If you’ve always wondered whether a VIP Tour at Walt Disney World is worth splurging on, we’re sharing our firsthand experience.

A few weeks ago, a friend invited me along on a Walt Disney World VIP Tour. I’d heard of such things, of course, but hadn’t ever taken one. Did I want to tag along? You bet Donald’s pants I did! Our tour guide met us in Adventureland and whisked us backstage. Yes, backstage at the Magic Kingdom. That was the first clue this tour included some special things.

“Have to put away my phone, can’t text, am about to get in a black Suburban backstage at MK,” I texted some friends, and felt quite fancy doing so. Of course, even VIP Guests can’t take pictures backstage, but the most magical places at Walt Disney World aren’t backstage, so I didn’t mind.

My friend, who belongs to Walt Disney World’s ultra-exclusive Club 33, wanted to visit all four Club 33 lounges in one day, plus hit up some rides. While I can’t write about what we saw in the Club, I can tell you I would not have had the energy to hit four parks, have a meal or drink at each, and ride a couple of rides on my own. By the end of the day, that back seat of the Suburban was a welcome, comfy place to ride.

Photo by Cathy Salustri.

What Does a Walt Disney World VIP Tour Include?

The magic of a Walt Disney World VIP Tour is that it includes… well, whatever you’d like it to include. Your tour group gets a private guide who can tell you (almost) all the secrets of the most magical place on earth. VIP Tours include pre-planning your visit to the park, so you can let them know ahead of time what you want to get out of the tour. Once in the park, the fun begins. Our tour guide brought us water, swapped our spent fuel rods while we rode Kilimanjaro Safaris, and found us last-minute VIP seating for the Garden Rocks concert. Also — here’s the big one — she made sure we walked on every attraction we wanted to ride — with virtually no lines. That’s right: Walt Disney World VIP Tours come with unlimited Lightning Lanes.

Our tour guide pointed out the oversized door by The American Adventure. Photo by Cathy Salustri.

How Much Does a Walt Disney World VIP Tour Cost?

VIP Tours range from $450 to $900 per hour, depending on what experiences you want. VIP Tours have a minimum of seven hours. That means tours start at $3,150, and from there, the sky’s the limit. Every Guest must also have a valid theme park admission as well as a park reservation.

How Many People Can Take a VIP Tour?

Up to 10 people can take a single tour. That includes infants, although children younger than 3 years do not need a theme park ticket. While that $3,150 starting price might seem costly, for 10 people, it breaks down to $315 per person. Bear in mind that what you want to do and experience will dictate the price.

I like to think of these as VIOs: Very Important Ostriches. Photo by Cathy Salustri.

Is a Private VIP Tour The Right Choice for My Family?

That depends on you! If you love to wing it at Walt Disney World but hate spending time in line (and the average two-to-three Lightning Lanes per day isn’t enough for you), you’ll like the VIP Tour. These tours are also great for people who want to maximize their day — for example, people who can’t get back to the parks every few months or every year.

Admittedly, the price makes it a luxury. But if you’ve ever wanted Walt Disney World to offer a ticket with unlimited Lightning Lanes — and remarked that you’d pay extra for it — Walt Disney VIP Tours make perfect sense.

Bonus: Walt Disney VIP Tour Guests get a VIP-exclusive pin for trading. The pin card’s background has the same plaid the tour guides wear. Photo by Cathy Salustri.