Keys To The Kingdom--tip

[Goofy DS]

If you haven't done hte KEYS TO THE KINGDOM tour yet, you should!
And if you are planning to here's a little tip.
Try to schedule one of the first tours of the day, preferably right near park opening time.

If you have a tour schedlued or an early Character breakfast time, they let you in to the park before it opens. It was cool being in the park with no one else there! Most of the people were rushing to do their breakfast and we had main street to ourselves while we waited for our tour to start.
They usually have photograhers "offering" pictures to the poeple rushing to the castle for breakfast, so we got a nice picture of us without anyone in the background!
We even got to watch them filming a commercial on main street before the public was let in.
The coolest thing was watching everyone lined up outside the gate and watching the opening ceremony from the inside!!

 

[tashast]

Thanks for posting this. This is on my list of things I really want to do on our trip. How long was the tour?

Tasha

 

[Goofy DS]

Thanks for posting this. This is on my list of things I really want to do on our trip. How long was the tour?

Tasha

It was about 4 hours long. It was very informative! We got to go on 3-4 rides (without waitng), and behind the scenes to the underground tunnels.

4 hours seems like a long time and at fisrt I wasn't sure if I wanted to "waste" 1/2 of one of our days on a tour, but we got to see and learn so much about the park that it was well worth it.

 

[aubriee]

I did the 8:30am KTTK tour in May and agree that's the best one to schedule for. Our guide, Corey (who was great by the way) said the first tour of the day is his favorite because it usually has the least people, so you can talk more and get more done. Fewer people give him a chance to have more one on one time with the guests. You're right that it's fun to stand back and watch everyone rushing to their early morning PS and then for a few minutes to have main street almost empty and to be able to watch some of the cast members rushing up the steps to the train station, but taking a few moments to stop and say hi to you.

 

[PrincessCindi]

I was also thinking about doing this tour but I am always thinking I will lose out on park time. Can you tell me a little more about the tour???
What rides did you go on?
What time is that first tour of the day?
Do you go to a special place for them to let you in the park before everyone else??
What are the underground tunnels like .
Sorry that was ALOT of questions.

 

[DeterminedOne]

I was also thinking about doing this tour but I am always thinking I will lose out on park time. Can you tell me a little more about the tour???
What rides did you go on?
What time is that first tour of the day?
Do you go to a special place for them to let you in the park before everyone else??
What are the underground tunnels like .
Sorry that was ALOT of questions.

Jumping in to say don't worry about losing park time. You'll get to tour the nooks and crannies of MK and it's exactly the same as park time, just a different perspective. Last November we rode Pirates OTC, Jungle Cruise and Haunted Mansion. It was great! We met at City Hall and the tour started at 8:30. We were done by 12:30. As far as the underground tunnels ... At the end of the tour guests take an oath not to give away such secrets. My lips are sealed on that one. The Keys to the Kingdom tour is very magical.

 

[musicmama]

Is there an age restriction on this tour? I have a DD who is 12 and would probably love this? Other than this board, I've never heard of it.

Thx.

 

[danny1649]

Thank you for the information.

 

[DeterminedOne]

I think she has to be 16.

 

[Miss Mickey Mania]

Looking forward to this! The only tour I've done before is the Segway last year which was great.

I'll be doing KTTK at 9am on July 11th. I have to be in the tour garden (I think that's what it's called) at 8.45.

It'll be good to get on those rides with no wait, what a perk . Also eating at Columbia Harbor House will be new to me.

 

[PrincessCindi]

Thanks for your help ... You have convinced me to make reservations!!!
Is there any specific day thats better?
Oh and how do you get in the park before everyone else?
Thanks again !!!!

 

[cranbiz]

All guests on the KTTK tour must be 16 or older. ID may be asked for for guests that do not appear to be 16.

 

[Liz]

How much does it cost?

Can they accomodate people in wheelchairs or if not, are you on your feet pretty much constantly for the whole 4 hours?

How far in advance do you need to book?

Any discounts with AP or Disney VISA?

Sorry so many questions! Look what you started!!! Thanks for the tip!!!

 

[KellyluvsDisney]

Great tip. Will definetly try to plan this.

 

[cgcruz]

Thanks A lot. I called them and I'm booked for August 22nd, 8:30am

 

[nhmomx2]

We are booked for September. Yes, they offer both a AP and a DVC discount (can't remember which one was more as we have them both, but I know one of them was a better deal). This will be my 21st (?) time down there, our 15th anniversary actually, and we can't wait to do this!! No cameras allowed . I love the idea of Main Street almost alone. That would be a nice picture for us to have taken.

 

[Micca]

We were seasoned WDW veterans when we took that tour and still loved every minute of it. I never thought of the advantage of the early morning tour. I wonder if they offer a tour that early every day?

 

[Disney Debbie]

How much does it cost?

Can they accomodate people in wheelchairs or if not, are you on your feet pretty much constantly for the whole 4 hours?

How far in advance do you need to book?

Any discounts with AP or Disney VISA?

Sorry so many questions! Look what you started!!! Thanks for the tip!!!

I can answer most of these based on last summer.

I think it was about $60 w/o discounts. Last year we got a 15% discount with our Disney Visa - I assume they still have that but don't know for sure. We booked pretty early - but there were people in our group that decided the day before - so I don't think it's one of these where you have to get up at 7 a.m. and try to get a ressie! My mother was in a w/c because she had a bum knee and it was not problem at all. In fact we actually got to see 2 backstage areas we wouldn't have gotten to see because we had to ride elevators 2 different places. One of our elevator rides had a CM who was half-way out of character - if you know what I mean - don't want to spoil any illusions here! It was cool! But if you aren't in a w/c - yes you are on your feet almost the whole time. But honestly - it wasn't bad to me. It was so interesting and fun that I didn't mind being on my feet at all.

 

[Disney Debbie]

Oh - and we had the 9:00 tour as well and got to go in at 8:30 - it was VERY COOL! You felt like you had the park to yourself.

Someone asked how you get in early. You go all the way to the left side of the gates and tell a guard you have a tour booked. He'll ask for your ressie # and let you in.

 

[Liz]

Thanks Debbie! If we did the tour one of our first days my DD could probably go without a wheelchair. But later in our trip she'd most likely need one. Appreciate the info!