has anyone done the Gray Line Munich Castles Tour?

Since about all Gray Line does is get you out to the castles and back (the tour is by the castle administration itself with their own guides, and you pay separately for it), why not just come out on the train yourself. Buy a Bayern-Ticket (23€ for one person) and catch one of the trains from the Munich Hbf to Füssen. There are lockers on the side of the Füssen Bahnhof, right off the end of the tracks. Unless you walk through the station building, you'll walk right past them. Store your luggage there. You'll have eight minutes, so store your stuff quickly and get out to the bus.

The Bayern-Ticket includes use of the bus which leaves from right in front of the station. The bus stop is #2 and is identified with a silhouette of a castle. When you get off the bus, follow the crowd around the corner and up the road to the castle ticket kiosk. If you've reserved your tours in advance (here), you should have time to see both castles that day.

On a week day, the Bayern-Ticket can only be used after 9 AM, but that doesn't mean you can't start traveling sooner. If you also buy a single trip ticket from the Hbf to Pasing (one zone, 2,70€), you can leave on the 8:53 train, which stops in Pasing and leaves there at 9:00. The train leaves from the Starnberger Flugelbahnhof (wing station, tracks 27-36), which is on the north side of the Hbf, outside the main shed area.

The OP says they "booked" it so it may be too late. Why do people book something and then ask advice afterwards. Munich to Neuschwanstein is probably one of the easiest and most traveled day trips from Munich. Yes, get the Bavarian Ticket and make a reservation at the castle from the castle's own website.

I'm curious, where else does the tour go if it doesn't get to Neuschwanstein until 1:00pm?

Nancy, the itinerary for the tour is on this page. The tour goes first to Linderhof and Oberammergau.

Note, the tours spends 1 hour in Linderhof and ½ hour in Oberammergau, which, IMO, isn't enough time in either place.

Since there is insufficient time for lunch in Linderhof or Oberammergau, some of the 3½ hours in Hohenschwangau would have to be spent having lunch, but the Neuschwanstein guided tour takes about 40 min and walking to and from the castle is another hour or so, there's extra time there for lunch.

Don, several years ago I wrote to the Hohenschwangau ticket center about luggage storage. At that time, they told me that there was nowhere at the ticket center to store luggage, but that the tourist information office, next to the bus stop in Hohenschwangau, would let you leave the luggage behind their desk. They also indicated that there is a luggage check room (Garderobe) at each castle. So I think that if you cannot get out of the Gray Line trip, you could store your luggage in the TI office while you went to Neuschwanstein, then pick it up and take it with you to Hohenschwangau while you take that tour (I don't think you would want to carry your bag up the long hill to Neuschwanstein). The next question is will Gray Line allow you to bring you bag on the bus?

Thanks to all of your for your replies. I can see the Gray Line thing is not popular here. And I did read a previous thread advising people to DIY. I chose Gray Line because I don't drive and I really wanted to see Linderhof. I realize they don't give you much time there (sure hoping I can see the Grotto) but Rick says that getting to Linderhof w/o a car is a "royal headache". And, if I did try and do Linderhof myself from Fussen it happens to fall on a Sunday, and after many experiences in Europe I know that you really don't want to be depending on local bus travel on a Sunday. So, that's why I went with Gray Line. The advice I was asking for was not whether to take Gray Line but whether I would have time to see Hohenschwangau Castle after the tour. Or if you think I should leave that til the next day. Thanks for the left luggage advice... I didn't realize there was a checked baggage area at the castle entrances. As for carrying my bag on the bus it's never been a problem before (I just use a Rick Steves carry on bag)... can't imagine that Gray Line would not let me bring a bag you can carry on a plane.

ps - re my bag, Lee says, "...then pick it up and take it with you to Hohenschwangau while you take that tour (I don't think you would want to carry your bag up the long hill to Neuschwanstein)."

Thanks Lee... that sounds like a plan. I could leave the bag at the TI upon arrival. Pick it up before they close and then take the last tour of Hohenschwangau. BUT... RIck says you have to pick up your ticket before. Okay... one more question... and sorry if this is a stupid one: Rick says you have to pick up your reserved ticket one hour before your
entry time. Can you pick it up earlier than that? Or will they just tell me to come back an hour before? I'm wondering if I can pick up a 6PM ticket at 1 in the afternoon or so... during the lunch break.

The ticket center webpage says that the tickets have to be picked up no later than one hour before the tour time on the day of the tour.

They told me several years ago that there were Garderobe at the castles. I've never seen them, but I've never looked. I don't think they allow backpacks on the tours, so it makes sense that they still have them, but ask at the ticket office before you go up to Hohenschwangau. In 2009, I confirmed at the TI office that they would allow someone to leave their luggage there.

Thanks Lee!

Why do people book something and then ask advice afterwards.>>

Because, some of us didn't find this site until it was too late. Why do some people bother posting if they have no wish to be helpful?