Behind our Steam Trains Tour??

[elgerber]

Has anyone done this tour before? I have a 10 yr old DS that loves trains. All I've read says it's $30 which I think is reasonable for a WDW tour. It also says it starts at promptly 7:30 am, and I'm wondering what is the best way to get to the MK from the BWV at that hour of the morning??

Thanks!

Erika

 

[bobbiwoz]

We just did it Nov. 1st and it was wonderful. DH got to "be" a conductor, and now he has dreams of retiring to Florida and doing it for real!

We drove to the CR, and the gatekeeper tells you the best place to park for the short walk to MK.

Bobbi

 

[elgerber]

Thanks so much! One other question, did you have to make reservations for it far in advance or not, and were there a lot of people on the tour?

Erika

 

[bobbiwoz]

There were 11 people on the tour. I booked 1 month ahead, it was my birthday present to DH, but then I was able to add my mom on to the ressie 2 weeks before the tour. Perhaps you can get a DVC discount or a Disney Visa discount.

Bobbi

 

[DaveH]

I took the tour recently. The recommended way to get there is drive or take a taxi. We had some folks in our group join us late because they took the regular WDW busses to MK. We were not very far into our tour but they miss a little bit. As of Sep there was discounts for DVC and Disney Club. I do not have a Disney Visa so I do not know if they have a discount.

 

[crcormier]

My dad is a big train nut and took this tour with my mom this summer and they both really enjoyed it a lot. There is a 15% discount on all tours right now for Disney Visa Card holders, DVC members, Disney Club members, and there is also a coupon in the latest Birnbaum book. Enjoy!

Craig

 

[Dan Murphy]

Yes, I did, and it is excellent. I think I read where they just made it a bit longer I think. And agree on driving to CR and walking. Here are some good writeups on all the tours.

www.wdwig.com/tours.htm

 

[robinb]

I took the Train Tour 2 years ago and it was fantastic. Just make sure to bring your confirmation with you when you go to park at the Contemporary Resort.

I booked the tour for a couple of serious rail fan types. They knew we were going on a tour, but exactly what tour was a surprise. I handed the guard at the Contemporary my confirmation and said, "We're here for a tour and shhhh it's a surprise!" She responded, "Oh! You're here for the T-R-A-I-N tour." Just like that. I said, "You know they're grown-up and know how to spell!"

Here's a picture. Does it look like my friend was having fun?

 

[bearzabout]

We took the tour on Monday, 11/10. Please call and make sure they accept 10 year olds. Tours have different age limits. I can't remember what the minimum age of the Steam Train Tour was.

Deb's site is not up to date. The days of the tour are now Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Book Tuesday if you want a small crowd. Few people know it is available on that day.

The price is now more than $30. We paid $34 each after our annual pass discount.

Our guide talked until noon. Keep your morning free if you want to learn more about Walt Disney's life and personal interest in trains.

We were told when we booked our tickets a few days before the tour that we could not rely on Disney transportation. We drove to the contemporary lot. Three out of seven people booked on our tour did not show up. I wonder if they had transportation problems.

We enjoyed the tour and felt $34 for a 4.5 hour tour/talk was a great value.

 

[KSgirl]

I think my 10 year old son would LOVE this tour. Did you say you can get an AP discount? Is that true for all Disney tours, or only on special offers?

 

[elgerber]

Thanks again everyone for your comments!!! All the books and sites I have read say the minimum age is 10, including Birnbaums, so I would hope that's correct.

So you all recommend driving to the Contemporary and parking there? No issues with the guards not letting you park?

Thanks again so much!!!

Erika

 

[Dan Murphy]

That is where they recommend you park.

 

[LibertyBelle]

The age limit for the tour is 10 so your son is fine. The price is now $40 plus tax (and your park ticket) but you can get discounts as stated by other posters, if it is avalaible. The guards at the Contemporary are very accomodating and will show you were to park no problems... As for the days, Tuesday is the best day to have fewer people on the tour. It has just recently been added and is not advertised as an option yet so very few people know about it. As for the size of the tour... there are currently 5 tour guides trained for that tour so if the group gets to big they will just schedule an additional guide (so I wouldn't worry about there not being room). Also, make sure you bring your camera... some of the people that are booking the tours are being told that cameras are not allowed which is not true. You are more than welcome to bring one and take pictures (there is a certain part of the tour that pictures are not allowed, but your tour guide will let you know when that is)

 

[betterlatethannever]

Originally posted by LibertyBelle
... As for the size of the tour... there are currently 5 tour guides trained for that tour so if the group gets to big they will just schedule an additional guide (so I wouldn't worry about there not being room). ...

I thought there was a limit because there is only so much time you can spend behind the scenes before the train has to go on stage for the park opening. Only about three people at a time can climb up in the steam engine.

When we did the tour, there were 17 people and we were rushed through that part.

Ed

 

[bearzabout]

I was told on 11/10 that the tour is limited to 20 people. I tried to book the previous Thursday but it was full.

 

[LibertyBelle]

Originally posted by betterlatethannever
I thought there was a limit because there is only so much time you can spend behind the scenes before the train has to go on stage for the park opening.

It depends on when you are trying to do the tour. If you are looking at Thanksgiving week when the park will be packed and they need both trains out first thing in the morning they are going to set a limit so that they can get the train back into operation by 9am. If you are coming during a slower time, the other train is already out (they always run at least two trains) and when the tour train returns is not a Huge issue...Also because they have added an additional day the tours are usually not that big. The Saturday tours tend to have more people (because it's Saturday). They can put a limit on the number of people on the tour, but I have also seen two guides scheduled to accomodate a larger group.

There are lots of variables about how much time you actually get at the Roundhouse. First it would depend on if there were any delays getting the first train out (It should be at Main Street around 7:30am). That train has to come up to Main Street and then do a complete loop of the park before you can board. It depends on how long it takes to get everyone up to main street and boarded onto the train once it returns to the station. Along the same lines...what time you actually get back to the roundhouse. The train that brings you back drops you off and goes back out to the park and another train will bring you back out (that train should be leaving the roundhouse at roughly 8:30am). It would depend on how long the tour guide talks "in the roundhouse" as you are not allowed off the train when it is in the roundhouse (only in the yard) they do back into the roundhouse and talk and then pull into the yard to let you off (some guides briefly talk about the facilites others go into a little more depth). Then it also depends on how long the others in your group take to look at the train itself. You are correct that only about 3 people can go up at a time, some people go up, look, take pics and come out... others go up and stay there for a while...

Most of the tours have roughly 5-15 people on them. I have seen tours that are only 2 people and other tours that have lots of people... most of the time there capacity is not an issue

 

[elgerber]

Thanks everyone. I just got off the phone making reservations for dh and ds for the Tuesday of our visit. She tried to tell me they changed the age minimum to 16, then she put me on hold and told me I was right, it is 10. They have raised the price to $40, so with my discount (DC, DVC or AP) it was $68 for two people. It has also been changed to 3 hours in length from 2 hours. My son will be so excited!!!

Erika