Any reviews of Story of Celebartion Tour?

[misskari]

Has anyone heard any feedback on the A Story of Celebration Tour?

For our party of 6, we have PTN dining package, but I am hearing not so great things, especially about the viewing area. We aren't super interested in the food either.

But I hear the new Tour's viewing area is better and comes with some LL, so I am thinking about switching.

Our #1 goal is getting a good spot for PTN, I have a kiddo in a wheelchair and we want a great spot where she can actually see the parade (aka front row0, and not try and look around adults butts who are blocking her view.

1. So, is the viewing area great? Or comparable to PTN dining package?
2. What are the LL's for?
3. I see there's a CHase Disney discount for the tour, but is there a DVC discount at all?

 

[LKing]

@joseph821 should be home soon. He took the tour this weekend. There are three attractions on the tour - Mark Twain, railroad, and Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway.

The viewing area for the tour and dining package are similar. Neither is the best but it saves you from having to camp out to find a viewing location. Have you looked at these posts? https://www.disboards.com/threads/p...ackage-reviews-and-info.3967563/post-66153383 and https://www.disboards.com/threads/disneyland-70th-speculations-and-news.3951914/post-66151698

Also, have you looked into ADA viewing locations?

 

[MinnesotaDisneyFan]

I did this on Sunday this weekend. I'll speak to my thoughts on the tour and then answer your specific questions.

The tour itself was ok, nothing spectacular. As others have said, as a big Disney Parks nerd, there wasn't anything said on the tour I didn't already know. The earpiece multimedia aspect of the music and archived audio clips of Walt/Disneyland radio ads were the most interesting part. On the tour you get backdoor access to the Mark Twain and Railroad (taking the train from Tomorrowland to New Orleans to avoid any mobility concerns). The tour focused heavily on discussing opening day attractions and it would have been cool if the tour was expanded just slightly to include an attraction from opening day from each land (Railroad, Mark Twain, Autopia, Jungle Cruise, and any Fantasyland option). It could be billed as "experience Disneyland as an opening day guest." It seemed like this was maybe what the tour was originally going for (all the marketing materials have icons of many different opening day attractions). But that's just my armchair two cents. As is, the tour itself is pretty lackluster.

1. The viewing area is good, facing the train station/city hall at an angle. It's a pretty small, shallow area so the front row sits on the curb and there was only really one more row of people (I think others have said it's a total of 80 people per day from the tour) so even if you weren't front row I think someone in a wheelchair would have no issue seeing over those on the curb. Watching the people checking in for the dining package, they seemed like a much bigger group and I was glad to be in the more intimate tour section. Being run by guest relations, the viewing area was really well managed with friendly hosts who also did a good job maintaining the perimeter's security.
2. They load a Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway Lighting Lane on your account for later use after the tour.
3. I utilized the Chase discount. I don't see any DVC discount.

You also get a commemorative pin exclusive to the tour and a name tag button to wear while on the tour. The popcorn they give you at the viewing area was sweet, almost like white chocolate and colored to match the 70th color scheme. It was oddly addictive (despite being a little soggy).

 

[LKing]

2. They load a Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway Lighting Lane on your account for later use after the tour.

Thanks for sharing!

So the LL attraction is not part of the two hour tour? What path does the tour take? I saw the tour walking through the castle tunnel where the MB interactive is located. I also saw them walking into ToonTown. That was the first weekend so maybe they modified it.

 

[MinnesotaDisneyFan]

Thanks for sharing!

So the LL attraction is not part of the two hour tour? What path does the tour take? I saw the tour walking through the castle tunnel where the MB interactive is located. I also saw them walking into ToonTown. That was the first weekend so maybe they modified it.

You’re testing my memory. After starting on Main Street it headed to Adventureland, New Orleans Square/Frontierland, and then I think crossed over to Tomorrowland where we boarded the train. After taking the train to New Orleans we had a comfort break in Frontierland after which we rode the Mark Twain. Last was Fantasyland ending by the Fantasyland Theater. The closing was about how Mickey and Minnie's Railway is the next generation of attractions, etc. which made sense with the attractions theme of the tour. We handed in our audio devices and got our pins at the theater where the tour concluded.

I feel justified in my analysis of the tour. I think most participants were big Disneyland fans. The guide asked if this was anyone's first ride on the Mark Twain and nobody raised their hand, making me feel I wasn't alone in my thoughts on the tour. Doing something a little more unique for the audience this tour appeals to would have been better. Other tours they offer have a clearer thesis statement. This felt like a half baked college essay that would be returned for rewrites.