Any recent Steam Train Tour experiences?

[happybratpack]

Hi Everyone

I'm wavering back and forth on taking this tour this trip, I've been wanting to but since we're doing the Keys to the Kingdom Tour this time too I can't decide. Any input?

Thanks!

 

[mom2cinderella]

DH took this last October and LOVED it! He's a big Disney/train/model train fan and really enjoyed the experience. I'd say go for it!

Michele

 

[cdntourguide]

IMO this was the best of all of the tours available. I did this tour at the end of February and one of the things I found out was take your camera. Yes take your camera: lots of picture opportunities, including taking your picture right beside the engine where no regular person is allowed to go.
Also be aware that this tour can go on and on and on. It is not limited to just three hours. I was not aware of this so had made plans to meet my sister. I would have rather stayed an listened to more stories about Walt Disney and his train.
You get to ride the second train of the day: that is the one right after the daily route inspection. So there are no other guests in the park. If you are the lucky participant in the tour, you will be the guest conductor and be allowed to signal the engineer to start the train. Or you might be allowed to actually through the switch allowing the train to back into the maintenance yard.
Take a snack with you, and water if that is your drink of choice: as this is long tour. A break is included: water and coffee was provided, but nothing to snack on.
You get to go to the maintenance shed, get to climb unto the engine, hear the best stories about the trains. Plus you get a fantastic pin as a souvenir: two pins actually one a name tag, the other an actual pin showing Mickey as the engineer on the train.
A definite magical tour, you will never regret taking this. But again stay longer if you can and keep asking as many questions as you wish.

 

[Maridw]

I agree with cdntourguide. Make sure you take your camera. I made the mistake of not taking ours and was mad because of all the pictures we missed. DD & I got to sit in the seats in the engine and I would have loved a shot of that. My DH said it is something he would definitely do again. DD thought it was okay, but she is 18 and really not into that. She did enjoy it, but not all the walking and standing around.

They give you alot of history and it is great to hear so much about the trains that are at WDW & DL. It is neat when you are on the second train that pulls into the station after the first train of the day leaves and the people waiting are trying to figure out how you got on the train (knowing that the first train just left).

I highly recommend this tour.

 

[Deemarch]

I'm glad to find out that it can go on longer. Could you tell me where I pick up my tickets and where do we park to get to the MK front gate so early?

 

[Mister Disney]

WOW...I can't wait....I signed up for Saturday June 4th.

Information they gave me though says....

"Please arrive 15 minutes prior to tour. Meet at Tour garden located to the left of City Hall inside the Magic Kingdom. Please bring a photo ID. Theme park admission is required. No Camera's or Video Cameras."

Soooo...my question....everyone keeps talking about Cameras....do they really allow you to take pics? A lot of the space is behind the scenes, which is supposed to be a no no.

 

[Deemarch]

Did they tell you where to park? Someone told me that we would park at the Contemporary Resort?

 

[cdntourguide]

Yes take you camera.
The guides on the train tour have been attempting to get message out to the booking people that this tour does allow cameras.
there are a couple of places where you cannot take a picture, but most of the tour is outside of the Backstage area.
If you are taking this tour, the TG (engineer) meets you outside the entrance gate as the tour starts long before the park opens for the day. Since the tour has to start just as the inspection of the rails takes place before anyone gets into the park and the TG will let you through the turnstile

have a great time, this is a wonderful tour. to not make plans for after this tour because you just might want to stay and talk with the Engineer for a longer period of time.

 

[Deb in IA]

Oh, how timely!!!!

I was seriously considering this tour as well, but could not find any first hand information about it. It's very reassuring to know that others think it was good!!!

MisterDisney, we are going to be there at that time too!! I'll try to sign up for the same tour . . . it would be fun to meet a fellow DIS'er!!

One question: We will NOT have a car; we will be relying on Disney Transportation. If the tour starts at 7:30 am, will we be able to get there on time, using the Disney buses? We are staying at Boardwalk Villas . . .

 

[Mister Disney]

MisterDisney, we are going to be there at that time too!! I'll try to sign up for the same tour . . . it would be fun to meet a fellow DIS'er!!

One question: We will NOT have a car; we will be relying on Disney Transportation. If the tour starts at 7:30 am, will we be able to get there on time, using the Disney buses? We are staying at Boardwalk Villas . . .

Deb -
How many will be in your party?

We're staying at the Grand Floridian, so we were planning on just taking the monorail over.

We'll have a convertible with us, so.....if your party is not too large, I'll make an offer to come get you at Boardwalk Villas.

We have space for 3 people in our backseat.

As I said, we're signed up and confirmed for Saturday June 4th.

Let me know if you get reservations and how many people are in your party.

 

[Mister Disney]

Did they tell you where to park? Someone told me that we would park at the Contemporary Resort?

Denise -

I wish I had an answer for you, but we're staying at the Grand Floridian, so I am not sure where they would have you park. I would think, since this is a MK event, that you would park in MK parking and take their transportation over, but I don't know.

 

[Deb in IA]

Deb -
How many will be in your party?

We're staying at the Grand Floridian, so we were planning on just taking the monorail over.

We'll have a convertible with us, so.....if your party is not too large, I'll make an offer to come get you at Boardwalk Villas.

We have space for 3 people in our backseat.

As I said, we're signed up and confirmed for Saturday June 4th.

Let me know if you get reservations and how many people are in your party.

We are 4; me, DH, DD age 14 and DS age 10. We'll be at WDW from May 31 to June 7, so if you don't mind us tagging along, we'll try for the Saturday, June 4th tour. Let me call Disney about the bus question; I'd hate to inconvenience you with driving to the Boardwalk for us . . . I'm thinking that surely they will have some transportation arrangement, as this is a park event . . .

 

[Mister Disney]

We are 4; me, DH, DD age 14 and DS age 10. We'll be at WDW from May 31 to June 7, so if you don't mind us tagging along, we'll try for the Saturday, June 4th tour. Let me call Disney about the bus question; I'd hate to inconvenience you with driving to the Boardwalk for us . . . I'm thinking that surely they will have some transportation arrangement, as this is a park event . . .

Well, it wouldn't be an inconvenience....it would be an ADVENTURE!

BUT, since there are 4 of you, 2 adults and 2 teenagers, we wouldn't have room in the car for everyone anyway.

Tag ALONG! More the merrier!

 

[Snoopymom]

When you book this, do you or can you get actual tickets for it? I'd love to give it as a surprise gift to my Dad. Thanks!

 

[Snoopymom]

Bump! Please share more experiences.... I'm trying to decide whether to arrange this as a gift to my parents. Thanks a bunch!

 

[Mister Disney]

Might not help, but I'll let you know after my trip in June.

I have no info on the ticket issue though, since my trip is arranged through the conceirges at the GF

 

[Snoopymom]

Might not help, but I'll let you know after my trip in June.

I have no info on the ticket issue though, since my trip is arranged through the conceirges at the GF

Your very kind, but I just noticed you're going June 4th?....we'll be there the same week, and they'll probably want to do the tour on the 7th or 9th.

Have fun, GF concierge, soooo jealous, LOL!

 

[jjan]

I'm thinking about doing this for my husband May 9th but we won't have a car and we will be at Pop... Will he be able to get an early bus at that time? Anyone have any experience with this? I know that he could take a cab, but a bus would be better (cheaper ).

 

[WDWLVR]

We did this a couple of years ago and loved it. It was before pins were big so our gift was a silver railroad spike. At that time they told us to park in the Contemporary lot and when we showed up and said we were on the tour we were waved in with no problem.

 

[jlima]

We did this tour last year in June. The concierge at the Poly made the reservation; we were actually waitlisted for the day I wanted, and about 1 week before our trip they told me I was able to get the day I wanted. Believe I made the reservation about 6 weeks prior. I don't remember if I had a paper ticket or not; but the conductor who did the tour had a list with our names on it, when we met the tour.

Get to the TTC by 7am and ride the very first monorail to the MK. You may have to take a taxi from your hotel to the TTC. The transportation begins running 1 hour prior to the park opening; if you have to take a bus and a monorail you may not make it in time. When you get the the front of the MK just walk up to a CM at any gate and tell them you are on the train tour. You will have to show your park tickets & go through a turnstile. Our tour didn't begin until about 7:45 as the conductor waited for a few latecomers Nice if you're the latecomer, but it pushed the schedule back. The tour did not finish until 10:45am.

The conductor who did our tour said the only place we couldn't take pictures was at the roundhouse; however the engineers who were there asked DS & I "Aren't you going to take any pictures?" So I took a few. But not of the roundhouse; only of the train. At the roundhouse, they back the train into the roundhouse, explain a few things, and then pull the train up a few feet and then you get out.

You get off the train at the Roundhouse, at the Toontown station; and then when the train gets back to Main Street there's a break (bottled water + cookies, I think) and the then the tour finished in the train station. Some people on the tour stayed after it was over to ask the conductor more questions.

We were told they gave away the spike souvenir prior to 9/11. Some people actually had them confiscated by the TSA, and then they started giving away pins. We also got name tags to keep. Here are some pictures: