Recommend behind the scenes tours?

[laura12581]

For our next trip, we are considering either Keys to the Kingdom or Backstage Magic. Anyone do these tours.. are they worth the time/money? Which would you recommend? Any other tour you recommend. It is just me and DH (both 25). What cool things did you do? Thanks for sharing your advice!
Laura

 

[lsutigger2]

The only tours we've done have been at AK. Both were very good! Wild by Design was about the design and stories behind the design of AK, very interesting. BAckstage Safari (?) was also very good. Lots of info about the animals and how they are cared for, etc.
Paul was our tour guide for both and he was awesome!

 

[kandeebunny]

LOVED LOVED LOVED (did I mention loved?) Keys to the Kingdom! Awesome tour, Awesome lunch soooooo much info. Just a great time all around. We went behind the scenes saw the parade floats, went ont he Jungle Cruise (walked on) also went down to costuming and stuff!

 

[Rombus]

If you ever wanted to ride a segway, defently check out the Segway tour around the worlds in epcot! Well worth the money, and fun to do!

 

[lizanne]

Did Keys to the Kingdom the first time in 2000, loved it. I couldn't wait to do it again, and the next chance I got was in 2004. What a difference.

I was told the difference came about because of Sept. 11 (9/11). We didn't have access to the garage that housed the parade floats-could only view from outside the garage. We didn't have access to the areas used by cast member in the utilidors, only able to view a few things in what felt like a foyer area. When we went to the haunted mansion, we actually stood outside and listed to the tour guide tell some story about different senarios the cast members have made up about what actually is the history of the Haunted Mansion. She talked for about 40 minutes. Then we went on the ride as usual, no "backstage" experience.

I hate to be negative, but it was such a disappointment.



Also did the Train Tour. I liked that and was glad I did it. Some of the people on the tour were really train enthusiast so I kind of felt like a fish out of water, but the tour was enjoyable.

I think the guide has a lot to do with the experience.

 

[MiJo]

My DW and I have done the KTTK Tour and the Segway Tour and enjoyed both of them tremendously. The KTTK is longer (maybe 4 hours) as compared to 2 hours for the Segway Tour. The KTTK gives you more info about the park (history, architecture, secrets) than the Segway Tour which is geared more towards just cruising around the WS. I suggest you do them both!

 

[Uncleromulus]

We've done the 4 hour tour and the all day tour--I forget which is which, but both are excellent and well worth the time and $$$ We preferred the all-day tour that took us to MK, Epcot, and MGM. And should add that the Backstage Safari at the AK is another excellent tour!!!

 

[problemchild718]

Just wondering if I could do one of the tours (walking tour) in a wheel chair? I assume they have others that go just don't want to ruin it for my DFH. Thanks!

 

[athenna]

I did the Wonders of World Showcase Tour in April and loved it!

 

[WDWLVR]

We haven't done the tours you've mentioned but we have done the following:


Segway tour of World Showcase - loved it! First hour is instruction, second hour is your group alone in World Showcase showing off your Segway skills!

Steam Train tour - great tour especially if you are into trains. You get to ride the train backstage and see not only where they keep the trains but also where they keep the monorails. Very informative tour.

Dolphins in Depth - wonderful tour backstage at Living Seas. Included is a tour backstage, some classroom time learing about the dolphins, and then you get into a wet suit and into the water with them. You don't swim with them, but you do interact with them. A true joy!

I believe that all of these tours also offer discounts if you are an AP holder or are DVC so don't forget to ask if you qualify.

 

[problemchild718]

Would you spend the $$$ and time on the same tour?

 

[bhencey]

We just got back from a trip last week. Did Keys at MK the first day. Gardens tour at EP on the second and Backstage Saf at AK on the third. Thought the backstage safari at AK was the best. Keys was second (it provided excellent information, lots of backstage "stuff", but got long). I'd recommend taking the first one of the day at 8:30, it helped to have shorter lines getting through a few of the attractions (they don't get to cut in line). Gardens was good, but that would only appeal to green-thumbs.

 

[beauandjacksmommy]

Also if you decide to do any of the tours and are a AAA member (you don't have to book through AAA, just be a member) you can get a discount as well. I believe it is 15%. I have my husband booked for the Backstage Safari and the Keys to the Kingdom in October and we received the discount for both.

 

[dani0622]

My husband and I did the Keys to the Kingdom tour this past April and really enjoyed it. It was four hours with a half hour lunch break. The tour guide gives a lot of hidden info that is really great to hear about and took us on HM and POC. POC we walked right on because of no line. HM we went through side entrance, which I recall may have been a handicapped entrance. We also went "backstage" a few times and saw the garages where floats and attraction equipment was being worked on. We also went to the utilidors and walked around the hallways. If you are a Disney buff and love hearing all the great little stories and details into everything you will enjoy this tour.

 

[jimmiej]

We've done KttK (great fun!) & Around the World on a Segway (best thing we've ever done at WDW!). See pic below. We already have another Segway tour booked for next July.

 

[iwynlea]

We just got back from a trip to WDW, and we did the Keys to the Kingdom tour at MK. It was fantastic. We had Jeff as our guide, and the tour went about 5 hours and 15 minutes (he said he gets into trouble because his tour always goes long). He was incredibly knowledgeable, and we had a great group of 17 people who asked a lot of good questions. I have to say it never felt like 5 hours, it went way too fast, and we would love to do it again in a few years.

One of the things I was worried about was bathroom breaks (my DH jokes I'm a leaky faucet), but I didn't need to worry. We stopped about once an hour for a "biological experience."

Next trip, we'd like to do the 3-park 8-hour tour!

Erica

 

[laura12581]

THanks for all the info! Did you book in advance? Do you think that we have to, I am still not sure if we will have enough time to do that and everything else that we want to, we are going in December (13-18th).
Laura