Keys to kingdom tour?

[Verity Chambers]

We'd like to do a tour in August. We fancy the keys to kingdom tour or the full day three park tour, does anyone have any recommendations? Thanks. Verity.

 

[KayleeUK]

Hi Verity

We did the Key's to the Kingdom tour last November. It was very good especially 'backstage' Your dinner is included with this tour. Carol was our tour guide and was very knowledgable

 

[Peebee]

We did Keys to the Kingdom a couple of years ago and really enjoyed it. For me the highlight was probably nipping down into the infamous utilidors beneath the MK (through a shop near Cinderella's castle, I think).

Last year we also did the Undiscovered Futureworld tour at Epcot and found that very entertaining as well. We went into one of the ex-corporate lounges at the Living Seas - very fancy!

Both of the guides we had were very informative - the Epcot chap was actually the one who thought up the FW tour in the first place!

Paul

 

[WDWfan uk]

We loved the Keys To The Kingdom Tour - it was a fascinating insight into all that goes into running the park and I enjoyed hearing about the history of the park too. I would recommend it for people who are really interested in this. We went on two rides as part of the tour - Jungle Cruise and the Haunted Mansion.

This tour is NOT for the faint-hearted - you do spend a lot of time walking and standing with just the break for lunch - about 4 and a half hours in duration, and it can get pretty hot too so do have water with you. That said, in the small garden where you register next to City Hall, they do have a fridge under the table and will give you a small bottle (no charge). .. we had to ask for this, it wasn't volunteered!

You cannot take cameras on the tour - they took bags and cameras and put them in holding lockers in City Hall whilst you toured. (You are allowed small bags or bum bags).

 

[Verity Chambers]

Thanks for the tips, we'll defenitaly book it. How far in advance did you book? Do you need a ticket for that day, i'm abit concerned about using up one of my precious disney dayS!! Verity.xx

 

[Fantasia Sam]

Verity, unfortunately you do have to use one of your days admission to do this tour. But depending on when you do the tour you've still got time left to enjoy the park at your leisure anyway.

When we did it we were taken on Pirates and Haunted Mansion but you don't get front of line access so you have to wait in line. I say this because I know some people who were on our tour thought they were gonna get to by pass the lines.

It is so worthwhile and the information almost overloads you. I loved all the backstage stuff but again I know of others who don't want to go backstage as they don't want to lose the MAGIC as it were in their heads.

 

[Minniespal]

Verity,

We have done the Keys to the Kingdom Tour three times and will do it again when we return in October. It is so informative and interesting and although this will be our fourth time you learn new things each time you do it.

We have always had very infomative CM who really now their WDW. It is a long tour, usually lasting five hours but that includes an hour for lunch at the Columbia Harbour House, you get to sit upstairs in a nice quite a/c room and watch the world go by for a little while.

Although you have to wait in line for HM and POC we have usually found that it is not too long and the CM is chatting to the group throughout the wait time.

I would certainly recommend this tour.

Hope you enjoy whatever you decide to do!!!!!

 

[WDWfan uk]

... that's interesting! When we went for Jungle Cruise, we did get front of line access! We were taken through the exit ao that we got the next boat that was emptied.

For Haunted Mansion, we were taken through a 'secret' door where we stood in a narrow hallway, used just by CMs but it was great! It was furnished as the rest of the mansion and the lights flickered....... so we didn't experience the first part - the Stretch room.
The Guide left us in that hallway just so that he could inform them we were in the HM - they take a strict headcount of everyone that is inside, and then we joined the crowd coming out of the stretch room so were on the doom buggies within 3 minutes.

We also only had half an hour for lunch at the most!

When did you all tour? Perhaps it is changed! Ours was in May 2002 (I think our tour was 9.30am)

 

[Fantasia Sam]

Wow that sounds great Shirley

Mine was way back in November 2000 even though we didn't have FOL access we only had to wait like 10 mins when we did it and as Florence said the CM tells you loads of interesting stuff whilst you're waiting.

When I was looking for us to do it in May just gone I was told then by WDW CRO that there wouldn't be front of line access but as it were I had to cancel the tour so we never got to do it.

Maybe it just depends on how busy the park is or which CM you get?