Tours...please help!

[esmee1sttip]

We are considering a tour but I am stuck trying to decide which would be the best fit. Our party will be 1 adult and two teens. We are traveling in August and we are not accustomed to heat or humidity. We would prefer a smaller tour, we are not foodies (I know, lame ) and we are looking for a little more substantial behind the scenes type tour...I think? Suggestions and recommendations are really appreciated!

 

[CarrieR]

I’d go straight for Keys to the Kingdom. I’ve taken a few, but that’s still my favorite. That’s assuming the teens are above the age cutoff...

 

[Thiago Acquaviva]

I've never done any tour yet, but I'm considering next travel to pick 'Keys to the Kingdom' at the MK!

It's not that expensive and I heard there's a lot of backstage information about many attractions, plus we ride them with almost no waiting.
And we get to go under the most famous tunnel in the world! The 'Utilidor', plus a lunch at Columbia Harbor House which I love.

 

[to be tink]

We loved the Wild Africa Trek!!! Try to book a morning spot before it gets too hot.

 

[ChimCher-ee]

My mother and I really enjoyed Behind the Seeds in the Land at Epcot. There were teens on that one, as well as some children and a high school science teacher! It's informative without being boring, and it's not that expensive!

 

[OhThePain]

While most people will say Keys to the Kingdom, we actually found of the tours we have done, that one showed the least behind the scenes. It was almost more of a history lesson with a few trips backstage, but we LOVED our guide (Mathew!), so we weren't too bothered by not seeing much behind the scenes or going on rides. We did the Backstage Safari at AK, which became Backstage Tales, which probably showed the most behind the scenes (almost all the tour was backstage, showing the different animal housing areas, the kitchen, etc.), but now I don't even see it on the Disney website (it would be a shame if they stopped this one). UnDISCovered Future World also showed a lot behind the scenes (I think the only time we were actually on stage was when we cut from where we met to The Seas pavilion and then when we cut from the land pavilion to the VIP room in Mission:Space). We went through places like costuming where we saw Snow White getting her makeup ready and heard about that whole process from her and the garage for the cars of Test Track (amongst others). So based on the ones we did, I would recommend Backstage Tales if it is still offered, UnDISCovered Future World and then KTTK. Behind the Seeds was also nice, and while it is a tour I don't count it with the tours since you don't really have to plan ahead to book it if you don't want to (but you can if you know when you want to take it).

 

[Mal6586]

I would recommend either the Marceline to Magic Kingdom tour or the unDISCOVERED Future World Tour if you like Epcot. uDFW Tour features a lot of the corporate lounges, goes backstage near Test Track, and even features the Cast Costuming building. MtMK is more of a history lesson, but has a lot more ride-focused info. Both are about 3-4 hours first thing in the morning, so it’s not too hot yet.

 

[seelyt2]

We've done the Wild Africa Trek and the Keys to the Kingdom with teens. We loved both, but the Wild Africa Trek came out on top for us. The level of engagement and the opportunity for new experiences was just phenomenal. In our case the WAT was a smaller crowd, the lunch was different (but delicious) and we were driven around a bit, wherein the KTTK was a walking tour, standard lunch (Tomorrowland Terrace, meh) and had more people in it. Whichever tour you pick, try to get the earliest in the day. We go in August, too, and it's crazy hot!

 

[HydroGuy]

Backstage Magic tour. Very cool! Thinking about doing it for a second time. Last time I actually did it solo. About 8 years ago. This time DS21 would be with me.

 

[ELLH]

I would vote for KTK. Done it twice and it was great both times.

How old are your kids? That may limit your choices. For example, KTK minimum age is 16.

 

[esmee1sttip]

Youngest will be 16 and oldest will be 18 ... no longer a teen I suppose Thank you everyone for suggestions. Some of you have brought up tours that I didn’t even consider!

 

[heidijanesmith]

I really liked the Backstage Magic tour, it's a 7hour tour with a mid-day lunch break.

I went on a really hot day in August, but they had an airconditioned bus to take us from place to place and plenty of cold water bottles for us all.

 

[Oneanne]

I'd have to put Wild Africa Trek on the top of the list for kids the age of yours (I loved it and will do it again), and Keys to the Kingdom second if they are into Disney history (I really enjoyed it but probably won't do it again). I felt like Undiscovered Future World was a lot of looking at things that used to be there and talking about things that used to happen, which was nostalgic for me since I've been going to WDW since the 90's (but also kind of sad), but somehow it wasn't the same type of history lesson as KTTK, so I don't know if teenagers would enjoy it as much.

 

[dcassetta]

Because you mentioned the heat, you might consider a night tour. The Starlight Safari will give you and the kids a new view of the savanna by the Animal Kingdom Lodge.

 

[samsteele]

I did the Wild Africa Trek years ago (year it first opened) & loved it but the price point now would be a turn off.

Behind the Seeds is excellent and inexpensive and doesn't eat up a lot of your day.

I've heard great things about the Marceline to Magic Kingdom tour (just watched a vlog by Tim Tracker) and it looks great. That's the next one on my list.

 

[Surgie2]

We loved the KTTK tour but with kids 16 and 18 they probably have an idea what appeals to them.

 

[jacksmom]

We loved the Wild Africa Trek.

 

[esmee1sttip]

I did the Wild Africa Trek years ago (year it first opened) & loved it but the price point now would be a turn off.

Behind the Seeds is excellent and inexpensive and doesn't eat up a lot of your day.

I've heard great things about the Marceline to Magic Kingdom tour (just watched a vlog by Tim Tracker) and it looks great. That's the next one on my list.

Ok, I am going to have to look at the wild Africa trek that so many of you have suggested

We loved the KTTK tour but with kids 16 and 18 they probably have an idea what appeals to them.

They are the reason I had to ask. When I asked them they responded with whatever you want mom Thank you all so much for your suggestions. I feel like I have some direction now

 

[rlk]

A fun tour is the Epcot Aqua Seas tour. Besides the main focus of the tour, you get a behind the scences look at the Seas Pavilion; including a close up look at the manatees.

 

[0sw@ld]

I really liked the Backstage Magic tour, it's a 7hour tour with a mid-day lunch break.

I went on a really hot day in August, but they had an airconditioned bus to take us from place to place and plenty of cold water bottles for us all.

Glad you liked it! We are contemplating doing a no park trip in September and thought this tour would be great to do instead since we might not have park tickets. We loved the KTTK tour and wanting to do another backstage tour.