If you’ve been to Disneyland I’m sure you’ve noticed the cast members wearing plaid vests who escort guests to the front of the line. While some people think this is a service reserved exclusively for celebrities; anyone looking for a special experience can book a VIP tour! We’ve been Disney pass holders for almost a decade now and my husband has always wanted to experience a VIP tour and dine at Club 33. It was fun to finally be able to check one of those boxes from his Disneyland wish list! I’ll be sharing the details of our experience and whether we would book another VIP tour in the future below.
The Cost
The prices of the guided tours vary based on how busy the park is. Forexample, if you go on a weekday during off-season it will cost less than if you book the tour on a busy Saturday during the summer. Currently tours start at $2975. The length of your VIP tour is customizable with a minimum of 7 hours. You can bring 9 people with you on your tour (any more will require an additional tour guide).
We went during peak season and paid $700 per hour for a minimum of 7 hours. Since we didn’t go anywhere for the majority of 2020 and half of 2021, it was in our vacation budget to splurge on this experience!
What Is Included
When you book your VIP tour, you will be assigned a personal concierge expert to help you plan your trip (dining reservations, celebration cakes, etc. can be handled by your concierge). Upon arrival to the parks on your tour day check in at the guided tours desk. Here you will meet your dedicated tour guide. Our tour guide Deb was awesome! She asked right away what our priorities were (the kids wanted to go on as many rides as possible and learn some fun facts!). She helped us secure last minute restaurant reservations and also secured reserved seating at the fireworks later that night.
Your VIP tour guide gives you expedited access to all the rides by walking you up to close to the front of the line. It’s like having a fastpass for every single ride. The longest we waited was 10 minutes. Because of this we were able to go on almost all the rides at both parks in one day! When we had our VIP tour, Disneyland had not yet rolled out the Genie Plus service (we will talk about that further down). Plus the guide walks you close to the front of the line on rides that don’t have lightening lines (like most of Fantasyland). Another perk is that you secure reserved seating for fireworks if they are scheduled for that day. Our seats were front and center to the castle and it was an incredible experience.
Photo pass for the day was also included in the cost of our guided tour. Make sure to grab the numbers off of the ride pictures so you can download those too.
Valet parking at the Grand Californian Hotel was also included. VIP tour guests have access to complimentary strollers and wheelchairs (based on availability). Tours in languages other than English may be available but require advance notice.
What is Not Included
Park tickets are not included and need to be purchased separately in order to book a VIP guided tour.
Also, please don’t forget to tip your tour guide. The fee that you pay for the tour doesn’t cover tip.
Genie Plus vs. VIP Tour
This is an apples to oranges comparison as the VIP tour is really an experience in itself. I can’t choose one over the other since the experiences are different. With Genie Plus, you aren’t walking through the park with a Disney expert who has some awesome stories and can expedite your wait on every ride. But if your only goal is to get on the bigger rides quickly then Genie Plus might be a good option.
Would We Book a VIP Tour Again?
Yes, absolutely as a splurge on special milestone trips. We may do it a little differently though- since you can bring a total of 10 people, we would love to go with another family and split the cost!
You can learn more/book your tour here.
Now if you have any tips on getting into Club 33 please do share!
With love,
Shahla
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