Keys to the Kingdom tour

[kbmb]

Has anyone been on the Keys to the Kingdom tour recently?

I'm debating on whether to take this tour. I'm curious on people's opinions if they have taking the tour recently. I've read the reviews on AllEarsNet, but wanted to hear from some people first hand.

I know you get to go see the Utilidors, but I was wondering just how much of them you get to see.

Thanks for any info!

-k

 

[iubigman]

Here is my report of my KTTK tour from my trip report from December.

We checked in and ordered our lunches, and met our guide Mark. Hint for those wanting to take the tour on a busy day, take the 8:30! We had twelve people, and the 9:30 had 26 scheduled!!! Mark was fantastic. We saw all the pre-requisite backstage areas, rode Jungle Cruise (nice not to have ALL the jokes) and HM (which stopped 4 times!!) and got some info I didn’t know. Here is some scoop Mark gave me over lunch:

1) Even a long-time CM and Roy supporter like Mark thinks that things aren’t as bad as Roy does, and supports what Eisner is doing AND Roy, for doing what he (Roy) thinks is right.
2) There is a coaster coming to Epcot, but they don’t know where for sure perhaps a rain-forest themed on where the Outpost is now.
3) There might be a new WS pavilion that would rotate different countries on a yearly basis, obviously without an attraction.
4) Wonders of Life is getting a huge re-do after going seasonal for a while, the buzz is a Monsters Inc. ride, although that is uncertain as it would be more suited to Energy.
5) There will be a Toy Story attraction themed to the little Aliens, but not where COP is in the MK. CMs were told that COP was closing, only to be saved by Guest feedback.
6) There are no concrete plans on what to do with the 20K lagoon that he knew of, and he said that CMs were told that the FantasyLand skyway terminal would be converted to dining or a shop.
7) Also, the Odyssey will continue to be used for meetings and large gatherings, with no planned changes anytime soon


When we saw the floats for SADCT, I noticed two InspEARations statues that were backstage. Mark said that the sun is fading them at a much faster rate than anticipated and that they are being rotated 2-5 a day to do some touch-ups. We concluded the tour at the Roy/Minnie statue. I will point out that one of the guests on the tour was a man in his late 20’s/early 30’s who had some developmental disabilities and was there with his parents. If I were the CM I would have been very frustrated with him, but Mark was FABULOUS. It would not surprise me to see Mark as the head of all park guest relations within the next 10 years. He is one of the best CMs I have ever encountered.


Basically, the tour is really great if you haven't been to the MK a bunch, or you are a total MK lunatic. If you are in the middle, it mught not be so great. If you are going off-season, I am sure that the tour is longer and if you get a time that is before the park opens, I have heard that it can be really special.

I would do it once, it is worth the money.

Scott:sohappy:

 

[Pioneer Hall]

I thought it was great as well. You really do learn a lot, and you get to see things you would never get to experience otherwise. i think it was one of the best things we could have spent the money on in Disney.

 

[Badger Brent]

We will be taking the KTTKT in May. I read somewhere that the parade float area is off limits to the tour until all investigations are done with the tragic accident. Does anyone know if this is true or not? It won't make a change in our plans at all, was just wondering.

 

[Snow White 610]

We took the tour last September before the park opened. It was neat to be inside the park and witness the "masses" coming through the gates! The backstage parade float area was our favorite. I hope that its open for you . We even got to see where Tinkerbell lands after her ascent from the castle, a very interesting landing :animwink: . Surprisingly, the descent into the utilidors was brief and not all that different from any stadium type hallway. The tour is well worth the time and money!

 

[DiPSU224]

I'm going on the tour on May 19 at 9:00. Should I change this to 8:30? I'm not sure what the crowds are going to be like...
Anyway, since I'm such a Disney nut I'm dying to see and hear some Disney inside stuff...my boyfriend on the other hand, is not into it as much. Will he be really bored? Let me know what you think! Thanks!

 

[marni1971]

Is it true no photography is allowed backstage?

 

[Snow White 610]

Sadly, tis true... We were allowed to snap pictures while "on stage", but told no pictures backstage. They also discourage you from asking too many "backstage" type questions while in earshot of the other park guests! :animwink:

 

[Tom]

Hey IUBIGMAN!

Wsa Mark about 5'6" and kind of heavyset with dark hair and little framed glasses? I think I may have had him once too for KtK and he was GREAT!

Very professional and down-to-earth. Actually talked about stuff and answered questions with real answers - not the canned crap they give you at Guest Relations.

*The following is not to be taken offensively*
One lunch story he told us is that during Gay Week (the week before we got there) there was a family with little kids that all came in wearing red shirts (the signatory color) and had no idea. He said that Guest Relations gave them some gray Goofy shirts just so they didn't have to get harassed all day. Nice of them.

Anyway, his name was Mark, and I just wanted to see if it was the same guy. Our Mark will go to the top, that's for sure. He said he hoped to anyway.

 

[Pixie Duster]

Even me as a CM cannot take pictures unless it's of my friends without much of backstage in the background and really that's just the breakroom.

 

[Tinkerbell1220]

I have taken the tour and I wanted to say that my tour host was wonderful also his name is Klye.... He knew everything about The magic Kingdom and Disney... It was like he was born to do the tour... just another Great cast member to maybe ask for If mark is unaviliable...hope you have a great time:sohappy:

 

[PLTram]

How much do these tours cost? If you don't have a car, how do you get to the parks before they open? I'm also curious as the other poster whether my non-obsessed wife will be bored....

 

[Snow White 610]

Our tour was scheduled for 0830 AM, 30 min. prior to opening. We were staying onsite, so no problem getting to park early. I believe that you can still drive to the parking lot, take the monorail and be there by this time. You just walk up to the gate and tell them what you're there for. Come to think of it, no one asked for proof of tour :lookaroun . My husband, not a fanatic, enjoyed the tour too.

 

[iubigman]

Yes, same CM

Originally posted by edwardtc
Hey IUBIGMAN!

Wsa Mark about 5'6" and kind of heavyset with dark hair and little framed glasses? I think I may have had him once too for KtK and he was GREAT!

Very professional and down-to-earth. Actually talked about stuff and answered questions with real answers - not the canned crap they give you at Guest Relations.



I am pretty sure that is the same guy. I agree, he will go very far at Disney.

 

[SamatBCV]

To almost quote the Comic Book Guy from the Simpsons: Keys to the Kingdom tour - Best Tour Ever.

We have been on several different Disney Tours and this one is the best. I remember thinking before the tour, "Oh Boy, we get to see the utilidoors" Fortunately, this is only a small part of the tour, cause they are just hallways. Someone earlier said its like a stadium and they are right. Nothing much to see down there.

Our guide was Brick, yes that is his name, and he was fantastic.

 

[BwanaBob]

We 'had' Matthew as our guide.

*chooses words wisely*

I'm believe the guide is as only as good as his/her group.

Interactive group = interactive guide.

...by the way, Matt was very good as well.

 

[agdbeanie]

Originally posted by iubigman
Here is my report of my KTTK tour from my trip report from December.

We checked in and ordered our lunches, and met our guide Mark. Hint for those wanting to take the tour on a busy day, take the 8:30! We had twelve people, and the 9:30 had 26 scheduled!!! Mark was fantastic. We saw all the pre-requisite backstage areas, rode Jungle Cruise (nice not to have ALL the jokes) and HM (which stopped 4 times!!) and got some info I didn’t know. Here is some scoop Mark gave me over lunch:

1) Even a long-time CM and Roy supporter like Mark thinks that things aren’t as bad as Roy does, and supports what Eisner is doing AND Roy, for doing what he (Roy) thinks is right.
2) There is a coaster coming to Epcot, but they don’t know where for sure perhaps a rain-forest themed on where the Outpost is now.
3) There might be a new WS pavilion that would rotate different countries on a yearly basis, obviously without an attraction.
4) Wonders of Life is getting a huge re-do after going seasonal for a while, the buzz is a Monsters Inc. ride, although that is uncertain as it would be more suited to Energy.
5) There will be a Toy Story attraction themed to the little Aliens, but not where COP is in the MK. CMs were told that COP was closing, only to be saved by Guest feedback.
6) There are no concrete plans on what to do with the 20K lagoon that he knew of, and he said that CMs were told that the FantasyLand skyway terminal would be converted to dining or a shop.
7) Also, the Odyssey will continue to be used for meetings and large gatherings, with no planned changes anytime soon


When we saw the floats for SADCT, I noticed two InspEARations statues that were backstage. Mark said that the sun is fading them at a much faster rate than anticipated and that they are being rotated 2-5 a day to do some touch-ups. We concluded the tour at the Roy/Minnie statue. I will point out that one of the guests on the tour was a man in his late 20’s/early 30’s who had some developmental disabilities and was there with his parents. If I were the CM I would have been very frustrated with him, but Mark was FABULOUS. It would not surprise me to see Mark as the head of all park guest relations within the next 10 years. He is one of the best CMs I have ever encountered.


Basically, the tour is really great if you haven't been to the MK a bunch, or you are a total MK lunatic. If you are in the middle, it mught not be so great. If you are going off-season, I am sure that the tour is longer and if you get a time that is before the park opens, I have heard that it can be really special.

I would do it once, it is worth the money.

Scott:sohappy:

That sounds a lot like the tour group I was in (with the disabled man and Mark and the statues etc.) What day did you go? Maybe were in the same group or maybe it's just a coincidence. We went on Dec. 27.


The utilidors portion of the tour was rather limited when we went, so don't go just for that. But the rest of the info was great I would definitely recommend you go. It's fun and worth the money!