Soarin Members Tour - The DVC Boards at MouseOwners.com - the place to talk DVC and Walt Disney World

FessParker1 · 06-07-2018, 11:06 AM

Tried to sign up for this and was told 180 + 10 so it was all booked. Web page says 180 days not + 10. Guess I'll never take it because I usually get to WDW on Sun or Mon and it will most likely always be booked.

Lolaura84 · 06-07-2018, 11:43 AM

I had the same experience. The only time I was able to get in was for my January trip. At the 180 day mark, they hadn't updated the system for the new year dates, and the last inventory that was bookable by MS was for 2017. Every time I called in for something else over the next few months, I'd check about whether it was bookable yet. I lucked into it sometime in October, when they finally loaded the 2018 dates. The CM who helped me was almost more excited than I was, said that she had looked for countless members but I was the first one she was ever able to book for.
I understand that there are only 20 spots available each week, so it's hard to get a spot. And each member can book for themselves + 3, I think. When I went to the tour in January, I was shocked that after it being such a score to have gotten a reservation, there were fewer than 10 people who actually showed up. Lots of no-shows!

tom82097 · 06-07-2018, 11:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FessParker1

Tried to sign up for this and was told 180 + 10 so it was all booked. Web page says 180 days not + 10. Guess I'll never take it because I usually get to WDW on Sun or Mon and it will most likely always be booked.

I was told by MS that there are only 20 spots on each tour, and it books up very quickly. I managed to get 1 spot for this August.

I think this is the problem that is run into when tours/events are free. It sounds good for marketing that members get free stuff. However, I personally think a nominal charge should be applied. (Lets say $10). Or at least a deposit needs to be made. (Though I'm sure it would be expensive to process all of the credit card transactions). Maybe issue a $10 gift card at time of the event.

I got tickets to MM EPCOT at 9am yesterday, but I would be aggravated if I logged in at 9:16 and the tickets were sold out.

Jcsquirrel · 06-07-2018, 11:51 AM

Last year we were able to do it twice on a two week trip and we booked after teh 180, this was in the summer. I do think more people know about it now, we did not get it this year. I think it is great that it is free and they are trying to get you to sign up for other tours. What they should do is expand the number. The tour could easily take two or three times as many people. Lets be honest most people are doing it to ride soarrin without a fast pass.

Boundin' · 06-07-2018, 11:59 AM

A friend told me recently that the tour was waste of time. May as well jut book a FP

Lolaura84 · 06-07-2018, 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boundin'

A friend told me recently that the tour was waste of time. May as well jut book a FP

I'd agree, there wasn't much to the tour other than a ride on Soarin' and some advertisement for the paid tours. I did this while my husband and kids did a Garden Grill PPO breakfast, and by the time I finished the tour, they had eaten without a rush, seen all the characters, and gone through standby on Soarin' without any wait. It was cool to have done once, but I wouldn't try to get it again.

Boundin' · 06-07-2018, 12:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lolaura84

I'd agree, there wasn't much to the tour other than a ride on Soarin' and some advertisement for the paid tours. I did this while my husband and kids did a Garden Grill PPO breakfast, and by the time I finished the tour, they had eaten without a rush, seen all the characters, and gone through standby on Soarin' without any wait. It was cool to have done once, but I wouldn't try to get it again.

The DCA version is a whole nutha story. That one has value and you don't have to be there until the civilized hour of 10am

Kathy O · 06-07-2018, 12:14 PM

We got lucky and booked this on the first try. I did call on my 180 day. Checking in on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. I didn't think we'd ever be able to book it. I'm excited to do it during my birthday week trip!

Sephorin · 06-22-2018, 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tom82097

I think this is the problem that is run into when tours/events are free. It sounds good for marketing that members get free stuff. However, I personally think a nominal charge should be applied.

I think you're absolutely right. At least make people put down a credit card deposit, then keep the deposit if they are a no show.

Then again, I'm a resale buyer, so I don't think I'm eligible for this anyway.

mustinjourney · 06-22-2018, 03:09 PM

I did the tour at DCA and somehow was able to book for 4 people less than 2 months out.

One strategy someone had was they just showed up to the tour without having been able to book the reservation in hopes that someone would be a no-show. Since there was plenty of space available, the CM told them no problem.

I thought the tour at DCA was worth going to. I would have liked to have seen more of the mechanics of the ride, but it was still fun. They did a walking tour outside (don't remember what they pointed out), but then we went inside and were the first riders of the day (middle section too). After that, we got to go behind the screen and watch the show from back there. From there, we went into the CM area and he talked about various aspects of the show and let us smell the different fragrances (they're beads).

One thing I didn't realize is that each location has a specific disney tie-in. The waterfall location is quite tricky! And there are three hidden mickey's in the show...one is obvious, a second one is fairly easy to spot, and the third one is very hard to spot.

06-07-2018, 11:06 AM	#1
FessParker1 Grand Villa Join Date: Mar 2017 Posts: 1,517	Soarin Members Tour Tried to sign up for this and was told 180 + 10 so it was all booked. Web page says 180 days not + 10. Guess I'll never take it because I usually get to WDW on Sun or Mon and it will most likely always be booked.

06-07-2018, 11:51 AM	#4
Jcsquirrel Two Bedroom Join Date: May 2013 Posts: 655	tour Last year we were able to do it twice on a two week trip and we booked after teh 180, this was in the summer. I do think more people know about it now, we did not get it this year. I think it is great that it is free and they are trying to get you to sign up for other tours. What they should do is expand the number. The tour could easily take two or three times as many people. Lets be honest most people are doing it to ride soarrin without a fast pass.

06-07-2018, 11:59 AM	#5
Boundin' Grand Villa Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: NYC Posts: 3,017	A friend told me recently that the tour was waste of time. May as well jut book a FP __________________ Bippity Boppity Boo Muthafu@$as! My Disney Photography https://www.flickr.com/photos/rt_images/ BCV BWV BLT VGC

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06-07-2018, 11:43 AM	#2
Lolaura84 Studio Join Date: May 2017 Posts: 176	I had the same experience. The only time I was able to get in was for my January trip. At the 180 day mark, they hadn't updated the system for the new year dates, and the last inventory that was bookable by MS was for 2017. Every time I called in for something else over the next few months, I'd check about whether it was bookable yet. I lucked into it sometime in October, when they finally loaded the 2018 dates. The CM who helped me was almost more excited than I was, said that she had looked for countless members but I was the first one she was ever able to book for. I understand that there are only 20 spots available each week, so it's hard to get a spot. And each member can book for themselves + 3, I think. When I went to the tour in January, I was shocked that after it being such a score to have gotten a reservation, there were fewer than 10 people who actually showed up. Lots of no-shows!

06-07-2018, 12:14 PM	#8
Kathy O Studio Join Date: Jun 2017 Posts: 113	We got lucky and booked this on the first try. I did call on my 180 day. Checking in on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. I didn't think we'd ever be able to book it. I'm excited to do it during my birthday week trip!

06-22-2018, 03:09 PM	#10
mustinjourney Grand Villa Join Date: May 2016 Posts: 1,980	I did the tour at DCA and somehow was able to book for 4 people less than 2 months out. One strategy someone had was they just showed up to the tour without having been able to book the reservation in hopes that someone would be a no-show. Since there was plenty of space available, the CM told them no problem. I thought the tour at DCA was worth going to. I would have liked to have seen more of the mechanics of the ride, but it was still fun. They did a walking tour outside (don't remember what they pointed out), but then we went inside and were the first riders of the day (middle section too). After that, we got to go behind the screen and watch the show from back there. From there, we went into the CM area and he talked about various aspects of the show and let us smell the different fragrances (they're beads). One thing I didn't realize is that each location has a specific disney tie-in. The waterfall location is quite tricky! And there are three hidden mickey's in the show...one is obvious, a second one is fairly easy to spot, and the third one is very hard to spot.