Disney vacation planner to create a custom tour that fits your family’s needs and interests. Your dedicated planner will also take care of all the details, so all you have to do is show up and enjoy your vacation.

The Vacationeer can reserve and customize your Disney VIP Tour, so you get everything you want and need. Also, they can take care of purchasing your theme park tickets, making your hotel reservations, dining reservations, etc. Whether you want all the luxury – including five-star hotels at Disney World , Michelin-rated Disney restaurants , tee times at Disney’s best golf courses – or something more modest, The Vacationeer is there to assist you. They can even take care of your car rentals, transportation, stroller rentals , childcare , and more.

The Vacationeer will work as your personal assistants for Disney World to ensure your trip is as magical as possible, and there’s never a charge for their services. Click HERE to contact The Vacationeer to start planning your VIP Disney vacation!

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Bts members jimin and jung kook to star in new disney+ travel show.

The series, 'Are You Sure?!,' was filmed in 2023 before the two members of the hit K-pop group enlisted for mandatory military service.

By Nicole Fell

Nicole Fell

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BTS members Jimin and Jung Kook are set to star in a new travel reality series on Disney +.

The series Are You Sure?! , exclusive to the Disney streaming service, was announced via a release from the K-pop supergroup’s label, Big Hit Music, and its parent company, Hybe , Tuesday evening.

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The series was filmed in 2023, before the two K-pop stars enlisted for their mandatory military service in South Korea. It marks the first travel reality show for just Jimin and Jung Kook; however, BTS has long been putting out travel-related content such as their popular amongst fans variety shows: Bon Voyage and In the Soop . The shows are currently available to watch on Weverse , a fan-artist platform owned by Hybe Corp.

Earlier Tuesday, it was confirmed that BTS member Jin, the oldest in the group, would participate in the upcoming torch relay for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games as a torchbearer from South Korea. Jin is the only member of the group who has completed his military service, having been discharged last month after enlisting in December 2022.

Are You Sure?! will release new episodes every Thursday through Sept. 19.

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Music + Concerts | How Missy Elliott decided to do her first…

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Music + concerts, music + concerts | how missy elliott decided to do her first headlining tour after nearly three decades of stardom.

We’ll pause while that sinks in, because, frankly, it’s such an unexpected thing to hear that at first it feels like it can’t possibly be true.

“I’ve had people argue with me: ‘No, no, no, you’re wrong,’” says Mona Scott-Young, Elliott’s manager since 1996 just before that first album arrived. “And I’m like, ‘No, I think I would know. I was there.’

“It’s pretty unimaginable,” Scott-Young continues. “Because she’s had so many milestone accomplishments, right? Hollywood Walk of Fame, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, every imaginable songwriter’s award. And you think of touring as just a natural extension of an artist that has had such an illustrious career.

“But yeah, historically she just has never felt that the time was right. Until now.”

Missy Elliott’s first-ever headlining tour stops in Los Angeles at Crypto.com Arena on July 10-11, 2024. (Photo by Derek Blanks with crowdMGTM)

Singer Ciara is part of Missy Elliott’s first-ever headlining tour. It stops in Los Angeles at Crypto.com Arena on July 10-11, 2024. (Photo by Derek Blanks with crowdMGTM)

Rapper Busta Rhymes is part of Missy Elliott’s first-ever headlining tour. It stops in Los Angeles at Crypto.com Arena on July 10-11, 2024. (Photo by Derek Blanks with crowdMGTM)

Producer Timbaland will appear with hip-hop artist Missy Elliott when she reaches Los Angeles on July 10-11, 2024 on her first-ever headlining tour. (Photo by Thomas Dang)

Ciara, left, and Busta Rhymes, right, are part of Missy Elliott’s first-ever headlining tour. It stops in Los Angeles at Crypto.com Arena on July 10-11, 2024. (Photo by Derek Blanks with crowdMGTM)

Elliott has periodically popped up at festivals and as a guest artist over the years. Her last Southern California show was in May 2023 when she played a one-off concert at the Yaamava’ Resort & Casino in Highland.

But the only multi-city tour Elliott’s ever done was two decades ago when in 2004 when she opened for Alicia Keys and Beyoncé on the Verizon Ladies First Tour.

Accompanying Elliott on the Out of This World: Missy Elliott Experience tour are such longtime friends and collaborators as Busta Rhymes , Timbaland , and Ciara . It kicks off July 4 in Vancouver, British Columbia, before moving south on the West Coast to Los Angeles where the hip-hop icon and R&B queen plays Crypto.com Arena on Thursday and Friday, July 11-12.

The night before the first show, at 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 10, a free public celebration of the tour will take place at the Jerry Moss Plaza in the The Music Center in downtown Los Angeles. Elliott, her dancers and DJs will appear at Party on the Plaza: An Out of This World Event at 7 p.m. After Elliott welcomes those there, the dancers will teach fans the Out of This World dance challenge. ( To RSVP click here .)

In an interview edited for clarity and length, Scott-Young talked about Elliott’s decision to finally headline her own tour now, her reasons for not doing so earlier, and how she has many albums worth of new music recorded yet has not released a new studio album since 2005.

Q: So how did this happen? How did you learn she was ready to tour?

A: Well, we get offers constantly, which she goes, “Mmm, no, mmm, no.” And a big part of it is because she has such an incredible imagination in terms of what she wants to see happen. I often say it’s like a spectacle. She doesn’t just step onto a stage. It’s got to be all the bells and whistles, because she comes from thinking that people pay good money, and they should get entertained.

For years, she had thought about Vegas. It would be an opportunity for her to plant herself in a space and build out whatever her mind can conceptualize. We would do something where she was static. And so we had taken a quick trip and taken a look at some of the shows that were out there.

And then one day she just called and said, “We should go on tour.” I was like, “Oh, wait, we weren’t just going to be in Vegas? What happened to that?” But our partnership has always been, “You conceptualize it and I will figure out how to make it happen.” And that’s where this crazy journey we’ve been on began.

Q: In the past, how has she decided when she wanted to play a festival or a standalone show?

A: It’s been very random. It could be because of a song that she saw kind of regaining popularity. We had the “Cool Off” (dance) challenge and people really responded well to that. Or she’ll see dance crazes and she’s like, “Oh, I’d love to have my dancers out there on stage.” And I’m like, ‘”Wait, we’re gonna do this show mainly because you wanted to give your dancers an opportunity?” [She laughs]

Like we did the FYF festival (in Los Angeles in 2017) and that was kind of an opportunity for her to have 25-plus dancers on  stage with her. She was like, “That feels like it could be a lot of fun.”

Q: So for this headlining tour, what had to take place to put it together?

A: Oh, good lord, that is a loaded question. We probably have no less than 30 individual group text chains going on every single element. Because again, it’s not just getting on stage with a mic and some dancers, it’s the content that has to be conceptualized. The fans experience this show. It is not going to be something you watch. This is not a passive show, this is a fully immersed experience.

You’re going to go through a range of emotions. And the content, the wardrobe, the choreography, the music, the transitions, everything plays into that to paint this picture that lives in her head.

And the scariest thing to me is this picture is ever-evolving, it’s ever-changing. I’ll get middle of the night texts (from Elliott): “I have an idea.” That’s the scariest words that Missy Elliott can say to me. Because I never know where this idea is going to take me and what it’s going to entail in terms of execution.

Q: One of the things fans will be excited about is that Missy is bringing Busta Rhymes and Ciara and Timbaland.

A: It’s family. That’s what we say all the time, it’s a family affair. When she decided to do this there were so many artists that you could think of that would be great to go with Missy, right? But it was important for her that she delivered on the fans’ expectations. People have wanted to see her and Busta do anything together because they are such kindred spirits.

Ciara has been Missy’s protege and they’ve done some incredible music together And Timbaland is everyone’s longtime collaborator. He’s going to be taking us in and out of the sets, doing his own set. It’s going to be a seamless experience.

Q: After she played the Friends and Lovers festival in Las Vegas last year she did the one show at Yaamava’. Was that a test for a tour or just a a tag-on to the festival?

A: It’s funny, it was just the tag-on to the festival. To be perfectly honest, everything that she put on at the festival was not cheap. So it was like, “OK, Missy, let’s see, we’re going to need another show to help underwrite all of this stuff.” So it was really in support of the festival show.

Q: She was also inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame last year — the first solo female hip-hop artist to go in. Did that play a role in the tour this year?

A: It kind of pulled her out. I say a lot she’s like a hermit. She goes into that Bat Cave, she’s making music, you know. You very rarely see her out and about, just a few select appearances. But with that Rock Hall of Fame there was a lot of press and she was out there a lot. And people just kept expressing appreciation and love, and she responds to wanting to kind of deliver on her gift.

So when people kept saying to her again and again, “Oh my God, it would be so great to see you, I’ve been dying to see you,” it made her feel like, “Oh, you know, I probably should do something to give back to the fans.” All the conversations were around Vegas. I think the tour just came about spontaneously because she realized this would give her the opportunity to get out there and meet them where they are.

Q: She told Variety recently that she had six albums worth of music recorded. What’s your sense of that as her manager?

A: The difference with Missy is she does nothing until she feels it’s absolutely the right time. One of her favorite phrases is “My spirit says,” because she really is not only intuitive, but very spiritual. And she’s always looking for those signs and looking to feel 100% reconciled with whatever decision she makes.

And if there is anything that just doesn’t have her feeling that the time is absolutely right she just won’t do it. It’s never motivated by the financial, which, for a manager, it’s kind of like, “Are you kidding me? Are we really saying no to this?” [She laughs] And she’s like, “It just doesn’t feel right.”

She’s probably got more than six albums worth of material. I am sure that one day she will wake up and text me at 3 a.m. and say, “I have an idea,” and it’ll be let’s do the album. She just isn’t moved by anything other than her internal clock.

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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:

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• 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.
• Should plans change and you need to cancel your VIP Tour, please contact us at 0800 028 0778 (UK) or 1800 812 678 (Ireland) 3 days prior to the date of your VIP Tour to avoid a cancellation fee equal to 2 hours at the booked rate of the tour. Guests younger than 18 years of age must have parent or guardian permission to call.
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Halle Berry, Glenn Close Join Ryan Murphy’s Hulu Legal Drama

By Joe Otterson

Joe Otterson

TV Reporter

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Halle Berry and Glenn Close are set to star alongside Kim Kardashian in an upcoming Hulu legal drama that hails from Ryan Murphy, Variety has learned.

The series was first announced in December 2023 and is currently titled “All’s Fair.” As reported at that time, the series will focus on an all-female law firm in Los Angeles. Exact details for Berry and Close’s characters are being kept under wraps. Both women will also serve as executive producers on “All’s Fair,” as will Kardashian. Close will produce under her Trillium Productions banner.

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She is repped by CAA, MGMT Entertainment, Loeb & Loeb.

This will be one of the only regular television roles Berry has had her in career. Most recently, she starred in the CBS series “Extant,” which counted Steven Spielberg among its executive producers. She won the Academy Award for best actress for her role in “Monster’s Ball,” making her the first woman of color to win the award. She also won an Emmy and a Golden Globe for starring in the TV movie “Introducing Dorothy Dandridge.” Berry has also received Emmy nominations for “Lackawanna Blues” and “Their Eyes Were Watching God.” Her other notable film roles include the “X-Men” franchise, “Jungle Fever,” “Die Another Day,” “Things We Lost in the Fire,” and “The Call.”

She is repped by WME, Johnson Shapiro Slewett & Kole, The Lede Company, and Range Media Partners.

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