I have done a number of behind the scenes tour at Walt Disney World, but have never done one at
Disneyland. I have decided to put this right on this trip. I found out about this tour when Pam (Pinkocto) did this last year and decided that this is right up my street. I am passionate about history at the best of times and if it is history linked to anything Disney, it is even better. In the past I have had the chance to ride in the Lilly Belle Presidential Parlor Car and and also had the chance to visit the Disney Family Museum in San Francisco. I even visited Walt Disney's final resting place.That leaves one last must do as far as Disney history is concerned: a visit to Walt's apartment inside Disneyland. Now this is normally easier said than done as access is severely restricted. However, through Pam's trip report I found out that a visit to the apartment is included in the tour. In the past it also included a visit to the lobby of Club 33, but this has not been the case since the refurbishment. I am OK with this.
The check in is half an hour before the tour starts at Tour Gardens. I have been told that when I get there, I will make my choices for lunch, which will be provided by the Jolly Holiday bakery. The tour will then start promptly at 9:30.
From the various reviews I have read, you are given a headset through which the tour guide communicates with the group and that is also used for snippets of audio of Walt Disney himself. I know that one such snippet is the dedication speech for Disneyland. The tour visits various points in the park that had significance to Walt. The tour also includes two original attractions. In the reviews I read it was either Peter Pan's Flight or Mr Toad's Wild Ride plus The Enchanted Tiki Room or Great Moments with Mr Lincoln. Either of the rides would be fine by me. I don't think I have ever managed to do Peter Pan's Flight at Disneyland as the lines are usually quite long. As far as the second attraction is concerned, I would much prefer Great Moments with Mr Lincoln.
At the end of the tour, we will get the chance to visit Walt's apartment. Unfortunately I won't be allowed to take any photos of this part of the tour, but I have read that they take one photo of you inside the apartment. That will do me nicely. We will then have our lunch and then the tour finishes.
Once the tour is finished, I have to pick up my Photopass+ lanyard. I also assume that this will be the time to find a Photopass photographer to have my photo for the annual pass taken. I doubt that I manage this before the tour. I am also hoping to get some rides done in the afternoon. Haunted Mansion Holiday and It's A Small World Holiday are must dos and Big Thunder Mountain, Buzz Lightyear and Alice in Wonderland are high on the list, too. I think by about 16:00, I will probably start to get tired and will head back to the hotel. We have no dinner plans that evening. We may head for Trader Sam's or the Hearthstone Lounge for drinks and some light bites or we may have dinner at Naples at Downtown Disney. Whatever we end up choosing, I am sure that we will be ready for our bed once we had dinner.