Quick question, Backstage Magic Tour

[3DisneyFanz]

Seeing how it's still the same length as it always was I'm thinking it's just they moved some of the things you saw. Like central costuming. You went to it at HS but now you go to it somewhere else. But they didn't take it away.
I did consider KTTK instead, before we booked anything. I do wonder if some of it is duplicated but I'd still probably do KTTK later, since it must be even more in depth. Maybe someone who sees this and has done both can comment


Nothing is reduced really. It's still 7 hours. You don't go to HS for the costumes because they aren't there. You still go to the costume storage. You don't go to AK for the parade storage because the parade storage isn't there. I didn't expect the price to drop

I didn't expect them to drop the price either. That really was a rhetorical question.

HS was more than just the costuming department and its not like the parade is the only thing that happens at AK. To me the fun of that tour was getting a taste of something backstage at each park. I find it hard to believe they couldn't find any replacements for the prior activities. The time isn't really indicative to the quality of what you get. You could spend 7 hours riding Voyage of the Little Mermaid but I doubt many people would see the same level of fun in that.

 

[bryanb]

I didn't expect them to drop the price either. That really was a rhetorical question.

HS was more than just the costuming department and its not like the parade is the only thing that happens at AK. To me the fun of that tour was getting a taste of something backstage at each park. I find it hard to believe they couldn't find any replacements for the prior activities. The time isn't really indicative to the quality of what you get. You could spend 7 hours riding Voyage of the Little Mermaid but I doubt many people would see the same level of fun in that.

If the new tour format is less successful, then I'm sure it will change again. I think it's oversimplified to assume Disney always wants to give you less value and shoot itself in the foot.

 

[AngiTN]

If the new tour format is less successful, then I'm sure it will change again. I think it's oversimplified to assume Disney always wants to give you less value and shoot itself in the foot.

thank you. I agree. Does Disney do everything right? Not at all. But I also don't think everything they do is to screw over the guest either. I think overall they do still care about the guest.

 

[3DisneyFanz]

If the new tour format is less successful, then I'm sure it will change again. I think it's oversimplified to assume Disney always wants to give you less value and shoot itself in the foot.

I certainly wouldn't say "always" but as Angi pointed out HS and to an extent EPCOT are glowing examples of that happening.

 

[mrzrich]

Besides the parks we went to a few non park locations like Central Shops (where they refurbish things) and the gardening area where they make the topiaries. It is possible they have added to this portion of the tour. Not sure why they can't still take you to TOT. It is quite possible that they may eventually move the costuming department when as the DHS expansion occurs.

In 2012 the park ended at MK and we were free to go on our way from there, but it sounds like it has changed since then

 

[Cappy Wynne]

When did that change? We did the Epcot tour in May and it was not part of that tour

I think we did the Undiscovered Future World tour in 2013 and the costume department in Epcot was included.

 

[FastPasser]

.

 

[Karin1984]

When did that change? We did the Epcot tour in May and it was not part of that tour

I did it in September 2015 and it wasn't as mentioned above not the same as the one in DHS, but still an interesting place to go and good as an example to show costuming and in addition hair and make up. What I remember the one in DHS could also show things about the laundry and the pick up/drop off routines for cast members, and also more about the parade costume (mk). The one in Epcot was smaller and more aimed at the cast members working in Epcot while DHS was for the entire park. But I don't remember hair & make up at DHS.

On the website for UnDiscovered it is still described as:

• Head to the Cast Services building, where you can catch a glimpse inside the wardrobe department.

 

[AngiTN]

I did it in September 2015 and it wasn't as mentioned above not the same as the one in DHS, but still an interesting place to go and good as an example to show costuming and in addition hair and make up. What I remember the one in DHS could also show things about the laundry and the pick up/drop off routines for cast members, and also more about the parade costume (mk). The one in Epcot was smaller and more aimed at the cast members working in Epcot while DHS was for the entire park. But I don't remember hair & make up at DHS.

On the website for UnDiscovered it is still described as:

• Head to the Cast Services building, where you can catch a glimpse inside the wardrobe department.

Thanks. We did World Showcase tour so that is the difference. It's not part of that one

 

[harddrive]

I did get a reply from Disney regarding the change in the tour, been a busy couple of months for me so apologies for the delay in posting the information.

'Currently on the tour you will begin your experience at Epcot® where you will explore The American Adventure. You will then head to Magic Kingdom where you will see the backstage area in Main Street, USA and will get a tour of the Utilidor tunnels that run beneath Magic Kingdom. The next stop will be Central Shops, this is where skilled craftsmen make dreams come true, literally. You will then head to Disney's Wilderness Lodge and enjoy lunch at Whispering Canyon Cafe. After lunch you will head to Creative Costuming where you will get a sneak peek of the costume creation process, after that you will visit Textile Services. Textile Services is where all of the laundry at Walt Disney World gets done, you will tour of 5 laundry facilities that are in operation. Your final stop will be Decorating Support, this is where all of the decorations across property are stored and created.'

I'll let you know how the tour is in person when i'm there in a month

 

[goofyernmost]

There may be a different schedule now. I took it about 8 to 10 years ago. It started in Epcot and officially ended in Epcot. No park admission was required for any of that because it all took place just outside the official entrance. When I took it the last stop before the end was at MK for the Utilidors and the 3 PM parade. Then at that point you could stay in MK or return with the bus to Epcot. If you opted to stay in MK they escorted you to the ticket entrance where you needed to use your ticket for the visit to MK. No free ride. Since I had just gone the day before to MK, it went back to Epcot where we were left off in the parking lot, given a few pins and lanyard and wished a magical day, see ya, have a nice rest of your day, hope you enjoyed your tour, arrivederci, so long.

 

[AngiTN]

We did it last week. Other than having the order of the tour wrong the response PP got was where we went. They did make a point to tell us at the beginning that they would not be telling us where we were going prior to each stop and that it was subject to change so what we did may not be what another tour does. No idea how true that is but we did begin at Epcot and end at MK for the parade. No one gave us the option to remain in MK, not that we wanted to. We wanted to head in to Epcot. We have AP so ticketing was an issue for us anyway.

 

[harddrive]

Thanks for the confirmation AngiTN

Can't wait till we are there!

 

[mcarr1635]

We are doing the Backstage Magic tour on October 11, 2016.
Any tips?

 

[Dan Murphy]

Any tips?

Have good walking shoes. Make sure you received a discount, if appropriate to you....AP, DVC and Disney Visa, all 15%. Bring your camera or phone camera for many on stage photo ops.

Have a fun tour.

 

[AngiTN]

Yes to the shoes! Tons of time on your feet. As for photo ops, we really had very little. 90% or more of it is backstage and no photos. We didn't bother to take our phones out. They did offer to take photos at select spots with a sign. We didn't do that either

Have good walking shoes. Make sure you received a discount, if appropriate to you....AP, DVC and Disney Visa, all 15%. Bring your camera or phone camera for many on stage photo ops.

Have a fun tour.

 

[Dan Murphy]

more of it is backstage

Yes, true, mostly back, but there are a few on.