Tours for adults/family

[Soulcraft]

Good afternoon Disboards!

I'm planning a trip in April 2016 with my parents and I was hoping to get some feedback on the various tours offered and which ones are "can't miss." I'm a massive Disney fan. My parents, not so much. This will be their first trip to WDW in like 20 years, so it's kind of a big deal. I really want to spend this trip showing them everything that's changed over the years. We're from California and have been to DL quite often, so it's not just about the rides, but more about exploring what makes WDW unique.

The 2 tours I'm considering are the Wild Africa Trek and Backstage Magic. Are those pretty awesome? What have people thought about them? My biggest concerns are about exertion level. My parents are not as mobile and nimble as they once were, and if the Backstage Magic tour is 7 hours on your feet, that could be tough. Is the Africa Trek exhausting?

I also just noticed the Wilderness Backtrail Tour, which is on segways! My parents have done the whole Segway in a city thing many times, so this could be something fun and recognizable for them. Has anyone done this tour?

Finally, what are thoughts on Behind the Seeds? This sounds like something right up their alley. Thanks!!

 

[disneyseniors]

Sorry, OP, I can't help you with the tours you have mentioned. But, my husband and I have been on the MK tour, Keys to the Kingdom. We are both in our 60's and were worried about the walking. I think it was 5 hours total. The tour information says there will not be many rests on this tour. But, we found that we stopped a few times; and we were able to keep up just fine. My husband has a bad back and I have mobility problems but we were both able to do this tour. You must be able to walk, but you do get to rest some too, for very short periods. We also stopped for 2 behind the scenes rides, and for a pre-arranged lunch at Columbia Harbor House. We both loved the information, secrets, etc we learned from the tour. Also our tour guide was wonderful and he "made" the tour for us. I even wrote a letter to Customer Service about his great tour, wonderful attitude and enthusiasm. The behind the scenes parts were great, and we truly enjoyed the entire tour. I would recommend scheduling the earliest tour, 8:00am, I think. We got early entrance into MK and about 45 minutes to wander around the empty Main St. area and take pictures and just gaze at the empty areas. If you decide on this tour, and are interested in the history of the MK, it's well worth it.

 

[Accident]

backstage magic isn't a straight 7 hours on your feet. There's a lot of bus to the next area/park/greenhouse/shops. When you reach mk near the end is when you'll have the longest stretch on your feet with the utilidors. I liked that tour a lot, it had a few areas not in any other tour and a nice mix of everything it takes across the parks and behind the scenes in areas you normally wouldn't see (costuming, work shops, greenhouse, etc)

 

[aprilnmay]

I have done the Backstage Magic tour, Wild Africa Trek & Behind the Seeds and loved each one.

The Backstage Magic tour gives you plenty of time to sit and rest as you will be riding a tour bus between locations. There was a cooler of water on the bus and we were able to get as much as we needed. You also will have lunch (ours was at Whispering Canyon Café at Wilderness Lodge). The tour was very fun. I learned lots of new Disney trivia and loved seeing the backstage areas. I won’t say much about the things on the tour, but you see a backstage area at each park and you also get to see the horticulture area.

The Wild Africa Trek is a lot more walking, but you do stop frequently to look at/learn about different animals. You will walk cross several rope bridges. The bridges are a little shaky, but you are clipped in to a harness. Also, you are able to walk across the bridges at your own pace, so no need to rush. About halfway through, you board a safari jeep and ride across the savannah to the boma for lunch. When you check in for the trek you are given a canteen which you can fill with water. There are several stops along the trek where you are able to refill your canteen. One really cool thing about this tour is that your guides are taking complementary pictures during the trek.

Another note: for both tours you are given a listening device so that no matter where you are in the tour group you will always be able to hear your guide.

Behind the Seeds was really interesting. It’s about an hour long walking tour. If I remember correctly there is one opportunity to sit down. If you don’t do the Living with the Land ride before the tour, you will definitely want to do it when the tour is over.

 

[kiford]

We did Wild Africa Trek in 2013 (December). One of the best experiences we've had at WDW. We'd do it again - unfortunately, it didn't fit with our schedule this last December but maybe next time. There is some walking, but it's not that difficult. You do have to be able to navigate walking over tree roots and such but it's not like a real hike in the wild. They'll clip your harness onto a wire so that you can go close to the end of a cliff overlooking both the hippos and crocs while they feed them and tell you something about what they've learned about them. This is done by a professional who spends their time observing and researching them. It was quite fascinating.

As PP stated, you walk over a rope bridge that's meant to look like it's dangerous and rickety. But you're strapped into a harness and there's a net below the bridge. They'll take some really good pictures of you going over it (pictures are included in the package). I have a great one of DH stopping halfway over to take a picture of the crocs below him. It's not really that difficult. Just the time spent on the savannah is well worth the fee. We sat for a while watching one young female giraffe who was fascinated by the people in the trams so she kept standing in front of the tram and practically sticking her head into them, causing quite a backup of the ride. The photographer (and DH) got lots of really good photos of her. Our guides were recent graduates in a related field - one in zoology and one in biology - so they're quite knowledgeable.

You then have lunch or a snack, depending on the time of day, at a place in the middle of the savannah. I thought the food was quite good. They have binoculars there too so after you eat, you can spend some time watching the animals up close. As PP states, you get a water bottle that you fill up in case it's hot (and if it is hot, they do remind you to drink occasionally) and you get to keep that. DH still uses his at the gym.

 

[Grumpy247365]

I've done Backstage Magic, Keys to the Kingdom and Wild Africa Trek. I would do Keys to the Kingdom and Wild Africa Trek again in a heartbeat. I would say each tour has a good amount of walking/standing involved. On the Backstage Magic you have to go down and up a small set of stair when visiting the first exhibit at EPCOT. Wild Africa Trek is A LOT of walking through trees with a lot of roots sticking out and and of course, you walk across two bridges that have fairly good gaps in between the wood planks. I didn't feel exhausted after either tour, but I am in decent shape. Somebody who does't walk or move around well would have a hard time with this. I know for the Wild Africa Trek you have to be under 300 lbs and pretty mobile. I don't remember if you are allowed to bring a wheelchair/power wheelchair on the bus for the Backstage Magic tour. I feel like I'm rambling now. Hope you are all able to enjoy a tour.

 

[ELSA711]

Did anyone find it uncomfortable not to have email confirmation of their tour? LOL
I know I am paranoid but they said they couldn't do that.

 

[Grumpy247365]

You'll received an email closer to your tour date. I received a lengthy one when I did the Wild Africa Trek tour as well as the Backstage Magic one.

 

[Oneanne]

I've done both Wild Trek and Keys to the Kingdom and will do both again at some point. Since your folks aren't huge on Disney it seems like Keys to the Kingdom might be a better choice.

 

[BWV Dreamin]

Do you have to use a park ticket for Backstage Magic Tour or Keys to the Kingdom? I know you do for Wild Africa tour.

 

[Grumpy247365]

Do you have to use a park ticket for Backstage Magic Tour or Keys to the Kingdom? I know you do for Wild Africa tour.

You need a park ticket for Keys to the Kingdom, but not for Backstage Magic.

 

[BWV Dreamin]

OMG that Backstage tour is a bit pricey!!! Think I'll pass on that one.

 

[disBEAST]

Wild Africa Trek is amazing, highly recommend it.

Keys to the Kingdom is good especially if you want to see the utilidors. The Walk in Walt's Footsteps tour at DL is a superior version I think but obviously no utilidors.

Behind the Seeds at The Land would be a great, short tour with not much walking.

I'd also pitch the Magic Behind Our Steam Trains tour, which is incredible for a couple reasons. First you get to be the absolute very first people in MK other than some delivery trucks and maintenance CMs. You then ride the train from the station back to the depot where they maintain the trains and learn all about them from some Disney engineers. After the MK opening show has concluded you get to ride the train back and it concludes at Main Street Station with a history of the trains at WDW and Walt and his love of trains. Here's some pics from the tour I took a couple years ago.

 

[PiperG]

Sorry, OP, I can't help you with the tours you have mentioned. But, my husband and I have been on the MK tour, Keys to the Kingdom. We are both in our 60's and were worried about the walking. I think it was 5 hours total. The tour information says there will not be many rests on this tour. But, we found that we stopped a few times; and we were able to keep up just fine. My husband has a bad back and I have mobility problems but we were both able to do this tour. You must be able to walk, but you do get to rest some too, for very short periods. We also stopped for 2 behind the scenes rides, and for a pre-arranged lunch at Columbia Harbor House. We both loved the information, secrets, etc we learned from the tour. Also our tour guide was wonderful and he "made" the tour for us. I even wrote a letter to Customer Service about his great tour, wonderful attitude and enthusiasm. The behind the scenes parts were great, and we truly enjoyed the entire tour. I would recommend scheduling the earliest tour, 8:00am, I think. We got early entrance into MK and about 45 minutes to wander around the empty Main St. area and take pictures and just gaze at the empty areas. If you decide on this tour, and are interested in the history of the MK, it's well worth it.

Thank you for the feedback. I am doing the Keys to the Kingdom on my upcoming solo trip. It sounds like that was a good choice.

 

[kiford]

Did anyone find it uncomfortable not to have email confirmation of their tour? LOL
I know I am paranoid but they said they couldn't do that.

You'll received an email closer to your tour date. I received a lengthy one when I did the Wild Africa Trek tour as well as the Backstage Magic one.

Yes, I was uncomfortable at not getting an e-mail confirmation. My TA told me that they told her (twice) that they sent a confirmation but I never got anything. However, it was fine. We went to the Wild Africa Trek entrance early just to be sure, and they had us on a list. I would have been more comfortable with an e-mail but, as usual, everything was handled and in order.