VIP Experience Questions

Anyone got an answer?

And I did have to fight with the attendants. They told me that I could only have one space because I only had one car and that they had "oversold" VIP and that I needed to call Music Today for a refund of the second pass. I asked how would I get a refund when it's included in the price of the package. I had my printed email from Benny Roo stating that I could get two spots, so I parked on the middle of the line and didn't move. I told them that if the lot filled up completely and they needed exactly one more space for someone, then to come see me...they never came back. I felt bad for starting out the festival that way, but there was no way in hell we could fit 2 tents in front of a Traverse in one space plus have anywhere to sit. We won't bring extra people any more unless they drive themselves...it's a disadvantage to carpool.

I was in GA, but saw two different groups having trouble there as well. They pulled up packed to the gills with 4-5 people in a car and the attendants only wanted to give them enough space for one tent and hardly anywhere to sit. One poor woman had to get un-Bonnaroovian and refuse to move her stuff, but she really had no choice, and I felt sorry for her. She carpooled at Bonnaroo's request for environmental reasons, but was being punished for it. There is no way they could have camped in that small a spot for 5 days. 

My group of 10-plus people also paid for an extra spot and we played a game of chicken with them until they gave us the extra spot we paid for.

We got told no. I never tried again after that.

We got into the VIP viewing area at This Tent on Thursday night, but they limited that area to Artists only on Friday night. I didn't try at any of the other tents, and the security person couldn't explain the policy. This makes me think it's maybe based on expected occupancy? It was accessible during shows with smaller crowds (Strand of Oaks) but not during RTJ. It would be nice if this perk was a guaranteed thing.

Also, our crew had ZERO problems with the parking attendants. We basically drove right up to the main tent and staked our claim. The only hassle we got was when one of our guys had to move his tent that wasn't under an EZ-Up because some parking schmuck said it was "blocking the fire lane" and "subject to a $10,000 fine" or some BS. Whatever. We got away with having a small generator, too (even though the VIP parking inspectors said they'd just learned THAT DAY that generators weren't allowed), but probably only because the guy who did the lighting on the Arch this year & last was in our crew. Apparently the Artist/Staff wristband guarantees more leniency? Or maybe it's just a matter of luck whether you get hassled or not. FWIW, we had tons of room on all sides, and nobody told us VIP was oversold.

I was able to get in on Thursday too, but not when I went back to try again on Friday. This seems to be a common thing year after year.

My sister and BIL got into the VIP area at the superjam. They were allowed to go backstage and all. I think it is dependent on the security working.

This was our first year VIP and the past 4 were GA but with an RV. Granted for us cost comparisons are similar and not the same as those who have to compare the costs of GA vs VIP but I can say there is no doubt we will be doing VIP again in the future instead of renting an RV.  We have seen all the reasons why, (Which pit, no lines, no rub down getting in, ice cream ice cream ice cream) but for us, we underestimated how much more music we would see because of VIP. I should also note that all those past years in the RV we parked in handicapped RV so were even closer to entry those years than we were tent camping this year in non handicapped VIP. I should also note our groop is late 30's early 40's so we may appreciate some of this stuff more now than we would of in our 20's.

For us, the combination of the which pit and the VIP tent on the other side of it were way more important than we ever could have imagined. Even with the RV being right over the wall from the Other Tent, in past years if we wanted to trek back for a quick break to get some AC, a real bathroom, quick bite, etc we still ended up spending a decent chunk of time walking back from Which area to the RV, do our business, then come back in through the lines for the next session of shows. In this years case, it was too easy. Friday was a perfect example. Last year we would've prob used that small break in time after Moon Taxi and before Shakes to run back to the RV and invariably with a group of 5 or 6, it would take longer than expected. We would hope the band on Other Tent was something worth listening to while we recharged (in this case it would have been Sylvan Esso). For all we would try to do in that pit stop, we historically would have never made it back for the start of Shakes and would simply settle on a spot in back because it already started and we were already partly thinking about logistics of getting to Tears for Fears from there. This year, we had prime spot for Moon Taxi because of the Which pit, then when we were done there simply chilled in the AC tent for a minute, got another beer, used the VIP bathrooms, checked out the silent disco for awhile, came back to the tent for a banana and some high fives then were already refreshed for the Shakes. Because we have seen them before and tent was so close to main stage, after a while on the hill watching Shakes, we decided to go back to camp and quickly grilled, stuffed two beers under the bladder of the camelbak, another in the back pocket and one in hand and then came back in all the while still seeing and hearing the Shakes and not standing in any lines. We each brought in four beers which we never could pulled off in GA entry, walked to Tears for Fears until we thought Ben Harper was about to start, then trotted through the VIP tent for a quick burst of AC where we see Tears for Fears doing the Creep cover on the big screen stream that we would have missed entirely in the past by leaving to get to Ben Harper. Yes, it was a stream and not watching it at the tent but its more than we would have seen in the past because we didn't want to miss any of Ben Harper. We stayed there til the first notes of Ben Harper could be heard and simply walked right up to VIP Which pit and were there within 60 seconds. We stayed for all of Ben Harper and when were done, went back to the tent for a quick burst of AC, a no line beer and there is Kendrick Lamar streaming on the big screen. In the past we would have went back to RV again quickly before EWF and Deadmau5 because of the hour+ between sets and skipped Lamar who while would have been nice to see, was not at the top of the list for us. Watched him play and heard the songs we would've wanted to hear anyway, then went from VIP pit for EWF to the field for Deadmau5. The Hill is no place for Deadmau5 so we did get up close on the left side where it is always open on What.

This went on all weekend. We never felt we were not getting "enough" music in the past, we just realized how much more we got to experience. There was no way I was going to miss the end of Stanley Cup game 5 and we watched the third period while watching MMJ in the VIP courtyard with other Hawks fans. Awesome 2 for 1 special! We planned well and timed things well in the past but we just saw far more this year with far less effort. Less trekking back and forth, less concern about time, more beer intake (both free and paid), more refreshed throughout the day and night. Come Saturday night or Sunday, the bathroom in the RV would not be as fresh, we would pay $50 for a dump and $50 for more water for showers etc. We had more energy at the late night shows than ever before.   Felt more of the sense of community with our neighbors in camping than we have most years in RV. I'm someone who tries to plan and analyze the value of things like VIP vs GA vs RV etc, but I never could've understood what the biggest difference became until it happened. Never thinking about having to find a good spot for 6 in Which field because you can walk right up to VIP is almost worth more than how close we were in VIP pit anyway. It enabled us to stay longer at other sets prior to heading to Which and stay longer there as well. So, yes the bathrooms are nice. Not worrying about how long a shower to take to save water was wonderful. The fruit, free beer Thursday night, the no lines and no hassle entry are fantastic. The VIP pit in Which was excellent and there are a dozen more of those amenities but in the end, all of those ended up allowing us to experience far more music than any past year with less worries about it as it was happening in the moment than ever before. I didnt see this mentioned alot as a VIP benefit so I thought it was worth sharing. Its not one you can see on paper comparing cost to "what you get". Its one you have to experience to see if it was worth it for you or now and for us, it was the best decision to change it up and do VIP instead of RV this year. Officially off the soapbox.

See comments above about this.

I see (from above comments) VIP Camping doesn't open until 0700 Thursday. What day/time did the VIP Tollbooth open? I'm contemplating buying the VIP passes, but camping in Groop with my friends. Anyone know if 'roo staff are that amenable to such an arrangement?

So this year was my 10th festival, 5th Bonnaroo...all GA. I told my BF we're doing VIP next year - no question about it. Bonnaroo when we were 20 felt A LOT different then (now that we're 30). We had a blast this year, but I feel like we've done our time and I'm ready to experience all the perks! The heat, lines, and walk from Pod 8 really drained our energy and we really weren't close at all for any shows except MMJ and that's because we staked out a spot and missed a lot of other music. I'm glad to read over everything and see that most say it's worth it because that's a lot of money to drop on something that could just be sub-par.

As far as camping, are there any A/C lounges in the campgrounds? Anything extra in the campgrounds that GA won't get?

My alarm clock for the weekend was as follows. Friday morning woken up by Alabama Shakes sound check. Saturday morning woken up by Mumford and MMJ sound check. Sunday morning woken up by Florence sound check. I could wake up to that every day

I believe there are only two VIP entrances, one at the arch and one by the Hill at the What Stage.  The entrance closest to What Stage is the one near the Hill (when facing What, it's all the way to the left).  There are two sets of VIP bathrooms in Centeroo, on the Hill and at the VIP lounge next to the Which Stage (in between Which and This).  No discounts on beer or food, other than the free beer and catered dinner on Thursday.