My mother and I have taken the Holiday Tour for the past several years and were looking forward to booking it again this year. My mother called Guest Services today to ask whether rides are still included on the tour. She talked to one CM who confirmed rides were no longer included, and who agreed that it didn't make sense to take this tour benefit away. My mother asked to talk to a supervisor to express her disappointment. She then spoke to Ari Trout in the Guest Experience Services department. Ari confirmed that rides are no longer included in the Holiday Tour in order to "enhance the guest experience." (Note that the cost is still the same, without one of the tour's key features.) When my mother expressed her frustration with the change, Ari said that she was the first person who has complained about it.
So.... it sounds like more people should share their disappointment with this new arrangement, if they want Disney to consider adding back the rides to the Holiday Tour. I wonder what the motivation was for removing them?
She was probably the first person to complain about it because most people probably do not realize the rides are not included when booking .Not everyone is privy to this board and all the great information it provides.