There’s no question that even a standard theme park vacation can easily cost your family thousands of dollars. Most visitors are looking for ways to trim the excess and spend less, but if you’re sitting at the other end of the spectrum and looking for a little something to add to your trip, there are plenty of options to choose from.
Whether you have a few hundred dollars burning a hole in your pocket, or you just want to daydream a bit, these exclusive – and expensive – tours will give you plenty to consider.
1. Disney’s Holiday D-Lights – $209
Image: Disney
If you’re visiting Walt Disney World during the holiday season, you’ll find the parks transformed into a wintery wonderland. While you can take in the sights with any standard park ticket, you can also go above and beyond with a private tour of the magical holiday highlights around the resort. The Disney’s Holiday D-Lights Tour lasts five hours, and takes you to three theme parks. You’ll experience the Candlelight Processional at Epcot, the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and watch as Cinderella Castle is “iced” for the season at the Magic Kingdom.
During the tour, you’ll also meet members of the Event & Decorating Support team and enjoy a light buffet featuring holiday-themed dishes. Guests receive an exclusive keepsake pin to take home.
2. Disney’s Dolphins in Depth – $199
Image: Disney
If you’re itching to meet Disney’s dolphins up close and personal, this backstage experience will let you do just that. The three-hour tour includes about 30 minutes in waist-deep water with the dolphins as well as a backstage tour of the dolphin training area. Participants get to meet some of the marine mammal specialists that work with the dolphins and even sit in on a training and research session. This tour includes a special dolphin photo-op and souvenir.
3. Epcot DiveQuest – $175
Image: Disney
If you’re SCUBA certified, you can experience the marine life at Epcot in a whole new way. Literally jump into the aquarium in The Seas with Nemo & Friends Pavilion and peruse the world of sea turtles, angelfish, sharks, rays, and dolphins.
The Epcot DiveQuest experience lasts three hours, but only 40 minutes of the tour are spent in the water. The remainder of the time is spent touring the backstage area behind the creation and maintenance of the 5.7-million-gallion saltwater aquarium. At the conclusion of the tour, participants have the option to purchase a DVD of their dive.
4. Epcot Seas Aqua Tour – $140
Image: Disney
If you’re not SCUBA certified but still want to experience the Caribbean Coral Reef tank in The Seas with Nemo & Friends Pavilion, you can sign up for this snorkeling experience. The 2.5-hour tour includes about 30 minutes in the water. The remainder of the tour includes a backstage look at the aquarium. Participants in the Epcot Seas Aqua Tour receive a complimentary photo of themselves in dive gear.
5. Universal Studios Florida Halloween Horror Nights Private RIP Tour – $1,299+
Image: Universal
Gather a party of up to 10 guests and experience Halloween Horror Nights in a whole new way with the Private RIP tour. You and your guests will ultimately decide what course the tour will take since this is a private experience. Your tour guide can grant you priority access to the houses and attractions and priority seating for Bill & Ted’s Excellent Halloween Adventure. You also have access to the RIP lounges, though you do still have to pay for drinks. Valet parking and a Photo Connect Star Package are included.
While this is a pricey option to be sure, the fact that you can include several people in the tour will reduce the price significantly.
6. Universal Studios Florida Halloween Horror Nights Arcane Insights Tour – $209.99
If you want an insider look at Halloween Horror Nights, there’s no better option. This exclusive tour takes you through all of the houses featured in the event via the exclusive VIP entry. A member of the Art & Design Team for HHN accompanies you to offer an insider’s view of how each house was created and exactly what story it’s meant to tell. Instead of shrieking blindly through the horror, this tour will give you a chance to actually think about the theme and tale that accompanies each house.
Priority reserved seating for Bill & Ted’s Excellent Halloween Adventure ensures that you don’t miss a single thing during your tour.
The Arcane Insights tour also takes you through the makeup and/or wardrobe area for one of the houses. A seated Q&A session with your member of the Art & Design Team gives you a chance to voice any lingering questions you have. Participants receive complimentary valet parking, access to the RIP Lounges, a commemorative HHN lanyard, and complimentary bottled water for the Q&A session.
7. Universal Orlando VIP Experience – $229+
If you want to experience Universal Orlando as a VIP guest, this tour option is the way to do it. Start the day with a complimentary continental breakfast to ensure that you have enough energy to do it all. Your private guide guarantees priority entrance to at least eight major rides and attractions during the five-hour tour. After your guide departs, you’ll still receive Universal Express Unlimited access throughout the day.
With your guide, you’ll get access to behind-the-scenes experiences and exclusive meet and greets. Reserved seating is available for shows. If you’re visiting Universal Studios Florida, you’ll also enjoy exclusive seating for the Superstar Parade and Universal’s Cinematic Spectacular. Valet parking and a souvenir lanyard are included for each participant. This experience is good for one park only, though you can upgrade to both for an additional fee.
8. SeaWorld Orlando Marine Mammal Keeper Experience – $399
Image: SeaWorld
Ever wondered what it’s like to work behind the scenes with the marine life at SeaWorld? With this tour, you can find out. You’ll jump in and work with SeaWorld staff as they feed and train various animals throughout the park. Creatures included in the tour are manatees, dolphins, and beluga whales. A wetsuit is provided but participants should bring a swimsuit to wear underneath.
A t-shirt and lunch are included with this experience. Unlike the Disney and Universal tours included on this list (which all require separate admission to the parks and events), park admission is included with this tour.
9. SeaWorld Orlando’s Private VIP Tour – $299
Image: SeaWorld
Enjoy up to seven hours of VIP pampering on this SeaWorld tour. Your private tour guide will provide you with front-of-line access to attractions, reserved seating for shows, and reservations for a meal at the Sharks Underwater Grille. Your party will also get to feed dolphins, stingrays, and sea lions during the tour.
Parking is included with this tour, but park admission is not. The VIP Tour with park admission is available as a separate package starting at $349.
If you’re ready to experience Orlando’s theme parks in a whole new way, and have some serious cash to spend, these tours all offer exceptional opportunities. Do note that nearly all of the tours require the purchase of separate park or event admission unless otherwise noted.
