WDW Tours

[DearDaisyinDurham]

We've never been on any park tours! If you've been on any that you would recommend, or been on a tour that was NOT worth it, please pass along that info.

Am leaning towards Keys of the Kingdom and Segway at Epcot. Wanted to do the Hidden Treasures of Epcot but it looks as though it's been discontinued.

Thanks in advance for your help!

 

[Kimmumum]

We just did Keys to the Kingdom last week. It was our first tour. I thought it was okay but if you are a true Disneyaholic you really won't learn much. There were a few things we thought were interesting and it was neat to see behind the scenes. We are glad we did it but in the 5 hours the tour lasted we learned maybe 1/2 hour worth of stuff. I think we knew too much Interesting but not necessary

ETA: lunch is included at Columbia Harbor House (yummy and we had never eaten there before)

 

[MichaelH]

My wife and I did Backstage Magic several years ago. It was and all day tour, but it was great. It started in EPCOT, then went to MGM, and finished at the MK. I believe that lunch at Mama Melrose was included. It was definately worth it.

 

[DearDaisyinDurham]

Thanks Kimmumum and Michael!!

 

[MichaelH]

I am curious if anyone else has done the Backstage Magic tour lately. I would like to know what they do now on this tour? I know when we did it you had to be 16, still believe that is the case.

Just wondering what you get to see now on the tour?

 

[Chellymouse]

I am curious if anyone else has done the Backstage Magic tour lately. I would like to know what they do now on this tour? I know when we did it you had to be 16, still believe that is the case.

Just wondering what you get to see now on the tour?

We did the KTTK tour this past August and it was wonderful. You still have to be at least 16, but I didn't see anyone in any of the groups that was under 25. It's a great tour that takes place both on stage and backstage. We got to go into the tunnels (I always thought that a legend until I was actually in it myself!) We got VIP rides on several rides (Haunted Mansion was closed so we got to POTC...suited me just fine ) We also got to see the parade floats and some "secret passages" that we would never have known to be in existance. Lunch wasn't all that great, but I guess we should have ordered something else! It's really an amazing way to see MK!

We've also done the Backstage Safari at AK and it was also wonderful! Didn't get to see too many animals, but we learned alot! We're thinking about trying the big one that goes to MK, HS and Epcot. It's expensive and will be a whole day, but we've really grown to love the backstage tours!

 

[Hedy]

If you're there at Christmas, the Yuletide Fantasy tour is great.

 

[ZoZo]

We did the KTTK tour this past August and it was wonderful. You still have to be at least 16, but I didn't see anyone in any of the groups that was under 25. It's a great tour that takes place both on stage and backstage. We got to go into the tunnels (I always thought that a legend until I was actually in it myself!) We got VIP rides on several rides (Haunted Mansion was closed so we got to POTC...suited me just fine ) We also got to see the parade floats and some "secret passages" that we would never have known to be in existance. Lunch wasn't all that great, but I guess we should have ordered something else! It's really an amazing way to see MK!

We've also done the Backstage Safari at AK and it was also wonderful! Didn't get to see too many animals, but we learned alot! We're thinking about trying the big one that goes to MK, HS and Epcot. It's expensive and will be a whole day, but we've really grown to love the backstage tours!

I also went on both of these tours, and thought they were great! In my opinion, what makes or breaks a tour is how good your tour guide is. We went on KTTK in October, and had Matthew as our guide, who was fantastic! So enthusiastic, funny, sweet - I could go on and on. I have been to WDW several times and still learned a ton of things!

What made our tour even more special was that we happened to take our tour on the very same day that was Epcot's 25th anniversary (October 1st). The CMs had been given special pins to commemorate the anniversary, and Matthew asked me to stay a few minutes after the tour was over. He said that he appreciated my enthusiasm and all of the questions I had asked on the tour, and gave me his own personal 25th anniversary pin!! Talk about a nice guy.

I'd recommend trying out any tour that seems interesting to you! Even if you "think" you know everything, I'll be you'll have a great time and learn a lot.

 

[DearDaisyinDurham]

Thanks everyone!! I'm bummed that the Hidden Treasures of Epcot was discontinued but still want to do the Segway there and still considering the Keys!

 

[pamjb]

We did the Epcot Segway tour in Oct 2007. Actually, we did that on the 25th Anniversary of Epcot. It was great. We did the first hour in Innoventions doing training on the Segway. Then it was off to the World Showcase. We got to see the 25th Anniversary daytime fireworks from Japan. I got to see some part of World Showcase that I never have taken the time to see.

 

[disneydreamgirl]

Has anyone done the Seeds tour at Epcot? (1 hour behind the scenes)

 

[1000th happy haunt]

I personally recommend the Fort Wilderness Segway tour instead of the Epcot Segway tour. You only have to train for 1/2 hour, and that means 1-1/2 hours out and about.

 

[hickchick]

DD and I did the Family Magic Tour at MK last year. It was definitely geared to younger/not teenage kids, but we really enjoyed it. Be careful though - the tour involves walking all OVER MK doing silly things that could be embarrassing if you actually knew anyone that was watching you!

We really loved it and the character meet and greet with Peter Pan and Wendy was really special.

 

[TisBit]

I am curious if anyone else has done the Backstage Magic tour lately. I would like to know what they do now on this tour? I know when we did it you had to be 16, still believe that is the case.

Just wondering what you get to see now on the tour?

We did this last May. Started at Epcot and the Hall of Presidents, loaded up and did the backstage of Epcot to the CM building, saw uniforming, etc. Saw some CM's preparing for day, including princesses, etc. Went to the Disney Florist (not sure timeline where that was, thinking near Epcot). Went to MGM and saw costuming (design and manufacture) at at Mama Melrose.....went to the Christmas Warehouse, Storage Warehouse and Maintenance Shop. We then went Backstage of MK, into the "tunnels", onto Mainstreet and watched a parade and got basic info on Mainstreet info.

I truly loved this tour, it was great to see all the backstage stuff, but you do want to be careful you don't ruin Disney for yourself. If you don't want to know about how it is all put together, dont' go....but if you are like me, I like seeing "the wizard behind the curtain".

 

[Girldreamer02]

all these tours sound so fun. I love hearing about them!!!

 

[kid-at-heart]

Has anyone done the Seeds tour at Epcot? (1 hour behind the scenes)

We did (DD (age 8), DH and myself). We all loved it! Might be a bit boring for preschoolers though.

 

[Safari Queen]

We've done both tours at AK and loved them. Behind the Seeds is also very interesting and enjoyable, as well as affordable.

 

[jimmiej]

We've done:

Around the World on a Segway (twice)
KTTK
Undiscovered Future World
Mickey's Magical Milestones

We enjoyed them all. They were all well worth the $$$.

Other tours on tap for future trips:

Wild by Design
Segway at Wilderness Campgrounds
Magic Behind the Steam Trains
Behind the Seeds

 

[Girldreamer02]

We've done:

Around the World on a Segway (twice)
KTTK
Undiscovered Future World
Mickey's Magical Milestones

We enjoyed them all. They were all well worth the $$$.

Other tours on tap for future trips:

Wild by Design
Segway at Wilderness Campgrounds
Magic Behind the Steam Trains
Behind the Seeds

where does the mickeys magical milestones take place? That sounds like it would be a good time. Well they all do, but I love the mouse

 

[jimmiej]

where does the mickeys magical milestones take place? That sounds like it would be a good time. Well they all do, but I love the mouse

This tour is in the MK. It traces the history of Walt & Mickey. It includes a ride on the MK train & a personal visit with the big cheese himself.

http://www.allearsnet.com/btp/tours.htm#mmm