Originally Posted By DisneyGreek I don't know if this topic has already been covered but I was wondering if you have to be a member of Club 33 or an annual pass holder in order to ride on the Lilly Belle. Can you just go up to a cast member and ask, like on monorail or mark twain?
Originally Posted By retlawfan You must ask the lead at Main Street Station, and they must have a staff member available to escort you on the full trip around the park. It is sometimes best to check early in the day and the lead can tell you when that staffing might be available. It never hurts to ask!
Originally Posted By RockyMtnMinnie They are now pre-scheduling times to ride the Lilly Belle. Go to Main Street Station and ask one of the conductors and they can let you know the times that are available for riding.
Originally Posted By hbquikcomjamesl I'm of two minds about this. On the one hand, the Lilly Belle is, and ought to be treated as, something profoundly special. But on the other hand, to limit it to certain people, or to people purchasing certain expensive tours, or paying an extra fare, goes against Walt's credo that the paying customers of his theme parks are HIS GUESTS, and are therefore, by definition, "special."
Originally Posted By tarascene The Lilly Belle is on a kind of first come, first serve basis, with making same day reservations. You do not have to be a pass holder or a member of Club 33
Originally Posted By hbquikcomjamesl What I meant by "something profoundly special": In the late 1990s, DL experimented briefly with a backstage tour. They offered a morning tour, that visited 5 backstage (and quasi-backstage) areas, and an afternoon tour that visited a different 5. Printed materials were made up, ranging from a fairly crude flyer, to a fairly fancy "backstage passport" that superficially resembled a U.S. passport, with pages for the tour guide to stamp "visas" for each backstage area visited. I took the afternoon tour. By the time I was able to return for the morning tour, the program had been discontinued. A year or so later, Walt's Footsteps had its debut. The afternoon backstage tour included a complete circuit of the Park aboard the Lilly Belle (it also included the control towers for HM and Space Mountain). The original itinerary of Walt's Footsteps also included a circuit of the park aboard the Lilly Belle. As far as I was concerned, to anybody who knew the significance of a "business car," and who understood that a "VIP business car" was something different from a "division superintendent's car," and who realized that the Lilly Belle was refitted from one of the original SF&DL coaches, the ride, by itself, was worth the price of the tour. On the one hand, opening it up, without any special requirements or extra fares, to anybody who knows about it far enough in advance to arrange it, kind of cheapens it. But on the other hand, if they *did* charge extra, or limit to passholders, or to Club 33 members, it would go against the basic DL premise that everybody who pays admission is a guest, and is therefore to be treated as such. As it is, things like Club 33's very existence, and "extra magic hours," and the "AAA members' lounge" at WDW-MK (is that even still there?), and letting hotel guests into locked-down parks even when the passholders are locked out, are elitist enough. Heaven help us if concepts like "paying extra for a universal Fastpass" (I know *some* theme park operator was doing something like that, not too long ago, and may still be) were ever adopted at Disney parks.
Originally Posted By DlandDug I have taken many groups on a trip around the park in the Lilly Belle. They all found it to be "something profoundly special." A big part of the experience is also tied to the cast member that accompanies the group. Most have been very good, although a couple didn't seem to get into the interest level of the group.
Originally Posted By gardenrooms So - is the best thing to do ask first thing in the morning at the station? That sounds like so much fun, and I would love to surprise my DS and DD-in-law, who got engaged at WDW 2 years ago and married at the DLH last year (all my fault - lol). Some other people have suggested asking at City Hall, but that always seems to be a zoo these days.
Originally Posted By DlandDug Don't ask at City Hall! They will politely turn you down. Go to the train station, and do go early. You will get a time, then lure the DS and DD-in-law and... SURPRISE! I did that for my niece and her husband.
Originally Posted By RockyMtnMinnie Just an FYI. You will most likely not be getting the whole car to yourselves. They schedule multiple parties during the times. It gives the most people a chance to ride. It's a great opportunity to make some new friends.
Originally Posted By gardenrooms Thanks - good to know ahead, but not a problem. The family LOVES to meet new people!
Originally Posted By Malcon10t The conductors generally only schedule 3 trips during the day with guests, and you will almost always be with another group or two. It is limited to 12 people in the car. You can get bumped if it starts raining or if a Club 33 member wants the car.
Originally Posted By BellesLibrarian We've been fortunate to land in the Lilly Belle twice. Both times were during the Year of a Million Dreams when Dreamers correctly guessed we would appreciate the experience. The first time was with a CM named Chris who reminded us of a young Walt Disney. He was fantastic! The second time was with an older CM named Mickey who showed us and told us different things. It is definitely worth pursuing. Aim for a quiet day and ask. You might just be surprised.
Originally Posted By dldhistory "I think you can just ask but you have to go around for the full trip. " I did exactly this and got to ride in the Lilly Belle..had to stay in for full circuit... --Richard <a href="http://DLDHistory.com" target="_blank">http://DLDHistory.com</a> The Most Unique Disneyland History Site
