Keys to the Kingdom BEFORE MK?

[ILoveMyDVC]

Good morning,
Many years ago I did the Keys to the Kingdom tour and thoroughly enjoyed it. I have a guest coming with me next month who saw 1/4 of MK and 1/4 of EPCOT in 1982 and hasn't been back since then. I can only book the tour on our first day at 8:00 a.m. which means he would do the tour without having really seen the Magic Kingdom. Thoughts?

 

[scrappinginontario]

I did the KttK tour last summer. I'm not sure it makes much difference if they 'know' MK. They will basically be learning A LOT of facts and information that most don't know so the information is new to all. Personally I would still book the tour but that's a personal call.

 

[glocon]

How difficult was it to get this tour?
Really want to try it next time we visit… maybe next year when we go for FotA.
Thanks!

 

[Dave006]

I can only book the tour on our first day at 8:00 a.m. which means he would do the tour without having really seen the Magic Kingdom

It will be great for him to learn the unique things on the tour, and then enjoy seeing them as you enjoy your day at MK.

Dave

 

[scrappinginontario]

We booked it the first day it was available and had our choice of times but I wouldn’t wait too long to book, just to be on the safe side. You can look at 60 days out and monitor how the tours are filling.

 

[Marthasor]

I don't think I would do the tour prior to visiting MK and experiencing it "onstage". I had been to MK probably 100 times before doing KTTK and while I thoroughly enjoyed it, it took a little of the magic away quite honestly. Plus, I think you kind of need to know MK and maybe even a little bit of Disney history to full enjoy that tour, IMHO.

 

[ILoveMyDVC]

I don't think I would do the tour prior to visiting MK and experiencing it "onstage". I had been to MK probably 100 times before doing KTTK and while I thoroughly enjoyed it, it took a little of the magic away quite honestly. Plus, I think you kind of need to know MK and maybe even a little bit of Disney history to full enjoy that tour, IMHO.

This is my core belief. He would not have seen any parks before the tour. There is one time available on our first full day.

 

[goofyernmost]

If it is like it used to be they will see lot of MK and get front of the line to a number of rides, plus a lot of history. Not to mention the utilidors. When I took it (I don't remember when but a long time ago probably early 2000's) it ended with the 3 O'clock parade in a great spot for viewing. In between we got a lunch (included). Of course, no one could stay beyond the parade unless they had a paid admission ticket to MK. Things might be different now, I couldn't say! I think before just going to MK that is the best time to take the KttK tour.

 

[ars0525]

I agree if you've never been to MK you may not want the tour to be your 1st experience as it may take away some magic & the "ohhhh" of seeing some things for the 1st time. I have been to MK many times, read lots of books, follow chats & loved the tour (I enjoyed seeing some of the "how it happens") but can see how it may ruin it for people (you can't unsee somethings once you see them). Plus a 1st time visitor on the tour may not even know what they are looking at or understand since they haven't experienced the park yet.

 

[ILoveMyDVC]

If it is like it used to be they will see lot of MK and get front of the line to a number of rides, plus a lot of history. Not to mention the utilidors. When I took it (I don't remember when but a long time ago probably early 2000's) it ended with the 3 O'clock parade in a great spot for viewing. In between we got a lunch (included). Of course, no one could stay beyond the parade unless they had a paid admission ticket to MK. Things might be different now, I couldn't say! I think before just going to MK that is the best time to take the KttK tour.

You need paid admission in addition to the tour - His ticket is 3 day. We would need to buy another day just for the tour plus the tour admission. If he could see even one park before, I would do it

 

[goofyernmost]

You need paid admission in addition to the tour - His ticket is 3 day. We would need to buy another day just for the tour plus the tour admission. If he could see even one park before, I would do it

His ticket is still valid then he already has the admission paid and the only additional would be the tour. The tour isn't a whole day and during that time he would also see the park and do some rides plus have lunch.

I agree if you've never been to MK you may not want the tour to be your 1st experience as it may take away some magic & the "ohhhh" of seeing some things for the 1st time. I have been to MK many times, read lots of books, follow chats & loved the tour (I enjoyed seeing some of the "how it happens") but can see how it may ruin it for people (you can't unsee somethings once you see them). Plus a 1st time visitor on the tour may not even know what they are looking at or understand since they haven't experienced the park yet.

There are no secrets really discussed, just ride and park history and pointing out things that a first timer wouldn't even know existed. No explanation of tricks of the trade other than possibly forced perspective. Plus the utilidors are an attraction that no one gets to see unless they have taken the tour. It massively enhances the experience it doesn't diminish it.

 

[scrappinginontario]

If it is like it used to be they will see lot of MK and get front of the line to a number of rides, plus a lot of history. Not to mention the utilidors. When I took it (I don't remember when but a long time ago probably early 2000's) it ended with the 3 O'clock parade in a great spot for viewing. In between we got a lunch (included). Of course, no one could stay beyond the parade unless they had a paid admission ticket to MK. Things might be different now, I couldn't say! I think before just going to MK that is the best time to take the KttK tour.

We took the tour last year. Rode 2 rides during our tour and it ended where it started, beside Town Hall. No special parade access. The KttK tour no longer includes park admission. All guests on the tour must pay for park admission in addition to the cost of the tour.

 

[goofyernmost]

We took the tour last year. Rode 2 rides during our tour and it ended where it started, beside Town Hall. No special parade access. The KttK tour no longer includes park admission. All guests on the tour must pay for park admission in addition to the cost of the tour.

To my knowledge it always required a park admission if you were planning on staying longer than the tour. I always wonder how they were able in enforce that. I guess they found a way by requiring it or maybe they always did. I had a 10 day pass back when they sold them that way and I used it when I got there. However, I might have misunderstood since I didn't have to buy a ticket, I already had one and intended to stay around after, plus it was around 24 years ago and I have trouble remembering what I had for breakfast this morning. I do remember the tour leader telling everyone if they were planning on staying after the parade they needed to have a park ticket. So I made my assumptions from that really.

There wasn't anything special about the parade we just ended up at the town hall area from the utilidors and was considered part of the tour. Since I had already processed my day ticket I really didn't pay much attention to what the others were doing. The parade was nothing special they just timed the tour to come up to the surface just before the parade started. We just stood there and watched it go by and then the tour was done.

We did have one thing different, they told us, because one of our group was secretly a CM herself and was in the group to evaluate our tour leader. It was announced to all of us in the town square and we were joined by a group of other Tour CM's. The person announced that this was her first "alleged" solo tour and she passed with flying colors. At the time the tour costumes for women was a plaid skirt and I think some type of vest over a white top, and as a tested and approved Tour CM she was awarded a Riding Crop. Don't ask me what the significance was of that.

Some of this might be a little sketchy so try and remember that I am almost 78 years old and I am trying to remember a specific day when I took a specific tour about 23 or 24 years ago. I remember the costumes being a lot like the below photo except I seem to remember them being much more subdued then those and reminded me of someone out on an old fashioned, formal, Fox hunt.