Do they still do the underground tours?

[leahjade]

My husband said he'd like to try it if it's still offered.

 

[suzimar57]

Keys to the Kingdom - yes - you do still go underground into the utilidors!

we loved it - best part of the tour!!!

 

[bradk]

both backstage magic and keys to the kingdom visit the utilidors where you'll see pictures and displays on how to dress and a couple of HR doors.

 

[leahjade]

what is utilidor? Which one do you all recommend? How much are the tours - do you think it's worth it for a family of 5?

 

[TommyTutone]

We just took the tour last Thursday and loved all of it. The only negatives, and this is a minor one, is that the Jungle Cruise ride/info was not necessary and that the tour did not go into Fantasyland or Tomorrowland.

The highlights are seeing the utility corridors (utilidors), the surprise gift you receive at lunch, and just learning about all sorts of trivia about the park.

The price was $51 with AAA discount, which includes lunch. In addition, no cameras are allowed and nobody under the age of 16 is permitted (so to not ruin the magic for them).

I cannot recommend it enough, and with luck you will be led by Lori Ann, who is not only very smart and personable, but also very easy on the eyes if you know what I mean, rawr.

 

[bradk]

utilidor is a cutesy name for the tunnel (utility + corridor = utilidor), the network of passageways that the MK was actually built on top of so that CMs can get from one area of the park to the other without being visible to guests.

backstage magic is definitely the cream of the crop.

be aware that many tours, mostly backstage ones, have age minimums. the minimum for the 2 above is 16.

 

[leahjade]

Are you both talking about the Keys to the Kingdom or the Backstage Magic tour? Are they the same price? How long is the tour - it's all at MK right? Thanks for all your help!

 

[bradk]

TommyTutone is referring to Keys to the Kingdom which is at the MK and mostly onstage.

I've been talking about both.

both have a minimum age requirement of 16

 

[TommyTutone]

Are you both talking about the Keys to the Kingdom or the Backstage Magic tour? Are they the same price? How long is the tour - it's all at MK right? Thanks for all your help!

The price for the Backstage Magic tour is $199, goes to EPCOT, MGM, and MK and runs 7 hours. The one I took, Keys to the Kingdom, is 4 hours (ours ran long due to someone needing handicapped access), is only at MK, and costs $51.

One tip that I failed to heed is to consider a tour that starts before the park opens. There is a separate turnstyle for those with reservations, you finish up earlier, and you have a few minutes to get some pictures of the Main Street area before the masses pour through.

 

[leahjade]

wow, four hours before the park opened would be a little early for my 16 years olds! Do you have to make reservations and how long in advance? Do you have to have tickets to the park? He wants the underground one so I guess the Keys to the Kingdom would be great! Thanks for the help.

 

[TommyTutone]

wow, four hours before the park opened would be a little early for my 16 years olds! Do you have to make reservations and how long in advance? Do you have to have tickets to the park? He wants the underground one so I guess the Keys to the Kingdom would be great! Thanks for the help.

Oh, sorry for the confusion. The earliest tour started at 8:30am and the park opens at 9am. Ideally you could get in at 8-8:15am and have a little bit of time before the crowds enter the park, but the whole tour does not occur before the park opens.

You bring up a good point though, Keys to the Kingdom does require a park ticket as you meet and depart right next to Town Hall.

 

[leahjade]

how long ahead do you think I should make reservations for a summer trip?

 

[TommyTutone]

how long ahead do you think I should make reservations for a summer trip?

I think, but you can check to be sure, it is a 90 day window you can make reservations. I would do so asap since I know when I tried to change the time for the two of us at the 2-week mark, the other bookings were already filled.

 

[bradk]

tours can actually be booked up to a year in advance depending on how they release dates

 

[SusanDK]

You mentioned AAA discount, but is there an AP discount for the tours? Do they have tour start times throughout the day?

Sounds interesting and like a lot of fun.

Susan

 

[bradk]

yes, it has an AP discount. all standard tour discounts apply.

there are 3 Keys tours daily: 8:30, 9:00. 9:30. there is 1 backstage magic tour daily. other tours vary

 

[brentalex]

What do they do to check kids ages. My DD will be 14 next year and would love to do this. She has no kind of id that shows what her age is. If we said she was 16 what do they do to verify this?

 

[bradk]

they'll tell you ID is required when you book it. there's probably an element of insurance purposes dictating the exact age so I'd expect them to take it seriously.