NEW Epcot Tour: World Showcase DestiNations Discovered

[WDWKOOK]

Just booked the World Showcase DestiNations Discovered tour for August so I was able to get more complete information on the (yet to be advertised by Disney) new Epcot Tour which started about one week ago:

~They do offer the usual tour discount of 15% for DVC, AP, etc... With the AP discount (and tax) it is $98.68 per person.

~The tour meets at the Guest Relations next to Spaceship Earth 15 minutes prior to start.

~Lunch is included and currently served at Restaurant Marrakesh in Morocco, but that's subject to change.

~No photos/filming is allowed during the entire tour. I asked if it was only during the "backstage" portion and was told it is for the entire tour.

~Payment in full is required at time of booking and there is a 48 hour cancellation required for refunds.

~It is currently bookable everyday at 0930 and 1000.



Description from Disney forums:

World Showcase DestiNations Discovered is a new walking tour now available at Epcot's World Showcase.

Costing $109+tax per person, the five hour walking tour takes guests through the creation of the World Showcase pavilions. The tour takes place both onstage and backstage, giving a glimpse at some of the behind-the-scenes magic.

Also part of the experience is an inclusive lunch at a World Showcase restaurant, and a cultural demonstration at one of the pavilions.

The tour takes place daily, departing at 9:30am and 10am. Park admission is required, and guests must be aged 16 and over.

Reservations can be made now on 407-939-5277.

Tour reviews posted in this thread HERE and HERE​

 

[xlsm]

I can't wait for you to get back and tell us all about it

DH and I have considered doing a "tours" trip, where we just take all the tours and leave the kids home, LOL! Maybe during a F&W trip.

Thanks for letting us know this tour is available!

 

[WDWKOOK]

I can't wait for you to get back and tell us all about it

DH and I have considered doing a "tours" trip, where we just take all the tours and leave the kids home, LOL! Maybe during a F&W trip.

Thanks for letting us know this tour is available!

I keep waiting for a review, too. I'm really curious about this. I'm actually going without DH, but with DD who turned 16 and can now go on all the more intensive tours. I wonder though, if you leave the kids at home, would you actually show up for all those tours

 

[FeralCatRogue]

I can't wait to hear how the tour is, I was looking into going in October.

 

[scrappinmom]

I can't wait for dd to turn 16!!!! (She's 15)

 

[eeyore45]

I keep waiting for a review, too. I'm really curious about this. I'm actually going without DH, but with DD who turned 16 and can now go on all the more intensive tours. I wonder though, if you leave the kids at home, would you actually show up for all those tours

*grin

We're going in a few weeks and I have the old Epcot tour booked! Now I wonder if I should change it...
Have you done the Undiscovered Future world tour?
Quote:
This outdoor walking tour covers all of the Future World pavilions and gives you a glance at how each area celebrates man's accomplishments and challenges. Visit a VIP lounge area, get a backstage peek at Cast Services and the IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth barges at the Epcot marina to see how the Epcot show is put together. Visit with one of the International Ambassadors and learn more about the program./endquote

its $64, but it doesn't include lunch... so its different...

I may have to book this new one too!

 

[Sheila Enriquez]

I can't wait for dd to turn 16!

 

[OhThePain]

*grin

We're going in a few weeks and I have the old Epcot tour booked! Now I wonder if I should change it...
Have you done the Undiscovered Future world tour?
Quote:
This outdoor walking tour covers all of the Future World pavilions and gives you a glance at how each area celebrates man's accomplishments and challenges. Visit a VIP lounge area, get a backstage peek at Cast Services and the IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth barges at the Epcot marina to see how the Epcot show is put together. Visit with one of the International Ambassadors and learn more about the program./endquote

its $64, but it doesn't include lunch... so its different...

I may have to book this new one too!

My wife and I did the UnDIScovered Future World tour last year and we really enjoyed it. Our group was really small (it was just us and 2 of the guides friends that were visiting from out of town), so we really got that VIP feeling. We saw a lot more on that tour than we did on KttK, but it doesn't really get too much into the WS. I guess it would depend on which you'd rather see, FW or WS.

 

[mshanson3121]

They lost my interest by not allowing photography. If I'm going to spend 5 hours of my trip walking around one of the most interesting and probably beautiful places of Disney... I darn well want to be taking photos, lol.

 

[Dan Murphy]

They lost my interest by not allowing photography. If I'm going to spend 5 hours of my trip walking around one of the most interesting and probably beautiful places of Disney... I darn well want to be taking photos, lol.

I have taken 12 different tours over the years. The phone CM's, as quite often, do not really know the 'rules'. Every tour I have taken has allowed onstage photography (the train tour even allows backstage photography through, most of, but not all of the backstage areas) I seriously doubt onstage photography would not be allowed.

Sounds like another great tour I will need to look into. Thanks for the information, WDWKOOK.

 

[WDWKOOK]

I can't wait to hear how the tour is, I was looking into going in October.

Hopefully, there will be some reviews online soon. When I find any, I'll post the link here.

I can't wait for dd to turn 16!!!! (She's 15)

It does open up new things to see and do at WDW…And, that whole driver's license thing

*grin

We're going in a few weeks and I have the old Epcot tour booked! Now I wonder if I should change it...
Have you done the Undiscovered Future world tour?
Quote:
This outdoor walking tour covers all of the Future World pavilions and gives you a glance at how each area celebrates man's accomplishments and challenges. Visit a VIP lounge area, get a backstage peek at Cast Services and the IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth barges at the Epcot marina to see how the Epcot show is put together. Visit with one of the International Ambassadors and learn more about the program./endquote

its $64, but it doesn't include lunch... so its different...

I may have to book this new one too!

Since it looks like you'd be the first to try it…here on this little thread…then there's no debate - you've got to switch to this tour and post a review!

I can't wait for dd to turn 16!

Please see my post above Re. the whole driving thing you MUST have forgotten about

My wife and I did the UnDIScovered Future World tour last year and we really enjoyed it. Our group was really small (it was just us and 2 of the guides friends that were visiting from out of town), so we really got that VIP feeling. We saw a lot more on that tour than we did on KttK, but it doesn't really get too much into the WS. I guess it would depend on which you'd rather see, FW or WS.

A small group sounds fantastic and I already told DD we better get "a Vest," as I affectionately call the VIP tour guides who wear those nifty plaid vests. I just LOVE those costumes and look how happy everyone is - even Mom!

They lost my interest by not allowing photography. If I'm going to spend 5 hours of my trip walking around one of the most interesting and probably beautiful places of Disney... I darn well want to be taking photos, lol.

I think Dan (below) is right. I really love taking oodles of Disney photos, too so it's not like I'm not going to try

I have taken 12 different tours over the years. The phone CM's, as quite often, do not really know the 'rules'. Every tour I have taken has allowed onstage photography (the train tour even allows backstage photography through, most of, but not all of the backstage areas) I seriously doubt onstage photography would not be allowed.

Sounds like another great tour I will need to look into. Thanks for the information, WDWKOOK.

You're welcome, Dan and I think you're probably right about the photos and you have a lot of experience to base your assumption on

 

[amandals2007]

ohhh i didnt know about this tour!! ive done almost all the tours so i was running out of options...glad this was added i want to do it in sept but would like some reviews first!!!

 

[eeyore45]

I wonder about the "no picture" rule too.

DH and I were talking - lunch value has to be around $30...

a few years ago DD was studying Morocco, (Jr Hi, and of course we took her out of school for Disney) The teacher loved Disney and gave dd an assignment - we ended up in the museum that we didn't even know was there! (there is a door, it comes before the Morocco courtyard homes) inside there were clothes, a scene, and some henna tattoos with the explanation - but, the best part a "Disney suit" was in there, after we walked around he asked what brought us inside, and asked if we thought the door was welcoming? (actually I thought we'd get in trouble for trying to open the door!) He then talked about how the area/room was designed and how each tile was created and put in place and how the King checked in to every area of the Pavillion -

it was an amazing, educational look in to a place we had no idea even existed!! I wonder how many of the other countries have these same kind of stories to tell!

 

[WDWKOOK]

I still haven't found any reviews, but I found another description of the tour HERE.​

 

[Princess Mulan]

I just completed this tour a few days ago. The tour times are 9:30 and 10, and it begins at Guest Relations in Future World (near Spaceship Earth). The tour is supposed to be 4.5 to 5 hours, but ours was shorter than 4.5 hours. We waited a few minutes for the final tour guest to arrive, and the tour ended a little early. It included lunch at Marrakesh and was supposed to include a performance by the Voices of Liberty, according to the guide. However, our group didn't experience any entertainment or performance, which I assumed was because of timing. The tour stopped in every country, and we had three backstage views. Our guide was personable and well-versed in World Showcase knowledge, but I think other tours provide more bang for the buck. I would gladly repeat Wild Africa Trek, but I don't think I would do the World Showcase tour again. I knew most of the information the guide provided, but more casual visitors might find it more entertaining.

 

[Princess Mulan]

They lost my interest by not allowing photography. If I'm going to spend 5 hours of my trip walking around one of the most interesting and probably beautiful places of Disney... I darn well want to be taking photos, lol.

When I booked I also was told that absolutely no photography is allowed on the tour. The guide specifically reminded us not to take photos backstage, but he didn't say anything about "onstage." However, none of us had cameras, probably because we were all told that photography is not allowed.

I found myself very jealous of guests who were happily taking photos of a nearly deserted World Showcase between 10 and noon.

 

[Dan Murphy]

When I booked I also was told that absolutely no photography is allowed on the tour. The guide specifically reminded us not to take photos backstage, but he didn't say anything about "onstage." However, none of us had cameras, probably because we were all told that photography is not allowed.

I found myself very jealous of guests who were happily taking photos of a nearly deserted World Showcase between 10 and noon.

On all the tours (been on 12 different ones), onstage photography is always allowed. And on the train tour, there is a lot of backstage allowed also.

 

[Lancer]

Wasn't there a similar tour offered maybe 8 years ago? I seem to recall being on a tour (it was just me and the cm) and we toured the world show case on foot(not Segway). One thing I remember asking the cm is why they had not replaced a cracked door in the Morocco pavilion. It seemed very unDisney like to me. He said that it was done on purpose by the Moroccan government builders because they believe no one can be more perfect than Allah. Perhaps it is the same tour revived?

 

[FeralCatRogue]

I just completed this tour a few days ago. The tour times are 9:30 and 10, and it begins at Guest Relations in Future World (near Spaceship Earth). The tour is supposed to be 4.5 to 5 hours, but ours was shorter than 4.5 hours. We waited a few minutes for the final tour guest to arrive, and the tour ended a little early. It included lunch at Marrakesh and was supposed to include a performance by the Voices of Liberty, according to the guide. However, our group didn't experience any entertainment or performance, which I assumed was because of timing. The tour stopped in every country, and we had three backstage views. Our guide was personable and well-versed in World Showcase knowledge, but I think other tours provide more bang for the buck. I would gladly repeat Wild Africa Trek, but I don't think I would do the World Showcase tour again. I knew most of the information the guide provided, but more casual visitors might find it more entertaining.

Is it more a cultural tour or a this is how we made this tour? I'm trying to figure out if it will interest me or not.

 

[bookgirl]

Well,

I'm only doing 4 days next trip and one of those I don't have a park ticket cause I'm doing MNSSHP.

I was thinking of doing the non park tour that is going to look around the wilderness area, the morning of the party, but this sounds way more my type.

I hate to buy an extra park day just to do a tour, plus a long walking tour before the party.

Sounds great but I may have to wait till the trip after.