Today's show Matt at wdw

[Ella's Mommy]

My husband and I were taking a rest at the enchanted grove on sunday morning when I spotted Matt Lauer from the todays show. He was with his family and what appeared to be his nanny and a disney chapparone. Everyone that walked by was like "Hey that was Matt Lauer". It was cool for me to see him cause I love the Today's show. I was wondering later whether he pays to stay or he gets to stay for free since he is famous. My husband made the comment that morning that he probable was'nt on the meal plan and that got me wondering. Just a fun tidbit:wave:

 

[Hoop Raeb]

A co-worker saw him near the American Adventure in EPCOT this weekend. Just hanging out with his wife, kids and two Disney handlers. He said everyone was very respectful of his privacy. I'm sure he wasn't waiting in any lines.

 

[Captain Hank]

My husband and I were taking a rest at the enchanted grove on sunday morning when I spotted Matt Lauer from the todays show. He was with his family and what appeared to be his nanny and a disney chapparone. Everyone that walked by was like "Hey that was Matt Lauer". It was cool for me to see him cause I love the Today's show. I was wondering later whether he pays to stay or he gets to stay for free since he is famous. My husband made the comment that morning that he probable was'nt on the meal plan and that got me wondering. Just a fun tidbit:wave:

Yes, even celebrities have to pay to stay at a Disney resort and to enter the park. Unless, of course, they are employed by ABC (free park admission, discounted rooms), or are doing something for the property (Candlelight Narrators, WDW Christmas Parade, Star Wars Weekends, etc.).

 

[Since1976]

Yup, and the VIP service is a pretty penny, but surely not even a drop in the bucket for Mr. Lauer.

As for waiting in lines, I don't think that VIP service includes priority entrance on rides. So, I guess Matt and his family had to wait in line with everyone else, while the handlers fended off curious onlookers.

 

[millercv]

Well from what I understand many VIPs do get handlers provided and many of those do get back doored into attractions - since their appearance/presence would "interfere" with the normal guest experience.

The purchased VIP guides wouldn't backdoor a normal guest - but they do have things worked out with fastpass so well that they wait in very few lines.

 

[TheDisneyMagic]

If I was in that position I would wait in all the lines, they tell a great part of the story and I wouldn't want to miss out on them.

 

[Crazy4WDW1]

My husband and I were taking a rest at the enchanted grove on sunday morning when I spotted Matt Lauer from the todays show. He was with his family and what appeared to be his nanny and a disney chapparone. Everyone that walked by was like "Hey that was Matt Lauer". It was cool for me to see him cause I love the Today's show. I was wondering later whether he pays to stay or he gets to stay for free since he is famous. My husband made the comment that morning that he probable was'nt on the meal plan and that got me wondering. Just a fun tidbit:wave:

How did his wife look, by the way. The last photos I saw of her in one of those supermarket tabloids she looked rail thin. There was a rumor that they were divorcing. If I remember correctly, that is. :shrug:

 

[millercv]

If I was in that position I would wait in all the lines, they tell a great part of the story and I wouldn't want to miss out on them.

I agree about the lines being great (in many cases) but I bet "handler worthy" stars wouldn't get to enjoy them for all the people taking pics, staring, asking for autographs, etc.

 

[k.hunter30]

DisneySam from these boards saw him in Orlando as well just a few days ago.

 

[jhastings74]

Yup, and the VIP service is a pretty penny, but surely not even a drop in the bucket for Mr. Lauer.

As for waiting in lines, I don't think that VIP service includes priority entrance on rides. So, I guess Matt and his family had to wait in line with everyone else, while the handlers fended off curious onlookers.

Millercv is basically right, that they generally do get 'back-doored'. When I was working Dinosaur at DAK this past spring, after the filming for the Disney Channel Games were over, just in one evening we had Paris Hilton with Benji Madden, Dylan and Cole Sprouse, Selena Gomez and Mitchell Musso all come through with their VIP guides. Since I was working the photo computer in the back, I could tell when someone 'famous' was on the ride because there would be 4 or 5 empty ride cars in front of them and 4 or 5 empty ones behind them, for their own security, safety, and enjoyment. And then we would have to delete their picture once they were gone. I'm not sure I've seen a 'famous' person wait in a regular queue. (Anyone else?)

It is a shame that they miss out on the theming in some of the queues because it really adds to the experience of the ride. But I guess that's the trade-off they make for the other benefits they receive in life. :animwink:

 

[markc]

Yes, even celebrities have to pay to stay at a Disney resort and to enter the park. Unless, of course, they are employed by ABC (free park admission, discounted rooms), or are doing something for the property (Candlelight Narrators, WDW Christmas Parade, Star Wars Weekends, etc.).

Quite the opposite - most celebrities DONT pay for WDW. They get it complimentary, with the idea that one of the family photos can be used as promotional material at any point in time or if it coincides with a promotional event they are doing for their respective visit (i.e. a future report on WDW for the Today Show...etc). In fact, Disney offers all employees of news stations (both local and national) free tickets to the park simply by calling them up as well. The only people who truly pay to get into WDW are the "little" people, non-media related people, or celebrities who are trying to lay low.

And if any celebrity says the opposite - that is because Disney specifically tells them not to advertise the fact that they pay nothing.

 

[the-reason14]

I dont know who the man is, but I remember years ago me and my dad had seen Grant Hill, basketball player, in the fastpass line for Space Mt. He had an escort as well.

And just this year me and my brother had seen Kobe Bryant at Epcot near the American Adventure, the escort asked me and my brother as well as a whole bunch of other people to not take any pics or vids I guess out of respect for his vacation/privacy, so that was cool. It was still cool to see him though.

 

[durangojim]

Very cool! Also as an aside, I think it's the Today show, not Today's show. Not trying to be know it all, just trying to share some info.

 

[Yensid_Robert9]

Millercv is basically right, that they generally do get 'back-doored'. When I was working Dinosaur at DAK this past spring, after the filming for the Disney Channel Games were over, just in one evening we had Paris Hilton with Benji Madden, Dylan and Cole Sprouse, Selena Gomez and Mitchell Musso all come through with their VIP guides. Since I was working the photo computer in the back, I could tell when someone 'famous' was on the ride because there would be 4 or 5 empty ride cars in front of them and 4 or 5 empty ones behind them, for their own security, safety, and enjoyment. And then we would have to delete their picture once they were gone. I'm not sure I've seen a 'famous' person wait in a regular queue. (Anyone else?)

It is a shame that they miss out on the theming in some of the queues because it really adds to the experience of the ride. But I guess that's the trade-off they make for the other benefits they receive in life. :animwink:

When I worked at Kali and Everest last year, I don't think I ever saw one celeb wait standby either. Brian Dennehy came in through the fastpass entrance entering across the exit bridge once on Kali. And on Everest especially (which I wouldn't wanna miss out on the queue, not sure anyone who would???) anyways, Lavar Burton and his family came in through fastpass, Brad Garret and his fam went in through the single rider queue (close to closing). But Star Jones and One of Donnie Osmand's brothers came up behind the mountain from E Savannah Circle. I guess you just take your pick when you ride EE :lol:

 

[TTATraveler]

Very cool! Also as an aside, I think it's the Today show, not Today's show. Not trying to be know it all, just trying to share some info.

You are indeed correct, it is Today not Today's. I wonder if he'll being doing any stories about Disney or whether it is strictly a personal vacation?

 

[Soundstage'95CP]

Quite the opposite - most celebrities DONT pay for WDW. They get it complimentary, with the idea that one of the family photos can be used as promotional material at any point in time or if it coincides with a promotional event they are doing for their respective visit (i.e. a future report on WDW for the Today Show...etc). In fact, Disney offers all employees of news stations (both local and national) free tickets to the park simply by calling them up as well. The only people who truly pay to get into WDW are the "little" people, non-media related people, or celebrities who are trying to lay low.

And if any celebrity says the opposite - that is because Disney specifically tells them not to advertise the fact that they pay nothing.

NBC Universal has one of the strictest integrity policies of any of the national broadcast networks. Mr. Lauer, under NBC's news policy (he's technically a news employee), would be required to decline any comp. offers that are not offered to a normal guest and pay for his expenses over the $200 acceptable gift threshold in the policy. I work for NBC and this policy is driven into every news employee to the point where we couldn't forget the policy if we tried. That said, WDW does offer media comps to celebs, reporters, DJ's, etc, so it would not be unusual for these people to enjoy free park admissions or even accomodations when on assignment. Mr. Lauer would have been able to accept the comp. of a WDW park relations guide and the offer of the back door access to attractions as that (at least when I worked for the mouse) was a requirement to ensure the safety of the celeb and the surrounding guests. Just think of the crowds that would gather if someone like Obama and his family had to wait in line for Dumbo (no pun intended? :shrug. Now, when Mr. Lauer visits Universal I would expect that to be entirely comped an written off under the guise of cross promotion by NBCU.

 

[Ella's Mommy]

How did his wife look, by the way. The last photos I saw of her in one of those supermarket tabloids she looked rail thin. There was a rumor that they were divorcing. If I remember correctly, that is. :shrug:

She was RAIL thin!!! But Mr. Lauer wasnt far behind. He is very toned. Nothing but lean muscle. I heard about the divorce too but they looked happy:shrug: But then again they were in Dis:sohappy:

 

[Tink313]

Ive seen a WWE wrestler Bret Micheals the heart break kid a couple of years ago with his wife and son. We saw him alot in the magic kingdom & animal kingdom...I think he was follwing me:lookaroun. :lol: But all jokes aside he was not with any handlers and he waited on line. He was in front of us on buzzlightyear and he shook my sons hand. Alot of teenagers were coming up to him but it wasnt out of control.

 

[CityOfIndustry]

Quite the opposite - most celebrities DONT pay for WDW. They get it complimentary, with the idea that one of the family photos can be used as promotional material at any point in time or if it coincides with a promotional event they are doing for their respective visit (i.e. a future report on WDW for the Today Show...etc). In fact, Disney offers all employees of news stations (both local and national) free tickets to the park simply by calling them up as well. The only people who truly pay to get into WDW are the "little" people, non-media related people, or celebrities who are trying to lay low.

And if any celebrity says the opposite - that is because Disney specifically tells them not to advertise the fact that they pay nothing.

Not sure where your getting this from but I have dealt with Disney on these issues in the past.

No, celebs do pay for park tickets and they also pay for the VIP Tour guides. The only exception to this policy is when the celeb is an invited guest of the resort(ie - inviting an ambassador for a good will trip or a celeb who is there helping to market something like an attraction they were part of). An example was the Disney Channel Games, under contract they had to participate, so they were invited guests of the resort and hotel, tickets and VIP guides were part of their compensation package for that production.

News station employees also pay, again, the exception to this rule is when they are an invited guest of the resort (ie - for a press event -- they get treated very nice for the big announcements). If a news story is being shot at the parks, with approval and a media/production coordinator they get in, but its strictly for working media and not just members of the press on vacation.

Another example is when bands play at Epcot. They also pay for their VIP guides, if they want them. They pay their hotel and they are only alloted a handful of comp tickets. Any more tickets are either paid by them or deducted from their contracted rate. Hotels are also deducted from their pay if they want them (at a reduced rate I am sure -- Im not privy to those details). Sometimes these change based on the terms of their individual contracts, but they all work almost the same.

So you can all feel rest assured that while they do get a lot of special treatment, they also pay for most of their way just like you and I.

 

[Chrisxtwo]

How funny. My DH and I saw Al Roker at the Beach Club opening weekend of the Food and Wine Festival. Maybe Meredith and Ann are next?