Backstage Magic

[Sphyrna]

Was emailing my friend today starting to come up with an itinerary for our trip. Since we've both been to the parks so many times I kinda wanted to do something different. He suggested doing a tour, so we're looking at the Backstage Magic tour. Has anyone on here done it? I remember hearing good things about it on the podcast. I also read Kevin's review of it. If he enjoyed it then I figure it must be good. But thought I'd see if anyone here has done it, since I value your opinions I was thinking about booking it for Monday. I figure since it's Memorial Day the parks might be a bit more crowded. This would give us something to do that day and avoid the crowds.

 

[OrlandoMike]

I know I should know this, but which tour is it? I'm thinking of three now....MK backstage the short version, MK backstage the long version, and three parks backstage....

I've done the "Walking in Walts Footsteps" at DL and I loved it!

 

[Sphyrna]

The one I'm talking about is the 3 park, 7 hour backstage tour. Is it worth the price? It's like $240 total. I plan to get an AP so will get a discount.

 

[OrlandoMike]

From what I have heard, that one is a little rushed, with long bus rides between parks.

For me, I would do the longer MK tour. The utilidors, parade barn, and over all education about the park is fascinating!

And $240 is a bit much!

I want to do the steam train tour soon!

 

[Sphyrna]

Thanks Mike. I was reading reviews on both and it seems like the Keys to the Kingdom does rate higher. $70 for a 4-5 hr tour sounds like a better value too. I'll see how my friend feels.

 

[mickeyfan1]

I have done the long MK version and the Back stage Safaria at the Animal Kingdom. I was sadly unimpressed with the MK. Having been in the parks backstage whilst in Disney Institite classes, I was dissapointed in what they showed us on the tour. Back Stage Safari, OMPug, I got to pet a Rhino. I found it to be a much better tour all around. But, that is just my opinion. Lots of people LOVE the MK tour, I think the more you know about the park itself, the less you might get out of it.

 

[Sphyrna]

Thanks for the input! I was reading about the Backstage Safari and how you get to pet a rhino and thought it'd be cool. I really don't know much about Disney so I'm sure any tour will be a fountain of information for me. It seems they keep changing the BM tour. It used to take you into the Christmas warehouse and you got to see all the decorations and trees and stuff. That would be nice. Now it shows you the laundry facility instead. I'm sure it is quite a production to process all the laundry for WDW but don't really think it's something I'm interested in seeing.

 

[cmpdw4me]

I've HEARD of them, but don't know anyone personally who's taken it. Sorry. Good idea though, the parks WILL be crazy crowded!

 

[jenn&nelsonrego]

Thanks Mike. I was reading reviews on both and it seems like the Keys to the Kingdom does rate higher. $70 for a 4-5 hr tour sounds like a better value too. I'll see how my friend feels.

We did the Keys to the Kingdom in 2008 and liked it alot! We had a great tour guide who obviously had a deep affection for Walt Disney and WDW. She actually made me tear up!

 

[soulmates]

We did the Keys to the Kingdom in 2008 and liked it alot! We had a great tour guide who obviously had a deep affection for Walt Disney and WDW. She actually made me tear up!

I was mulling over the idea of doing that on our trip, but we have SO much planned. One day....

 

[ABOMIBOT]

We did Keys to the Kingdom way back when and loved it. And we never really "got" AK until we did the Wild by Design Tour... loved that one, too!

 

[cmpdw4me]

We did the Keys to the Kingdom in 2008 and liked it alot! We had a great tour guide who obviously had a deep affection for Walt Disney and WDW. She actually made me tear up!

I REALLY want to do this, but don't think we can squeeze in anything else on THIS trip!

 

[mikelan6]

I did the Backstage Magic tour in 2006. I think we paid $200 for it. It began at Epcot, went to the Studios for lunch and ended in the Magic Kingdom with stops at the Disney Florist, the Christmas warehouse and the MK Central shops. I understand they change the itinerary around every once in a while. I thought it was well worth the money. I did a TR about the tour in 2006.

Have fun whichever tour you go on!

 

[MonorailMan]

Do they still have the Animation "tour"? (I forget what it was called exactly.) I did it in the mid-90's, and was pretty disappointed. You were supposed to have a class taught by an actual animator/in-betweener (from the daytime cartoons, not the feature films) where you sat outside and made a 5-6 second "flipbook" essentially. I guess I was expecting it to be better because I thought every person who joined would have at least some art experience, but since the drawing levels were all over the map they couldn't really teach anything that was too difficult, which I was disappointed with. I think I got a certificate of completion for it, but I couldn't recommend taking it.

 

[Sphyrna]

Thanks Mike! I enjoyed the TR. I didn't read through it thoroughly so as to not ruin any surprises but I did enjoy what I read.

 

[starann]

I want to do the steam train tour soon!

Mike, DH and his dad did the Steam Train Tour and really liked it, but they are into things like that. He had a HECK of a time booking it though, apparently no one including the manger on duty knew what he was talking about and told him there was no such tour!!!!! After about 2 hours of 'fighting' with them that there was a tour, Disney comped it for them!


I would love to to the Key to the Kingdom Tour, but my kids are to little. I'm saving that for my solo trip...you know the trip when the kids decide they are too old to go see Mickey!

 

[Sphyrna]

I booked our tour today! I ended up booking the Keys to the Kingdom tour. I debated on whether to do it or the BM tour. I started leaning towards KTTK as our first tour. Ended up not having much of a choice as the BM wasn't available on Memorial Day. Maybe we'll do the BM tour on our next trip. I'd definitely like to do it, especially this year since I'll have an AP and there's a 15% discount. I'm looking forward to the tour!