Backstage Magic tour - mobility question...

[Dodie]

If you don't know, Backstage Magic is the all-day tour that takes you behind the scenes at several of the parks and some other venues. We have this reserved for our late-January trip.

BACKGROUND: DH had tendon/ankle surgery in October. He is going through physical therapy now. His surgeon has told him that he'll be okay for a WDW trip, as long as he doesn't go crazy with the walking. (We've been yearly for 15 years, so there's no need for us to walk all over every park or see everything - so that's fine.) He'll be taking a cane along in case he feels that he needs some extra support.

The Backstage Magic tour involves a bus that takes you from venue to venue and, I'm sure, quite a bit of walking. However, can anyone who's actually taken this tour tell me what we should expect walking-wise? Does the walking equal a full day in a park or is it less than that because you're bused from place to place?

Thanks.

 

[MJGirl]

Subscribing to hear the response. I'm taking the tour in August, and I too have ankle problems. This is a new itinerary, so there won't be any updates until after the first tour in April. I would contact ABD and ask them. Good luck and let us know what they say. Hope all is well with your husband and that the surgery was a success!

 

[ducklite]

We've taken the tour twice, let me see if I can remember it all...

You start out in front of Epct, near guest services. They walk you to a waiting minibus, and take you backstage to the American Adventure where you get a short tour--not much walking there. Then you go to the Living Seas, and walk from a backstage area into the attraction. Then you go to Body wars and learn about protien spills. So there's a little walking but probably an hour of standing between all of those.

After that it's off to MGM Studios. I think they've changed a lot of this part of the tour since I've been on it, but some walking and probably an hour or so of standing. Creative Costuming at MGM was wonderful, and that definitely had some walking. Then lunch at Mama Melroses, they drop you off right behind the restaurant and you enter through a back door.

Next is the MK where you go into the Utilidor and then Central Shops--this is a full two or more hours of walking and standing with a couple short breaks sitting on the bus. Then it's back to Epcot. I'd say that total it was maybe five hours of walking and standing, and the rest was seated. Also you get on and off the minibus (up and down the stairs) close to a dozen times.

Hope he's well enough to go!

 

[Dodie]

Subscribing to hear the response. I'm taking the tour in August, and I too have ankle problems. This is a new itinerary, so there won't be any updates until after the first tour in April. I would contact ABD and ask them. Good luck and let us know what they say. Hope all is well with your husband and that the surgery was a success!

Sorry for the confusion. I'm not referring to the Adventures By Disney trip (I WISH I WAS)! I'm talking about the Walt Disney World tour by the same name - a 7-hour tour with lunch included.

 

[MJGirl]

Sorry ... my mind is on the ABD at this moment ... Good luck with the tour!

 

[Cheshire Figment]

I've taken Backstage Magic twice. There is a lot of walking. Not only are you climbing on and off the bus, but you have to get from where the bus is parked to what you will be seeing (and back).

Having a wheelchair or ECV from the start will allow him to keep up and not run out of energy halfway through.

Note also that if he has problems he will slow the entire group down, which is not good for the other people on the tour.

I do remember one tour where there were more people with ECVs than space on the bus; they brought along a small van to handle to excess, so be sure to let the people at 407-WDW-TOUR know there will be an ECV (preferred) or wheelchair.