Behind the scenes tours???

[billwendy]

hi -

has anyone heard or done any of the behind the scenes tours? my DH and i are looking for something fun and different to do - we are both HUGE disney fans!! we wont have any kids with us this trip, so it might be a perfect time to try a tour????? cost? discounts????

thanks, wendy

 

[sulleyfan]

Cost varies depending on tour.

A great site for tour info and pricing is
http://www.allearsnet.com/btp/tours.htm
You can also get reviews of the tours here.

You might be able to get discounts on the tours if you have AAA, Annual Pass, or Disney Visa.

 

[Simba's Mom]

DH and I have done several and we've never been disappointed. Do you have a favorite park? If so, you might want to do one there. AK is my favorite park, so I did Backstage Safari there last November. I absolutely loved it, and now I can't wait for the opportunity to do Wild By Design there also.

 

[Mousema]

I've signed up for KTTK at MK. It's about 4 - 5 hours with lunch at Columbia.

 

[Johnfish]

Segway tour at epcot was a blast. We also did the back stage safari at animal kingdom That was great fun! I recomend both.

John

 

[CoasterAddict]

I second Johnfish on the Segway tours! It was great fun learning how to ride one and a fascinating new way to see World Showcase.

 

[spiceycat]

i have done the garden of the world tours at Epcot - several years (none lately - might be time to do it again)...

our first tour was $15 gone up in prices haven't they.....

here is what this sites says
http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/tours.htm#Keyskingdom

dvc member also get a discount to some of these tours.

 

[lynn71092]

Another vote for the Segway Tour.
It's great!

 

[Simba's Mom]

i have done the garden of the world tours at Epcot - several years (none lately - might be time to do it again)...

our first tour was $15 gone up in prices haven't they.....

here is what this sites says
http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/tours.htm#Keyskingdom

dvc member also get a discount to some of these tours.

Not too many years ago, the "Behind the Seeds" tour in the Land was free, yet I was the only one on my tour. Now that they're charging ($12 last time I checked), I can't help but wonder how many people go.

 

[martinp13]

Keys to the Kingdom tour at MK is great. Takes a long time, but includes lunch and things you won't see anywhere else.

 

[billwendy]

trying to decide between the keys to the kingdom and the whole day tour that starts at epcot - is the MK part of the big tour similar to the keys to the kingdom tour???

thanks!!

 

[twojo21]

my husband & i did the dolphins in depth tour at epcot with the dolphins which was very cool. theres a 20% discount coupon in the birnbaums wdw book. we also did the backstage safari tour at ak which was very informative & gave us the opp to see the backstage area & pet a rhino.

 

[mahannie]

Had to jump in with this one. I was at WDW in September 2005 and went on both the Segway and the Behind the Scenes tours.

Loved, loved, loved the Segway!! My dad and I both participated and it was a blast! You get to see the World Showcase before they let everyone else in. It was also nice to zip around the lagoon in about 10 minutes as opposed to 20-30 minutes.

As a thank you for arranging the trip, my parents paid for me to take the Behind the Scenes tour. It does take about 7 hours. You start out in Epcot. They take you around the outside of the park, there's a road that basically circles the entire park. You also get to go inside the depths of the American Experience and find out how they operate that attraction. Then off to the enormous warehouse where they keep all of the holiday decorations (over 85,00 square feet, if I recall correctly...) You visit the manufacturing warehouse where they build the animatronics, and the cars for the rides. I actually got to sit in one the Expedition Everest cars! Awesome! Over to the Disney florists, with two divisions -one for the resorts and restaurants and one just for weddings. Then to MGM for lunch and a trip through the costume department. We actually were on the floor where all of the parade costumes are made. You end up in the Magic Kingdom just in time for the afternoon parade. You also get to go underneath the Magic Kingdom in the underground tunnel system. All in all, an absolutely fascinating look at what it takes to make WDW the happiest palce on earth! Every CM was excited to share with you what they did, I think it was because they could shine for a moment and they truly appreciated having the opportunity to talk to the guests. Highly recommended.

 

[spiceycat]

Not too many years ago, the "Behind the Seeds" tour in the Land was free, yet I was the only one on my tour. Now that they're charging ($12 last time I checked), I can't help but wonder how many people go.

yes I took it also with mother back then - there was one other person - boy it was HOT in those green houses....

that is a tour I will never do again..... well maybe in jan or feb when I can go then.

 

[spiceycat]

mahannie - I forgot I had taken that thing until you great description. back in the 90's when DVC was new -we were offer a bunch of these tours for a pretty nice price.

I have completely forgotten it.... thanks for reminding me....

 

[mahannie]

You're welcome. We're planning to go back in August of 2007 and the one tour that we are all signing up for is the Segway. If I could only afford it, I'd get one in a heartbeat.

 

[clhcpaca]

Mahannie

---How much actual walking is done on the 7 hour tour???? I really want to take it when I go in September solo, but am worried about the amount of walking that will be required.

Thanks, Cindy

 

[mahannie]

Let's see. Out of the seven hours you are either walking or standing for about 3.5 to 4 of them. There's about an hour for lunch and then the rest of the time is spent in the bus going to the various places. Definitely wear good walking shoes, as the walking pace is fairly brisk, but I think that is so that they can show you as much as they can. It's also not like you are walking for hours at a time, it's more like you walk thru various buildings and departments with brief stops to talk to CM. I don't think that the amount of walking is more than you would do walking around one of the parks for the day, it's just more concentrated into a smaller time frame.

Don't hesitate about going on this tour because you will have such a huge appreciation of how the Disney magic is made. I guarantee you'll see the parks in a whole new light.

 

[LUV4TINK]

trying to decide between the keys to the kingdom and the whole day tour that starts at epcot - is the MK part of the big tour similar to the keys to the kingdom tour???

thanks!!

billwnedy, I have done both tours and much of the Keys tour is included in the behind the scenes tour. So it might depend on how much time you want to devote to it. Don't forget that if you have a AP you can get a discount and you can video tape on the tours execpt when you are behind the "off limit areas" of WDW. I plan on taking the KTTK again with my niece next year.

Enjoy, Paula

 

[Cheshire Figment]

I am working with a group of people who have gone to Disneyana Conventions in the past and are planning our Second Occassional Unofficial Disneyana Non-Convention. We have set up a backstage tour, Disney By Design to be held on November 1st in the morning. This tour in only available for pre-formed groups of at least 20 people. However, we only have 18 people and need at least two more people so we can have this tour. If you are intersted in this for more information either send me a PM or e-mail.