The Land Tour?

StarScream86

StarScream86

New Member
Is the behind the scenes tour of the Land really worth it?
I never done it before,I'm thinking bout trying it out when I'm there in June,right after I'd try soarin for the first time.
Where does one sign up for the tour and how much does it cost?
 
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TTATraveler

TTATraveler

Active Member
I took the tour a few years ago and it was great. You get to see and find out more things inside the greenhouses and the lab. Not sure what they are charging for it now, but you can get a 15 % discount if you have a Disney Visa card.
 
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Epcot82Guy

Epcot82Guy

Well-Known Member
I am biased toward it since I used to host them, however, here would be my attempt at an objective presentation. If you enjoy gardening, biology, or plants generally, it is great. If you enjoy the greenhouse portions of LwtL, you will really like it because it adds an interactive element. It is a one hour walking tour, and it is specialized. It also depends on your guide, but anyone leading is actually a worker in the greenhouses themselves. The overall approval rating is very high (one of the highest for upcharge attractions), and there are some good reviews posted here in the forums.
 
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mousermerf

mousermerf

Account Suspended
The tours are offered every 45mins (i think) until like 4:30 or 4:45 (sometime after 4pm but before 5pm, I know that).

You can book "on the hour" tours in advance by calling 407-WDW-TOUR. This may be helpful in that the tour is seemingly very popular and limitted on space - I think 12 guests is the max, 10 is ideal.

I went on the tour both before and after it's "refurbishment" that happened while the pavilion was closed for the Soarin' installation.

They've made a concious effort for the tour to be more family friendly, as it was a little dry in the original version. The activities they added however aren't just fun for kids, but interesting for adults willing to be a little childish too ;)

You get the tour of the greenhouses, good bug production, and things of that sort. You get to start growing a pocket garden, and depending on the season you may get to try/eat/get seeds from something. I've never come out of the tour with the same exact "stuff" at the end.

Once my tour guide was there doing an internship on entemology (if i spelled that right - the study of bugs) and thus we spent a lot of time in the bug labs. Another was a girl working on cross breeding and hybrids so we focused on the plants that fell into that category a bit, but both tours were well rounded.

I think it's worth it, a steal at the 10-12 that it costs per person, and even mroe worth it if you qualify for any of the discounts.

The tour, btw, is called Behind the Seeds.
 
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Captain Hank

Captain Hank

Well-Known Member
It's a very well done, and interesting tour (though, like Epcot82Guy, I'm just a tad biased). You'll walk through all of the greenhouses that you see on Living With the Land, plus the Aquacell and the entomology lab. You'll also be able to view the Biotechnology lab where Mickey's Mini Gardens are produced from tissue cultures. The tour is very interactive, and questions are encouraged. I'd definately recommend it if you have an interest in gardening, botany, agriculture or biology in general.

Plus, depending on when in June you are going, there's a chance I might be your tour guide. :)
 
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RonAnnArbor

RonAnnArbor

Well-Known Member
I think the tour is completely dependent on your interest in biology, greenhouses, and plants - food processes, etc. Coming from Michigan where we "live with the land" every day, it doesn't strike me as all that interesting...but I think If I were still living in NYC, I would have jumped on the chance to check it out.
 
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lawyergirl77

lawyergirl77

Active Member
My family and I really enjoyed the tour as well. My mom looooves to garden and DH is the manager of a tropical greenhouse, so they both found the tour to be fantastic. My stepfather and I, however, found it interesting, but we wouldn't do it again.

A word to the wise, however - you're going through greenhouses, so it's UNBELIEVABLY hot in there. Make sure you go in with a bottle of water, or else you'll find yourself melting very quickly! :wave:
 
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Kadee

Kadee

New Member
I've never done that tour because my DH and DD have NO interest for that kind of stuff what so ever. I, however, am a middle school science teacher and I teach that sort of stuff every day. I think I will just send the DH and DD somewhere else and I will do it alone.

:veryconfu One question :veryconfu ......Do they let you video the tour? I would love to use something like that in my classroom. Middle schoolers need to SEE it.
 
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lawyergirl77

lawyergirl77

Active Member
Kadee said:
I've never done that tour because my DH and DD have NO interest for that kind of stuff what so ever. I, however, am a middle school science teacher and I teach that sort of stuff every day. I think I will just send the DH and DD somewhere else and I will do it alone.

:veryconfu One question :veryconfu ......Do they let you video the tour? I would love to use something like that in my classroom. Middle schoolers need to SEE it.
Click to expand...
I know you can take a ton of pictures (lord knows I did :lol: ), so I don't see why videos wouldn't be allowed...
 
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luna99

luna99

New Member
Let me start by saying I've always been a big fan of The Land and the boat ride there (can't think of the name of it off the top of my head right now).... I'm female/29 and my younger sister who is in her early 20's always made fun of me...

"why do you like that vegetable ride so much?"
"do we have to do the vegetable ride again this year?!"

so when I suggested that her, my mom, and I take the behind the seeds tour, she really wasn't all that thrilled. We got our tickets and took the tour and I have to say that even though after it was over she still said "that was boring"... I knew she liked it by the way she was actually paying attention during the tour... I finally got her to admit that it wasn't so bad and she actually liked some parts of it.

Now, for me.. I loved it. I don't actually garden.. but I am interested in gardening, food, and nutrition and I thought it was really informative and fun. My mom liked the tour a lot too.. as a matter of fact, I'd take the tour again even if I knew it was going to be exactly the same as it was the first time I did it.

Hope that helps! :D
 
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SewIn2Disney

SewIn2Disney

Well-Known Member
What's the "pocket garden" and do you get to keep it?
My friend and I are looking into taking this tour in two weeks when we go. I thought you could only make reservations for it inside the building, I didn't know you could call the tour number for it too....better get on it!
 
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pinkrose

pinkrose

Well-Known Member
I think we may have to try this tour when we are there in Nov. My son LOVES Living with the Land and my daughter likes to grow little veggie gardens each summer. I think they both would really like this.
 
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Captain Hank

Captain Hank

Well-Known Member
The pocket garden is an opportunity to try your hand at some basic hydroponics. It's a miniature ziploc bag with cotton in it. You'll be given a seed to put in there, and then some of the hydroponic nutrient solution and water will be sprayed in the bag. Then, if you carry the bag around in your pocket (hence "pocket garden"), your body heat will cause the seed to germinate. You can then plant the seed in a standard potting mix when you get back home.

Enjoy the tour! :wave:
 
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Captain Hank

Captain Hank

Well-Known Member
SewIn2Disney said:
Thanks!
Anything else anyone wants to share about this tour? I'm really looking foward to it (esp. the "take all the pictures you want" part)
Click to expand...
Feel free to ask as many questions as you like. The touring time is actually somewhat flexible, based on how many guest questions there are. Also, there are many points at which you can participate. For example, you might have the opportunity to feed the fish in the aquacell, and there's a "Does your nose know spices?" challenge at the end (and there just might be a prize in store for you if you get the spices right...). All in all it's a great tour, and I can't wait to be able to give it (31 days until I get to Orlando...not that I'm counting! :) )
 
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SewIn2Disney

SewIn2Disney

Well-Known Member
I don't have specific questions, just a general, what is it like/more reviews and thoughts concern. Do you go other places other then what is seen on the boat tour? And most importantly, where can you buy the plastic things that turns the pumpkins into Mickey heads? Lol

Does anyone have any pictures?

Thanks a million
 
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