Which "Behind the senes" tour would you recommend?

[Charade]

I wanted to make this a poll but (obviously) I messed up!

On my solo trip in May, I'd like to try one of the "behind the scenes" tours.
My choices are

Keys to the Kingdom
MIckey's Magical Milestones Tour
Simply Segway Experience
Disney's Dolphins in Depth
Epcot Divequest

What would you recommend?

Or other suggestions?

 

[KristaTX]

I've done the Keys to the Kingdom tour twice, and I loved it. I took it with my mom the first time, and then with my husband last year. I haven't done any of the others you listed, but the KTTK tour is probably one of the best tours to start with. It is a nice length, you get lunch, and you get lots of general info about WDW and Disney in general, and specific things about the MK.

 

[scoutsmom99]

Out of those choices I would do KTTK. It is a great tour and was well worth the $$$.

 

[Charade]

That's the one I was favoring until I read about the others. I received a 15% discount coupon in my Disney Visa statement. I'll probably do the Keys because that's the one I've always wanted to do BUT I've always wanted to swim with dolphins too!

 

[UnderTheMistletoe]

If you want to swim with dolphins, take a look at Discovery Cove. It's a sister park to Sea World. There's also a board here.

I'm a little biased... the dolphin brought me the buoy with the proposal on it when we were there

 

[In a hurry]

We did DiveQuest a few years back, and loved it! I haven't done any of the others, though to compare!

 

[RadioFanatic]

my dh and I hated the Keys to the Kingdom Tour. We LOVED the Segway tour - but don't just do the simply segway - do the one that takes you around the world showcase - it's the best tour EVER.

 

[Disney Doll]

I've only done Keys to the Kingdom, but loved it. Actually loved it so much, we did it twice!

 

[hiwaygal]

I haven't done a bunch of tours...heck, we've only been to WDW once!

But we did the Around the World at Epcot Segway tour...and if you want to do a segway tour, that's the one to do!!

Simply Segway is just a one hour "training" class for the Segway. You pretty much stay inside the building (maybe a little outside time).

The Around the World tour is one hour of training, and one hour out and about in World Showcase...much more worth it, IMO.

 

[luvflorida]

That's the one I was favoring until I read about the others. I received a 15% discount coupon in my Disney Visa statement. I'll probably do the Keys because that's the one I've always wanted to do BUT I've always wanted to swim with dolphins too!

A friend of mine did the KTTK tour and loved it. Later that night at dinner, he was telling us all the neat, new things he had learned and now I want to do that tour!

I second the vote of the poster who mentioned Discovery Cove. My family and I spent the day there not longer after the park first opened. The highlight of the day was getting to swim with the dolphins. It was an amazing experience!

 

[airhead]

Segway and definitely go to Discovery cove!!!!

 

[cardaway]

Add another good review for Keys to the Kingdom.

 

[laurajetter]

I haven't done a bunch of tours...heck, we've only been to WDW once!

But we did the Around the World at Epcot Segway tour...and if you want to do a segway tour, that's the one to do!!

Simply Segway is just a one hour "training" class for the Segway. You pretty much stay inside the building (maybe a little outside time).

The Around the World tour is one hour of training, and one hour out and about in World Showcase...much more worth it, IMO.

I agree, the "Around the World" is absolutely AWESOME! DH and I did this on our last visit and it is an experience you won't soon forget. After about an hour of training indoors, they take you all around the World Showcase. And not just around the big loop, but they delve further into some of teh worlds than I have ever been.

It really was a lot of fun. The only thing is, the outdoor part is subject to the weather. If the weather is bad, I believe they will hold the rest of the session indoors.

When we went, "Simply Segway" wasn't offered, but from the previous poster's description, I agree that "Around the World" is the one to choose.

We also went on the Keys to the Kingdom tour and loved it. It was really a very thorough tour; we really liked it!

Laura

 

[Dan Murphy]

I have done nine of the tours, John, have not done Segway nor dolphins. I am starting to do repeats now. My first was Backstage Magic, the all day tour, 3 parks, next was KTTK. Those and all the others have been great. The Milestones one allows younger kids and I think (have not done it) is a little more basic, fluff. As said, I have not done the Segway, I was wondering if it really was an in-depth tour, or more of an enjoyable way to sort of get around the park; if anybody knows how much backstage they do on that one. Keys and Backstage include lunch. Maybe stop by Deb's Allearsnet and do a search for 'tours', she has a great section on them. Also make sure to get applicable discounts, AP, DVC, etc, most of the higher priced ones do have discounts. Most of the tours are around 3 or so hours.

 

[hiwaygal]

Dan,

I don't think I'd consider the Around the World Segway tour to be a "backstage" thing at all (unless you are on the early tour and consider being in World Showcase before it opens "backstage").

The CM's/Guides do often have a little more information about each country or what you can see/do there, or perhaps their history or something...just basic interesting factoids...

The tour is great fun, though! Riding through World Showcase on those things is really cool and sometimes challenging.

I would do this tour again in a hearbeat (but I'd like to do some others first! )

 

[Jynohn]

I've always wanted to do a tour but never had the opportunity because we always go with the kids. This September DH and I will be taking our first solo trip for the WDW triathlon though so I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to finally try one out. I would love to do the Behind the Magic all day tour, but my greatest fear is that going behind the scenes will somehow "ruin the fairytale" for me. Has anyone else had this fear and if so, what did you think after the tour was over? Did you still view WDW in the same light?

I thought maybe I should just do the World Showcase tour to be on the safe side....