Best Backstage Tours?

[contempgal]

I'm planning on doing a couple backstage tours on an upcoming trip and am having trouble deciding which to do. I've done the World Showcase tour before and loved it. Any recommendations?

 

[miste76]

I really enjoyed the keys to the kingdom tour. I'm thinking of maybe doing the backstage magic tour this year, I've heard that it's great and I think it would be more diverse (covers 3 parks.)
Whichever way you go, I'm sure you'll have a great time... I don't think Disney does too much that I wouldn't enjoy (at least once.)

 

[contempgal]

I'm leaning toward Backstage Magic right now. I've heard Keys is awesome as well............maybe I'll do both. LOL

 

[disney queen]

another vote for KTTK!! and we loved the segway tour at epcot in may. great!!!!

 

[contempgal]

Ok, Backstage Magic vs. Keys to the Kingdom? Anyone did both?

 

[contempgal]

Bounce........wanting to get more input if possible.

 

[mousebrat]

Kind of depends on what you are in to. On our upcoming trip, we are doing the steam train tour, Gardens of the World, the world showcase tour, and both Animal Kingdom tours. We've done KTTW before and loved it, so if you haven't done that, I would highly recommend it. I think any tour is great for someone who has been to the parks a few times - they really give you a new appreciation for things.

When we get back from our 8-28 - 9-5 trip, we plan on doing a trip report. Unfortunately, that may be too late to help you.

 

[contempgal]

Thanks Mousebrat, I'm debated between Keys and Backstage Magic at this point. I'm also considering the AK tour.

I won't be going to WDW until 9/19 so your input would be appreciated. I'll be making some reservations soon but it wouldn't hurt to hear your experiences!

I've done the WS tour. You will love it!!

 

[kkmauch]

If you are into the marine life at all, you would like the dolphins in depth program. I swam with the dolphins in May and I LOVED it. You are given the chance to see the behind the scenes work of the mairine life in the Living Seas at Epcot. It was so wonderful. You get to do everything from feed the doplins and hug them to taking a tour of the water-filtration system.
The program does fill quickly, so you should make your reservation as soon as you can.

 

[bigtinkfun]

I did Backstage Safari last year and I'm going to do it again this year with my Mom. I highly recommend this tour. We got to visit all the backstage areas involving animal care, including housing, food preparation and vet. care. Although they don't guarantee animal interaction, we got to pet a rhino and met a giraffe. We also heard a lecture from a herpetologist who brought along a baby gator for us to pet. The tour concluded with a private trip through Kilamajaro Safaris with the Big Red/Little Red story turned off. Instead, our guides showed us all the ins and outs of this attraction and we got to spend a good long time "on safari."

I think sometimes folks give AK short shrift as a theme park, and tours like Backstage Safari really open guests' eyes to the incredible wonders that await them there. This was a great tour.

 

[contempgal]

bigtinkfun, or anyone else who has done Backstage Safari at AK..........how much walking does this one require? I'm also looking into some tours for my dad who recently had knee surgery. I've heard the train tour has the least walking but I don't think he would be too interested in it. I know he would love Backstage Safari but I'm afraid that if it entails too much walking, his knee will begin to bother him. He's ok if he can rest it and it looks like this tour has some times that he would be sitting. Yes? How much walking?

 

[AKQJ10]

I've done both the Backstage Magic and Keys to the Kingdom tours.

I did Backstage a number of years ago (pre-9/11), and it was incredible. 7 hours of great informatoin, backstage areas, etc. However, I must throw in a caveat in that they no longer take you to as many places as they did before. For example, no more Central Shops (one of the major highlights of the trip).

I also did the KTTK tour last year, and enjoyed that as well. It was not as in-depth or as long as the BM tour, and I feel that this tour depends highly on the CM guide you get. I had one once who was very dry, and surprisingly not the most helpful in answering some of my questions. It was likely an isolated incident, but I felt it worthy to mention.

If the MK is your thing, the MTTK tour is for you. If you'd like to see some more of the inner workings of two other parks (Epcot and MGM), then go for the whole enchilada and try the BM tour.

 

[bigtinkfun]

Contempgal, there's a fair amount of walking and some of it can be over ground that is a little muddy and uneven if it's been raining. The tour drives you in vans backstage where the animals live, and you get out and walk around several animal houses including the elephant house, giraffe houses, rhino house. You also walk through the areas where they store the food and through the animal hospital up at conservation station.

But there's also some sitting down. The herpetologist talked with us in a big conference room and Kilamajaro was also done sitting down. I'd say the walking when I did it was about 50-50.

Hope that helps and hope your dad recovers quickly and completely from his knee surgery.

 

[webmomom]

Originally posted by AKQJ10
I've done both the Backstage Magic and Keys to the Kingdom tours.

I did Backstage a number of years ago (pre-9/11), and it was incredible. 7 hours of great informatoin, backstage areas, etc. However, I must throw in a caveat in that they no longer take you to as many places as they did before. For example, no more Central Shops (one of the major highlights of the trip).

]

first of all let me say, we did the backstage tour in May, and yes we did do Central Shops.

I have done MTTK, Backstage, both tours at AK, Three tours at Epcot plus the Segway tour in June. Each one is different in its own right. They are all wonderful and you can learn alot about the working of Disney. In reference to the CM"S, yes they all are different, but each one adds his or her special thing to each tour. First time we did the backstage tour( yes we have done it twice) the Cm was wonderful, the second time the CM was not as up as the other Cm but was equally as good and learned different info from her.

 

[AKQJ10]

I'm happy to say that I stand corrected. I know that there were many new security policies in place that restricted access to many CM-only areas, and was told by someone who cid the tour that they did not see the CS, wardrobe, etc.

Now maybe I can take it again when I go in September!!!!

 

[Scoobmuzic]

I loved Keys to the Kingdom, we did it twice! but one of my other personal favorites was the UnDiscovered Future World tour in EPCOT. Since EPCOT is our favorite park, this was very interesting to us both and Brad our guide was Fantastic! He was so knowlegable. If you enjoy EPCOT, I would choose that one.

 

[ChisJo]

Dumb question, but, if you do a tour, do you still need to pay for admission into the park?
Is there a mid-day break for lunch for the backstage tour, and do they provide lunch?
Where can I find more information on these tours?
Thanks, Jo

 

[contempgal]

Most tours do require admission but not all.

Yes, there is a break for lunch on the Backstage Tour, as there may be for Keys (not sure on that one).

Go here to learn more about the tour requirements:
http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/tours.htm

 

[webmomom]

The backstage tour you eat at Mama Melrose and the lunch is great. They have a place set up for the tour and the food is brought out to you. there was so much food that I was really full when I left. You also get a little gift at the end of this tour also. On this tour you get to ride in a bus and they have bottled water for you to take (no charge ) in the bus.

The KTTK tour you eat at CHH. In the morning when you arrive you will be given a choice of a couple of things and when you stop for lunch it is there waiting for you along with a little gift.

 

[mishoe01]

I did the Backstage Magic tour last Sept - wonderful!!! No park admission needed for this one, and lunch is included (at Mama Melrose as stated above). This was my 1st behind the magic tour, and I really enjoyed it!

I'm sure you'll have fun no matter which one you choose.