My group met up in the small courtyard outside of City Hall and met our tour guide Mark who gave us headphones so we could all hear him clear as a bell during the tour. Our first stop was the Minnie/Roy Disney statue, which I had never noticed before today. (I feel like a really bad Disney fan for saying that
). He gave us a little background on Roy, and how it was really due to him that the Magic Kingdom went on after Walt died. I had never realized that Roy died so soon after the park opened - December 1971 - only 2 months after the park opened.
As we started heading up Main Street, Mark started telling us about the 4 keys that Disney is based around - Safety, Courtesy, Cleanliness and Show. I loved the details he gave us about the backgrounds of the windows, and the vents where Disney pumps out the smell of baking cookies. Hmmm
. I wonder if they pump out hotdog smells for Caseys? 5 minutes into our tour and I'm already even more convinced that I need to take a solo trip to just sit back and really look at things like window details.
We head past the Crystal Palace to Adventureland, where Mark pointed out the architectural, foilage and musical changes that cause a gradual change from one land to another without being jarring or out of place. He also explained to us that the Tiki Room thatched roof was actually made from strips of aluminim. He went over and knocked a part of the roof, and sure enough you could hear it rattle. Pretty neat!
We were on our way to ride the Jungle Cruise, when my mother made me jump about a mile when she came and tapped me on the shoulder. Her and my father were wandering around adventureland when they saw me walking by. It was interesting to ride the Jungle Cruise without the monologue. Mark told us that the water was really only a few inches deep, and that many of the animals in the water were just heads. Obviously that makes sense, but after years of riding it you never really think of it that way. We all got a big laugh when he pointed out to us that the background music near the head shrinking trader guy at the end says "I Love Disco". I can't believe I had never caught that before.
After that we were headed to the backstage production area, and who should we see wandering by -
Luckily my camera was handy. I immediately thought of TK and Tink. The thought crossed my mind that perhaps Jack should be warned of their impending arrival, but alas he was on his own. I had backstage stuff to see!
Before entering into the backstage production area near Frontierland we had to solemly swear that we wouldn't tell anything that we saw. A Disney vow is a bit of a sacred vow, so sadly I can't share too many details. (I don't want the Disney police coming after me or anything)!
I can tell you that we did see the parade floats area which was pretty neat, and were told how many of the floats were recycled from one parade to the next. It made me a bit sad to see the Spectromagic floats as we weren't going to be able to see the parade during our trip at all due the Liberty Square bridge being repaired all week. We also got to see Goofy practicing for the Boo To You parade, which again, sadly wasn't going to be running until a week after I left. The Boo to You parade is hands down my favorite parade so it was a bit sad to know I was so close to seeing it. Mark said it was good to hear the music for it again, but that give it a week or two and he'd be absolutely sick of it. I can so relate. I feel the same way about Christmas music at my part time job. I love it at first, but about a week before Christmas I am completely sick of the Christmas music loop they play. At that point I'll flip out if I hear Bing Crosby singing Christmas in Killarney one more time!
We discussed the Mountain ranges and lighting rods a bit, saw some ride details for Splash Mountain and then headed back on-stage. We walked towards Liberty Square where he explained the evoultions in the arches on the Liberty Square buildings, and how they get progressively older as you walk away from Frontierland. (Never knew that before). He also pointed out to us the changes in the sidewalks, and how in Liberty Square areas of the pavement are made to look like dirt roads that have gotten muddy and have water running through them. Little details I never really noticed before, certainly not as being signifigant if I had.
The Haunted Mansion was our next ride. We entered in through the servants entrance for the ride, where I again ran into my parents. They were entering just in front of us through the handicapped entrance. We were given a little detail about the mansion which was modeled after Hudson Valley mansions. I went to college right in the area of the Hudson Valley mansions, and once they told us that it immediately clicked. They also pointed out the roof of the mansion is dotted with chess pieces. Again, I never really picked up on the fact before that they looked like chess pieces, but once it was shown to me I couldn't believe I had missed it before.
Before boarding we were given a little background on hidden Mickeys and given 3 to look for while riding. (I only found 2 - I didn't see the one in the graveyard scene). There was no commentary while on the ride, like on the Jungle Cruise, we got to sit back and enjoy the ride. On the way out, Mark pointed out to us the Mr. Toad statue in the pet cemetary.
Lunch was at the Columbia Harbor House. In all my years going to Disney I had never eaten there before. I was surprised at how big it was inside. They had our food set up for us in a little corner of the second floor. It was so quite and peaceful there even though it was the middle of lunch. Definitley a place to visit again when I need some quiet time at lunch. It was much more relaxing than my usual Pecos Bill or Cosmic Rays stop.
Waiting for us with our food were some special pins:
I was seated with a couple from Boston, and a guy on his first ever Disney trip from NYC. I tried to start a conversation with them while we were eating since we had been seated together. The couple was nice, just not very chatty. It was interesting talking to the guy about his impressions as a first time Disney guest. He said he was having fun other than the leaky ceiling in his room at the Wilderness Lodge.
After lunch we were off to the utilidors, the part of the tour I was most looking forward to seeing. We entered the backstage area at the end of Main Street, near the Plaza Restaurant. Again we had to take the solem vow (evoking Walt's memory no less) that we would not tell what we saw. As I was wearing Dis tags on my bag, I'm not budging. They'll know where to find me. The Dapper Dan's were heading backstage as well so they joined in on the oath as well - but sang it for us. I love the Dapper Dans' so it was a nice treat.
Suffice it to say that after a peak backstage I want to work for Disney even more badly than I did before. Sadly Walt Disney World is not leaving Florida any time soon, and until I'm rich enough to have separate homes in Florida for the winter and Connecticut for the rest of the year I'm going to be up north. While I have my moments where I think being down there year round would be a good idea and/or fun, I get reminded that healthwise it's not such a good idea for me. (There will be more on this later). I may need to look into working for Disney's theater/Broadway division though. ESPN isn't far from me either, although for that I'd have to start driving to work again, and ESPN doesn't really scream Disney to me.
Before we had entered the utilidors, Mark asked us several times if anyone needed to use the restrooms. Several times. He reiterated that once we got backstage there were no public restrooms available for us to use, and that it would be about 45 minutes or so until we came back onstage to use the restrooms. Sure enough as soon as we got into the utilidors one of the couples with our group started asking about a restroom.
I swear it wasn't more than 2 minutes after the last time he told us. He told them they were going to have to wait, but they did keep asking a few times. As a result our tour did feel a bit rushed once we hit the utilidors.
Once we were done in the utilidors, we headed back to City Hall to wrap up the trip. It had been about 4 hours, but the morning had just flown by. I can't recommend the tour enough! If anyone is at all thinking of doing it, just go. I think it's a must for any real Disney geek. Our tour guide was so knowledgable it was wonderful to hear everything he told us, and to get to ask all kinds of questions. My parents and brother and sister in law had Matthew as a tour guide last year, and they all had a fantastic time as well.
My only concern going into the tour was that it would "ruin" some of the magic for me. After doing the tour, I don't feel like it ruined anything. If anything I am more appreciative about the magic, and honestly once your in the parks you become immersed in the experience. For the rest of my trip I found myself really taking in even more of the details than usual. The tour really made me more aware of everything that makes Disney so wonderful.
With my tour over how would I spend the rest of my day? Hmmm.....
They were all well and good, since they only really had to deal with him for a few hours in the morning, and then at night while sleeping. (They had shared a suite). We kind of acted like buffers.
I just need to upload the pictures to photobucket.
I think it will work too since he met you in "real" life. 
Sadly I was without the princesses today as they were off to Gatorland with Mickey, Minnie and Pa Eeyore. Ma Tink and Pa Grumpy had their own plans, but at least I was free to have some glorious solo time to myself. I had already been toying with the idea of taking a solo trip to Disney next year, and had planned some free alone time into this trip to see if I liked it or not. Plus, when traveling with extended family, a little bit of time apart is best for everyone. 
I had been dying to do this for a few years now, but had never been able to squeeze it in. The rest of the adults in my party had already taken the tour, so luckily I was on my own for the morning.
Besides when else can you get a shot of the flower Mickey out front with no one in your shot?
). I really think that sometimes it's nice just to explore a bit on your own. I love going with my family, but a little down time is wonderful. Even if it's only for an hour or two. I was talking to my brother about it later in the trip, and he was telling me he loves spending time alone in the park. He's gone while my sister-in-law was at a conference at the Contemporary for work. She wasn't so happy he was living it up in the parks, but he told me it was the best time he's ever spent at Disney.
I said they usually run every 20-25 minutes or so, but he said his way would be faster. As he wandered off I got a good laugh. About 2 minutes later the bus showed up. Go figure.
