Walking in Walt's footsteps??

[ShaunaM]

DD (16) Has asked if we could do this tour. .. wondering if anyone has done it recently. ..when I read descriptions some of it is vague. I know it is now to the dream suite. ..which is fine but what else do you see ...I know about the Jolly Holly Bakery too...I have read some rides too? Trying to envision how you spend that much time. We have two other kids ...DS (15) DD (12), who would do tour...for that kind of money I want it to appeal to all of us.

 

[sherilaine]

We did the tour back in March of 2014 so I can't speak to the current itinerary - we did it when Club 33 was being renovated so we did not get to see that part of it. We did Peter Pan, Great Moments with Lincoln (which bored my DD to tears) and of course the tour of the park with a lot of information about Walt and the history of the park - it ended with lunch which was nice and we were given the pins as a keep sake. Our tour ended with a tour of his apartment, which was the highlight for my daughter as she is a huge fan - she has read his biography several times over and just happened to be the one they asked to ring the door bell to the apartment. We spent a good half hour in the very small apartment but it was worth the cost there alone. If you kids are big fans of Walt and are interested in his dreams and vision for the park then it's a great tour - if they are only interested in the ride or attraction opportunities then they might get bored. My DS and DH did not go with us on the tour as they were not at all interested like us - so it was a nice mother daughter kind of thing to do.

Hopefully some others who have done it recently can comment but we felt it was worth the cost. We had APs at the time and got a 20% discount - so if you happen to have them, have a Disney visa card, or are a DVC member, you'd get a discount as well.

 

[Nonsuch]

...We had APs at the time and got a 20% discount - so if you happen to have them, have a Disney visa card, or are a DVC member, you'd get a discount as well.

OP should consider getting a Disney Visa, if just for the tour discounts. The character photos are also nice.
Search for the best introductory rebate. The no annual fee card is all that is needed.

 

[ShaunaM]

OP should consider getting a Disney Visa, if just for the tour discounts. The character photos are also nice.
Search for the best introductory rebate. The no annual fee card is all that is needed.

I am Canadian I cannot access the card

 

[sherilaine]

I am Canadian I cannot access the card

Don't I wish we could though!

 

[ShaunaM]

We did the tour back in March of 2014 so I can't speak to the current itinerary - we did it when Club 33 was being renovated so we did not get to see that part of it. We did Peter Pan, Great Moments with Lincoln (which bored my DD to tears) and of course the tour of the park with a lot of information about Walt and the history of the park - it ended with lunch which was nice and we were given the pins as a keep sake. Our tour ended with a tour of his apartment, which was the highlight for my daughter as she is a huge fan - she has read his biography several times over and just happened to be the one they asked to ring the door bell to the apartment. We spent a good half hour in the very small apartment but it was worth the cost there alone. If you kids are big fans of Walt and are interested in his dreams and vision for the park then it's a great tour - if they are only interested in the ride or attraction opportunities then they might get bored. My DS and DH did not go with us on the tour as they were not at all interested like us - so it was a nice mother daughter kind of thing to do.

Hopefully some others who have done it recently can comment but we felt it was worth the cost. We had APs at the time and got a 20% discount - so if you happen to have them, have a Disney visa card, or are a DVC member, you'd get a discount as well.

Thanks for the info...we are intrigued I will wait to see if anyone has been recently

 

[Nonsuch]

I am Canadian...

Then you must like hockey

... I cannot access the card

Compounded with the poor exchange rate, you can't catch a break

 

[jpessa]

I read you don't get to go in the apartment anymore. Just the dream suite. OP, one of the first things I did when I moved from Canada to the US was get myself a Disney Visa!!!

 

[sherilaine]

I read you don't get to go in the apartment anymore. Just the dream suite. OP, one of the first things I did when I moved from Canada to the US was get myself a Disney Visa!!!

I am sure the dream suite is pretty special to see as well though, since this was what Walt had built for his family because that apartment was pretty small. However, there was something terribly special about that apartment to my daughter, so I am glad we got to do that.

It is nice they keep changing it up so people might actually re-take the tour.

 

[Indiana Scott]

No apt and no C33 anymore has taken all the value out of this tour for us.

 

[lalasmama]

I am sure the dream suite is pretty special to see as well though, since this was what Walt had built for his family because that apartment was pretty small. However, there was something terribly special about that apartment to my daughter, so I am glad we got to do that.

It is nice they keep changing it up so people might actually re-take the tour.

Actually, the Dream Suite was built in the early 2000's, well after Walt had died. Before the Dream Suite, the Disney Gallery was in the same place. Common myth/misconception.

 

[sherilaine]

Actually, the Dream Suite was built in the early 2000's, well after Walt had died. Before the Dream Suite, the Disney Gallery was in the same place. Common myth/misconception.

Then the people who do the tour need to be informed as that is who told us about it. He wanted an apartment close to Club 33 is what they told us. Interesting the script for the tour would be wrong? Maybe it was not as it is today back then, called "Dream" and all fancy or whatever but that was what we were told.

 

[Kuilima]

I'm sitting in LAX waiting to fly home We did this tour yesterday, and we absolutely loved it! My mom, sisters and I spent 3 days in the park to celebrate mom's 60th birthday, and this tour was the icing on the cake for all 5 of us.

Our tour guide was Annamarie, and she was fantabulous! I think the tour guide has a big impact on your tour experience. This was our first tour ever, so I have nothing to compare it to.

The youngest in our group is 14, and she enjoyed it as much as us older gals, ages 29-60.

We checked in at 9am. At that time we each received a name tag and placed our lunch orders. The tour started at 930 with brief instructions on the listening devices. They were simple to use, and the sound was fine...loud and clear. You may also use your own headphones.

Basically the tour moves throughout the entire park. We stop at certain key areas where Annamarie will tell us a bit of history, or point out interesting facts about the park and anecdotes about Walt. We listen to audio of Walt himself...dedicatory speeches, interviews, TV segments. We found all that Annamarie shared was just fascinating. And her delivery techniques were flawless.

I noticed she walked at a slow, leisurely pace to accommodate the individuals of our group. 15 people max.

We started at the firehouse, then to the flagpole, down main street, the hub, and the castle. Then we rode our first attraction... Alice.

Next was Frontierland, NOS, and our second attraction.... Haunted Mansion. Afterwards we boarded the train in NOS and rode over to Tomorrowland.

At this point we were about 90 min into the tour. We took a brief bathroom break. Then made our way through the Matterhorn area, IASW, Adventureland, and ended at Jolly Holiday around noon where our food was waiting for us.

Lunch lasted about 30 minutes (yummy!), and then our second tour guide Cory took over.

He took us through the Dream Suite portion of the tour, which lasted about 30 min as well. Absolutely amazing!!!

We were done with the entire tour at about 1pm.

I booked this tour because I was interested in the history of DL and how Walt made it happen. My sisters were not excited about it at first, but in the end we all agreed this tour was the best part of our whole trip!

Feel free to ask questions.

 

[lalasmama]

Then the people who do the tour need to be informed as that is who told us about it. He wanted an apartment close to Club 33 is what they told us. Interesting the script for the tour would be wrong? Maybe it was not as it is today back then, called "Dream" and all fancy or whatever but that was what we were told.

My understanding is the Walt had designed it, but when he died, the project died too. So, the Disney Gallery was eventually put there. And then, 30 years later, they used the original ideas and drawings to make the Dream Suite.

Walt-built or not, I still can't wait to see the inside one day!

 

[ShaunaM]

Afterwards we boarded the train in NOS and rode over to Tomorrowland.

At this point we were about 90 min into the tour. We took a brief bathroom break. Then made our way through the Matterhorn area, IASW, Adventureland, and ended at Jolly Holiday around noon where our food was waiting for us.

Lunch lasted about 30 minutes (yummy!),

Feel free to ask questions.

Thanks so much for weighing in ..and I am really sad your heading home today.
1) did you ride ISAW, too, three rides total? Is there a shorted line to get on rides or do you line with the masses?
2) lunch ;what kind of things were there to chose from? Our eldest is nut allergic and a vegetarian.
3) More of an observation than a question...I wonder how they will modify with the railway closing..

thanks again and travel safe

 

[MadeToLove]

My brother and I did the tour on Thursday. It was basically the same as Kuilima described. We rode Alice and Haunted Mansion Holiday (as a special treat before it closed to change back to the regular HM - in Dec 2014 we rode Peter Pan pre-refurb and saw Mr. Lincoln) We also rode the train from NOS to TL. There were no other rides. Obviously tours that start on Monday and for the rest of 2016 and most of 2017 won't include the train. They generally try to do three attractions/rides (that Walt had a hand in designing) plus the Dream Suite, but make no promises about what you'll get to do. You do get to skip the lines and go in either via the exit or fastpass entrance.

The Dream Suite was originally designed and planned by Walt while he was still alive. The basic floor plan is what he wanted, and the original Dorothea Redmond sketches were consulted when the Suite was finally created in 2008 for the Year of Dreams contests. No, Walt never stepped foot in it, but it's an amazing space and worth seeing as it is not otherwise open to the public.

And FYI, our tour guide told me that they are working up some plans for making Walt's apartment ADA compliant again so it can be toured once more, but she didn't know a time estimate on that, and I suspect it is not high on their priority list as they try to get all these other construction projects started at the beginning of this year, but maybe once they are finished with the Jungle Cruise refurb and have the other projects under way, they'll make an announcement about it.

RE: Lunch at Jolly Holiday. The basic choices are between Jolly Holiday Salad (has pecans) and another salad Jolly Holiday usually serves, but I don't remember what - these came with a breadstick - or one of three sandwiches, Turkey, Caprese, and Roast Beef - these came with chips or fruit. Then the dessert was either a Mickey sugar cookie with sprinkles or a flourless chocolate cake, and a choice of bottled soda or water. They asked about allergies, and I know you can get gluten free bread options, so I suspect you can request a nut free option for the salad. Just ask when you make the reservations.