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keys to the kingdom tour
- Thread starter aim
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TinkerBell9988
Well-Known Member
How was it??? I'm almost 14, and I have to wait two more years!!! That totally sucks..... 
I am dying to go to the Utilidors and see the *backstage magic* at the MK!!
I am dying to go to the Utilidors and see the *backstage magic* at the MK!!
Worldphile
New Member
We did the tour back in 1998. It was very interesting, but it was long (~6 hours, IIRC). And, it is a lot of walking. So take that into account if you have elderly people in your group, or people who can't stand for long periods of time.
The backstage parts were cool, but brief. And, if we ran into other CMs back stage, they inevitably went into character when they saw us. We did however see some chipmunks walking around without their heads and other stuff like that. Costuming was pretty impressive. Laundering and sorting all those costumes each day must be a logistical nightmare.
We were on our own for lunch when we did it, but now I think they include lunch.
All in all, if you are into Disney, it is well worth it.
The backstage parts were cool, but brief. And, if we ran into other CMs back stage, they inevitably went into character when they saw us. We did however see some chipmunks walking around without their heads and other stuff like that. Costuming was pretty impressive. Laundering and sorting all those costumes each day must be a logistical nightmare.
We were on our own for lunch when we did it, but now I think they include lunch.
All in all, if you are into Disney, it is well worth it.
monorail256
Member
Originally posted by TinkerBell9988
How was it??? I'm almost 14, and I have to wait two more years!!! That totally sucks.....
I am dying to go to the Utilidors and see the *backstage magic* at the MK!!
When your 15 you can get in.. at least I did.. hehe.. just fake your age
Im going to be 15 next time I do it again.. which would be christmas... :sohappy:
Javier&Christie
New Member
Originally posted by monorail256
When your 15 you can get in.. at least I did.. hehe.. just fake your age
They check your ID, so it's not that easy to fake your age (not sure what was up last time you went).
IMO, the tour was VERY well worth it
It's 4 hours of walking around and hitting a few rides, and they include lunch at the Columbia Harbour HouseChicken Fingers :slurp:
kaos
Active Member
didn't do keys.. did the big 8 hour one.. behind the magic, at three parks. we had lunch at Mama Melrose's. It was fun. We got to go into the master control room at MK and saw the parade monitoring system. We went backstage in the American Adventure, and even toured the Central Shops. I highly reccommend this tour, especially if you get Jeff as your tour guide.
WDW-Imagineer
Well-Known Member
I enjoyed the Keys to the Kingdom tour when I took it.... very informative and lets you in on some good secret/tips. Very nice tour!
all_good_chic
New Member
Originally posted by monorail256
When your 15 you can get in.. at least I did.. hehe.. just fake your age...
i too want to know how you faked your age since they ask for ID....please let me on on your secrete!
Lee
Adventurer
I've done the Keys tour twice, this year and about two years ago.
In my opinion, it was better before they changed it.
Sure, now they include lunch, but they only take you about 35 feet into the utillidors. Two years ago, we toured the entire costume department (walking right down the middle of the rows of costumes), the wig shop, saw the character zoo and the CM cafeteria, and got to see the main entrance back under the Village Haus. Now all that stuff is just in a display box backstage on Main Street, and you are just told about it. Very disappointing.
In my opinion, it was better before they changed it.
Sure, now they include lunch, but they only take you about 35 feet into the utillidors. Two years ago, we toured the entire costume department (walking right down the middle of the rows of costumes), the wig shop, saw the character zoo and the CM cafeteria, and got to see the main entrance back under the Village Haus. Now all that stuff is just in a display box backstage on Main Street, and you are just told about it. Very disappointing.
AkiraRaptor
Meega, nala kwishta!
I thought this tour was about 3 1/2 hours?
I'm doing the Backstage Magic tour in Oct, and that one covers 3 parks at around 7 hours.
So is the Keys tour that long?
Worldphile
New Member
My memory is pretty fuzzy, but I do remember it being the better part of a day.
I'm pretty sure it was 5-6 hours including lunch, but I could be wrong.
It was long enough that about 1/3 of my group split after the second (last) time we went back stage (by frontierland where they keep the parade floats).
It sounds like the tour has changed in the 4 years since I took it, so maybe it has been shortened.
AkiraRaptor
Meega, nala kwishta!
Your right, I just checked MousePlanet.com, and they state that the Keys tour is 5 hours long.
Thanks for the info. We decided we wanted the whole enchalada and are doing the Backstage instead of the Keys tour, but it sounds like the Backstage Magic Tour will be an abrivated version of the Keys when we get to the MK.
Oh well, maybe well do the Keys the next time we go.
We've done the Backstage Safari, Behind the Seeds, and the Gardens of the World last year, and are doing Backstage Magic, Wild by Design, Hidden Treasures, and Sunrise Safari in Oct.
That's alot for one week (in cost and time ) for one trip - over $500 on tours! I just wish the Disney Institue was still open, we would have done some of there stuff too.
Thanks for the info. We decided we wanted the whole enchalada and are doing the Backstage instead of the Keys tour, but it sounds like the Backstage Magic Tour will be an abrivated version of the Keys when we get to the MK.
Oh well, maybe well do the Keys the next time we go.
We've done the Backstage Safari, Behind the Seeds, and the Gardens of the World last year, and are doing Backstage Magic, Wild by Design, Hidden Treasures, and Sunrise Safari in Oct.
That's alot for one week (in cost and time
) for one trip - over $500 on tours! I just wish the Disney Institue was still open, we would have done some of there stuff too.
Worldphile
New Member
How was the Backstage Safari tour? We've only ever done the Keys tour, but were thinking that maybe we'd try another tour next time.
AkiraRaptor
Meega, nala kwishta!
We liked it alot. They tell you that you're not gonna see any animal, but we got close to a few elephants, some of the birds, held a lizzard, and was within 10 feet of a giraffe.
But I'm sure the tour would be different from day to day. Our tour had about 7 people in it. The guide was very well informed, and he was a retired school teacher, so he know how to keep it interesting.
You'll learn alot about how they take care of the animals, and how important Disney is to the zooalogical world. They have spared no expense when it came to the health and well being of the animals, and it shows in there vet care, feeding, housing, and enrichment programs.
If you are at all interested in the daily going ons of the care of the animals, this is a tour that you'll want to go on. We liked it.
We were going to do it again in Oct, but they started a new tour called 'Wild by Design' at AK. This one is about how they build the rest of the AK park, as apposed to the Safari tour is just about the animals and caring for them.
On another subject, I would highly recommend the Gardens of the World tour at Epcot. It all about the plants and landscapes of the World Showcase. I did it cos' the wife is a big garden person. But you know what, I really enjoyed it. Found out stuff about Disney I'd never guess. Like, did you know that even the grass at Disney dies and turns brown in the hot summer months...but they paint it green at night to make it look like its still good. :hammer:
Crazy eh?
Ok...that's about it...
freediverdude
Well-Known Member
spending money on tours
Just thought I would mention to Akira, before you spend all that money on tours, you might want to check out the new Disney trip packages for 2003, especially the Dream Maker Platinum plan. This plan includes a deluxe hotel, and for each person, an ultimate magic pass (length of stay pass), and a huge list of stuff that is included, including UNLIMITED access to all tours for no extra money. It also includes 3 meals a day for every person, valid at all Disney restaurants (all table service, character dining, and even Victoria & Alberts is included), Cirque du Soleil tickets, UNLIMITED use of all the recreation stuff, including boat rentals and personal golf lessons and spa treatments and everything else you can think of, all at no extra cost. The list just went on and on and on, VIP viewing for the parades and fireworks, I've never seen a Disney package that included that much before. It was basically an all-inclusive package for the Disney property. I think it started at $949 per person, for 3 nights at AKL, and I'm sure it goes way up from there LOL. But anyway if you were going to spend that much on tours, this package might be worth it for you, and you could get a bunch of extra stuff for the same money.
Just thought I would mention to Akira, before you spend all that money on tours, you might want to check out the new Disney trip packages for 2003, especially the Dream Maker Platinum plan. This plan includes a deluxe hotel, and for each person, an ultimate magic pass (length of stay pass), and a huge list of stuff that is included, including UNLIMITED access to all tours for no extra money. It also includes 3 meals a day for every person, valid at all Disney restaurants (all table service, character dining, and even Victoria & Alberts is included), Cirque du Soleil tickets, UNLIMITED use of all the recreation stuff, including boat rentals and personal golf lessons and spa treatments and everything else you can think of, all at no extra cost. The list just went on and on and on, VIP viewing for the parades and fireworks, I've never seen a Disney package that included that much before. It was basically an all-inclusive package for the Disney property. I think it started at $949 per person, for 3 nights at AKL, and I'm sure it goes way up from there LOL. But anyway if you were going to spend that much on tours, this package might be worth it for you, and you could get a bunch of extra stuff for the same money.
hitogoroshi
New Member
I´ll be in WDW next week (can´t wait, it´s been two years... :sohappy: ). How much are the tours and do I have to book them in advance, or can I buy tickets there??? Thanks, Hito
AkiraRaptor
Meega, nala kwishta!
Re: spending money on tours
Yea, they have simalar packages available now as well. But all my tours for two people are about $500 with tax. I'm using my AP discounts, so I'm getting %'s off on the tours. Plus the discounts off the resort rates as well. The current plan that is similar to the new one for next year is the Gran Plan.
I've been compairing packages and while I'd like to get the meals stuff, and we do do alot of tours, most of the snazzy extras on the packages we just never use. We don't go to any of the water parks. Hardly ever use DisneyQuest, and sporting stuff is out as well.
I've worked out the meals and if we eat REAL WELL every night, the cost would break even. But we skip lunches alot, and well, while we would eat well on the plans, I think we would have eaten cheaper without the plan.
Plus that package your talking about is $199 per person per night. 8 Night vacation for two would cost me $3184. I can't justify that cost with what you get.
You also get some of the bennifits from the APs as well, like viewing areas. Someday when I'm really rich, maybe we'll pamper ourselves. But an 8 day stay at AKL conseige with that plan would set me back well over $7K. That's just insane for a WDW trip for 2 people.
Now if I just won the lottory, I'd change my tune.
Thanks for the suggestion though.
Yea, they have simalar packages available now as well. But all my tours for two people are about $500 with tax. I'm using my AP discounts, so I'm getting %'s off on the tours. Plus the discounts off the resort rates as well. The current plan that is similar to the new one for next year is the Gran Plan.
I've been compairing packages and while I'd like to get the meals stuff, and we do do alot of tours, most of the snazzy extras on the packages we just never use. We don't go to any of the water parks. Hardly ever use DisneyQuest, and sporting stuff is out as well.
I've worked out the meals and if we eat REAL WELL
every night, the cost would break even. But we skip lunches alot, and well, while we would eat well on the plans, I think we would have eaten cheaper without the plan.Plus that package your talking about is $199 per person per night. 8 Night vacation for two would cost me $3184. I can't justify that cost with what you get.
You also get some of the bennifits from the APs as well, like viewing areas. Someday when I'm really rich, maybe we'll pamper ourselves. But an 8 day stay at AKL conseige with that plan would set me back well over $7K. That's just insane for a WDW trip for 2 people.
Now if I just won the lottory, I'd change my tune.
Thanks for the suggestion though.