Taking Tours in Jan UPDATED w/final decision

[bookgirl]

Last March on my solo trip I did the KTTK tour and loved it. So when I decided to plan a solo trip this Jan I knew I'd want to do another.

There is some info about some of them and then very little about others.

I looked at

Backstage Magic:

pros: Four parks, lunch at WCC, lots of trivia type stuff, commemorative pin

cons: $249, ALL day, can run late, family style dining but I have allergies and am leary of trying to get safe items, MK portion would just be a rehash of KTTK

Backstage Safari:

pros: $72, ride Safari, behind the scenes trivia, only 3 hrs, afternoon option, memorable keepsake, snack no meal

cons: possibility of not a lot of animals

Undiscovered Future World:

pros: backstage areas sound interesting/trivia, $64, commemorative pin

cons: no snack? not really seeing any cons to this one

Behind the Steam Trains

pros: ride the train, something that is unique, $54

cons: no pin/souvenir, 7:30 in the AM, Taxi needed to get to park, a little one dimensional, no snack?

Wild Africa Trek:

No January times...not offered?

pros: It just sounds cool, lots of experiences, commemorative pin,

cons: food (I'd be very limited on the menu listed between allergies and the fact that I eat no fish/seafood), mostly outside in what is predicted to be a very cold winter for Florida, $189-$249.

So I could do one big tour or a couple of small ones. I'm already leaning towards the multiple small ones (probably 2, maybe 3).

Looking for input,

Thanks

 

[jennab113]

I can't help, but can tell you that the Wild Africa Trek is offered in January because I am doing it the 12th. I called and asked about availability and there was a lot.

 

[L&Lfan]

All I've experienced is Backstage Magic in 2006 and 2014. We had a blast!

 

[bookgirl]

Just to update I decided to do two smaller tours.

The Magic Behind our Steam Trains and Backstage Safari.

Great discounts with my Disney Visa (AP rate was the same) at 15%.

For Backstage Safari the afternoon option was key. AK had morning EMH so I'll head over early ride a rides durning EMH and with my FP's, grab an early lunch (I've been interested in the Yak and Yeti walk up) and then head to the tour for a 1:00 start time. with Discount this tour is only in the mid 60's.

For Steam Trains it was just the chance to be part of a behind the scene fixture of the MK and really puttering around the MK that early is kind of a thrill as well. I mean Walt was all about the Trains and I do like them (my father is a big fan so we have done a few train things in the past so I can build on those experiences). I think my discount put this in the mid 40's. Course I have to pay for that 6:15 Taxi (sheesh) but it's all good.

So two tours for less than one of the big tours and two interesting experiences. Can't wait for Jan.

 

[Donald - my hero]

One you didn't mention probably since even CM seem to know little about it.

The new "Walt Disney: Marceline to Magic Kingdom" tour uses the Magic Kingdom as a "walking timeline" to help guests discover how the events in Walt's life helped develop his understanding and view of the world around him. The three-hour tour is available Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays each week, starting at 8:15 a.m. Call 407-WDW-TOUR for prices and to register. Participants must be at least 12 years old. $30 per person.

Yeah i cut & pasted that description cause I'm LAZY! BUT now I'll give you a mini review!

You get in before the general public (not sure if this is happening during holiday season or not) and wander through the park towards Liberty Square learning all sorts of great stuff about Walt & his family and why Disney Land was created ... leading to the changes that were made when Disney World was born. We were the 1st riders on the HM and wore head sets so the guide could point out interesting things through out the ride. Once we got out she stopped short and asked if anyone would like to go INSIDE THE MANSION!! Seriously?? You need to ask us?? no brainer here YES! We got to stand just off-side the ballroom floor. Has to be one of the most exciting things of our entire 2 week trip! We continued through the park learning things about Walt that i had never heard. The tour ends up in CP since that is Walt's true baby where you once again get a private ride while the guide points out things that most have never noticed (hidden Mickeys, names of characters, certain characters that if dressed differently you will see in other attractions!)

We all ended up in tears as the tour guide wrapped up her spiel with a very heart-touching story of Walt. The 3 hours actually stretched into 4 since we had a tour guide who lives & breathes Disney. I believe her name is Mary-Elizabeth and if you are fortunate enough to get her you're in for a massive treat!

We went on the Keys to the Kingdom Tour last time and both felt this was a much better tour and left feeling closer to Walt if that makes any sense at all Excellent use of $30.00 even with out going inside HM!!

Drat i noticed you just updated your post with your final decision, i hope you read this and decide to do it, i doubt you'll regret it!

 

[bookgirl]

One you didn't mention probably since even CM seem to know little about it.

The new "Walt Disney: Marceline to Magic Kingdom" tour uses the Magic Kingdom as a "walking timeline" to help guests discover how the events in Walt's life helped develop his understanding and view of the world around him. The three-hour tour is available Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays each week, starting at 8:15 a.m. Call 407-WDW-TOUR for prices and to register. Participants must be at least 12 years old. $30 per person.

Yeah i cut & pasted that description cause I'm LAZY! BUT now I'll give you a mini review!

You get in before the general public (not sure if this is happening during holiday season or not) and wander through the park towards Liberty Square learning all sorts of great stuff about Walt & his family and why Disney Land was created ... leading to the changes that were made when Disney World was born. We were the 1st riders on the HM and wore head sets so the guide could point out interesting things through out the ride. Once we got out she stopped short and asked if anyone would like to go INSIDE THE MANSION!! Seriously?? You need to ask us?? no brainer here YES! We got to stand just off-side the ballroom floor. Has to be one of the most exciting things of our entire 2 week trip! We continued through the park learning things about Walt that i had never heard. The tour ends up in CP since that is Walt's true baby where you once again get a private ride while the guide points out things that most have never noticed (hidden Mickeys, names of characters, certain characters that if dressed differently you will see in other attractions!)

We all ended up in tears as the tour guide wrapped up her spiel with a very heart-touching story of Walt. The 3 hours actually stretched into 4 since we had a tour guide who lives & breathes Disney. I believe her name is Mary-Elizabeth and if you are fortunate enough to get her you're in for a massive treat!

We went on the Keys to the Kingdom Tour last time and both felt this was a much better tour and left feeling closer to Walt if that makes any sense at all Excellent use of $30.00 even with out going inside HM!!

Drat i noticed you just updated your post with your final decision, i hope you read this and decide to do it, i doubt you'll regret it!

I did look at this tour but I just did Keys to the Kingdom so I thought I'd hit a couple of different ones as this was similar to KttK, but it's on my list for a future trip.

Thanks for the info on it. It does sound really interesting.

 

[Micca]

I'm a huge proponent of the Marceline to MK tour, but setting that aside...

This is a solo trip, correct? The all-day Backstage Magic tour is a pretty big commitment for someone who is not a dedicated WDW enthusiast. If it's possible that your future trips will include those who might not want to be on a guided tour all day...here's your chance! Not sure about the the food allergy thing, but I've only ever heard great things about attention to such matters.
You might even buddy-up with another solo traveler to chat with during the tour.

ETA: The two tours concept is solid, have fun!

 

[bookgirl]

I'm a huge proponent of the Marceline to MK tour, but setting that aside...

This is a solo trip, correct? The all-day Backstage Magic tour is a pretty big commitment for someone who is not a dedicated WDW enthusiast. If it's possible that your future trips will include those who might not want to be on a guided tour all day...here's your chance! Not sure about the the food allergy thing, but I've only ever heard great things about attention to such matters.
You might even buddy-up with another solo traveler to chat with during the tour.

ETA: The two tours concept is solid, have fun!

I am solo this trip and will probably do other solos in the future, so I'll have opportunities for tours in the future as well. Backstage Magic and the African Trek are on my radar, but I decided to cut back on those since I have a smaller budget planned out for this trip. (Had a huge splurge trip in October).

WDW is great with allergies but the family style is the hang up. If it were my family they know to be careful and not mix up safe and not safe items, but with strangers I'm a little more leary of sharing food. With KTTK we ordered ahead so they had my allergy meal prepared ahead of time along with the rest. I don't know if I could order something individually ahead with the family style setting.

It will be something I'll need to research a little more.