Disney is marketing a bucket list adventure costing $110,000 that will take you to all of its 12 Disney resorts on a Boeing 757 in VIP configuration.
Disney fans with at least $109,995 to spare are heading off on an elite package tour in the summer of 2023, costing exactly that much.
The tour is 24 days long, and Disney is calling it a "bucket list adventure for 75 ultimate Disney fans." It covers six countries and all of Disney’s 12 theme parks. It also includes a visit to the Taj Mahal, the Pyramids of Giza, and the Eiffel Tower on top of that.
The logistics on the aviation side of this elite tour are as follows: an Icelandair Boeing 757 will be fitted in a VIP configuration that will give it the capacity to fly 75 passengers in absolute luxury.
Disney touts the 757’s “long-range capabilities,” presumably referring to its longer range than usual resulting from such a low number of passengers onboard. Disney says this will enable it to run this elite tour to its 12 theme parks by way of direct flights, minimizing the time spent traveling and maximizing the time in Disney’s theme parks. However, despite this claim, there are actually refueling stops en route.
The itinerary, filtered for aviation-related information only, is as follows:
The trip takes in a total of nine destinations – Anaheim, San Francisco, Tokyo, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Agra, Cairo, Paris, Orlando. It includes 23 Breakfasts, 22 Lunches and 23 Dinners, as well as top-of-the-range accommodation at Disney parks and luxury hotels.
Disney also promises to make available a host of experiences not usually accessible by the general public.
Environmental groups have already criticized Disney for the environmental impact of this tour. What makes it particularly carbon-heavy is both the low passenger load on the VIP-configured 757, and the aircraft type itself, which is not exactly the most climate-friendly that is available.
A spokesperson for the clean transport group Transport & Environment (T&E) was quoted by The Guardian as saying the following:
“Only the privileged few get to fly, exploding their annual carbon footprints with just one such holiday. And while the price may seem extortionate, it doesn’t even adequately reflect the true cost of the pollution.”
Meanwhile, Disney said that the company would be monitoring the emissions from the tour and balance them with “investments in high-quality, certified natural climate solutions” that would “result in verified emissions reductions”.
If you're chomping at the bit to splash six figures on the ultimate Disney trip, we've got bad news for you – the tour is already sold out. But perhaps if it is successful, we could see it happening again in 2024.
Source: The Guardian and Adventures By Disney.
Lead Journalist – Central & South Eastern Europe – A background in economics and education gives Jakov the ability to translate complex subjects into easily digestible formats. Published in sources including Economics Today and Ex-Yu Aviation News, Jakov is regularly cited in leading publications including CAPA, TTG Italia, AIRportal.hu and a variety of regional publications, and even at Prime Minister’s Question in Croatian Parliament. His extensive knowledge of the Balkans and close relationship with the industry there brings inimitable vision to our coverage in the region. Based in London, UK.