Thelife- As a Disney travel planner, I've booked
VIP extras for my clients, but I decided to try one myself. - I took a one-day private tour of Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios, which cost $4,000 for 10.
As a
On a recent trip, I was lucky enough to tag along on a friend's $4,000 private tour.
The day started with a chauffeured ride to Hollywood Studios
Our tour guide picked us up from our Disney World hotel in a private van and whisked us away to Hollywood Studios.
The
Our guide was the perfect mix of fun, informative, and laid-back. He asked about our preferences and was sensitive to the needs of everyone in the group. Plus, he had insider knowledge when rides weren't functioning and quickly changed our plans if needed.
The best part about the private tour was the ability to access the expedited Lightning Lanes for all attractions — especially for the most popular rides like Rise of the Resistance, Slinky Dog Dash, and Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railroad.
Our wait times throughout the day were minimal, and we didn't even have to be on our phones securing Genie+ selections or monitoring wait times.
Our next stop was Magic Kingdom for more rides and nighttime fireworks
A private VIP tour is not for the faint of heart. To get the most out of the experience, your day is jam-packed.
Within a few hours, we rode all of the main attractions at Hollywood Studios and headed to the Magic Kingdom via private transfer.
The Disney geek in me loved being backstage near Main Street USA, and although no pictures were allowed, I'll never forget seeing the small glimpse behind the magic.
We were visiting during a very busy week, so our guide suggested we order a complimentary lunch provided by the VIP tour instead of waiting for a quick-service meal. We took a break on the lawn in front of the castle to enjoy it, and it was absolutely delicious.
Then we quickly rode several rides — some with special VIP access, including Jungle Cruise, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Haunted Mansion. And we even got to ride some of our favorite attractions twice in a row.
Another major perk is having special viewing areas for the parades and nighttime fireworks. We enjoyed both during the tour.
Our guide presented us with Mickey ice-cream bars while we watched the parade from the top of the Main Street train station.
Then we finished the day with another round of frozen treats while we marveled at our perfect view of Cinderella Castle for Disney Enchantment Nighttime Spectacular.
Despite the high cost, I think a VIP tour is totally worth it for Disney fans
A private VIP tour at Disney World is costly — about $4,000 a day for a maximum of 10 people. And you still have to pay for a regular theme-park ticket on top of that, which usually costs between $100 and $200.
But the personalized service, exclusive experiences, fast-tracked ride access, and VIP treatment make the adventure worth it in my mind.