We went in through the front gate to begin the tour at MK. We walked down Main Street and were told the stories of the different windows, which, of course, I already knew, but it was really cool hearing it again as we walked down Main Street. We stopped to go to the restrooms right past Casey's, and then when everyone was ready and quicker than I expected it, there we were going through a gate and headed back to the Utilidor Entrance. We walked through a lot backstage and towards a doorway, I remember you could take stairs or the elevator, we took the stairs. I really think that I could have taken more in, had we done the MK tour first. It just felt like I was trying to take in so much at once, that it was almost overload. I mean, I had read and looked up everything about the Utilidors and here I was standing in them. They pointed out the signs pointing out the land in each hallway/tunnel you were in and that the colors on the walls corresponding to each land. There was a lot of activity and Cast Members going back and forth some with carts. One of the coolest things, to me was the CM pin refill window. There were a couple of cast members getting their pins for the day as we passed by. Tons and tons of pins!! The frames on the wall were so cool, of every pin that there has been (Cast Member, I am assuming, but I was too in awe to remember) The pipes and trash collection systems were pointed out and the next thing I knew as quickly as we entered down those steps it seemed we were going back up them. One thing that I was most concerned about in doing the tours was seeing a friend without their head. May seem silly coming from a 40 something grown woman, but I did not want to see that. I thought okay, it is worth it to me to see the other stuff so much I will look away.. the Disney spirits were smiling on me and the only thing I encountered as we were going up the steps back out, was a very hot Snow White, in a tank top, shorts and flip flops, but hair and makeup intact. I could handle that, I mean Snow White can't always wear that big ole dress right? We hurried down Main Street to be ushered to an upfront spot for the Festival of Fantasy Parade. It was a really good spot but brutally hot! After it ended off we went, to board the bus and conclude our tour. For those that don't know, I didn't. I thought we could stay at MK if we wanted to but you have to get on the bus and exit the park. You do not have to leave but you do have to re-enter the park since being in the tour is what got you into the park and you did not have to have tickets. We had parked at Epcot, so we just rode the bus back there. It started raining on the way back, but we had our complimentary Ponchos, to don, that we were given before going in MK so that was okay. We were really glad to have just made it til the tour was over before getting soaked.
So bottom line, I really enjoyed the tour, it was more than we wanted to spend, but well worth it. The guides were great and I really felt like they relayed their love of Disney well. Both had the laid back, talkative and friendly Disney Cast Member faces and attitudes we love so much. The only drawback at all, is that I was so overwhelmed that I know I missed a lot of details/facts by being so excited and trying to make my brain take photos and record everything I was seeing. I would recommend taking it if you can and haven't. I may even do it again one day to enjoy it more.
The only other drawback in doing the longer tour was we missed our Coral Reef ressie! We always, always eat at Coral Reef. Jack, Tink and Towmater made it and said it was delicious as always. (Well, Jack did, since he was the only one out of the 3 that had eaten there) We stopped by the resort to dry off freshen up and they were resting so DH & I headed to DHS. We stopped at the Brown Derby Lounge where I decided to try the Derby Cosmo, it was STOUT! Good, but very alcoholy tasting. (not a word I know, but a Disneyshe word) I love the Cobb salad and since I get outvoted on eating here the past few trips, I ordered one minus the dressing of course.
We rode RnRC, ToT and Star Tours before heading out to go pick up Jack and Towmater to let him ride some rides at MK. The ride times were slow. We grabbed some food for Jack and little fella since Coral Reef was running out then we rode Buzz several times, VotLM, Mad Tea Party, Barnstormer, which was a big deal. He is only about about 35 and a half inches tall, so he missed out on a lot of rides. If he stands up straight he is bit taller, but hard to make a little one understand that. Anyway, he loved it! Too cute. After we got off that one Wishes was starting so we just stayed where we were, working a little towards Tomorrowland and he wanted to do Buzz again, we did and holy cow, even after hanging back, forever, the exit crowd was terrible. We opted for the ferry and it took forever. I say we waited an hour to just board. I am not used to that. The whole getting to MK is cool, until you are trying to leave with the masses, that is not so great lol.
