Here is a review of the tour taken from All Ears net
by Robert Feder, 2000
You haven't REALLY seen Walt Disney World until you've seen Mickey Mouse with his head off or a roomful of bald, naked mannequins from "It's a Small World."
Even after more than a dozen visits to Disney World over the years, I couldn't wait to go back last November when I finally got to take the rarefied "Backstage Magic" tour, an unforgettable all-day exploration behind the scenes of the Magic Kingdom, Epcot and Disney-MGM Studios.
Just before 9 o'clock one sunny Monday morning, 20 of us Disney fanatics from all over the country assembled at an appointed spot outside of Epcot, introduced ourselves to each other and met our facilitator, Susan Buser. An 18-year Disney veteran who specializes in such tours, she proved to be a most knowledgeable, engaging and enthusiastic guide.
For the next seven hours, our group ventured to places few civilians -- or Disney "cast members," for that matter -- ever get to see. Driven by motor coach to various off-limits and restricted areas, we were shown the inner workings of rides, shows and other attractions.
We saw how Epcot's "Body Wars" motion simulator works and learned how technicians respond when a rider get sick (known -- for obvious reasons -- as a "Code V"). We visited costume, hair and makeup departments, rehearsal areas, production centers, central animation, construction and repair shops, and the cavernous garage that houses the parade floats.
We even met the guys who paint the horses for Cinderella's Golden Carousel and the computer whiz who controls the parks' audio and makes the parades run on time.
The highlight of the tour was a trek through the Magic Kingdom's famed "utilidors," the vast maze of color-coded underground tunnels that keep everything from half-dressed costumed characters to mountains of trash out of visitors' sight.
We emerged from the subterranean world just in time to watch the spectacular "Magic Moments" parade wend its way down Main Street USA -- with a whole new appreciation for how the Disney folks pull it off.
(Disney World's seven-hour "Backstage Magic" tour, including lunch at Mama Melrose and several cool surprises, is open to visitors 16 and older Monday through Friday. It costs $199 per person, with discounts for American Express cardholders. Reservations should be made far in advance by calling 407-939-8687.)
Robert Feder is television/radio columnist for the Chicago Sun-Times.
)! See you all, under the MK! 
