Unless you’re one of those killjoys who hates on big corporations just because they’re big (and have a history of mild to moderate racism), then there’s a great chance you’re a big fan of Disney. The company fosters the best cartoons, and the most exciting movies, plus they’re the caretakers of the most magical place on Earth. Even the most dyed in the wool cynic can’t help but crack a smile when walking through the gates of the Magic Kingdom. Magic is the sensation delivered to every person who pays the price of admission. However, if you’re headed to Disney World with thousands (and thousands) of dollars at your disposal, there’s a whole other level of service available. Just check out the frills for those people (honest and not) who do Disney World without thinking about their bank account.
1. Take a Private Tour That’s Both ‘Premium’ and ‘VIP’
The Disney World Private Premium VIP Tours provide a personal tour guide for up to ten people. Guests get priority access to rides (and repeats), reserved seats at parades and some of the stage shows, as well as trips to special locations in a private vehicle. These tours can run up to five grand for a six hour session, but that hasn’t affected their popularity. They can be booked six months in advance, and that’s typically the way it’s got to be done. Oddly enough, the one thing that isn’t included in your $5,000 is admission to the park.
2. Bring Your Own Tour Guide With You
For the bargain price of just $150 an hour, a service like Michael’s VIPs will send you into Disney World with someone who actually knows the grounds. Not only will these guys organize your itinerary, they’ll steer you towards the best rides and restaurants, hook you up with choice seats at shows, and help you get past those pesky lines.
3. Stop By Club 33, Assuming Your Dues Are Paid Up
Located above Disneyland’s Cafe Orleans in New Orleans Square, is Club 33, one of the most exclusive five-star restaurants on the West Coast. It was designed by Walt Disney himself as a getaway from the continuous bustle of the park. Yearly dues are rumored to hover around $12,000, and memberships are handed out infrequently. Club 33 is patronized by a rotating series of world famous chefs. Over the years, it’s been patronized by presidents, kings, celebrities, and luminaries from around the world.
4. Don’t Hire Mentally Handicapped Children to Get Through Lines Quickly
While we’re on the subject, let’s visit the topic of the group of wealthy Manhattan moms who didn’t want to pay for a fast pass or a personal tour. Instead, they hired ‘black market’ Disney guides to pose as their own disabled children, so they could skip their family to the front of the lines immediately. Apparently, the tours could run parents up to $130 an hour. The business was given out on a referral only basis, however, thanks to some squawker, Disney has done their best to shut down this practice.
5. Meet the Most Famous Members of the Disney Family
For those that can afford it, it’s possible to arrange private meetings with Disney characters. That may seem silly to a lot of adults, but you know deep down you get excited when Goofy or Chewbacca shows up, whether they’re a person in a suit or not.
6. The Super Rich and Powerful Can Actually Sleep in Cinderella’s Castle
Disney doesn’t actually take bookings for its Cinderella Castle Suite at any price, but even the House of Mouse couldn’t stand up to a Tom Cruise who’s trying to prove to the world that he’s a good dad. The famous actor managed to get a one-night stay for his daughter, Suri. Typically though, the Suite is only offered through sweepstakes run by the park.
7. For the Right Price, You Can Have Your Wedding at Disney
In fact, Disney will handle every aspect of your wedding, from the nuptials through the honeymoon. You can get married at any Disney property (even the cruise ships), including special (and pricey) locations through the theme parks. These lavish events start at $12,000 and can run north of $126,000 for the whole shebang.
8. None of that Good Enough For You? Then Just Move In
For people with millions to spend on a vacation property, there’s always Golden Oak at Walt Disney World Resort. For anywhere between $1.8 and 7 million, you can actually get a full home pretty much inside the park. Of course, there are thousands more dollars in yearly fees, but also tons of amenities (like an on-site masseuse for example). Golden Oak also provides a concierge service that will do everything from plan parties, to find a baby-sitter.
9. Or You Can Simply Stay at the Four Seasons Disney
If the regular Disney resort hotels are a little too bourgeois for you, then you can check into Disney’s very own Four Seasons Hotel inside the Golden Oak Grounds. The AAA Black Diamond Certified Resort — the only one in central Florida, by the way — has it’s own spa and golf course, as well as all the incredibly opulent suites you’d expect from a Four Seasons.
