I know so far that you can pay some amount of money to reserve a balcony and table from which you can watch Fantasmic. What other "VIP" options are available at Disneyland, and how much do they cost?

The balcony is no longer. It has been taken over to become part of the special in park guest stays for YOAMD.

The other VIP thing that you can do is get a private tour of the park. Many of the regular tours also give you VIP seating for parades/fireworks (if they are showing).

I know so far that you can pay some amount of money to reserve a balcony and table from which you can watch Fantasmic. What other "VIP" options are available at Disneyland, and how much do they cost?You can get premium seating for Fantasmic! which is now down by the river. Excellent viewing. They have chairs (no tables) and an excellent view of the show. It comes with desserts (cheesecake, creme brule, and other items) and drinks (sodas, hot coffee/tea/chocolate.) Another is viewing for Electrical parade. You can find out more by calling 714-781-4400.

Yo can also sign up for a VIP tour. This is a $300 tour minimum. You do need to know what you want from the tour. You can get "VIP" seating to Fantasmic! by doing this tour, but the seating is sitting on the stairs between the premium viewing area. There is also a VIP area for the parades and fireworks. VIP does not get "front of the line" which many people expect.

But to be clear, I've been reading that Fantasmic is not happening for a couple months, starting soon. If that is true, depending on the OP's trip schedule, it might impact their trip plans (it just did mine, as I thought "ooh I could do the dessert thing", but then remembered that it will not be showing while I'm there on my impromptu trip).

I don't know about VIP, but if you are looking to splurge on this trip, you could make Priority Seating reservations at nice, sit-down restaurants like the Blue Bayou by calling the number Macon10t listed. Try some character meals. You could also try posting a request on the Buy/Sell Thread here for a meal at Club 33 ...

If you stay at the resort hotels, be sure to take advantage of Early Entrance (or Magic Mornings, whatever they are calling them now). You will have fewer crowds. Some booking agencies (AAA or Costco) also offer packages with Mickey's Toon Town Madness coupons, which let you into Toon Town an hour ahead of the general public.

In addition to the tours recommended, try the new Backstage Tour -- that sounds awesome, although you will be in both parks & Hollywood, not just Disneyland. Link to Adventures By Disney (http://abd.disney.go.com/abd/en_US/index?name=HomePage) site. Here's a link to another tour agency (http://www.affordabletours.com/search/it/?t=ADBM) that books this trip, and (still another site (http://www.adventuresbymickey.com/backstage-magic/), for this tour ...

I'm sure other folks here will have more excellent suggestions. Have fun!

I don't know about VIP, but if you are looking to splurge on this trip, you could make Priority Seating reservations at nice, sit-down restaurants like the Blue Bayou by calling the number Macon10t listed. Try some character meals.
Just to clarify, the Disney Dining number is 714-781-3463 for priority seating reservations.

Be aware the new "Adventure by Disney" Hollywood tour includes 3 nights hotel in Hollywood and the DLR, and starts at $2200 per person.

Cool, thanks for the tips, guys! If there's anything else out of the ordinary that's available, let me know. ;) I'm a passholder so my girlfriend and I go all the time, and while it never gets tiring with what is currently available, I'm hoping to surprise her one day and go crazy with some of these options.

I was just reading last night about the DCA Segway tour. It's before the park opens, so if you're late sleepers that might not be pleasant, but it sure sounds like fun!

But I don't know if it's "VIP"...just sounded like a nice tour.

I just splurged on a VIP tour for my birthday. We had a blast. It was like having a cast member follow you and attend to your every need - to make your day magical! We could only afford the minimum - 4 hours - but I wished we had been able to afford a whole day!

We had a wonderful guide, Mirna, who was hand-picked (she said) because we had two kids and she loves kids. She made suggestions for rides to see (because it was crowded), and told us little trivia all around the park - stuff I did not know. She *really* knew her stuff.

She would also run ahead and get fast passes for us, waited in line with my husband for coffee and helped him carry the stuff to us; etc. She pushed stollers when we got tired, played peek-a-boo with the kids.... When we needed to change our lunch reservations, she walkie-talkied "HQ" and had it changed on the spot. That was way cool.

We had some very definite ideas of what we wanted to do, but were flexible in hearing Mirna's suggestions. All in all, on a VERY busy day, we saw 5 attractions in those 4 hours, including a breakfast stop. To me, it was a very good day. We would have seen more, but it seems like we kept running into an attraction that had just gone down....

I would definitely hire Mirna again - for a full day - but on a less crowded day. It would be way fun to take her on some rides and hear what trivia she could tell us! She was so much fun - and told us her favorite part of rides and what cool things the "insiders" knew about that we might not catch (like the fact that characters from Country Bear are in the Pooh ride).

If that is a bit much, costwise, I would recommend one of the tours. We've never taken one in DL, but the ones in WDW are very good...

HT, I am so glad you had a great time. I must admit, the luxury is great. When we did a VIP in July, we had 18 people and wanted to do Goofy's, but calling PS said nothing was available. When I commented to our guides we were trying to find something and how I had tried Goofy's, one got on the phone, and we had a 7pm seating. We had several young boys (7-12) and we stopped for lunch at the Jedi Academy. While we were on Matterhorn, the guides went ahead and got us seats for the Academy, when we got there, they took our order and got our meals. Then they went down with the boys to show them how to jump around and they were all selected to participate. Since we had so many, one guide waited with us in the HA line for Nemo, while the other took the younger ones to ride Buzz. Whatever we needed, they were quick with. It was really nice.

Our guide at Christmas was good. She helped my son by getting him up to the wheelhouse of the Mark Twain so he could propose (and she said YES!) She got arrangements for Christmas dinner at Goofy's. And we had a great time.

HT, I am so glad you had a great time. I must admit, the luxury is great. When we did a VIP in July, we had 18 people and wanted to do Goofy's, but calling PS said nothing was available. When I commented to our guides we were trying to find something and how I had tried Goofy's, one got on the phone, and we had a 7pm seating. We had several young boys (7-12) and we stopped for lunch at the Jedi Academy. While we were on Matterhorn, the guides went ahead and got us seats for the Academy, when we got there, they took our order and got our meals. Then they went down with the boys to show them how to jump around and they were all selected to participate. Since we had so many, one guide waited with us in the HA line for Nemo, while the other took the younger ones to ride Buzz. Whatever we needed, they were quick with. It was really nice.

Our guide at Christmas was good. She helped my son by getting him up to the wheelhouse of the Mark Twain so he could propose (and she said YES!) She got arrangements for Christmas dinner at Goofy's. And we had a great time.

Well, great for you! Now you can look forward to taking the grandkids to DL - my mom says that is the best time of her life! LOL!!

We were at Goofy's on Christmas Eve. It was a mad house, but a lot of fun.

I had a great time this trip. Overall, it just felt like the magic was back. All the CMs I encountered were cheerful and smiling - I even commented on it to our VIP and she agreed. She said that she had met more CMs with fantastic attitudes lately than ever before.

BTW, if you have small kids, consider requesting Mirna. She was, truly, like having Mary Poppins with you. She was fantastic with my kids - they *loved* her and were sad to see her go. Oh, and she reads mouseplanet...

Be aware the new "Adventure by Disney" Hollywood tour includes 3 nights hotel in Hollywood and the DLR, and starts at $2200 per person.

(that's based on double occupancy... single supplements apply.. and those hotels ain't cheap).

i'll be on the first tour.

i also did the VIP thing at DLR in 06. good times. of course, that was before they started letting the walk in walts footsteps groups get on the lilly belle.

You don't need to be on a VIP tour to ride in the Lilly Belle. My husband and I did by simply asking. From my understanding, it's a crap shoot based on the amount of people they have on duty (a CM rides with you); but you most definitely do NOT need to have a VIP tour to do that, just forrest gump type luck.

You don't need to be on a VIP tour to ride in the Lilly Belle. My husband and I did by simply asking. From my understanding, it's a crap shoot based on the amount of people they have on duty (a CM rides with you); but you most definitely do NOT need to have a VIP tour to do that, just forrest gump type luck.

I think it depends on the crowd levels and the conductor. I thought the same thing, but the conductor I had seemed to suggest that the policy changes, often, on whether or not regular guests are allowed on the Lily Belle. She did say that sometimes they will take regular guests on just for fun and as a "dream." Of course, nothing in Disneyland ever hurts to ask, politely, with a smile. :)

my point is, the policy has changed. when the lilly belle first came online, it was restricted.

what i do believe is somewhat restricted now is who actually gets a lilly belle ticket. at least i have one of those from the experience

http://bradk.smugmug.com/photos/232529692-XL.jpg

You don't need to be on a VIP tour to ride in the Lilly Belle. My husband and I did by simply asking. From my understanding, it's a crap shoot based on the amount of people they have on duty (a CM rides with you); but you most definitely do NOT need to have a VIP tour to do that, just forrest gump type luck.

DH and I were able to ride the Lilly Belle last year for our anniversary. We were wearing our buttons and when we got up there I asked if the car was available, they said there was a group in there at the time but if we were willing to take a round trip and wait it out (we were only going from Main St to NOS) they would get us in on the next go-around. It was a short but pleasant experience and every time I ride the train I try to get on the Lilly Belle as DH and I are the only ones who have been in there!

I'm also passing the link to this thread on to DH as our anniversary is coming up again and he's looking for ideas! Hi honey! I love you!

Elizabeth

DH and I were able to ride the Lilly Belle last year for our anniversary. We were wearing our buttons and when we got up there I asked if the car was available, they said there was a group in there at the time but if we were willing to take a round trip and wait it out (we were only going from Main St to NOS) they would get us in on the next go-around. It was a short but pleasant experience and every time I ride the train I try to get on the Lilly Belle as DH and I are the only ones who have been in there!

I'm also passing the link to this thread on to DH as our anniversary is coming up again and he's looking for ideas! Hi honey! I love you!

Elizabeth

Well, whether I needed to do the tour to ride the 'Belle or not, it was a most magical way to spend my 35th birthday. I would do the tour, special perks, or not. I LOVED our tour guide and I really just felt special the whole day.

So, Elizabeth's honey.... you really should think about something extra special! Not that she is hinting or anything... ;)

Well, whether I needed to do the tour to ride the 'Belle or not, it was a most magical way to spend my 35th birthday. I would do the tour, special perks, or not. I LOVED our tour guide and I really just felt special the whole day.

So, Elizabeth's honey.... you really should think about something extra special! Not that she is hinting or anything... ;)

I totally agree HT! I think it's great you got to do a VIP tour. What a once in a lifetime event. Sounds like you were treated like royalty and made your birthday extra special (as it should be).

I was more commenting on another posting saying that tours were the only way to ride in the Lilly Belle, as I wasn't on a tour when I did it; I just happened to be in the right place when the stars were alligned to form a mickey head over Venus on a soltace :)

I totally agree HT! I think it's great you got to do a VIP tour. What a once in a lifetime event. Sounds like you were treated like royalty and made your birthday extra special (as it should be).

I was more commenting on another posting saying that tours were the only way to ride in the Lilly Belle, as I wasn't on a tour when I did it; I just happened to be in the right place when the stars were alligned to form a mickey head over Venus on a soltace :)

That's awesome. That really is the kind of thing you remember forever. I tried to get our tour guide to take us to Club 33 or Walt's Apartment, but some things are off limits. :(

But, yes, we felt like royalty the whole day.

but you most definitely do NOT need to have a VIP tour to do that, just forrest gump type luck.

:D

the ABD tour actually promises to go inside walt's apartment.

the ABD tour actually promises to go inside walt's apartment.

Awesome. Forgive me - can you tell me what ABD stands for?

Awesome. Forgive me - can you tell me what ABD stands for?

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