Anyone Taken Backstage Magic Tour Lately?

[Tom]

Wife and I are considering Backstage Magic during our late August trip. I've taken the tour twice, but once was in the 90s and another was early 2000s.

I know it's changed significantly, but I can't find any recent reviews of it online. Has anyone taken it recently (as in, at least this year)?

I'm curious as to what's on the agenda these days.

Thanks in advance!

 

[wm49rs]

Wife and I are considering Backstage Magic during our late August trip. I've taken the tour twice, but once was in the 90s and another was early 2000s.

I know it's changed significantly, but I can't find any recent reviews of it online. Has anyone taken it recently (as in, at least this year)?

I'm curious as to what's on the agenda these days.

Thanks in advance!

I took it about two years ago. We started at EP, with an introduction and short briefing of the "do's and don'ts. From there we visited the America pavilion, then onto the CM area. Then we went to DHS for a backstage tour of ToT, and the Costume Design shop, with a wave at the Backlot Express as it rolled through. I believe we then went onto Whispering Canyon for lunch, then we visited the laundry area at MK, with another stop at the repair shop. And we ended the tour with a walk in the utilidors, and a viewing of the afternoon parade.

It was a long, but very enlightening day. I don't know the precise cost, because the tour was a Father's Day gift, but I'm sure my wife used our AP discount. I'm sure you'll both enjoy yourselves again. :wave:

 

[Zummi Gummi]

I took it last month! Here's the current itinerary (as of July 12!):

You start at Epcot, boarding a bus near the main entrance. You go backstage, and enter the American Adventure through the rear of the pavilion. You watch the techs prep the show for that day, and get to take a look at the stage deck. After that, you go onstage for a few minutes to talk about perspective and scale in the buildings in WS a bit. Then it's back on the bus, and you take a ride through the backstage access road, getting a look at the various trailers at Epcot.

Then it's on to the MK area, where you first visit Central Shops. You walk through there, visiting a whole bunch of different departments, including the sign shop (which is more interesting than it sounds) and the paint shop. Then you head to the CM parking area/entrance in the back of Tomorrowland, and ultimately enter the MK. You have a short discussion (I actually forget what it was about) in the Tomorrowland Terrace (on our tour, Phil Holmes made an appearance at this point, as he happened to be nonchalantly walking by), and then it's down into the Utilidors. You get the standard walk around of the Utilidors.

Lunch at Whispering Canyon follows.

After lunch, you visit the Studios, where you first stop at the maintenance bay for Tower of Terror, and you get to look at how some the vehicles are maintained and how they operate. Then you visit the central costuming shop, and get a tour of the (massive) costume department.

After this, you head off to Animal Kingdom, where you first tour the parade warehouse. Then you head down the road a little bit and visit the nursery. The nursery, incidentally, is the only backstage area where you can take photos. The topiaries from Flower and Garden were on display here when we rolled through. Our guide, Wayne, is a horticulurist by trade, so he knew a LOT about this area, and we spent an inordinate amount of time here.

Finally, you get to view the Jammin' Jungle Parade from a reserved area.

After the parade, the bus takes you back to Epcot, and you receive a special commemorative pin on your way out.

 

[Tom]

I took it last month! Here's the current itinerary (as of July 12!):

You start at Epcot, boarding a bus near the main entrance. You go backstage, and enter the American Adventure through the rear of the pavilion. You watch the teachs prep the show for that day, and get to take a look at the stage deck. After that, you go onstage for a few minutes to talk about perspective and scale in the buildings in WS a bit. Then it's back on the bus, and you take a ride through the backstage access road, getting a look at the various trailers at Epcot.

Then it's on to the MK area, where you first visit Central Shops. You walk through there, visiting a whole bunch of different departments, including the sign shop (which is more interesting than it sounds) and the paint shop. Then you head to the CM parking area/entrance in the back of Tomorrowland, and ultimately enter the MK. You have a short discussion (I actually forget what it was about) in the Tomorrowland Terrace (on our tour, Phil Holmes made an appearance at this point, as he happened to be nonchalantly walking by), and then it's down into the Utilidors. You get the standard walk around of the Utilidors.

Lunch at Whispering Canyon follows.

After lunch, you visit the Studios, where you first stop at the maintenance bay for Tower of Terror, and you get to look at how some the vehicles are maintained and how they operate. Then you visit the central costuming shop, and get a tour of the (massive) costume department.

After this, you head off to Animal Kingdom, where you first tour the parade warehouse. Then you head down the road a little bit and visit the nursery. The nursery, incidentally, is the only backstage area where you can take photos. The topiaries from Flower and Garden were on display here when we rolled through. Our guide, Wayne, is a horticulurist by trade, so he knew a LOT about this area, and we spent an inordinate amount of time here.

Finally, you get to view the Jammin' Jungle Parade from a reserved area.

After the parade, the bus takes you back to Epcot, and you receive a special commemorative pin on your way out.

Thanks for the review, Nick.

The ToT part makes it worth the price of admission alone for me. I hope they don't skip that part on my tour (it would be my luck). Did you actually get up close with an elevator?

So, does it no longer go backstage west at the MK (i.e. the parade/splash mountain area)?

Was the utilidor portion just around the loop under Main Street, or did you venture down any of the other hallways at all? The first time I took it, we entered the main entrance by Small World, went into DACS, and even watched them control the 3:00parade, then headed under the castle up to Main Street. It was AWESOME, but then 9/11 happened and they cut that part out (lame excuse, IMO).

Thanks again.

 

[Zummi Gummi]

Thanks for the review, Nick.

The ToT part makes it worth the price of admission alone for me. I hope they don't skip that part on my tour (it would be my luck). Did you actually get up close with an elevator?

So, does it no longer go backstage west at the MK (i.e. the parade/splash mountain area)?

Was the utilidor portion just around the loop under Main Street, or did you venture down any of the other hallways at all? The first time I took it, we entered the main entrance by Small World, went into DACS, and even watched them control the 3:00parade, then headed under the castle up to Main Street. It was AWESOME, but then 9/11 happened and they cut that part out (lame excuse, IMO).

Thanks again.

We got very close to an elevator- in fact we stood right next to one!

We did not go to the parade/Splash Mountain area at MK.

Yes, we just did the standard Main Street Loop, unfortunately. Years ago, when I took Keys to the Kingdom, we entered in Fantasyland and took an extensive tour of the utilidors- but it was pre-9/11. Sadly, on this tour, we were down there no more than 15 minutes.

 

[Pioneer Hall]

I might have to give this a go again since it is different from when I did it about 5 years ago. Hmm...I need more birthdays in the year to ask for gifts.

 

[Tom]

We got very close to an elevator- in fact we stood right next to one!

We did not go to the parade/Splash Mountain area at MK.

Yes, we just did the standard Main Street Loop, unfortunately. Years ago, when I took Keys to the Kingdom, we entered in Fantasyland and took an extensive tour of the utilidors- but it was pre-9/11. Sadly, on this tour, we were down there no more than 15 minutes.

Mmmmm....elevator. I REALLY hope we get to do that. Is it in the tower itself, or in one of the little sheds behind it?

Odd that they've cut so much out of the MK. They used to go into the parade garage and even the rehearsal building.

I think they used 9/11 as an excuse to keep guests out of the tunnels. I don't think the tunnel under the MK is a major terrorist target, especially 10 years later. Lame.

 

[Zummi Gummi]

Mmmmm....elevator. I REALLY hope we get to do that. Is it in the tower itself, or in one of the little sheds behind it?

Odd that they've cut so much out of the MK. They used to go into the parade garage and even the rehearsal building.

I think they used 9/11 as an excuse to keep guests out of the tunnels. I don't think the tunnel under the MK is a major terrorist target, especially 10 years later. Lame.

It's sort of in a truck bay, which is attached to the main tower building. The system of how they move elevators in and out of there for maintenance is kind of ingenius (and they're able to do it very quickly, too).

Speaking of security, one thing I learned on the tour (and they obviously didn't tell us this, it was just something I observed) is how lax a lot of the security is. It's not difficult at all, unfortunately, to get into the backstage areas and wander around (whatever your intentions happened to be). And I don't mean from within the park. I mean driving a vehicle right in.

 

[CaptainShortty]

It's sort of in a truck bay, which is attached to the main tower building. The system of how they move elevators in and out of there for maintenance is kind of ingenius (and they're able to do it very quickly, too).

Speaking of security, one thing I learned on the tour (and they obviously didn't tell us this, it was just something I observed) is how lax a lot of the security is. It's not difficult at all, unfortunately, to get into the backstage areas and wander around (whatever your intentions happened to be). And I don't mean from within the park. I mean driving a vehicle right in.

Although you're correct that it's quite easy to get to the backstage area but staying down there would be the hard part. While you're down there you are often asked to show your ID (if it's not around your neck like it should) by various CMs. I was asked countless times to show my ID and prove I'm allowed to be down there. But you're right in saying that to get down there is pretty easy.

 

[Tom]

Although you're correct that it's quite easy to get to the backstage area but staying down there would be the hard part. While you're down there you are often asked to show your ID (if it's not around your neck like it should) by various CMs. I was asked countless times to show my ID and prove I'm allowed to be down there. But you're right in saying that to get down there is pretty easy.

Right.

Getting backstage = easy.

Staying backstage = not easy.

 

[Zummi Gummi]

Absolutely, but unfortunately, if someone was to do something unseemly, they wouldn't need very much time at all.

 

[WDW 3]

Everytime our bus entered backstage at a park it was boarded by security. I didn't think it looked that easy. That was 2 years ago Nov. Tour was exactly like Nick_A described. The tour was Awesome.

Corny joke by security - "No mouse traps allowed in the parks".

 

[CaptainShortty]

Everytime our bus entered backstage at a park it was boarded by security. I didn't think it looked that easy. That was 2 years ago Nov. Tour was exactly like Nick_A described. The tour was Awesome.

Corny joke by security - "No mouse traps allowed in the parks".

I think Nick_A was talking more about getting into the Utilidors once you're already in MK. There are many access points within the park that are unguarded at the entrance. But as I said, once you're down in the tunnels you're bound to get stopped by at least 1 person.

 

[R W B]

Ive wanted to do a tour since the first time I went 6 years ago but I'm really only interested in the Utilidors. This tour does sound good though and it sounds like you get a little of everything. This might be on the agenda for my Dec trip...If I get time off. :shrug:

 

[Zummi Gummi]

Ive wanted to do a tour since the first time I went 6 years ago but I'm really only interested in the Utilidors. This tour does sound good though and it sounds like you get a little of everything. This might be on the agenda for my Dec trip...If I get time off. :shrug:

If you're only interested in the utilidors, take Keys to the Kingdom. It's shorter, significantly cheaper, and you get the same tour of the utilidors that you get with this one.

 

[Foolish Mortal]

After lunch, you visit the Studios, where you first stop at the maintenance bay for Tower of Terror, and you get to look at how some the vehicles are maintained and how they operate

Oh man, I may have to do this now. Thanks for the great info.

 

[Tom]

Everytime our bus entered backstage at a park it was boarded by security. I didn't think it looked that easy. That was 2 years ago Nov. Tour was exactly like Nick_A described. The tour was Awesome.

Corny joke by security - "No mouse traps allowed in the parks".

Interesting to hear it's been the same for at least 2 years. I heard a while back they drug you to the Laundry Facility, which is why I've boycotted the tour for a few years. I'm NOT interested in paying $240 to watch them wash towels.

My favorite part has always been Central Shops, and I enjoyed the trip to the tunnels when we actually went into DACS, but I'm really looking forward to anything to do with Tower.

Ive wanted to do a tour since the first time I went 6 years ago but I'm really only interested in the Utilidors. This tour does sound good though and it sounds like you get a little of everything. This might be on the agenda for my Dec trip...If I get time off. :shrug:

As Nick said, take Keys. Less than $100 vs $240 (20% off with Disney Visa), and it is all MK. You get to visit backstage west, behind Splash Mountain, where you see the parade storage and the nasty trash building, and you visit the tunnels under main street for a few minutes.

I've taken Keys 3 times (with different people) and it was always awesome...especially once they added the headphones and you could hear what the guide was saying. Most people on this board already know 90% of the stuff they spout off, but the backstage parts are fun - plus lunch at Columbia Harbor House.

 

[Tom]

Oh man, I may have to do this now. Thanks for the great info.

Yup. Worth the $240 all by itself, for me.