makinorlando
When you're curious, you find lots of interesting
- Joined
- Apr 15, 2005
- Messages
- 5,231
Today myself and my sister and her friend who are on vacation at WDW took the first Yuletide Fantasy Tour of the season, and I have to say it was EXCELLENT. We had James and Lisa from the Disney Institue as our guides and they were awesome. We were part of a group of 40 that was split into two for much of the tour. It was hard for someone who loves photography as much as I did to not take pics of the behind the scenes stuff as it was not permitted.
If you would like a review here it is - if you think you might want to take it - and want to be surprised - don't scroll down!
We visted by motorcoach (a DCL bus today!) - World Showcase
we entered the park from the backstage area behind Germany, and spent a bit of time in Germany, Italy, America & Japan before departing from behind Morocco. It was cool to see WS empty as we were there before opening. They were busy washing the "streets".
After leaving EPCOT we headed to MGM where we again went in through a back entrance behind the area that was Millionaire and saw the construction on the soundstage for the new ride - Midway Madness. We exited the bus, and walked over to the Streets of America for some conversation about the making of Miracle on 34th street, and then some info about Osborne Lights.... she even showed us where the black cat was hidden this year! It was sent along with all the XMAS decorations from the Osborne Family by mistake, and every year since then when the family comes to view and give their "blessing' on the lights, it is "hidden" in a different location for them to find!
After leaving MGM, we went to the Grand Floridian, to view the tree and the Gingerbread house, and got a taste of the gingerbread.
We then went to see the Holiday Warehouse, it is behind MK near Disney University and the Monorail/train station area where all maintenance is done. The warehouse that that houses all of the Christmas holiday decorations for the theme parks, resorts, cruise lines, Hilton Head and Vero Beach is HUGE, and in the "old days" was the central location for Disney that all food was pre-prepared and then moved to the theme parks and resorts. It was amazing to see boxes and boxes of colored balls, wreaths, trees, etc. It is "empty" right now by Disney standards, and there was still so much. They buy enough decorations for one design for 5 years, as once a design plan for a location is approved (3 years prior to being put into the park or resort), they are locked into that same design for 5 years, so they must have enough decorations to cover loss, breakage, etc.
Our final destination was MK - where we again went backstage behind the Main Street area, and entered the park next to Tony's. We visited Santa's area, however he was on break, but we learned a little history of Santa as we in the US know him, and then walked over by the Noodle Station to view the tree. It is 60 ft tall, and will be moved from it's location next to the castle probably on Saturday or Sunday night to it's location in Town Square after the filming of the Christmas parade.
We the headed back to EPCOT and received as a "gift" a Limited Edition of 1500 Yuletide Fantasy pin - dated 2006 on the back.
It was totally worth the $60 - I think the regular price is closer to $70 with tax, you get a discount with APs or Disney Visa - the Visas discount is 5% more - I think it's 15% and 20%.
I highly recommend this tour for anyone 16 or over - and yes they do require everyone taking the tour to show photo id. Two gentlemen had left their ID in the resort and a CM actually drove them back to get it. One young girl that was a college student was asked by the CM before he realized that if she had proof of age. The tour itself started at 9:30 - we had to be at EPCOT by 9am, and it conclued a little after 12:30 (we had to go back to MK to pick up three people they forgot! - OOPS!)
If you would like a review here it is - if you think you might want to take it - and want to be surprised - don't scroll down!
We visted by motorcoach (a DCL bus today!) - World Showcase
we entered the park from the backstage area behind Germany, and spent a bit of time in Germany, Italy, America & Japan before departing from behind Morocco. It was cool to see WS empty as we were there before opening. They were busy washing the "streets".
After leaving EPCOT we headed to MGM where we again went in through a back entrance behind the area that was Millionaire and saw the construction on the soundstage for the new ride - Midway Madness. We exited the bus, and walked over to the Streets of America for some conversation about the making of Miracle on 34th street, and then some info about Osborne Lights.... she even showed us where the black cat was hidden this year! It was sent along with all the XMAS decorations from the Osborne Family by mistake, and every year since then when the family comes to view and give their "blessing' on the lights, it is "hidden" in a different location for them to find!
After leaving MGM, we went to the Grand Floridian, to view the tree and the Gingerbread house, and got a taste of the gingerbread.
We then went to see the Holiday Warehouse, it is behind MK near Disney University and the Monorail/train station area where all maintenance is done. The warehouse that that houses all of the Christmas holiday decorations for the theme parks, resorts, cruise lines, Hilton Head and Vero Beach is HUGE, and in the "old days" was the central location for Disney that all food was pre-prepared and then moved to the theme parks and resorts. It was amazing to see boxes and boxes of colored balls, wreaths, trees, etc. It is "empty" right now by Disney standards, and there was still so much. They buy enough decorations for one design for 5 years, as once a design plan for a location is approved (3 years prior to being put into the park or resort), they are locked into that same design for 5 years, so they must have enough decorations to cover loss, breakage, etc.
Our final destination was MK - where we again went backstage behind the Main Street area, and entered the park next to Tony's. We visited Santa's area, however he was on break, but we learned a little history of Santa as we in the US know him, and then walked over by the Noodle Station to view the tree. It is 60 ft tall, and will be moved from it's location next to the castle probably on Saturday or Sunday night to it's location in Town Square after the filming of the Christmas parade.
We the headed back to EPCOT and received as a "gift" a Limited Edition of 1500 Yuletide Fantasy pin - dated 2006 on the back.
It was totally worth the $60 - I think the regular price is closer to $70 with tax, you get a discount with APs or Disney Visa - the Visas discount is 5% more - I think it's 15% and 20%.
I highly recommend this tour for anyone 16 or over - and yes they do require everyone taking the tour to show photo id. Two gentlemen had left their ID in the resort and a CM actually drove them back to get it. One young girl that was a college student was asked by the CM before he realized that if she had proof of age. The tour itself started at 9:30 - we had to be at EPCOT by 9am, and it conclued a little after 12:30 (we had to go back to MK to pick up three people they forgot! - OOPS!)
Now when can I fit that into my schedule....? 
