FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Why do I need a Disneyland private guide?
Our service is for those who would like to experience the magic of the Disney Parks without frustration, long lines/waits, feeling crowded, or the need of planning. Disneyland, in California is unique because of the large numbers of local Annual Passholders, who often show up unexpectedly making predicting crowd levels or wait times beforehand difficult, even for Disney. Our experience and expertise allows us to adjust to changing crowds in real time, keeping your group ahead and away from the crowds. Written guides and touring plans, work well at other Disney parks, but may or may not work at the Disneyland Park in California. We collect Genie+/Lightning Lanes for times that would be most advantageous for you. We will also be able to give you some tips on what to do when your tour is complete, and depending on when your tour is finished, often leave you with Lightning Lanes to use.
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What type of group can benefit from your tours?
Any type of group, small or large; couples, friends, or families; reunions and multi-generational. Our questionnaire and communications with you before will help us customize the tour for the size and make up and objectives of your group. We can be as “involved” or as aloof as you wish. The tour we create is based on your desires and needs, so no matter who you are or how you like to tour or what you like to see, we will optimize your experience.
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Are Admission Tickets included in the cost of the Tour?
No, the cost of a private tour is for the tour itself and tour preparation. Guests are responsible for their park admission tickets and park reservations, including purchase of Genie+, food, souvenirs, or any other expenses during the tour.
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How does payment work?
We accept PayPal and major credit cards. A non-refundable deposit is required to reserve a date. The balance is required 4 weeks before the tour date or on the day of reservation if within 4 weeks of tour start. A cancellation must be in writing by email to magicalmousetours@gmail.com No refund if the tour is cancelled within 2 weeks of the start of the tour. If the tour is rescheduled for another date, the payment will be applied towards the new date, unless the date is not available.
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Is gratuity or meals for the guide included in the tour price?
A tip or meal is never expected from the guest, but if a guest feels that our services warrant such a friendly gesture, we would accept.
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Do we get “front of the line” privileges?
No, but it may feel that way because our experience and plan will help you avoid the lines and crowds.
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Can we use our Disability Assistance Service?
If you need the disability service, we will be able to assist you in acquiring the Service and helping you use it.
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Will you save my spot in line for all of the Disney attractions?
We do not save your spot in line for rides, but will save a place for character meets and shows. Our experience and plan is based on knowing which attraction to attend based on the time of day. There are no guarantees, but you will rarely wait longer than 20 minutes for any attraction at the Disneyland Resort.
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Can we book a tour any day of the year?
Our guides can be booked all days of the year, except for Sundays. Holidays and certain busy periods have a price premium and can fill up fast.
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Do you offer tours for any other theme parks in California (ie. Universal Studios, Knott's Berry Farm, Magic Mountain, etc...)?
We do not offer tours to other theme parks in California, but we can advise you on negotiating these parks. We have a tried and true touring plan for Universal Studios that we can give you.
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Can you make dining recommendations and reservations for us?
Yes, we have eaten at all the restaurants in the Disney parks and are familiar with most of the food items. We can also make reservations for Table Service restaurants, but depending on the date and size of the group, we may need 60 days notice to make reservations, so the sooner you let us know the better.
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Do you offer transportation services to and from the airports or theme parks?
No, but we can assist you in figuring out the best transportation to the theme parks and providing parking options, whether arriving by car or otherwise.
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How does your service compare with on official Disney Cast Member (CM) escorted Disneyland VIP Tour?
We do not work for Disney but use our experience and expertise from a 1000 days at the Disneyland parks and your desires and input to create a customized VIP tour for your group. We know how to most effectively use the Lightning Lane system and know which rides to do when to minimize waits. We also will wait in line for character meets for your group and save a place for parades and shows to give you the best viewing without you having to show up hours before to secure your spot, and "nanny" the children while the rest of you ride together.
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Official Disneyland VIP Tour Magical Mouse VIP Tour
• $550-$850 an hour • $165-$330 an hour
• 7 hour minimum • 6 hour minimum
• $3850-$5950 minimum per day • $990 minimum per day
• Limited character meets • We wait in line for you for characters
• Use Lightning Lane access for rides • Use Lightning Lane system for rides
• "front-of-the-line" access for SOME rides • No "front-of-the-line" access (but you will feel like we do)
• Reserved access for parades and shows • Reserve great spots for parades and shows
• Will not take care of young children, rider swap still necessary • Will "nanny" young children, no rider swap necessary
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For half the price of a Disneyland Tour guide for 7 hours, you could have one of our guides for the whole day (before park opening to close or fireworks, whichever is sooner).
With our knowledge of Genie+ and how lines build your wait times will be very similar if not identical to what you will have from a Disneyland cast member (many times we have found ourselves in the very same exact line with a Disneyland VIP tour guide and group). To be honest, there are a few things we can't do that an official Disneyland tour does offer for their price--if you want to ride Space Mountain 10 times in a row using the Lightning Lane, we can't do that, but most guests want to experience more than one attraction in a day.
Our guests have finished our tours feeling like it was completely worth it. The following are just a couple of actual comments made by customers: "We didn't realize the park was busy until after you (the guide) left." "I wish we had booked you for the whole day." "I didn't know a Disney vacation could be this way. I thought standing in lines was inevitable." "Fee was totally worth it...would have had to purchase tickets for another day to experience what we did in one day." Many have added hours (when available) to their tour after experiencing how much more they were getting done.
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How does your service compare with on official Disney Cast Member (CM)/"Plaid" escorted Disneyland VIP Tour?
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While an official Disneyland VIP Tour costs $550-$850 an hour with a 7 hour minimum or $3850-$5950 minimum per day, a Magical Mouse VIP Tour starts at $165 an hour with a 6 hour minimum or $990 minimum per day .
We do not work for Disney but use our experience and expertise from a 1000 days at the Disneyland parks and your desires and input to create a customized VIP tour for your group. We know how to most effectively use the Genie+ system and know which rides to do when to minimize waits. We also will save a place for parades and shows to give you the best viewing without you having to show up hours before to secure your spot, wait in line for character meets for your group,* and "nanny" the young children (don't have to do rider swap) while the rest of you ride together.*
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Disney does not offer "front-of-the-line" access for all rides, but uses Lightning Lane access, just like Magical Mouse Tours, and for some rides without Lightning Lane, uses the disability access to minimize waiting. For less half the price of a Disneyland Tour guide for 7 hours, you could have one of our guides for the whole day (before park opening to close or 10 pm, whichever is sooner).
With our knowledge of Genie+ and how lines build, your wait times will be very similar if not identical to what you will have from a Disneyland "plaid" (many times we have found ourselves in the very same exact line with a plaid and his/her group). To be honest, there are a few things we can't do that an official Disneyland tour does offer for their price--if you want to ride Space Mountain 10 times in a row using the Lightning Lane, we can't do that, but most guests want to experience more than one attraction in a day.
Our guests have finished our tours feeling like it was completely worth it. The following are just a couple of actual comments made by customers: "This is a game changer." "We didn't realize the park was busy until after you (the guide) left." "I wish we had booked you for the whole day." "Fee was totally worth it...would have had to purchase tickets for another day to experience what we did in one day." Many have added hours (when available) to their tour after experiencing how much more they were getting done.
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* Not offered by Disney as of this writing.