Really disappointed with KTTK tour

[LauraAngel]

Hi all,

My mom and I recently returned from a weeklong trip in which we had tried to do some new things, as this was our 7th or 8th weeklong trip to WDW. One of the things we thought would be great was the KTTK tour, which I had read so many positive things about. I was very excited about getting to see the utilidors and the parade staging area and learning some new things, finding out more about how the park really works. Unfortunately, our tour was ultimately pretty disappointing. We went on a Wednesday at 9:30am (park opened at 9am that day). The two women who checked us in were very personable and funny and really made us feel welcome. We were really excited, figuring one of them would be leading our tour. Unfortunately, the girl who did lead our tour, while she was excited about disney, was not nearly as personable. She was rather quiet, making it hard to hear her often. She also had exceedingly poor diction, which surprised me for someone who works in guest relations. She kept tripping over her words and making up words, saying things were "more better" than something, etc. I realize I am a bit more obsessive about DIsney than the average person, having read just about every book I can get my hands on about various aspects of Walt's life and the parks and so forth, but there was very little new information offered during the tour, even for my mom, who isn't nearly as into everything Disney. She said she learned more about Walt from the One Man's Dream exhibit than from the girl's lengthy and muddled talk about him.
More disappointingly, there was very little "behind the scenes." The info she gave us about the rides we went on before we went in was basically common knowledge (she didnt' even share the Haunted Mansion story with us, or talk about the carriage or anything... just talked about Hidden Mickeys). We were never shown the parade/garbage area that so many other people have gotten to see, perhaps because of the recent unfortunate death of a cast member in that area. Nonetheless, instead of substituting with something else even remotely "backstage" they just shoved us on a couple more rides, hardly a real exciting thing on a day when the MK was practically empty and we could've walked on any ride we wanted, tour or not.

The only reason I consider the money well spent was the 40 minutes we spent in the utilidor area, which was very cool to get to see. On the whole though, I would've rather skipped the rest of the "tour" and done rides on my own.

This is not to say that you won't have a better experience, if you do this yourself. I'm sure that much of this had to do with the particular person we had leading our tour. Nonetheless, given that I'd heard so many positive things prior to our trip about the KTTK tour, I thought I would share my not so great experience with you all, just so you have some comparison.

Conversely, I would encourage anyone really into Disney to check out the Lunch/Dinner with an Imagineer program (see my post in the restaurants/dining section) as this was by far the highlight of our trip.

Anyway, any questions, please feel free to ask...

 

[cruisnfamily]

I think you should write to Disney and let them know about your experience. Not because you want any type of compensation but rather because I think they would want to know that you were less than satisfied. Besides perhaps this is not the right position for this individual, if you speak up, maybe other folks won't have the same disappointing experience.

 

[magicmaker]

LauraAngel--

I sent you a PM.

 

[Byrd]

LauraAngel please tell me if you had 2 teachers in your group from South Carolina? One is blond and fluffy, the other this with reddish blond hair. Both in their 40's. They were going on Wednesday due to my recommendation. They will not be home until Sunday. I might want to be prepared to ask them for forgiveness.
I'm sorry that you didn't have a great tour guide. It makes a big difference. I've taken the tour twice. First time was the best! The second time was good, but the tour guide was not as friendly, but good. Don't think that all the tours are as bad as the one you had. Try the tour again someday.
Thanks,
Byrd

 

[donmil723]

I'm sorry that you had a disappointing KTTK tour. We did this tour in 2001 and were so disappointed that we refuse to take another "behind the scenes" tour. While we did get to see the parade staging area, we only spent about 15-20 minutes in the utildor and then just in the front under Main Street. We came in on one side, stopped to talk by a large map, and back out on the other side. Our guide wasn't very informative either. If anyone asked her anything, she'd say something like "I'll answer that in a minute" and then never would. I emailed Disney and told them how disappointed we were and they did call and leave a message on our answering machine but didn't leave a number for us to call back. Oh well, we laugh about it now every time we walk down Main Street and see the glass sign that is really a mirror on each side. Our guide spent 10-15 minutes talking about that sign! LOL!

Donna

 

[Byrd]

bump

 

[LibertyBelle]

I personally have never taken the Keys tour, but I do know that after Sept 11 the utilidor portion of the tour was cut significantly for safety/security reasons. Also they currently are not able to go to the Parade building due to the ongoing investigation into the accident (they actually canceled a lot of tours right after the accident and they still do not do as extensive a tour in the utilidor as they did prior to Sept 11.)

I am sorry that your tour guide was not very informative. As those are very sought after roles that have to be auditioned for I agree that you should write and let them know that you were no satisfied. Perhaps that guide is great in auditions but not so great on tour.

 

[helomedicdj]

we did this tour in 2000 and found is just spectacular. It was worth every penny (included in the package) and every moment. We had a great cast member and the people backstage just could not have been nicer. Everyone we encountered smiled and greeted us. In the costume shop area, the dressers came out and let us view the various clothing articles and..I hate to use this word..bling bling..they use. Just could not have been a better experience.
This trip we've scheduled many many more behind the scene tours off that inital experience. Especially looking forward to the 7 hour multi-park tour.

Anyway, I'd have to assume the problems exerienced are anomalies rather than the standard. If we were talking about t'portation, I'd have something very different to say. Just my buck three eighty.

 

[vellamint]

and agree with everything you have said. Maybe we had the same tour guide. She mispronounced words and actually accidentally spit on some words......

My friend and I were so disappointed that I am still considering writing but the girls was very sweet and I hate to get someone in trouble.

Very, very little behind the scenes and like the above poster - I know alot about Disney and wanted to see more.

We were escorted to four rides but only had to wait on line for one.

We sat outside a restaurant for a full 30 minutes just listening to information that should really could have been given in a classroom!!! And we were FREEZING no less.

I was ready to leave two hours before the tour ended but didnt because I didnt want to insult her or hurt her feelings (I know my own fault).

What I am angry about is I feel this tour is being misrepresented as a behind the scenes kind of deal AND I read it was about four hours longs but actually was 5 hours and 30 minutes and we wasted most of that time when we could have been doing something fun.

Sorry - I really really do love Disney!!!!