Backstage magic vs a regular trip to disneyland?

[adznyfan]

Help

i'm planning a trip to disneyland for my daughter's 16th birthday and am torn between a regular trip to disneyland or the adventures backstage magic trip -living in northern calif we've been to disneyland alot but having seen this trip thought it might offer a different viewpoint-some of my questions -

can we stay extra days at the disneyland hotel?

when given free time in the parks during the tour do we have fast passes since during the summer the lines will be outrageous in the afternoon

any thoughts from people who have been on the backstage magic tour

my daughter is a HUGE fan and thought this might be a fun way to celebrate but can stay at the disneyland hotel for a longer time for the same cost but this tour seems to offer stuff you can't get anywhere else

so any thoughts would be GREATLY appreciated!!

thanks in advance

cindy

 

[MJGirl]

Hi ... This is a new tour and the first trip will be April 22 (or 24 not sure). According to an article I read you get special passes for the rides during down time. I am booked on the August 12 tour. The extras it offers sound like you won't get anywhere else. The tour is pricey and suited to a disney addict. When are you looking at going?

 

[bradk]

an we stay extra days at the disneyland hotel?
backstage magic guests stay at the GCH. it can be extended post- tour at a special contracted rate. you'd have to ask specifically what the rate would be for your trip, but it should be significantly less than the rack rate and competitive with DLH rates. of course, if you prefer, you can simply move to the DLH on your own.

a special 3 day park hopper is included which can be upgraded by the ABD guide to a 4 day for either $20 or $25

likewise you can add days at the beginning at a specially contracted rate at the Renaissance Hollywood.


when given free time in the parks during the tour do we have fast passes since during the summer the lines will be outrageous in the afternoon

as mentioned, there will be 'special' fastpasses but details are not yet known. all we can go on is that some AAA packages used to include enhanced FPs which allowed you to get 1 FP per attraction without having to wait (you'd have to wait to get a second set for the same attraction, but you could go directly from attraction 1 to attraction 2). this should be the minimum. on the opposite end, they have distributed special FPs to press during events that have no restrictions.


but can stay at the disneyland hotel for a longer time for the same cost but this tour seems to offer stuff you can't get anywhere else

this is very much true in and out of disneyland. what's promised on paper is you'll visit walt disney studios, walt disney imagineering, jim henson studios and more - all of which are not accessible to the public at large. at disneyland, it will include special backstage tours (which DLR doesn't offer to any other guests - mostly because DLR doesn't have much of a backstage) plus access to Walt's apartment over the firehouse (and the new dream apartment if another credible report is to be believed). these are things no regular guest can do or buy access to.

pick a link and read up. you can find a more generic basic itinerary online (from travel agent websites): http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=backstage+magic+tour+itinerary&btnG=Search

the first tour is april 22 and disney has promised a full itinerary to be mailed about 45 days out, so more info then.

personally i don't find the price that disparaging, almost half of it is in the hotels.

 

[adznyfan]

thanks so much for all your help

from what you guys have said sounds like it's perfect for my disney addict daughter!!

cindy

 

[inkkognito]

I'm booked for the first one on the 22nd, so hopefully I'll be seeing that itinerary real soon!

 

[nunzia]

There was a great run down on this on Mice Age awhile back. I'm sure you can find it in the archives
We are booked for this in Jan 09 and can't wait.

 

[MJGirl]

Here is the link Nunzia was talking about.

http://www.miceage.com/allutz/al111307c.htm

You have to scroll down to the bottom of the screen and it is continued on the next page!