Magic Kingdom train tour?

[tlmadden73]

Anyone been on this tour? I was thinking of doing it with my father on our next trip, as he is a huge rail fan (especially of steam trains).

For those who have done it --- Worth it? Any advice/tips?

I would probably only go him and I, as my kids are too young to go (from what I read).

When can you book this tour (how far out?)
What time do you get there? (Before park opening my guess)
When are you done? (So I know when to schedule first Fast pass for).
It sounded like the tour wouldn't be done until an hour or two after park opens? (Like, when can I expect to be able to meet up with the rest of my family who will be at MK that morning).

I like the concept of the tour, but I don't like the idea of not being with the rest of my family (wife, two kids (6 and 2) and my mother) for the morning and missing out on some rides with them during the rope drop time.

 

[TinkLoverSam]

My sister @Disney_Alli did the tour with our dad a few years ago. It definitely starts before the park opens but I’m not sure on the ending time. It may have changed a bit with the change of the opening show from the train station to the castle since they did it as well. They were dropped off at the Contemporary and walked to MK to avoid any monorail issues in the am.

 

[CarolynFH]

We did this tour way back in January 2010 and enjoyed it tremendously. It did begin before park opening and lasted several hours, can't remember how long it was then but the website gives current answers to many of your questions: https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/events-tours/magic-kingdom/magic-behind-steam-trains-tour/. We would definitely recommend it to anyone interested in the steam trains - I never realized how complicated it was to operate the engines, and the engineer told us how each one actually has its own "personality" (performs better with different settings such as for going uphill, etc.)!

 

[tlmadden73]

Thanks for the responses thus far. Sounds fun!

I did look at the website for information, but was hoping for some direct feedback from someone who has gone more recently. Though I doubt the tour has changed much over the years.

It says it is a 3 hour tour that starts at 7:30 am (so goes until 10:30 am) .. so while $54 seems like a steal for a behind-the scenes tour, it will stink to miss out on 90 minutes (assuming a 9:00 am park opening) of prime park time with the rest of the family (on potentially our only MK day). May be worth it though! I'll see if my Dad is interested.

 

[CarolynFH]

DH & I were there with my Dad, all of us “mature” adults who had been to WDW many times, so we weren’t concerned about missing time with other family members or prime park time. If it had been one of our early trips or if our kids or grandkids had been there with us, we probably wouldn’t have gone on the tour.

 

[Tomh]

We did the Magic Behind Our Steam Trains Tour a couple of years ago. It was DW, DS12 and I. We very much enjoyed the tour. It was very informative, and you get plenty of time to see things back stage.

The tour meets, and starts outside the Magic Kingdom at 7:30. You want to be there a bit before that so you have time to check in. I would say aim to be at the tapstyles between 7:00 and 7:15. They expect you to check in by 7:15. Disney transportation may not be able to get you there in time, so Uber, Taxi (to the Contemporary) or drive (show your tour confirmation at the security kiosk at the Contemporary resort and you will be able to park there for the day).

The tour lasts about 3 hours, so expect to finish up at about 10:30. We scheduled our first FP+ for 10:30, figuring that gave us an hour window, so even if the tour ran late we should still make the FP window.

The tour ends at the Main Street train station. I would say it is well worth the bit of time you miss in the park!

 

[PanamaMike]

Took the tour in January.
Arrived at the Contemporary security gate about 0650, informed them I was there for the steam train tour and they let me in to park.
They did not ask for any confirmation info nor did they give me any parking pass.
Two guards were on duty and the first one didn't know anything about it, but the other guard told him to let me in.

Walked to the bag check station and arrived just before they started letting people through. Turns out 4 of the 10 of us were there for the train tour.

Gathered at the designated waiting area. While the other tours and breakfast reservations line up at the far left end of the entrance gates, the train tour meets at the concrete flower planter between the tapstiles for the 0730 start.

It was approx. 3 hours and finishes at the Main St. station.

I'm not a train buff, but I found the tour very interesting and our guide was excellent.

Since you say your dad is fond of steam trains, I bet he would enjoy the tour.

 

[Disney_Alli]

Like @TinkLoverSam said I did the tour with my dad August 2010. We had a really good time! After the tour I took him to see the "Spike" room at Wilderness Lodge and some of Walt's old "miniature" trains on display there then we went over to Whispering Canyon Cafe and had lunch. Absolutely one of my favorite days I've spent with my dad in Magic Kingdom!

 

[PrincessJasmine53]

We're doing the train tour in April, 2018 when we are at WDW - They told us we have to be inside the MK by 7:15AM - now, my daughter suggested that we take a Minnie Van to the MK, since the buses probably won't be running at that time to get us there. The Minnie Van's are allowed to go where the buses go, so we wouldn't have to get dropped off at the Contemporary & walk over. Has anyone else tried this, and how did it work out? How far in advance should we book this? We're staying at Art of Animation, do the Minnie Vans pick up there now? I saw one in February, picking up or dropping off there - so I just want to be sure. Thanks for any input!

 

[Lancer]

We did the tour on January 31st 2018. There is an early bus going to the MK despite what most sources say(they usually say 1 hour before park opens) . We were leaving from the the AKL Jambo and the front desk CM told us that they do start earlier. I am not sure if it was 6:00 or 6:30 AM, but we made sure we were on the first one and arrived in plenty of time. Even once everyone was there, they gave time for a restroom break before starting because it will be about 2 hours before you have another opportunity. It was about 3 hours, maybe a little more and very interesting. The CM was very good and gave non stop commentary and trivia. Photography/video was allowed at all times except for the 60 seconds it took us to go by a certain security gate backstage. At the round house(the monorails are housed above it), We got to climb into the engine in pairs of two and was showed its operation by the CM. As that was going on I had a nice 15 minute or so chat one on one with the engineer. Definitely worth doing at least even if you are not exactly a train enthusiast as most if not all of the tour deals with trains as they relate to the history of Disney parks and of Walt himself. If you collect pins, at the end, you also receive a steam train pin not found any where else on property.

 

[PrincessJasmine53]

Lancer - Thank you so much for all the information you gave - would be great to not have to get or pay for transportation to the Magic Kingdom! We'll check all this out when we get there - We heard the tour is a good one - we're also going on the 20th Anniversary Animal Kingdom tour. The cast member on the phone said that it's sort of an all day tour with breaks in between - they tell you where & when to meet up again. It ends with VIP seats at Rivers of light. That one starts at 11am - be there by 10:30. It sounded great too - so we shall see! Thanks again for all the information!

 

[Lancer]

Your welcome Jasmine,
As far as how soon to book it, there really is not a good answer except as soon as you can if you know you definitely want to take it. We booked it about a month out and it looked as if our tour was close but not completely full. A lot depends on the time of year, the tour, whether it is offered multiple times in the day and if it offered only on certain days. All the tours, especially the lower priced ones are becoming more popular. It is common to have a filled up tour. Also, since the tour dates are not as flexible, relatively speaking, booking it first will allow you to better plan your adrs an FP around itrather than have adr's and FP and try to shoe in a tour.

We have taken just about every tour over the years, except maybe some of the brand new ones, and one excellent but underrated tour is the Behind the seeds tour in the EPCOT land pavilion. Its only $24 offered multiple times every day and is a 1 to 1:15 hour walking tour version of the land boat ride. You get up close to all the plants in the green house among other things, things you may not see from the boat. It is run by greenhouse cm's/interns so they are incredibly knowledgeable on everything and is a nice casual pace with the opportunity to ask lots of questions. Photography is allowed.

 

[PrincessJasmine53]

Lancer - We are booked already for the Train Tour & the 20th Anniversary AK Tour. We've gone on just about all the tours also - Loved the Behind the Seeds tour - been on that a few times - One of our favorites is the 7 hour tour - although they don't go to the Christmas warehouse anymore - it's a separate tour now during the holidays - that was the best to see! Also loved the Trek in Animal Kingdom! We are waiting to do the Dolphin one when the refurbishment is done - Did the Flower & Garden one last year and and Undiscovered Epcot too. We go in about 3 weeks...can't wait!

 

[MityCratar]

doing the tour on May 3 also staying at AoA!!!

We're doing the train tour in April, 2018 when we are at WDW - They told us we have to be inside the MK by 7:15AM - now, my daughter suggested that we take a Minnie Van to the MK, since the buses probably won't be running at that time to get us there. The Minnie Van's are allowed to go where the buses go, so we wouldn't have to get dropped off at the Contemporary & walk over. Has anyone else tried this, and how did it work out? How far in advance should we book this? We're staying at Art of Animation, do the Minnie Vans pick up there now? I saw one in February, picking up or dropping off there - so I just want to be sure. Thanks for any input!

 

[Forevermarypoppins]

My dad was 78 when I gave him this tour as a B day present during a family vacation. Him and me.
He's passed now and it's a cherished memory and NO REGRETS, I went with him on that tour.
GO!

 

[solfan68]

Booked this tour for my parents and myself this June. Back when I was a kid we used to take the occasional trip to go and ride steam trains in places like Strasburg, PA. Really looking forward to it. I can say that I booked the tour back in January, and used my Disney Visa to get the tour discount. Super excited to take this tour in less than sixty days !