Behind the Velvet Ropes: VIP Tours for Disney Ticketed Events

By Stephanie Malone

Our agents have attended both Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party through VIP Tours.

We’ve covered the basics and benefits of opting for a Walt Disney World VIP Tour, but what you still may not know is that you can take your experience to the next level by booking a VIP Tour during one of Disney’s special ticketed events, like Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party or Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party.

We spoke with MVT Agents Martha and Samantha about their experiences, and learned a few tricks in the process.

Special ticketed events are already known for shorter wait times and less congestion. Why not book a VIP Tour for even quicker access to your favorite attractions across the park?

To start, VIP Tours during special events operate much the same as those on standard park days. Guests must book a minimum of seven hours, and a maximum of ten hours with your VIP Tour guide. Tour groups can include up to ten guests, and pricing varies depending on date and availability.

Among other perks, the beauty of a VIP Tour is that you get to set your expectations, and your guide does everything they can to make them happen. A must-do list of attractions? A four-park challenge? Your guide is with you every step of the way, planning out your itinerary and maximizing your time on property.

When you book a VIP Tour during a party, the perks of both a party ticket and VIP Tour collide to make an unforgettable experience.

Make the most of your tour time and skip the sit-down dining. Your guide will help facilitate quick-service meals or snacks, many of which are exclusive to the party anyways!

MVT Agents Martha and Samantha have participated in VIP Tours for both the Halloween and Christmas parties at the Magic Kingdom, and are well-versed in getting the most bang for their buck with attractions and performances.

“I would recommend opting for a party VIP tour to those who want to maximize ride time at the Magic Kingdom, as there is very little wait to get on the rides with your guide during the party,” Martha said. “You also do not have to hold a parade spot for any length of time, so it really gives you the ability to enjoy the other party offerings.”

As Martha mentions, a stand-out perk for VIP Tours during a special event is priority viewing for parades and fireworks. Simply alert your guide which performances you’d like to watch, and they can secure space for you without having to “camp out” on the hub, or along Main Street, U.S.A.

A major perk of VIP Tours during seasonal parties? Unbeatable views of parades and fireworks spectaculars that you don’t have to camp out for!

Tour guests can watch parades from the train station platform at the end of Main Street, as well as reserved fireworks viewing from the garden in front of Casey’s Corner.

MVT Agent Samantha adds that, while you’ll definitely need to eat something during your tour time, it may not be in your best interest to book a table service reservation while you’re on the clock. Sitting down for a meal can cost precious ride or show time, so we recommend quick-service options, especially when dining during a seasonal event where party-exclusive dishes adorn menus across the parks.

“All of the VIP guides I have had have been kind enough to assist with getting the food to the table for the group before going off to get their own meal,” Samantha said.

As with any VIP Tour, you’ll want to be sure to schedule your time range so it works best for your needs. For our agents, that means making sure their tour times overlap not only with special party events, but with enough time to get back the comfort of their resort without any transportation hassle.

“We typically schedule the tour from 4–11PM so we can see the first parade, the fireworks and then have our VIP guide drive us back to our resort.” Martha said.

Pro Tip! Schedule your tour time so that your guide will escort you back to your resort without having to navigate busy buses or monorail lines.

If you already have plans to visit other parks on a party day, that doesn’t mean you should shy away from the VIP experience.
“You can still go between parks, as long as you have a valid ticket,” said Martha. “For example, a party ticket and a base ticket if you want to visit one park during the day and then go to the party, or a park hopper if you want to visit multiple parks during that day and then go to the party.”
VIP Tours are designed to make your park-going experience as seamless and robust as possible. No matter what your ideal tour day looks like, your guide will work with you and do whatever they can to check all of the boxes on your list.