Your favorite Behind-The-Scenes Tour About This Page:

[Luv2plan]

DH & I would really like to try behind-the-scenes tour, what's your favorite?

The only thing we're ruling out is any of the really long, like all day, tours, as we're only staying a few days this time.

Thanks!

[Joy J]

I have taken several of the behind the scenes tours and most of them are awesome. My favorite by far though is the Backstage Safari at Animal Kingdom. After all, what can really beat the chance to pet a white rhino or get up close and personal with a giraffe? From beginning to end, this tour is a real winner, particularly if you get our tour guide, Paul, who was absolutely fabulous. If you're going to be down there during late November through the month of December, then I would heartily recommend the Yuletide Fantasy tour. It's a great look at how Disney does all their Christmas magic and it was mind-boggling to be able to stroll through the World Showcase before it was open to the public. Another delight was the Keys to the Kingdom tour in the Magic Kingdom - great insights into how the park works but nothing that spoils the magic - it only serves to enhance it and give you a greater appreciation for the job that Disney does. If you want to try something totally different, then I would suggest the Dolphins in Depth experience. It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to get in the water and play with dolphins plus you learn so much about dolphins and the research work being done at the Living Seas. On a slightly different note, another tour we got a huge kick out of was the Family Magic tour. It's a definite must-do if you have children in your party, but even if you don't, it's just SO much fun. I did this one with my 29-year-old son and we had a blast. It's not for the inhibited, though, as you'll find yourself doing some pretty strange and unusual things (such as barking like a dog as you travel up Main Street or flying like an airplane as you do your best Buzz Lightyear imitation in Tomorrowland.) And the whole tour culminates in a wonderful private character meet and greet opportunity. The only WDW tour that I've tried that I definitely would not recommend is the Undiscovered Future World - it was very boring in comparison to the others.

Joy

[Cheeser]

My DH loved the greenhouse tour. He came home and tried
hydroponically growing lettuce...what a mess...but he
loved it. We're doing the living seas aqua tour this trip. Which includes a tank swim...so I'll let you know how it goes when we get back!

[RobinKay6573]

I have been on two: Keys to the Kingdom and Backstage Safari

Both were very good but I like Keys to the Kingdom more. I learned so much about MK. We even went on two rides during the tour. Another plus is they feed you lunch. My sister has an AP and lives in Kissimmee so she gets to Disney about once a week and she enjoyed the tour as much as I did.

Backstage Safari was great as well. We got to walk around some of the animal housing, we got to see the food stores and see where they prepared the food. We also were lucky enough to see a rhino that was going to give birth any day. I went on Back Stage Safari in 2001.

Yes the tours are alittle expensive BUT they are very much worth the money!

[Main Street Magic]

Thanks to JoyJoy I really don't have much to contribute to this thread except to add my vote for any of the following:

Yuletide Tour
Dolphins in Depth
and
Backstage Safari

I was going to mention the Sunrise Safari that guests staying in the AKL concierge level can attend, but I've heard that it has been discontinued

[graygables]

I've never been on one, but I did just make ressies for the Undiscovered Future World for November. It was the only one that DH wanted to try this time around. I've heard mixed reviews, but we're willing to give it a shot!

[chezp]

[ QUOTE ]
I've never been on one, but I did just make ressies for the Undiscovered Future World for November. It was the only one that DH wanted to try this time around. I've heard mixed reviews, but we're willing to give it a shot!

[/ QUOTE ]

That's the only behind the scenes tour we've been on and we really enjoyed it. Am I reading your post right - you made reservations for it for November? Whenever I've asked about booking for behind the scenes tours in May, they've told me it's too early! If they're booking that far ahead, I'll call back and book something.

[graygables]

Yep, for November. The CM told me they were booking into December right now and that most tours are available a year out. I'm looking forward to it; Epcot is my favorite park (it's the closest I can get to GB without actually crossing the Atlantic! ) I spent a wonderful summer in England in 1976 and another 2 weeks, me, alone in London when I was 18.

[Caitie]

Whoever told you november was to far away was wrong. you can book tours up to a year in advance. Trust me, they mixed up our dolphins in depth ones at christmas, i have all the reservation dates memorized. Dinning is 90 days, Tours is a year. and Dinner shows ( hoop-de- doo, mickey's backyard bbq etc.) are two years. So yah.. and make sure when you make it they get the month, day, and YEAR right. just a little hint! have fun planning

[chezp]

[ QUOTE ]
Yep, for November. The CM told me they were booking into December right now and that most tours are available a year out.

[/ QUOTE ]

Thanks for that Dawn - I will be phoning Disney over the weekend to get something booked and when they tell me they're not booking for May (as they did last time about a month ago ) I will mention this to them! The way the dollar is against the pound at the moment, we'll end up with some real bargain behind the scenes tours!

[love_the_duck]

I have done the Keys to the Kingdom Tour at MK twice, the first time was better - but that was before 9/11 and they took you into the utilidors from a Fantasyland entrance, last summer we did it again, it was still good, but we did not get to the Costuming Area, and we entered the utilidors from backstage, it was not as great, but ok. I have also done the Undiscovered Future World in 2001. It was a fairly new tour then and it was a lot of fun too. I still like Keys better, its a better value in my opinion. You get the tour and lunch. The EPCOT one gave us a 20% off coupon for lunch after the tour, and cost almost the same.

[love_the_duck]

another point, i forgot i think the backstage tour at the land is now closed...thats the behind the seeds tour - -it was an hour and cost about $8-10. they are changing an attraction there and I think thats why they closed it.

[RobinKay6573]

[ QUOTE ]
another point, i forgot i think the backstage tour at the land is now closed...thats the behind the seeds tour - -it was an hour and cost about $8-10. they are changing an attraction there and I think thats why they closed it.


[/ QUOTE ]
Yes it was closed when we were there two weeks ago. There is some sort of structure going up behind The Land. They had girders (sp?) up. I am not sure what they are building but it is BIG!

[Ms. Minnie]

I'm with Joy on this one.

Backstage safari (AK) tour, with Paul. Of course, I'm sure they're all terrific, but Paul really knew his stuff!

Have fun.
Lisa

[Pris]

I've done Keys to the Kingdom twice and loved it. Also did Undiscovered future World and enjoyed it as well. The Behind the Seeds tour for $8 was a little known jewel. When I took it there were only 2 of us for the tour. By the way, the new structure under construction at the Land is the new ride they are building like Soaring Over California at Disneyland. I think it is to open in about 2 years.