Just back from a quick trip to the Magic Kingdom with my daughters ages 24 and 20. We've been to WDW a LOT, my oldest daughter has even been to Disneyland Paris. However, we've never taken a tour so I booked one for June 29. It is pricey - $79 per person plus the ticket to the park, and there is an age limit - 16 and up, but for real Disney fans I would say it is a must do.
Our tour guide was Maureen from Oregon who graduated from the University of Notre Dame. This was a real highlight for us as myself and my oldest daughter are Saint Mary's grads and my youngest daughter is a junior there (Saint Mary's is across the street from Notre Dame). Maureen came to Disney by way of the college intern program and hasn't left. Her passion for Disney was evident. Even though the tour was 5 hours, I wished it was longer.
We got to ride 2 rides - Jungle Cruise and Haunted Mansion (sometimes they do Pirates but it is being refurbished). We learned about the history of these rides and got to "cut" in front of everyone in line. We had a boat to our selves and a stretch room to our group.
The tour takes you behind the scenes and in the tunnels. We did stop along the way to sit in the shade to listen to our guide. And, lunch at Columbia Harbor was included.
Because we had a 9 o-clock tour, we got to enter the park before opening. Heck we got to the park even before the monorail was working (parked in row 3 Aladdin). So before our tour started, we got some great pictures on Main Street USA and at the castle without anyone else around.
I don't want to spoil the tour with all of the information I learned, but if you have been to the Magic Kingdom many times and are looking for something different, this is it.
Our tour guide was Maureen from Oregon who graduated from the University of Notre Dame. This was a real highlight for us as myself and my oldest daughter are Saint Mary's grads and my youngest daughter is a junior there (Saint Mary's is across the street from Notre Dame). Maureen came to Disney by way of the college intern program and hasn't left. Her passion for Disney was evident. Even though the tour was 5 hours, I wished it was longer.
We got to ride 2 rides - Jungle Cruise and Haunted Mansion (sometimes they do Pirates but it is being refurbished). We learned about the history of these rides and got to "cut" in front of everyone in line. We had a boat to our selves and a stretch room to our group.
The tour takes you behind the scenes and in the tunnels. We did stop along the way to sit in the shade to listen to our guide. And, lunch at Columbia Harbor was included.
Because we had a 9 o-clock tour, we got to enter the park before opening. Heck we got to the park even before the monorail was working (parked in row 3 Aladdin). So before our tour started, we got some great pictures on Main Street USA and at the castle without anyone else around.
I don't want to spoil the tour with all of the information I learned, but if you have been to the Magic Kingdom many times and are looking for something different, this is it.
