Backstage Magic Tour - 2 thumbs up!!

[disneyholic family]

Just back from the Backstage Magic tour - a 7 hour tour of the backstage areas of all 4 of the Disney theme parks.

in a word: OUTSTANDING!!!! Worth absolutely every penny!!!

i'd read mixed reviews on the disboards, so i wasn't sure what to expect.

It was excellent. Beyond excellent.
Our guides were Mark and Monica and both were INCREDIBLE. Such a wealth of knowledge and so excited to share it with us. The entire tour was a pleasure from start to finish.

And while 7 hours sounds like a long time, it was such a great tour, i would have been happy to continue for another 7 hours.

This tour really gets into the nitty gritty of disney world operations.
It does NOT include riding on any rides, so if you're looking for that in a tour, this isn't the one.

but if you're interested in all that goes on behind the scenes, this is the tour for you.

 

[remark44]

I'm dying to do this tour. I'm thinking about a solo trip in April. So if I go, this is a must do.

Where was lunch? The reviews I have read listed two different places.

Thanks

 

[nmoore14]

I was thinking about taking this tour on my trip in December. Do you think it is good for a single person?

 

[Stumpy]

We took our tour in December and we ate at Whispering Canyon. I will second that the tour is amazing. Our tour may have been a bit different, though, because I heard they normally go through the Christmas shop. Since we went at Christmastime there was nothing to see, so we ended up going to the ride shop (cannot remember the name of it specifically) where we saw the building and refurbishment of ride cars such as space mountain vehicles, etc.

The 7 hours seem to go by way too quickly, and after the tour our only disappointment was that we couldn't use the employee only access to take shortcuts through the parks.

I think the tour will be fine as a single person, you'll be spending a good portion of your time enthralled in the surroundings and tidbits of info from the tour guides.

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

Is there a lot of walking involved? I would love to do the tour, but probably not on the same trip as the Half Marathon if there's a lot of walking.

 

[Stumpy]

No more walking than a mild day at the parks. I think the most walking we did was at the Animal Kingdom, but otherwise the shuttle dropped us off very close to our destinations.

 

[disneyholic family]

I was thinking about taking this tour on my trip in December. Do you think it is good for a single person?

i'm on a solo trip right now, which is why i signed up for it..

i've wanted to take some of the behind the scenes tours for the longest time, but my family wasn't willing..

so since i'm here on my own, i figured, now's the chance..

there was one other woman who was also on her own - she also usually comes with her family, but was solo this time....

the rest were couples or families, but everyone was super friendly....
i had a GREAT time!!!
After all, we were all sort of disney geeks, so naturally we all felt very comfortable with each other....even the teens....you have to be at least 16 to be on the tour.....there were about 6 teens with us (4 in my group)...
the nicest, most polite teens you'd ever want to meet....and very attentive the entire 7 hours....listening, asking questions....basically disney geeks like the rest of us..

the maximum number they take on the tour is 32, which are then split into two groups for the touring itself (off the bus)...on the bus, one or the other CM speaks to the entire group...

they give you a personal listening device (earpiece and receiver) for when you're walking around off the bus, so that you can hear the CM speaking without having to be right next to him/her....

but to answer your question, i think it's perfect for a solo traveler....you never feel strange about being on your own...

I'm dying to do this tour. I'm thinking about a solo trip in April. So if I go, this is a must do.

Where was lunch? The reviews I have read listed two different places.

Thanks

lunch was at the whispering canyon cafe...
it's all set up for your arrival and the CMs there are handpicked to take care of the group - and they did the silly stuff, so it was fun..
and the food was excellent and all you could eat....everyone was stuffed...

you sit at tables all together so it doesn't matter if you're alone or with someone....and as i said, everyone was super friendly, so it was really very enjoyable...

i definitely recommend it for solo travelers!!!

 

[disneyholic family]

Is there a lot of walking involved? I would love to do the tour, but probably not on the same trip as the Half Marathon if there's a lot of walking.

not a lot of walking at all...
the bus takes you everywhere via the backstage areas...

it's less walking than when you go to the parks...

 

[disneyholic family]

We took our tour in December and we ate at Whispering Canyon. I will second that the tour is amazing. Our tour may have been a bit different, though, because I heard they normally go through the Christmas shop. Since we went at Christmastime there was nothing to see, so we ended up going to the ride shop (cannot remember the name of it specifically) where we saw the building and refurbishment of ride cars such as space mountain vehicles, etc.

The 7 hours seem to go by way too quickly, and after the tour our only disappointment was that we couldn't use the employee only access to take shortcuts through the parks.

I think the tour will be fine as a single person, you'll be spending a good portion of your time enthralled in the surroundings and tidbits of info from the tour guides.

i don't think they go to the christmas shop anymore...
we also went to that huge maintenance building....

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

not a lot of walking at all...
the bus takes you everyone via the backstage areas...

it's less walking than when you go to the parks...

Awesome, thanks...

 

[disneyholic family]

Awesome, thanks...

i meant to say, the bus takes you "everywhere"..


but keep in mind, that though you don't walk that much, you do stand a lot....
the only time you get to sit down is on the bus and at lunch...
the rest of the time you're standing...but it was so interesting, i never noticed...

and in any case, you're soon back on the bus for the ride to the next place, which gives your feet rest time..

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

Eek, I just looked up the price... heh. Cost prohibitive for us this year, but next trip.

 

[disneyholic family]

Eek, I just looked up the price... heh. Cost prohibitive for us this year, but next trip.

lunch is included in the price....
and if you have an annual pass, there is a 15% discount...

but yes, it is expensive....
however, the CMs were very very skilled and experienced guides/lecturers...
in addition to guiding this tour, Mark also leads business program courses for the Disney Institute....I would happily take another tour or course from both of the guides (Mark and Monica)..
and i know other people felt the same, since several people asked for information about the courses he teaches.

 

[WaltD4Me]

I did the tour solo last year and it was no problem, I made a couple friends from England. The tour is really great, soooooooooooooo interesting. One of the things I found fascinating was the LAUNDRY. Very cool the way they do things there. I also LOVED the costume building and seeing the CM building at DHS. The whole tour was very well done and I agree....worth every penny. I would do it again in a minute.

 

[disneyholic family]

I did the tour solo last year and it was no problem, I made a couple friends from England. The tour is really great, soooooooooooooo interesting. One of the things I found fascinating was the LAUNDRY. Very cool the way they do things there. I also LOVED the costume building and seeing the CM building at DHS. The whole tour was very well done and I agree....worth every penny. I would do it again in a minute.

i guess the tour changes..
we didn't go to the laundry at all....we did go to the costume building.....
we also went to the cast services building at epcot...

i found the american adventure part very interesting...it seemed we spent about a half hour there....in various locations...
we also went behind the tower of terror...

 

[AlwaysEeyore]

Does anyone know where I can find pricing for the tours?

 

[disneyholic family]

Does anyone know where I can find pricing for the tours?

the tours and prices are listed here: http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/tours.htm

if you have an AP you can get a discount (i think 15%)

 

[KristEn87]

Just wanted to pop in... I don't know if this is still in effect, but my parents went on this tour last October and if you have a Disney Visa Card you also can get a discount. I believe it was either 15 or 20 Percent.

 

[tlcoke]

AAA, DVC & AP = 15% Discount
Disney Visa - if paid on DV - 20% discount.

I enjoyed the tour when I did it solo in October, 2008. Very informative.

Certain times of the year they don't go to the Christmas Warehouse as there is nothing to see there as they begin loading trucks and shipping out the decorations to the parks, resorts & cruise ships in September - but they may have removed it completely from the tour.
The laundry was impressive, we saw this in place of the Christmas Warehouse on my tour.

 

[minie_meese]

We did the tour this past December and loved it, even my husband who grumbles every time I mention a trip to Disney came away raving about it.

One thing to remember with this and I think most or all of the backlot tours - you absolutely must have a photo ID on you when you check in for the tour. They check it before you start. On our tour a couple was turned away because they didn't have ID. I felt so bad for them but they do tell you when you make your reservation and I think in a follow up phone call. I think they check id or maybe it was your badge you get after showing your id each time you enter a park property too, at least a guard comes on the bus, that I remember for sure.

Also, there are many places where you can't take photos - backstage areas. Our guides were great in letting us know when we couldn't. One place we could take photos was in the greenhouse area. We got to see all of the topiary in process. It was awesome.

I highly recommend the tour.