Backstage Magic Tour question - Please help!!

[JLS]

My husband and I want to do the Backstage Magic Tour while we are in Orlando in late May. (this is the 7-hour, 3-park tour, for those who aren't familiar - there are reviews on the wdwig website). For those who have done it or know about it, I have the following questions:

--Theme park admission isn't required for the tour - you just pay for the tour cost. BUT - the tour ends at 5 p.m. - are you allowed to remain in the parks following the tour without using a day of a park hopper pass?

--Where do you end the tour at the conclusion of the day?

ANY info, and your thoughts on the tour, would be much appreciated!

-Jenn

 

[tinkerbee]

The Keys to the Kingdom tour does only Magic Kingdom and it is about a 4-5 hour tour.

 

[JLS]

Oops - I meant BACKSTAGE MAGIC. I am editing my post now - thanks!

 

[tinkerbee]

You're welcome. I've only been on the Keys to the Kingdom tour and LOVED IT. Have a great vacation.

 

[deb305]

Husband took the tour in January. He remembers it ended outside the gate at Epcot (where the tour originated). I remember him being pretty tired, but had a great time.Lots of walking and lots of time on a bus. He recommends it highly

 

[DisneyaHolic23]

It has been a couple of years since we did the tour; if my memory serves, they dropped us off outside of Epcot, near the parking area. We had annual passes, so we went back in the park, but if you don't have passes, they won't allow you to go in/stay in.

It is an amazing event. Our only mistake is that Backstage Magic was our first tour. Since then we have done Keys to the Kingdom (very good, just not as good!), and Hidden Treasures (not as good - felt like a field trip...). You will LOVE Backstage Magic!!

 

[RweTHEREyet]

We took the tour just last week.

The tour starts at Guest Relations in EPCOT. YOu tour EPCOT, MGM and Magic Kingdom. You travel from park to park in a bus, ours was a really nice Meares bus. Your last park is the MK, but then you board the bus and it returns you to the parking lot of EPCOT. You are not permitted to remain in the parks.

 

[markºoº]

Everyone is correct, the tour end OUTSIDE EPCOT and you will need a ticket to get back into the park.

I did get back in the park for free, however, on a shopping pass. I went to guest services and said I would like to go in the buy something I saw during the tour. I had to buy a full price ticket. However, if I returned with 1 hour, which I did, I would get a full refund. I had enough time to do a few quick rides and buy something and still get my refund. Alas, that was 2-3 years ago and I don't think they allow this anymore.

The tour is fantastic - I would do it again if I had that chance. It is nice to be able to hop on the bus with AC after each segment of the tour. Also, you use the same bus the whole time and it is secured so you can leave your belongings on the bus. This is great since many places you visit do not allow cameras or video taping.