Keys to the Kingdom VS Backstage Magic Tours need questions answered

[jbuey22]

We are starting to plan our trip and want to take in a tour. Last time 2008 we did the Steam Trains Tour. This time we want to see the utillidors and have a few questions and concerns. From what I have read the Backstage Magic is a 8hr tour and the KTTK is about 5hrs. Does this sound right? What is the difference. I am affraid that halfway through the 8hr tour we will get tired or the wife will have a bathroom thing and it may turn out to be torture waiting for it to end. Do you see more of the utillidors in one of the tours? Does anybody have the itineraries with what is involved? There is a major price difference the Backstage Magic is $224 and the KTTK is about $70 is it worth the extra cash? Do you visit more than the MK? These are just a few of the questions I have. Also my father rides an ECV will it be allowed on either or both of these tours? Please help?

 

[typod]

I have done both tours and they both are great. If I had to pick one to do again I would pick the backstage magic tour. In this tour we went to all four theme parks while in the keys to the kingdom tour you stay at the magic kingdom. Both tours go down into the utiladors. The only backstage areas we went During the keys to the kingdom tour were the utiladors and the production center which is where they keep the floats. In the backstage magic tour we went to the central shops, backstage at the American adventure, into the costuming department, the matienance bay at the tower or terror, the utiladors, the place they grow the plants, and the production center at the animal kingdom. If you are talking about a wheel chair it could be a problem at the American adventure because he had to go downstairs. One of our tour guides was in a wheel chair and went everywhere except for the American adventure. I hope I helped. Have a great trip!!

 

[jbuey22]

how was the 8 hr experience did it seemed dragged out and exhausting? Also how was the lunch? I knew I had more questions....hehe thanks again for the reply!!

 

[FanofWalt&Mouse]

Haven't done BMT but KTTKT was well worth the money. Length of tour was between 4-5 hours including lunch at Columbia Harbour House. We also got to pick an attraction to do all together. (Our group did Mickey's Philharmagic.) There were some stairs & we had no one in a wheelchair in our group so not sure if there was an elevator access available.

 

[RatherB@Disney]

how was the 8 hr experience did it seemed dragged out and exhausting? Also how was the lunch? I knew I had more questions....hehe thanks again for the reply!!

I didn't find it drug-out or exhausting at all - you keep moving throughout the day to some pretty cool places. I definitely recommend the Backstage Magic tour if you have the time (that is the one warning I have for people considering this tour - the time commitment - just so they don't regret missing out on "regular" park time for a good part of the day).

For lunch, we ate at Mama Melrose's in DHS. Just OK in my book - I've never been a big MM fan. But that didn't affect my opinion of the tour much

 

[cbg1027]

Per All Ears.net about Backstage Magic:
This seven-hour program visits backstage!! Travel to the Magic Kingdom to see the utilidors, examine backstage computer controlled attractions at Epcot, see behind the scenes at the Living Seas, have a special lunch at Disney's Hollywood Studios, plus other surprises. Offered Monday through Friday at 8:45am. Disney recommends reservations at least 2 months in advance.

$243.89 per person (includes tax). Theme park admission is not required.

Here are reviews of Backstage Magic: http://land.allears.net/reviewpost/showproduct.php?product=244&cat=66

I have not done Backstage Magic but I did take KTTK.

KTTK focuses exclusively on MK. It was 5 hours when I took it, including lunch at CHH. You spend your time around Main Street, the Hub, Adeventureland and Liberty Square and go backstage behind Main Street and in to the Utilidors. You may do 1-3 rides with your group and they are usually Haunted Mansion, Jungle Cruise, or POTC.
They talk about the founding of MK, daily operations, design, Disney legends, 'secrets', how things work...all sorts of aspects of MK. It was a wonderful tour.

They offered plenty of rest stops and bathroom breaks, but be prepared to do a lot of walking and standing. People in wheelchairs/ECVs are welcome on the tours. There was a lady in an ECV on my tour. The only issue would be having to transfer to a ride vehicle.

 

[Disneylover79]

I am subbing DH and I want to do tours now that we are AP holders....

 

[Dan Murphy]

I have taken both Backstage and Keys twice. Backstage was my first tour back in 2000. Based on how good it was, I have taken a tour just about every trip back since, and a number of them multiple times over the years. I had an ECV one year I did Backstage and it worked just fine. Lunch for Backstage is now at Whispering Canyon at Wilderness Lodge, used to be at Mama Melrose. Both tours are great, highly recommend. If you have AP, DVC, AAA or Disney Visa, ask for discount, 15-20%.

Enjoy.

 

[btherrien]

I have done both and the Backstage Magic was by far the better tour. It took you deeper into the Utilidoors when I did it about 10 years ago than KTTK did. It also took us into the Digital Audio Control System room which was awesome and we got to watch the board operator control the 3:00 parade from there. I'm not sure if they still do the DACS part but even with out that it was a pretty amazing tour.

 

[Rekenna]

Hi! DH and I did the KTTK last year and it was great! Thinking back I don't think there were any areas that a wheelchair would not be able to go. When you call to make the reservation just ask and the they should be able to confirm. On the KTTK tour we did the early tour so we were in MK before it opened which is a great time to take pictures-they do not allow pictures while on the tour so make sure you have your camera put away once the tour starts (at least they didn't allow pics on our tour). The guide was very informative with lots of history about the parks, our ride was HM and we had lunch at CHH-you pick what you want for lunch at Town Hall before the tour begins so your lunch is all ready for you on the 2nd floor of CHH-I don't know if there is an elevator to the 2nd floor so lunch may be on the 1st floor for your group. We saw where they keep the parade floats, where Tink lands after her nightly flight from the castle and the utilidors-it was a lot of fun and didn't drag at all. The tour started at 9am and I think we ended between 1:30-2pm.

For the BMT-I am doing this one solo next month and can't wait, you meet at the EPCOT parking lot (there is a bus reserved to take the group around), and visiti EP, MK and DHS-on Disney's website it says you also visit AK. Lunch is at Whispering Canyon at WL-which I am excited about b/c I haven't tried this yet.

Also, when making your reservations if you have Disney Visa or an AP (I think there is something else) you get 20% off of your tour. I have a Dis Visa and received 20% off, my total tour cost is $190. So that's my whole day-no park ticket needed, lunch and transportation. I am really excited about spending 7+ hours learning more about WDW. But, the rest of my family would not find this as enjoyable as me-hence the solo trip.

If you have other questions, especially about wheelchair accessible areas the reservation number for KTTK & BTM is 407-939-8687. The icon on WDW's site shows the tours are wheelchair accessible.

Enjoy-have fun!

 

[disneychic2]

DH and I did KTTK tour last December and had a wonderful time. I was having sporatic heel problems, but the walking didn't bother me at all. There were ample bathroom breaks and we rode on Jungle Cruise and Haunted Mansion. It was very informative and our guide was a real hoot! It lasted over five hours. Now that I'm reading about the longer tour, I think I'll look into that one too. Sounds awesome!

 

[Chirple]

My DH and I did the KTTK tour a few years back and loved it. I have always wanted to try the Backstage Magic tour so this information is very helpful.

 

[Dan Murphy]

.....It also took us into the Digital Audio Control System room which was awesome and we got to watch the board operator control the 3:00 parade from there. I'm not sure if they still do the DACS part but even with out that it was a pretty amazing tour.

That part of the tour sadly went by the wayside after 9/11. I did Backstage in 2000 and saw the DACS area also, but no longer.

.....they do not allow pictures while on the tour so make sure you have your camera put away once the tour starts (at least they didn't allow pics on our tour)....

On all the tours I have taken, cameras have been allowed, onstage. Definitely not back stage. Possibly different tour guides rule differently.

 

[jbuey22]

This info has been very helpful. I think I will do the Backstage Magic, thats the one I really wanted to do. Of course I will verify the ECV just to be sure. Also I do have AAA so thanks for the tip on the discount.

Thanks again!!