MK-tunnels

[sparkles_grrl]

has anyone ever done the tunnel tour? I was thinking of maybe doing it.

 

[Dan Murphy]

The Keys to the Kingdom and the Backstage Magic both allocate part of the tour to the Utilidors in MK. Both tours are great.


http://www.allearsnet.com/btp/tours.htm

http://allearsnet.com/reviewpost/showcat.php?cat=66

 

[pepe of ohio]

We've kicked this around for years, but haven't done it. We figured with the characters done there, without their heads on might ruin the magic. To us it feels like all the operations and CM's are down there and seeing them prepare for work, travel to their designated locations and what not would ruin our image of Mickey Mouse being real.

We've done the Steam Train Tour last visit and that was worth every penny, went backstage, sort of, to where they maintain the engines and monorails so character identities weren't compromised.

 

[eeyoreiscool]

When we did the tour, there weren't any characters in the tunnels. There were a few backstage though that were getting ready to go out for a greet time. We loved the Keys to the Kingdom tour and would recommend it to others who want to learn more about Disney.

 

[ppiew]

We took these tours and you NEVER see the characters without their 'heads.' I believe there is a rule that once they put on the costumes, they must act 'in character' whether in the tunnels or not. The tunnels are very utilitarian - not exotic in anyway. They are a means of transport for utilities and for cast members to get to and from their jobs. I remember electric carts (to eliminate fumes) transporting people, walls lined with conduit of every sort for power, telephone, etc. lunch rooms, costuming, etc.

 

[Joanna71985]

We took these tours and you NEVER see the characters without their 'heads.' I believe there is a rule that once they put on the costumes, they must act 'in character' whether in the tunnels or not. The tunnels are very utilitarian - not exotic in anyway. They are a means of transport for utilities and for cast members to get to and from their jobs. I remember electric carts (to eliminate fumes) transporting people, walls lined with conduit of every sort for power, telephone, etc. lunch rooms, costuming, etc.

Oh no. That is wrong. So if you do not want to see half-dressed characters whatsoever, then the backstage tours involving the utilidor is probably not for you (this is not regarding anyone in general).

 

[ppiew]

The tours we took were several years ago so maybe things have changed. I do know that we never saw a partially costumed CM and in fact at that time our tour guide said that it was not allowed. But time marches on so that could very well have changed.

 

[puggymom]

I took KTTK a few weeks and I saw a half dress Pluto in the tunnels and we were also backstage behind Splash (where the parade floats are kept) and we saw the new Woody show as they were getting ready to go onstage and they were not completely in costume. They let us stay and watch them put the costumes on so we could see what it takes.

 

[iwynlea]

We just did the Backstage Magic tour (and LOVED it!), and we were backstage for a lot of the tour and never saw any "half-dressed" characters. Well, I take that back...we did see some of the princesses putting on their makeup and fixing their hair, but they had normal clothes on. But no Pluto without a head or anything. We loved the tour (and we've done KTTK, too), because for us seeing how it all gets put together just makes the magic that much more real.

But, I also think it's a personal preference. For us, what enhances the magic might ruin it for someone else! Your milage may vary!

 

[BirdsOfPreyDave]

We did Keys to the Kingdom this summer and absolutely loved it. Just keep in mind that the Utilidores is only a very small part of the tour, though. I'd estimate only about 30 minutes of the five-hour tour. A good portion of that time is watching a video of some of the utilidore locations they're not allowed to actually take you to. (You basically stay in the hall. You don't go into any of the operational areas down there.) For me, the backstage areas where they store the parade floats were much more interesting than the utilidores.

 

[Elise79]

We just did the Backstage Magic tour (and LOVED it!)

We just did Backstage Magic as well - our tour guide was Lowell - he was brilliant! When did you go?

 

[LeeLeeLuvsDisney]

We did the Keys to the Kingdom tour this summer. We saw Piglet with his head off, talking on a cell phone. You definitely might see this kind of stuff...if you think it might ruin the magic to see it, don't do the tour. However, I really enjoyed the tour. It was very interesting!

 

[MouseHouse4]

My husband just took this tour again for a second time in Sept. He said thanks to the great tour guide he had, this tour was even better than the first time he took it three years ago. But he can vouch for seeing half-dressed characters! On this tour he saw Donald take his head off, and he saw both Chip and Dale without their heads on. However, for him personally, this did not ruin the magic, it only made the magic greater!

 

[Ilovestitch]

KTTK is great! We saw half dressed characters, too, but that didn't bother me. I think I was more upset when we walked out the back door of the Emporium and its a parking lot and dumpsters and the Jungle Cruise...lol.. You just want to believe Main St. is real, you know?

KTTK is definitly worth doing, a great experience.

 

[iwynlea]

We just did Backstage Magic as well - our tour guide was Lowell - he was brilliant! When did you go?

We did it on Oct 3. We had Jeanne. She was amazing also. I think you have to be a pretty outstanding CM to be allowed out alone for 7 hours with guests throwing random qustions at you the whole time. Glad you had a good time, too!

I really do recommend the tours to everyone. Next time, we'd like to do the Steam Trains one.

 

[Joanna71985]

I've done KTTK (with Rae as tourguide ). Now I would like to do Backstage Magic.

 

[SyracuseWolvrine]

If they didn't have their heads on, how would you know which one was chip and which was dale?

(Joanna ... I've worked with Rae while facilitating a YES program. Very nice person)

 

[Joanna71985]

If they didn't have their heads on, how would you know which one was chip and which was dale?

(Joanna ... I've worked with Rae while facilitating a YES program. Very nice person)

You can't. And she really is a very nice person.