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.

 

[joseph821]

@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?

Hi
I am at Disneyland now. Just finished my dinner at Galactic Grill. Tomorrow Saturday is my last day I fly out at Midnight on the red eye back to JFK and get home Sunday morning.
I will give an initial report when I get home.
@LKing

 

[LKing]

Did you melt today? It was a scorcher!

Looking forward to hearing how your trip went.

 

[Tinkaboo]

Can't wait for your trip report @joseph821! Hope you had a great trip...you always are so detailed and forthright in your reviews!

 

[joseph821]

Did you melt today? It was a scorcher!

Looking forward to hearing how your trip went.

It was 94 degrees but it cooled off dramatically in the late afternoon. The crowds really were low.

 

[joseph821]

Just got home this morning at 8AM!! Great trip...I will be posting a detailed trip report (10 days/9 nights at GCH) soon.
As for the 70th tour, here is a brief review.

I checked in at 9:00AM for the tour at 9:15AM on Wednesday May 28. My friend Chris was also on the tour (he met me at DL for my last 6 days and he stayed in his own accessible room at GCH - which was great). Chris sometimes uses a wheelchair to sit in...he gets tired and takes the chair so he can rest but he walks the 30+K steps a day). You receive a name pin and a laynard. The tour is very informative and historical. You tour on Main Street, Frontierland, New Orleans Square, Fantasyland, Tomorrowland and Toontown. The tour is put together well. Normally, the tour takes you on the Mark Twain, the Railroad and Runaway Railway. Our tour just went on the Mark Twain. We received a Lighting Lane for any attraction and a LL for Runaway Railway. You receive a nice pin at the end of the tour.

You are told to report to Town Square at 8PM to view Paint the Night at 8:45PM. We did not follow that instruction. We arrived at 725PM - we were first in line. The viewing areas were already roped off and cast members were there already. We got there because we wanted a great spot and Chris needed a good spot to park his wheelchair to watch the parade. The area opens at 8PM and you receive a box of popcorn. We got a great spot right up front. If you take the tour get there 30 to 35 minutes early. There were 75 people in the tour viewing area. We counted 75 boxes of popcorn. Most of the people in the tour viewing area were sitting and had a great view.

The Paint the Night dining package/Plaza Inn viewing area was packed and not worth the money. We heard people were upset and complained about the viewing area for the dining package. Avoid the dining package.

You can get a good spot for the parade either time on your own without taking the tour. If you like Disneyland history, take the tour. I would avoid the dining package all together. If anyone has any questions, I will be happy to answer.

@LKing has pictures of the area.

 

[LKing]

Thanks for sharing. Was there a reason that you didn't ride on the railroad? Do you think they are modifying the tour? And how much of the tour was pre-recorded vs your guide providing the information? As someone who knows a lot about Disneyland, did you feel that it was a repeat of what you already know?

 

[joseph821]

Thanks for sharing. Was there a reason that you didn't ride on the railroad? Do you think they are modifying the tour? And how much of the tour was pre-recorded vs your guide providing the information? As someone who knows a lot about Disneyland, did you feel that it was a repeat of what you already know?

Yes our group had several people on scooters and wheelchairs - too long to load and not enough room for all on 1 train to ride together. We got a LL because we did not ride the Railroad. The tour guide provided nearly all the information. The sound and recordings heard over the earpiece were historical in nature. Most of the information I and my Chris knew all ready and was a repeat. Chris and I think that the 70th tour was good. Our guide told us that after Paint the Night is over.....tour participants will go to the new Walt show in the Opera House as made of the tour -- our guide was very nice...she said that was the plan but could change,

 

[MinnesotaDisneyFan]

Thanks for sharing. Was there a reason that you didn't ride on the railroad? Do you think they are modifying the tour? And how much of the tour was pre-recorded vs your guide providing the information? As someone who knows a lot about Disneyland, did you feel that it was a repeat of what you already know?

The recordings in the earpiece was never the tour narration/information. It was multimedia: audio from opening day, radio advertisements, vintage background/attraction music such as Nation on Wheels.

The narration was all done by the guide. While she did a good job, it felt very word-for-word scripted. I applaud that she had it so well memorized but it was pretty stiff. And as a Disney Parks trivia master, I did not hear a single thing I didn’t know prior.