Under normal circumstances, I’d never voluntarily go to Disneyland over Memorial Day weekend. Summer crowds at theme parks are nonstarters for me — and a holiday just pushes the madness to the next level. I do not — cannot! — do lines like that at this point in my life.
But this year, we were in for a treat that made me eager to make an exception to my rule: My cousin had arranged access to the Disneyland VIP Tour through work, and he invited my family to join in on the fun. I’d heard about this kind of experience, favored by celebs like Prince Harry and Meghan and their kids, plus the Kardashian-Jenners, Beyonce, and on and on and on — and, although I’m no Disney adult, I do love VIP treatment. So I was pretty psyched to check it out.
Although we were only driving from our home in Los Angeles, and in spite of my best efforts, we were actually late meeting our guide at the front gates — because kids, because traffic, because I hadn’t realized valet parking at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa was actually included with the tour. I was stressed. Tours like this cost between $500 and $800 per hour with a seven-hour minimum, and I assumed every late minute was actively burning money.
Instead, my cousin calmly explained by text that he and his wife and daughter were already waiting alongside our guide for the day, Kevin. And Kevin had explained that Disney builds in a grace-period buffer of a full hour, so there’s no need to sweat this kind of thing.
That small detail immediately set the tone of the day. Hey, no stress on the VIP Tour!
For the next eight hours — split almost evenly between California Adventure and then Disneyland — Kevin served as our Disney butler, concierge, strategist, logistics coordinator, snack facilitator, trivia dispenser, and occasionally emotional support person.
Before our arrival, the group had already discussed ride priorities with him. So instead of staring at maps and refreshing apps and calculating wait times all day, we simply followed Kevin from one attraction to the next while he handled the operational side of things. When you’re used to being the mom of the group, you realize how epic it is when someone else acts like the mom instead.
At Soarin’ Over California, Incredicoaster, and Radiator Springs Racers — where the regular standby lines climbed to around two hours — Kevin guided us through expedited entrances that reduced waits to mere minutes.
And then there were all the minor moments that made the experience feel magical in surprising little ways.
Before we boarded Grizzly River Run, Kevin casually appeared with plastic ponchos for anyone who wanted one before the ride.
At one point, my daughter’s phone battery died, and Kevin immediately produced a charger from nowhere like a Disney fairy godfather for the Gen Alpha set.
Occasionally, he’d rejoin with us after rides, reappearing carrying warm churros or snacks. Sometimes he rode attractions with us, which made total sense. He was an honorary family member for the day. At many points throughout the day, we joked that we wanted to bring Kevin home permanently because once you get used to having an extremely competent and cheery designated adult handling all the planning and logistics, it’s very hard to go back.
The Dubin family — and Kevin! — on Tiana’s Bayou Adventure
(Here I’ll add that as a travel writer, I’m fortunate to get access to some high-end travel perks like, say, a dedicated butler for a hotel stay. But I’d argue that a Disney butler is far more valuable — turn-down service seems like a small perk compared with red carpet treatment on a packed summer day out at a theme park with kids!)
Normally at Disney, my brain runs nonstop. Someone has to keep track of where the family needs to go next, how long the walk will take, whether a ride breakdown changes the strategy, when to grab food before everyone melts down, and how to optimize the day before the kids crash. That person is almost always me. This time, Kevin bore the mental load of it all.
Later in the evening, we experienced another part of the VIP Tour magic: reserved seating for viewing the parade and fireworks.
While crowds had been camped along the parade route for hours, guarding their spots on Main Street, Kevin simply walked us behind a rope to reserved benches directly in front of the castle. We watched the parade and nighttime spectacular with unobstructed views, while thousands of people stood shoulder to shoulder along the route.
At one point during the day, Kevin told us there were 58 VIP Tours operating across the parks that holiday weekend day alone. Considering the hourly pricing, it was hard not to realize that Disney has quietly built an entire luxury ecosystem around helping people experience Disney without the stress. They know what they’re doing, and they do it exceedingly well for those with pockets deep enough to take advantage.
Yes, the expedited ride access is incredible. Yes, the reserved seating and backstage efficiencies are key. But the best luxury of them all was not having to think so hard all day.
At the very end of the night, our group gathered for a family photo — one of the only photos we remembered to take all day because we were too busy enjoying ourselves and conquering two parks all after lunch on a single day.
We asked Kevin to join us. Only later did we realize we’d forgotten to also take one without him. And hilariously, that somehow felt right. By the end of the day, Kevin had become such a central part of the experience that it almost seemed strange not to include him.
There was also an entire layer of VIP-exclusive merch attached to the experience — subtle enough that I probably wouldn’t have noticed it before, but now immediately recognizable to me. The Disneyland VIP guides famously wear plaid vests, and at the end of the night, Kevin showed us the special plaid-tinged merch that VIP guests can purchase. (Exit through the gift shop!)
I ended up buying a pair of plaid Mickey ears as a souvenir of the day, despite the fact that at roughly $50, they cost significantly more than standard ears elsewhere in the park. Somehow, after spending the day in the Disney VIP bubble, it felt impossible to resist.
Kevin also handed each of us a commemorative gold VIP Tour pin to remember the experience — the kind of small keepsake that probably shouldn’t feel emotional, but somehow did after eight hours of being expertly shepherded through Disney magic.
And then suddenly the tour ended, and we had to leave Disney and return to regular life — where nobody appears with plastic ponchos in wet situations, nobody optimizes your route through crowds, and nobody hands you a churro exactly when you need one most.
Disneyland VIP Tour: What to know and how to book
Disneyland VIP Tours are private guided experiences available at the Disneyland Resort.
Tours range from $500 to $800 per hour, depending on the date and season, with a seven-hour minimum and a maximum of 10 hours. Tours can include up to 10 guests, including children and infants.
Perks include:
Expedited attraction access
Reserved viewing for parades and fireworks
Valet parking at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa
Access to exclusive VIP Tour merchandise
Assistance with booking dining reservations and premium experiences
Tours can be booked directly through Disney by phone at (714) 300-7710 or via email at [email protected]. Find more info on Disneyland VIP Tours here.
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