We have never done a VIP tour before. Mid July will probably be our last “big” trip for a few years. (We used to go multi times a year, down to 1-2x)
We are going July 12-18th. There are 8 of us, ages 54, 30, 21, 21, 13, 8, 6, 4.
I had my mind set on LLPP for DHS or MK (or both, BIG maybe), then they announced 20% off VIP for CL guests, we will be at WL CL, so it got me wondering if we should try a VIP like on Tuesday-ish.
If we did, our main focus would be DHS and MK. If the Little Mermaid show, Villains show and nighttime parade are available, those would be in our top priorities.
My only gripe is we are midday breakers, but with a VIP tour we’d need to skip that in mid July. 
So, those who have done VIP tours, would you do one in July with the heat and possible rainouts, or should I stick with LLPP and hope we have good luck with the new stuff? Would they have the new shows on LL? 
I have only ever done the VIP Tour in Disneyland and we accomplished about 13 attractions in 8 hours including the parade (and it provided for actual chairs for the fireworks). But given two of the things you want to do are stage shows with decent stage capacity and given one of those is a 40 min stage show, I don’t know if I’d recommend this unless it’s cheaper than the Premier Pass because that’s a lot of that time spent in a show of that 7-10 hours. But the beauty as you said of the Premier Pass (and the one thing that I prefer about Express Pass versus VIP at Universal which I’ve done multiple times) is that you have freedom and it’s just ya’ll. Not that I don’t enjoy meeting and chatting with a VIP guide but I always spend a significant chunk of my time with them versus my family. And it’s just the 7-10 hours straight as you said. I think for me I wouldn’t do it unless it was cheaper and I’d still try to put Villains at the end of it…like they get you in and leave.
And FYI with the VIP guide for Lightning Lane attractions you’re still gonna wait in the Lightning Lane…the only ones you get to really skip the line for are attractions that don’t offer Lightning Lane and there are fewer of these in WDW than in DL (In DL it’s a lifesaver for Peter Pan!)
Disney dropped any mention of timing for the villains show, it’s no longer thought to be 40 minutes. Plus that venue is fairly small - where Lightning McQueen had been.
If it were me and my family and I was going to do a VIP tour I’d start 7 hours before the latest park I want to visit closes so I can sleep in and get the cooler evening hours in July. But with 4, 6 and 8 years old this is probably not a good plan. Mine are 17 and 20 and night owls.
Thanks for the responses. The kids have made it until midnight at MNSSHP in August, but that is with an afternoon break. I feel like if we did a late start they’d be ok, but I am just grandma. 
They do well with chilling in a stroller if need be too, so we definitely could grab one if we decided it was needed.
I’ll need to think on it some more, and see what Disney announces for the new shows, hopefully they offer LL or something if we decide a VIP wont work.
Thanks again!!
I went the third week of August one year and one of the lifeguards at Yacht Club told me it was the hottest week of the year and we’d head into the parks at 5pm and it was much better. I always try avoid or do indoor attractions when the sun is directly overhead in the summer. so if you have to start at 3pm I’d aim for the indoor stuff first.
I would recommend strollers for at least the 4 and 6 year olds. We even had a stroller for our 9 year old last fall. WDW is the only time my kids still use a stroller. DW and I can get around the parks much faster that way,
Yeah, my now 13 yr old sat in a stroller from time to time when he was 7. Have pics of him snoozing in a stroller too small for his body (He is tall, always has been) while Jack Sparrow messed with him for some funny pics.
Anyway
Last summer we rented a double BOB and all 3 could take a break on it if needed, but most of the time we were pushing an empty stroller, well, except for all our crap, lol. If it was a late night we had atleast one in the stroller at some point.
We also grabbed a double Disney stroller when we didn’t want to haul the double on the bus to AK and DS.
I wasn’t thrilled with the idea of hauling a double BOB while park hopping if we do a VIP, but we can figure something out.
I am assuming if we did a VIP, the kids would appreciate a stroller towards the end of the evening.
Also, the ages are misleading. 8 yr old will be a couple months from 9, 6 yr old will actually be 7, 
and 4 yr old 2 months from 5.
Should all be tall enough for GOTG this summer, which makes riding rides so much smoother when we all can ride a ride together.
Would they allow us to have VIP viewing for the night parade AND HEA if I time it right? We usually do the dessert party every visit (big fans of HEA) I was thinking of trying the private pontoon this summer, but, if we do a VIP and can knock it out then, makes more sense. Just pondering ideas while I try to decide.
At Disneyland you don’t have to time it right, they just give you a voucher for the fireworks viewing area. I’m not sure about WDW…it probably states online or email them and they’ll tell you.
Am I correct in hearing that the VIP tour is like 7 or 8 hours long? This does not sound fun in July.
How many days are you in the World?
The pontoon boat for fireworks sounds awesome and maybe quite memorable.
Would the three younger ones continue to visit WDW? Maybe the 4 older ones could do something like WAT at AK while the younger ones do face painting and a Tusker House meal.
One thing that might be very memorable is trying to eat the Kitchen Sink at Beaches & Cream.
Coronado Springs has a couple of guest arts and crafts programs - unfortunately for guests 12 and older.
Wilderness Lodge has a Hidden Mickey hunt as well as several other places to explore.
Often when we’ve had a diverse ages group we’ve met up at a meal to share how our separate adventures went.
7 hrs min 10 max and if you want HEA viewing you have to end 30m before show start. DL does it much better.
Do not do shows on vip days. I have clients do a day to hit all major headliners and then shows on other days.
LLPP can be used any time of day. In summer with kids i might do that, with indoor lunch and shows and rest planned midday then a few more rides 5-10p
Thank you all for the insight!!
We have been to WDW many many times, lol, the kids have each been going since they were in my daughter’s stomach.
We are not a group who needs to hit it all at this point, but if I pay for LLPP we will!
I was just trying to do something different to cover a few of our favs and the new stuff opening this summer since we are taking a break until all the new stuff opens in a few years.
I am the planner and payer, so no one will be going if I don’t, I assume.
I have been debating all of this against doing LLPP at DHS, we have been unlucky with Slinky our past 2 trips being down, kids love, and with the tiers it makes me nervous to get it all in. I actually had Genie down with the help of BG1…
I am hoping they’ll add the shows to LL or offer something for ease.
We could then do 2 days of LLMP at MK.
I actually thought about the WAT, we originally were going to skip AK this trip. I also thought about doing the rhinos since kids can all go now.
I will be honest, the LLPP at MK is tempting as well, especially for summer, to be able to hit one side, leave and come back later, but that is where the thought of VIP came in bcuz 2 days of LLPP is $$$$
Last summer’s trip we did less park days, and more DAH. No MK AH for our trip this year.
Anyway, I have rambled, thanks again everyone, you have given me more to think on.
Once Disney releases info for the summer offerings, that’ll give me more insight.