Magic Behind our Steam Trains tour

[Inkmahm]

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/tours-and-experiences/steam-trains-tour/

DH and I did this tour in January and we highly recommend it. It doesn't get much advertisement so we promised our engineer that we would spread the word about the tour.

 

[okie from muskogee]

How would this be for the under 16 crowd? What do they do on the tour? Thanks for the tip.

 

[Inkmahm]

How would this be for the under 16 crowd? What do they do on the tour? Thanks for the tip.

I think my nephew who is 12 and loves trains would really like the tour. One of the engineers meets you at the front of the MK and you take the train around the park and to the Roundhouse, which really isn't round. You see how they take care of the trains, what the routines are for getting them ready in the morning, etc. The engineer gives you a history about each train and where they came from. You also are able to get inside one of the engines to see where the engineer sits, the controls, etc.

The tour itself wasn't 3 hours long. There is about an hour of the tour at the end where you sit at one end of the train station and hear stories about Walt and his love of trains, etc. That part might get to be a bit boring for kids. For anyone that loves Disney and is interested in Walt's love of trains, it is a nice tour.

At the end of the tour, you get a special collectible pin for having taken the tour.

Also, while they tell you no cameras are allowed when you book the tour, take your cameras anyway! There are some areas that they don't want photographed but most of the tour, you ARE allowed to take pictures.

 

[PKWallaby]

Another thumbs up for the Steam Trains tour:

My 84 year old train fanatic father and 12 year old DS took the tour during our stay last October. I knew my dad would really enjoy it (which he did) but my son did as well. DS served as his grandpa's official photographer and took some really neat photos, including a great shot of a deserted Main Street since they enter MK before opening to watch as the engineers get the trains ready for the day. While I would not say my son is "into trains" he had a great time sharing the experience with his grandpa.

 

[okie from muskogee]

Sounds interesting! Thanks.

 

[DiznyDi]

We did this tour last May. Going into the roundhouse was a great experience. Our tour went a little longer; about 4 hours. Our conductor/tour guide was very knowledgeable and full of history and facts. The parting pin was a special surprise. This tour had been suspended after the monorail accident. I'm glad to know it's being scheduled again.

 

[dvc deernut]

Thanks for telling me about this tour. I enjoy doing the backstage tours. Ive done the keys to the kingdom tour 4 times and still learn more. Do you meet at town hall in the morning and what is the cost with dvc card?

 

[Inkmahm]

Thanks for telling me about this tour. I enjoy doing the backstage tours. Ive done the keys to the kingdom tour 4 times and still learn more. Do you meet at town hall in the morning and what is the cost with dvc card?

Because you are there before park opening, you park at the Contemporary and walk over to the MK. You meet in front of the train station on the outside of the park and then you go into the park with the engineer after all the participants arrive.

There was a discount but I don't remember if I got it from DVC or Disney VISA. I think it was $54 for the tour and then less the 20% but I'm not positive on that.

 

[dblr]

My wife and I took this tour and loved it, I was going to take my 15 year old son who also likes trains when we go in July but at this time they are not running this when we will be there, they did say to check back incase they start it up again.

 

[Inkmahm]

My wife and I took this tour and loved it, I was going to take my 15 year old son who also likes trains when we go in July but at this time they are not running this when we will be there, they did say to check back incase they start it up again.

I read that it has something to do with the construction that will be going on... only tours through April 30 for now. I didn't know that, either.