Keys to the Kingdom tour

[kenly777]

Can someone please tell me about booking the Keys to the Kingdom tour? What time does it go on sale? And is it 60 days from the date of the tour? Or 60+ like dining?

 

[Ratpack]

Tagging along as we are looking at this tour in July.

 

[mickey0930]

It is the same time frame as dining.

 

[dagored]

In your Disney Experience go to Enchanting Extras Collection. Times and dates are listed. We booked a month before our arrival. Great tour. We plan on going again. I won't mention what you are exposed to, but it's very interesting and surprising.

 

[slo]

My DH wants to do this tour on his birthday on 12/28 this year. I gotta say….I’m very nervous about getting it. He’d be fine doing it another day, but on his actual birthday would be really fun.

 

[Captain UP]

It's a spectacular tour. I, too, will keep the details out, but it was worth every penny.

 

[4forWDW]

I agree - it is a wonderful tour. If your day shows unavailable, keep checking. My DD was able to get us a spot just a couple of weeks before our trip.

 

[loislane]

I just booked this tour for myself for a solo trip in June. When I booked, I had the option of 3 different starting times - 8, 8:30, or 9 a.m. - so there is some opportunity to play around with days and times to make it work for your group.
I'm super excited to be doing it! Hope you are able to also book it!

 

[loislane]

Just wanted to follow up since I did my tour on Sunday. While I knew a bit of what the tour was about from friends who have done it, I was absolutely blown away. It exceeded my wildest expectations.

First, our guide Aaron was fantastic. Very engaging and fun - and that's important because we were about to spend 5 hours with him!
I won't share all the information we learned, but I will say it's a lot and if you are a Disney nerd, you will find just about all of it fascinating.

For rides, we did the Jungle Cruise - went through the exit and "hijacked" a boat that had just emptied. Learned more about the ride during the ride. We also rode the Haunted Mansion after learning more about the people who created it and how it was done.

Lunch - ours was Columbia Harbour House. When we checked in for the tour, we were given a menu to choose our entree from. Choices were lobster roll, fried shrimp, chicken tenders, fried fish, a salad with shrimp, and maybe one other thing. Our tour started at 8:30 and we had lunch at 11. It was ready and waiting for us when we arrived to CHH. We ate in a roped off area on the 2nd floor. Drinks were bottled soda, not fountain. At lunch, everyone received a Keys to the Kingdom pin and dessert were adorable decorated Oreos.

Backstage - we toured the parade float area and learned all about those - how they operate, safety features, etc.
Of course there was also the utilidor. We had two amazing special treats during that portion. First - we were given a little snippet of fabric after seeing where all of the costumes are repaired. Just a tiny piece - maybe an inch by inch square cut out in a Mickey shape. And we learned it was from a retired Cinderella dress!



The second wonderful surprise was the appearance of not one but FOUR princesses - Ariel, Aurora, Jasmine, and Merida - who visited with us and told us a bit about their dresses. Merida's, in particular, has so much wonderful symbolism and meaning behind the different parts of it.

Our tour wrapped up right on time at 1:30 - there really is no stretching it out, your guide will keep you on schedule. Our group was in the utilidor for the 1 p.m. VQ drop and I will confirm that our guide did NOT allow people to have their phones out to try to get a VQ.

Overall, it was such a wonderful experience. I did not realize how emotional parts of it would be, and how much it would deepen my already deep love for Disney. I am certain I will do this tour again at some point.

 

[CarolynFH]

Just wanted to follow up since I did my tour on Sunday. While I knew a bit of what the tour was about from friends who have done it, I was absolutely blown away. It exceeded my wildest expectations.

First, our guide Aaron was fantastic. Very engaging and fun - and that's important because we were about to spend 5 hours with him!
I won't share all the information we learned, but I will say it's a lot and if you are a Disney nerd, you will find just about all of it fascinating.

For rides, we did the Jungle Cruise - went through the exit and "hijacked" a boat that had just emptied. Learned more about the ride during the ride. We also rode the Haunted Mansion after learning more about the people who created it and how it was done.

Lunch - ours was Columbia Harbour House. When we checked in for the tour, we were given a menu to choose our entree from. Choices were lobster roll, fried shrimp, chicken tenders, fried fish, a salad with shrimp, and maybe one other thing. Our tour started at 8:30 and we had lunch at 11. It was ready and waiting for us when we arrived to CHH. We ate in a roped off area on the 2nd floor. Drinks were bottled soda, not fountain. At lunch, everyone received a Keys to the Kingdom pin and dessert were adorable decorated Oreos.

Backstage - we toured the parade float area and learned all about those - how they operate, safety features, etc.
Of course there was also the utilidor. We had two amazing special treats during that portion. First - we were given a little snippet of fabric after seeing where all of the costumes are repaired. Just a tiny piece - maybe an inch by inch square cut out in a Mickey shape. And we learned it was from a retired Cinderella dress!

View attachment 872925

The second wonderful surprise was the appearance of not one but FOUR princesses - Ariel, Aurora, Jasmine, and Merida - who visited with us and told us a bit about their dresses. Merida's, in particular, has so much wonderful symbolism and meaning behind the different parts of it.

Our tour wrapped up right on time at 1:30 - there really is no stretching it out, your guide will keep you on schedule. Our group was in the utilidor for the 1 p.m. VQ drop and I will confirm that our guide did NOT allow people to have their phones out to try to get a VQ.

Overall, it was such a wonderful experience. I did not realize how emotional parts of it would be, and how much it would deepen my already deep love for Disney. I am certain I will do this tour again at some point.

Thank you for the detailed report! It’s been some years since we took that tour, and I’d love to do it again!

BTW, if you visit Disneyland, consider taking the Walking in Walt’s Footsteps tour of “his” park. We did it 20+ years ago, and I still remember it.

 

[loislane]

Thank you for the detailed report! It’s been some years since we took that tour, and I’d love to do it again!

BTW, if you visit Disneyland, consider taking the Walking in Walt’s Footsteps tour of “his” park. We did it 20+ years ago, and I still remember it.

We are hoping to go next year, so I will keep that in mind!

 

[penel3]

I finally booked this tour, after years, and years, and years of being a Disney addict, my husband and I are finally doing the Keys to the Kingdom Tour!! I booked it for Sept 2 8am. Woohoo!!!

 

[ddluvsdisney]

My DH has asked me if I’d like to do this a couple of times. I think I’m going to book it for his b-day in December!
Thanks for your report.

 

[loislane]

I finally booked this tour, after years, and years, and years of being a Disney addict, my husband and I are finally doing the Keys to the Kingdom Tour!! I booked it for Sept 2 8am. Woohoo!!!

I hope you love it as much as I did!

 

[penel3]

I hope you love it as much as I did!

Thank you!! I've avoided going for years as I didn't want to feel like I was spoiling the magic, but I feel ready now. I loved your report!!!

 

[Ochio]

This is a late response for the original poster but may be helpful going forward. I booked Keys to the Kingdom just after midnight on day 60 before the trip. I was not able to book dining until after 7:00am.

 

[pooh2001]

Best tour ever

 

[leebee]

Would you recommend I have my travel agent book this or do it myself? I usually book myself as we often only plan a trip a couple of months in advance, but this time around I was planning 10 months in advance so used a travel agent so she'd have to monitor discount drops instead of constantly checking myself!

 

[_19disnA]

Does Disney ever offer discounts on these special 'behind the scenes' tours? Seems there is enough demand they probably wouldn't need to do that. Above remarks sound like you can't book beyond 60 days so it isn't something to search months in advance of your planned vacation.

 

[loislane]

Does Disney ever offer discounts on these special 'behind the scenes' tours? Seems there is enough demand they probably wouldn't need to do that. Above remarks sound like you can't book beyond 60 days so it isn't something to search months in advance of your planned vacation.

For this particular tour, there is an annual passholder discount and I believe there is a Disney Visa discount. That may be true of all of the tours, since I know there are also discounts for Behind the Seeds.