Keys to kingdom tour - timing?

[joshua4]

Planning on finally doing the keys to kingdom tour during our September trip. The tours seem to start at times between 8 and 10 am. We are typically there at rope drop - so I was thinking we should go for as late a tour as we can get because we can do a bunch of rides before tour and then be in tour during busier time. Is that thinking correct? Thanks

 

[AtlantaDisneyDreamer]

I would prefer to do the earlier tour- especially if you can get into the park early. Anything that gets me in the park before everyone else feels quite magical. If the park opens at 9, I would do the 8 am tour. I did Keys to the Kingdom last July and got into the park before it opened. It was great for taking pictures with no one else in them. Empty park pictures are outstanding.

If riding everything is more important to you than anything, then I might consider the 10 am tour. But I will warn you that if crowds in September continue as they have been recently, then you won't be able to ride many rides before you will have to be at your tour location. You might get in one or two, but lines get long so very quickly after rope drop now. It isn't like it used to be where you could ride 4 or 5 rides in the first hour.

That is a really neat tour and I hope you enjoy it. Being behind the scenes is great.

 

[joshua4]

Thanks! That makes sense. Guess I will wait for park hours to come out and try to book tour so we can get in before park opening and then schedule fast passes for right after tour.

 

[Surgie2]

Thanks! That makes sense. Guess I will wait for park hours to come out and try to book tour so we can get in before park opening and then schedule fast passes for right after tour.

We had the choice of several morning tours on a Saturday in January (not MLK weekend) so we reserved 8:30 am thinking we could get in the park early for pictures. At the time I reserved the tour, the park was scheduled to open at 9:00. Shortly before our visit the park hours were changed to 8:00 am -midnight for everyone (not EMH). It was busy like I've never seen it. Obviously Main Street was already super busy at the time of our tour. So book the time you want and just go with it if park hours change. If you wait until; "final" park hours - if there is such a thing - you may find the tours are full.

 

[AtlantaDisneyDreamer]

We had the choice of several morning tours on a Saturday in January (not MLK weekend) so we reserved 8:30 am thinking we could get in the park early for pictures. At the time I reserved the tour, the park was scheduled to open at 9:00. Shortly before our visit the park hours were changed to 8:00 am -midnight for everyone (not EMH). It was busy like I've never seen it. Obviously Main Street was already super busy at the time of our tour. So book the time you want and just go with it if park hours change. If you wait until; "final" park hours - if there is such a thing - you may find the tours are full.

That’s true. Park hours do change. If it were me, I’d go ahead and book the earliest tour and hope for the best. Don’t book on a typical EMH morning. If crowds are going to be so large that MK moves from a 9 to an 8 opening, then RD will probably be crowded anyway. No way to plan for certain, but at least your tour will likely get you a couple of rides without waits.

As I recall, tours are refundable up to a few days before (check the cancellation policy), so if that’s the case, it might be better to book early.

 

[Surgie2]

Don’t book on a typical EMH morning. .

That's good advice and one more strategy would be to book on a morning that has Early Morning Magic (EMM - not EMH). This ticketed event would insure that the park opening will stick at 9:00 since the small group event-paying people are the only ones with early park access. EMM is usually scheduled on selected Sundays and Tuesdays.

 

[hiroMYhero]

Thanks! That makes sense. Guess I will wait for park hours to come out and try to book tour so we can get in before park opening and then schedule fast passes for right after tour.

We had an 8:00a Tour this past September. Even though you are told it’s a 7:45a Check-in, you’ll be held at the entrance to the tunnels with all the ADR guests and early arrivers.

When the Front of the Park CMs allow guests through the tunnels, you’ll need to head to Town Square Theater for Check-in and lunch selection.

If you want to walk around to view a not too crowded park, choose the 8:30a Tour. That way you won’t be holding up the rest of the group who are waiting for the Tour to begin.

 

[chs27]

We did 9:30 in October, but arrived at 8:00. Park was already opened, but we enjoyed touring that hour and half with very slim crowds.

 

[CommanderCanuck]

We had an 8:00a Tour this past September. Even though you are told it’s a 7:45a Check-in, you’ll be held at the entrance to the tunnels with all the ADR guests and early arrivers.

When the Front of the Park CMs allow guests through the tunnels, you’ll need to head to Town Square Theater for Check-in and lunch selection.

If you want to walk around to view a not too crowded park, choose the 8:30a Tour. That way you won’t be holding up the rest of the group who are waiting for the Tour to begin.

Thank you for mentioning this. I have the 8AM time booked for our trip this April and good to know sort of the expectation of where we need to wait and go. Would have been nice to have a bit of extra time to walk around but wanted to get in as early as possible to have as much time in the park following the tour.

 

[hiroMYhero]

Thank you for mentioning this. I have the 8AM time booked for our trip this April and good to know sort of the expectation of where we need to wait and go. Would have been nice to have a bit of extra time to walk around but wanted to get in as early as possible to have as much time in the park following the tour.

We waited at the right-hand side tunnel and chatted with the CM. We later saw her when we were touring through the underground tunnels and she waved and greeted us again.

With the 8:00a tour, your group will have a leisurely time for Main Street with your guide and then make your way to the Welcome Show.

 

[KGolf31]

We waited at the right-hand side tunnel and chatted with the CM. We later saw her when we were touring through the underground tunnels and she waved and greeted us again.

With the 8:00a tour, your group will have a leisurely time for Main Street with your guide and then make your way to the Welcome Show.

Bumping this up, as I can't really find an exact answer for my question.

We have this Tour this upcoming Sunday - 8am time.

Park Hours open at 9am.

Is there a special ticket gate we'd need to go to get into the park? Or with the new policies for RD is everyone allowed within the park and then held?

Assuming Town Square Theater is still check in location?

 

[hiroMYhero]

Is there a special ticket gate we'd need to go to get into the park? Or with the new policies for RD is everyone allowed within the park and then held?

Enter through the far left touchpoints where only tour and ADR guests are allowed to enter. You can then wait to pass through either tunnel.

Other guests begin entering at 8:00 through regular touchpoints.