No doubt, Disneyland Resort is magical, and that’s part of its charm. Along with the rides, shows, and cuisine, the duo of Anaheim theme parks—plus its hotels and the Downtown Disney District—are rich with fascinating details, history, and hidden gems. With such a wealth of things to see and do, a guide can be a big help to get the lay of the land, or just to elevate your visit. Explore these behind-the-scenes Disneyland tours and private experiences to make your next visit even more special.
VIP Tours
Disneyland offers a number of ways to enhance your visit—mainly through its concierge-equipped Crown Collection program. The Private VIP Tour includes a guide who will accompany you and your group of up to 10 around the parks for seven to 10 hours. Not only does the guide offer fun facts and insider tips about enjoying the parks but also smooths the way for you. He or she can facilitate Lightning Lane passes to skip the lines for some rides, book dining reservations in advance, and secure prime seating for evening fireworks.
There are seasonal VIP options, too. During the Halloween Time season (typically late August to early November), the eight-hour Oogie Boogie Bash VIP Tour offers each member of your group early admission to the Oogie Boogie Bash festivities as well as a food and beverage credit, priority access to the Villains Grove Trail, and reserved VIP seating for the parade.
Land of Dreams VIP Tour
To take it up another notch, book the Land of Dreams VIP Tour, which spans 12 hours and includes three guides dedicated to your group of up to six people. Not only do you get front-of-the-line access to all attractions and some meals, but your group also gets premium reserved seating for parades and nighttime spectaculars, as well as two behind-the-scenes adventures—such as riding in the Lilly Belle (the Presidential Car of the Disneyland Railroad), scoring a private character meet-and-greet, or getting to explore one of the parade warehouses. This soup-to-nuts package also includes access to the VIP Land of Dreams Lounge, complimentary valet parking, and exclusive merch.
21 Royal Dining Experience
To focus your time on one uniquely luxurious evening, book the 21 Royal Dining Experience, which features a curated sit-down dinner for your group at Walt and Lillian Disney’s grand upstairs apartment in Disneyland Park’s New Orleans Square. This very high-end experience, staffed with butlers, includes time to explore the apartment followed by canapes, dinner, and drinks served on gold-plated dinnerware and fine crystal. The evening ends with dessert on the private balcony while watching the evening show over the park’s Rivers of America.
How to Book VIP Experiences—and Get Concierge Services
To secure one of these luxury experiences, you need to call or email rather than booking online, and a concierge will also help set up your day in advance, booking your dining, factoring in any dietary needs, and incorporating any other priorities for the day, like celebrating someone’s birthday. The starting price for VIP tours is about $500 per hour.
Such concierge services are also part of the package when you book one of the Signature Suites at the Disneyland Hotel, Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, or Pixar Place Hotel. These plush two- and three-bedroom suites, some of which can sleep up to 14, are VIP experiences in themselves: They often have special decor and club-level perks such as complimentary breakfast, fireworks viewing perches, and bedtime snacks.
Shorter Special Experiences and Tours
Other group tours offer behind-the-scenes experiences with shorter timeframes—from 90 minutes to nearly three hours—and can usually be booked online. The 90-minute Walt’s Main Street Story Tour offers an insider’s look at Main Street, U.S.A.—including its links to Walt Disney’s boyhood hometown in Missouri—as well as refreshments and a visit to Walt’s apartment above the Disneyland Fire Station. Or, you can learn more about Walt’s back story and get a unique view of the park on the Disneyland Railroad Guided Tour.
Some guided tours are seasonal. In September and October, the Happiest Haunts Guided Tour features Halloween stories tied to Disneyland attractions as well as a photo op with the Hitchhiking Ghosts from the Haunted Mansion, a Lightning Lane entry to a select attraction, and a spot in the reserved viewing area for the Halloween Screams nighttime spectacular. From mid-November to early January, the 2.5-hour Holiday Time at Disneyland Tour (offers an inside look at Disneyland’s holiday traditions as well as reserved viewing for the holiday season parade, a special ride on “It’s a Small World” Holiday, and VIP access to various holiday treats. These guided tours start at about $120 per person.
Skipping the Lines with Lightning Lanes
For some fans, though, it’s all about the rides—and ideally skipping lines. The Lightning Lane Single Pass lets you reserve your ride time for one select ride (usually Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance or Radiator Springs Racers), while the Lightning Lane Multi Pass lets you reserve a time once for a long list of rides. The Lightning Lane Premier Pass allows you to skip the line once for each ride without having to reserve a time—you just show up and ride. Prices vary by day and availability for all Lightning Lane passes, but the Multi Pass starts at $32, and the Premier Pass will start at $300 in 2025.
Plan Your Trip
Take note that park admission is not included in either the guided tours or VIP experiences—though with some VIP tours, the concierge can arrange your park reservation.
For more ways to enhance your trip to Anaheim, check out lodging in Disneyland, the hidden gems of Anaheim, and a whole road trip built around California theme parks.
