Backstage Tours

[tigger1968]

Can anyone give me any info on either Keys to the Kingdom or Backstage Magic at MK? I have never taken one. As I recall, Keys is the shorter one, which is what I'm interested in. What does it cost? How far in advance do you need to make reservations? Any tips would be greatly appreciated!

 

[WDW-Imagineer]

I went on the Keys to the Kingdom tour last year. I found it very interesting and a must for any Disney Fanatic.

Keys - $45, 5-hours - must be 16 or older; admission
Magic - $199, 7-hours - must be 16 or older; no admission

Details of tour;

Learn about the names in the Main Street Windows and how imagineers make Main Street USA look bigger and longer.

Tour of the Utildors (underground maintenance/Cast Member access system. Its basically the guts of Magic Kingdom.)

Tour the costume dept.

View the backstage area (behind PoC, Splash Mountain, etc.) check out workshop for parades (where all floats are located).

Learn about a ride (we did Haunted Mansion) and ride it with no wait.

Learn the requirements for being a cast member (hair lenght, fingernail lenght, # of piercings, etc.)

Stop for lunch...

If I remember correctly, the tour was from 8 am to 1 pm (or 9 to 2)


That's all I can remember right now. If you are looking to learn more about Magic Kingdom and don't want to spend that much, definitely do Keys to the Kingdom. If you want to learn more about all parks and price isn't a concern, then I would go for the Backstage Magic

 

[tigger1968]

Thanks!!!

 

[Seano846]

The keys to the kingdom tour was a major highlight of our last trip, don't miss it.

 

[scan_man]

I am looking forward to a back stage tour of the Living sea with a Scuba Tank on my back.
$140 for 1/2 hour in the Water, and a freeby besides getting my Dive Log stamped with the Disney Stamp on it.
Has any one else had this Tour at Disney too?

 

[mickeyears]

My sister in law just did the keys of the kingdom. She said it was very interesting and worth the money. I would love to see if but have 3 children under 16 yrs. Wish they would let 10 yrs and older. Oh well, maybe we will just have to leave the kids at home sometime and go to WDW, just the DH and myself.

 

[Ryan]

Here's a funny trivia....

The Keys to the Kingdom tour used to cost $5 to go on. The only problem was, no one was signing up for the tour. So one day, the decided to charge $45 and people began to flock to this tour. They were selling out everyday. I guess when people saw the cost was $5, they figured it wasn't worth going on, but when they saw the price jump....WOW I gotta see this!!! Crazy huh? I actually know the guy who wrote this tour. His name is Glen. He still gives it every now and then, so if you're lucky enough to get him, tell him Ryan said hi! He's a great guy!

 

[Disneynut]

I took the tour when it was $5.00. We didn't get to see the Utilidors. We learned some history, went on some rides and saw the Diamond Horseshoe Revue.

 

[hadleybarth]

We took the Keys to the Kingdom tour in early December. It was worth every penny! We highly recomend it to anybody who really likes Disney. We booked it the day before and had no trouble getting in (our tour wasn't even full). However, it was low season and the tempature was hovering aroung 35 degrees which may have dettered some would-be tourists. Also, they had just that week started including lunch on the tour. There were 5 or 6 entrees to chose from and you ordered at the start of the tour, then ate later. I don't know if they are still doing this. We felt it made the tour seem less expensive since we would have otherwise spent about ten bucks each on lunch. Also, the Disney Club card got us a discount on this tour (15% I think, however I'm a bit fuzzy on that).

 

[bjshade23]

Originally posted by scan_man
I am looking forward to a back stage tour of the Living sea with a Scuba Tank on my back.
$140 for 1/2 hour in the Water, and a freeby besides getting my Dive Log stamped with the Disney Stamp on it.
Has any one else had this Tour at Disney too?

I didn;t do that particluar one, but i did do the dolphins in depth one, and enjoyed it a lot. I think I also did the tour with the lunch at the Horseshoe Revue and the Utilator, but our tour started out at MGM,
Hey I'm doing the new tour at the AK, has anyone done this tour or heard a review about it.

 

[Smee]

Ihave done the Magic tour. Takes all day, includes lunch.

We started out at Epcot, drove completely around via the rear area access road. Went backstage at Living Seas, Wonders of Life. and the American Adventure. Very interesting to see how AA works.

Went to MGM next, spent virtually the entire time in the animations studio except for also wlking through the costumes and shop areas. In the animations studio we were given the chance to try cell art under the instructions of a Disney artist, also was given lessons on drawing characters. Also toured the studio in detail, interesting stuff but I would have rather done something like BTS at ToT. The best part of MGM was lunch at Mama Melrose. We were entertained but a Disney street actor who was fantastic, she portrayed Aunt Helen, the most obnoxious relative who ever came to dinner.

We finished at MK. Had a great behind the scenes tour including the utilitor. Visited the computer control room for all the attractions and the parade route. We came up to mainstreet in time to watch the 3:00 parade.

Our guide was wonderful and cheerfully answered questions all day.

The magic tour is not for kids and I'm not sure I would give up an entire vaca day for it, but if you have the time and interest you won't be sorry. I did it while in Orlando on business.