How is Disney's The Magic behind the Steam tour?

[tstidm1]

I'm planning to go in May 2016 (2nd-7th) and want to do the Magic Behind the Steam tour. Even though the price is reasonable, I must use a day of park admission and will only have four day tickets. With losing three of the best touring hours out there (8 AM-11 AM), I am wondering whether it's worth. I've listened to the DIS Unplugged episode from a couple years back, but want some fresh opinions on the tour. I really enjoy trains, so it seems like something I would want to do. How early do you have to book this tour? What are others who have taken the tour opinions of it?

 

[cincystamper]

I loved it, and I am NOT a train lover. We did it in 2013 and booked it because my dad IS a train lover. We all absolutely loved the tour. He was like a kid in a candy store...I hadn't seen him smile that big in years! We got some great pictures that I firmly catalog in the 'priceless' category. When it was done, we went to Casey's for lunch then my folks headed back to the resort for a nap (it was a very early morning). I had a great time touring MK on my own and got everything done I wanted to get done before we all met up again for dinner, so I didn't feel like missing the early morning hours was a huge hindrance to having a great day.

 

[bookgirl]

I am also not a train enthusiast, but I really enjoyed this tour. There was some neat trivia, you get to ride the train backstage, it's one of the few tours where you will be allowed and encouraged to take pictures (except for something rare like work trucks on main street pre opening, they don't want pictures taken of that) you might get a one of a kind pin (one of the conductors designed one especially for the tour and as of last year they were still passing them out), you get a lot of train information, and they let you sit in the engineer seat.

I went during a slower time and rides were not crowded at all when we finished.

 

[abner1776]

Took this tour this past March and had a great time...full of fun and useful information about the trains and the parks as well as going "backstage" into the round house to see the other trains. Before taking the tour I always thought it would be "cool" to be the train engineer on the Disney trains, but after the tour...not so sure....why ?? Well, I guess you just have to take the tour and find out. I just hope they never get rid of the steam trains and replace them with diesel.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Fabulous tour!!! Of the many tours I have taken, it is the one where pictures can be taken backstage (except for a few select areas). Great tour.

15% discount for AP, DVC and Disney Visa.

 

[tndisneyfan]

We did the Steam Tour several years ago. My son is really into trains but DH and I are not. We all enjoyed it, it was a lot of fun. I did feel that it was a little long though. The last part of the tour was about Walt's personal RR he had at his home with the miniature trains (yes I know they are called something but I can't remember). We all thought that part was a little boring.

If you are going to have to buy an extra day of tickets, I'm not sure if it's worth it or not.

 

[Sadie22]

We loved it. Our engineer had a lot of stories to tell and spent a lot of time answering questions. Be sure to go over to the Wilderness Villas and see the mini train cars from Walt's personal backyard railroad.

 

[marthachick]

We planned to do this tour on our next trip in a few weeks but the trains are being refurbed. DS (the train enthusiast) is pretty bummed.

 

[muffyn]

how does this work since it is before the park opens. where do you meet?
also i use an ecv. any problems there?

 

[trouttigger]

DH & DS are train fans. We took this tour in 2011 and loved every minute of it. I only booked it a couple months early. My brother called two or three weeks early and was not able to get our date but got it the next day. It is one of my favorite Disney memories. I highly encourage you to do it, but I completely understand if you feel like your time constraints will interfere with your MK day. That year, we spent 2 full days at MK and had more than enough time.

 

[Dan Murphy]

how does this work since it is before the park opens. where do you meet?
also i use an ecv. any problems there?

There will be CM's there, outside the entrance area, to guide you where to go.

Since you board the train, you would need to transfer from your ECV to the train or a wheelchair at the train station.