Keys To Kingdom Tour and Stamina

[middlesista]

Been reading about the Keys to the Kingdom Tour - 5 hours, walking, stopping, standing, talking about Disney - sounds great to me. With that said...what type of stamina is needed? I am fine with the walking, we are planning a trip in cool weather but my husband has to rest frequently and although his mobility is not impaired to any great degree and he does not use a mobility aide nor will he agree to one - I am wondering if he will be able to keep up? Would appreciate thoughts from folks who have taken this tour.

 

[lroger01]

I think he'll be fine. The walking isn't over any long distances at one time. You wear headsets to hear the tour guide, so he can grab a nearby seat if needed and still hear everything. You also stop for selected rides and for lunch. I suggest you plan it for your first full day in the parks - he should need to sit less and you'll both enjoy it more on fresh feet.

 

[amberpi]

They don't even tour the whole MK over those 5 hours, its VERY leisurely.

 

[MHSweb79]

The issue may not be the walking but the standing. The tour stops repeatedly and you stand while the guide talks. And talks. It's pretty hard on the feet, and in most areas there's no place to sit, even for a minute. Also, most of the time you're outside, so heat/ sun may be an issue. On our tour we had someone in a rented wheelchair, and they were easily accommodated.

You might ask about this when you call to book the tour- they may have some suggestions.

 

[chicagoshannon]

It's not bad. The only issue I had was standing in the utilidor. We stood in one place for a long time and it was at the end of the day.

 

[juliebug1997]

It's not bad. The only issue I had was standing in the utilidor. We stood in one place for a long time and it was at the end of the day.

This was me too.

It's a great tour, but there is a lot of standing in one place sometimes, although one of my guides let us sit down for part of her discussion across from Pirates. You visit the Jungle Cruise and the Haunted Mansion. There was one other ride--we did Pirates on my first tour, so we technically did four rides, but we only did three rides on my second tour. Maybe consider getting one of those wheelchairs if you're really worried. They don't go any place that's not accessible.

 

[abner1776]

Make sure you and your DH wear the most comfortable sneakers you have cause as the previous posters say, the walking is not the problem...it's the standing for long periods of time.

If I could have kept going it would not have been as bad, but the standing is a killer.

By the time you go "underground" the tour is almost over and there is no place to sit down down there. Our tour guide was great and tried to find places for people to sit and rest but in some cases, there just is no place to rest so be prepared.

 

[mare312]

I did this tour while seven months pregnant in July. I think he'd definitely be ok. Like pp said it is more standing than walking, and our tour guide also tried to find us many spots to sit. Enjoy!

 

[FlyingBelle]

This was me too.

It's a great tour, but there is a lot of standing in one place sometimes, although one of my guides let us sit down for part of her discussion across from Pirates. You visit the Jungle Cruise and the Haunted Mansion. There was one other ride--we did Pirates on my first tour, so we technically did four rides, but we only did three rides on my second tour. Maybe consider getting one of those wheelchairs if you're really worried. They don't go any place that's not accessible.

Wow, we only did one ride on our tour - Jungle Cruise. I feel a little jipped!

We had 4 people in our group in wheelchairs. I do agree - with others, I was tired of just standing at the end of our tour! The walking wasn't bad at all.

 

[Hopefully]

Been reading about the Keys to the Kingdom Tour - 5 hours, walking, stopping, standing, talking about Disney - sounds great to me. With that said...what type of stamina is needed? I am fine with the walking, we are planning a trip in cool weather but my husband has to rest frequently and although his mobility is not impaired to any great degree and he does not use a mobility aide nor will he agree to one - I am wondering if he will be able to keep up? Would appreciate thoughts from folks who have taken this tour.

If by rest frequently you mean sit for a bit, I think this tour will not work for him. There are only a few places to sit and they are pretty far between breaks. I did this tour in my mid 50's and I am healthy with no mobility or stamina issues at all, and I was tired and looking for places to sit. If you could convince him to use a wheelchair, just for the tour, that would work.
Sorry, but I think your concern is valid.

 

[TiggerBouncy]

Been on it twice.

As others have said, a lot of standing in place. the Utilidors and the back lot (parade lot) were probably the worst spots for standing. However, our guide found us a few places to sit and rest our feet. If you have a good guide, you should be okay. Just let them know in advance, and take an early tour while the park is not too filed. the first time I went, I took the very first tour, and the park was more empty (thus more opportunities to sit). The second time we took the last tour starting time and there were less places to sit.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Please ask him the following questions. Here are the suggested answers to go with them.

1. Are you disabled (even temporarily)? Yes.

2. Do the people you are traveling with, such as your family, know you are disabled? Yes.

3. Do you expect to meet anyone you know during this trip who may not know you are disabled. Probably No!

4. Do you expect to meet a bunch of people who you will probably never meet again in your life? Probably yes!

5. Is there any reason at all that you should care what these people think about you? Absolutely No!!

6. Will using a wheelchair or ECV make for a better vacation for you and your family? Absolutely YES!

 

[goofy_joe]

In my experience, there were a lot of places to sit down, and plenty of opportunities for biological breaks. We even were able to sit down in places that I didn't even know existed before we did the tour, particularly in Adventureland. When I took it, I'd been going to MK since I was a kid, but I found little nooks and crannies that I never knew were there.

If you do elect a mobility aid, then the tour is definitely accessible. There was a Guest in a wheelchair on my tour, and she went everywhere the tour went.

 

[AuroraMeansDawn]

It was absolutely fascinating and fun and I recall our guide saying "Congratulations, You've just walked 2.6 miles." It was mostly long periods of standing but we sat down a few times, had a bio break or two and there is the time spent during lunch. You cover the areas down Main Street, to the hub, through Adventureland, Liberty Square, back up Main Street and a few backstage areas. It's not a huge amount of area but I was getting pretty tired towards the end. Also you eat upstairs at CHH. I am not sure but I think that you have to climb them as accessible seating is on the bottom level.

Hope some of that helps.

 

[middlesista]

Thank you all so much for the great information and insight. Certainly, alot to consider. Not sure if he can handle this. He is pretty firm on not using a ECV but I am going to try the questions/answers that Cheshire Figment suggested - I especially like #3 and #4 on the list. He is still young (50 something is young right?) but on our last vacation to Disney he would get tired after a bit of walking although he gallantly tired to keep up w/the rest of us. I would usually lag back and keep him company - we sorta strolled through the Park. Will have to discuss and see what he thinks.

Thanks again everyone - DIS folks are truly helpful.

 

[aubriee]

This was me too.

It's a great tour, but there is a lot of standing in one place sometimes, although one of my guides let us sit down for part of her discussion across from Pirates. You visit the Jungle Cruise and the Haunted Mansion. There was one other ride--we did Pirates on my first tour, so we technically did four rides, but we only did three rides on my second tour. Maybe consider getting one of those wheelchairs if you're really worried. They don't go any place that's not accessible.

Wow, we only did one ride on our tour - Jungle Cruise. I feel a little jipped!

We had 4 people in our group in wheelchairs. I do agree - with others, I was tired of just standing at the end of our tour! The walking wasn't bad at all.

I guess it depends on the tour guide and maybe time of the day/year. We did two rides (Haunted Mansions and Pirates). There was a man in an ECV on our tour too. That was several years ago. I remember the guide giving us a potty break, but don't remember anyplace we could have sat down. My feet were killing me after the tour. The walking wasn't bad, it was just all the standing in place.