Advice on Tours

[Rivergirl2005]

Hi everyone! We are currently looking at booking our fourth tour. We have done keys to the kingdom, behind the seeds and marceline to magic kingdom. We enjoyed all three and are looking for something different. The Epcot tours look like fun but I haven’t heard anything about it. We are going in June...any thoughts or suggestions would be great. Thanks!

 

[DWillowBay]

I'd suggest Wild Africa Trek at Animal Kingdom. Great tour....amazing lunch served and knowledgeable guides. Great experience.

 

[fhtpdw20]

FYI last tours taken were in 2016. That being said, I am not sure what has changed. Is the Future World tour even available with all the construction going on? Future World consisted of history of Epcot, Spaceship Earth history and ride, Fountain of Nations history, Inventor's Circle, Mission Space, Coral Reef Aquarium, visit to the Land Pavilion, Imagination Pavilion, information of monorail by Universe of Energy, Wonders of Life Building, Odyssey Building, break at one of the three VIP Lounges, Test Track ride, and backstage at Cast Member Services for Epcot. As a bonus since our group consisted of three people while walking backstage we got to stop at a tiny building where all of the 3D glasses are cleaned/sterilized for the entire WDW park system.

Destinations was an informative tour I enjoyed very much. It picks up where Future World leaves off. After getting the general history of World Showcase, you will visit each pavilion. You can take pictures without a lot of the crowd as most of the tour is "on stage". I do not know what, where, or if you will see for the Outpost. At the time of my tour we went backstage and got to see the globe and barges of Illuminations. Lunch was scheduled at the Rose and Crown.

I second the Wild Africa Trek as my favorite. There should not be too much difference in the general outline of tour stops.

If you have the time and $$$ Backstage Magic is an interesting tour as well. I did that tour in 2012 and 2016. Those tours were to all four parks. Both went to Nursery where topiaries are made (2012 could take pictures/2016 not allowed). American Adventure (2012 spent backstage after seeing underground/2016 animatronic figure available to see while underground so not at much backstage area viewed), Animal Kingdom (2012 Jammin Jungle Parade Floats/2016 talk to conservation team prior to Rivers of Light), Studios both times were Tower Terror backstage (2012 with ride vehicle being serviced/2016 no ride vehicle, just talk), Creative Costuming, Central Shoppes, Magic Kingdom utilidor visit only in 2012 and 2016 ended with saved space for 3pm Parade after the utilidors. 2012 tour also included Cast Services Building where cast members receive their uniforms.

 

[loves to dive]

I third the Wild Africa Trek, we've done just about all the tours, including diving in the living seas a couple of times and the Wild Africa Trek may have been our favorite. There used to be a tour that would take you to all the parks, you would go behind the scenes at all of them and ride a few rides. I don't think they offer that any more, it was all day but we loved it too.

 

[kiford]

We did DestiNations in the World Showcase which was really interesting and informative. I thought I knew a lot about Epcot but we learned so much more. We've also done Wild Africa Trek which was probably our favourite. We also did Savor the Savannah which is similar but takes place after dark and has more food and drink and is less active but also very worth the time and cost IMO.

 

[heidijanesmith]

We love the Savor the Savannah tour! The Backstage Magic tour is also great, well worth it.

I have wanted to try the World Showcase tour, as WS is our favorite place at WDW.

 

[Unvoiced_Apollo]

Also throwing in my hat for Wild Africa Trek if you're really looking for something different. You get a very different view of some areas that allow a closer look at a few of the animals (I don't want to give away exactly how, part of the fun), good lunch, and a different tour of the safari.

If you want something a little more budget friendly and less time consuming, I really enjoyed Up Close with Rhinos. More focus on education about Rhinos, you get a backstage view of how they care for the rhinos, and depending on how the rhino is feeling on that day, you might get to touch it.

 

[Wild4Walt]

Not technically a tour but a great experience - I highly recommend Lunch with An Imagineer. We did the one at Hollywood Studios at Brown Derby. The food was delicious and the the experience of talking about the parks with someone who helped create the magic is amazing.

 

[StarGirl11]

Glad to be seeing positive things about Savor the Savannah since I’m doing that next week!

Wanted to do Wild Africa Trek but using a mobility aid with an unpredictable condition squashed that pretty quick.

Will second the Imagineer one though. Great experience.