Behind the Scenes Tours

[Amy]

Ok, haven't searched thoroughly so hopefully there isn't already a topic on this...I'm sure someone will be kind enough to tell me if there is...
I am interested in hearing from the people who have been on the Behind the Scenes tours. What tours have you taken? Where there any surprises? Would you recommend the tour? Was it a great tour but not quite worth the price?
Thanks!!

[Len90]

Hmm not sure if there is an exact thread on this. However here is one thread where there are some opinions people posted: viewtopic.php?f=9&t=6519

[Amy]

Hmm not sure if there is an exact thread on this. However here is one thread where there are some opinions people posted: viewtopic.php?f=9&t=6519

Thanks Len...I sort of remember that one, mostly the same thing I guess...sorry

[boilerbabe]

Amy, do you mean Behind Seeds Tour?! That one is at The Land pavilion. B-dude and I did that tour and really enjoyed it! It's not all the pricey either. It was informative and fun! We've also done the Segway Tour in Epcot which was awesome. And of course, Dive Quest is my absolute fav., but you have to be a scuba diver for that one. They have an Aqua Seas tour which allows you to basically snorkel at the surface of the water, or the Dolhpins in Depth Tour, where you are waist deep in water and interact with the dolphins!

Are you and your mom thinking of doing any tours?!

[Jacca5660]

I'd love to do the behind the seeds tour!

[Amy]

Amy, do you mean Behind Seeds Tour?! That one is at The Land pavilion. B-dude and I did that tour and really enjoyed it! It's not all the pricey either. It was informative and fun! We've also done the Segway Tour in Epcot which was awesome. And of course, Dive Quest is my absolute fav., but you have to be a scuba diver for that one. They have an Aqua Seas tour which allows you to basically snorkel at the surface of the water, or the Dolhpins in Depth Tour, where you are waist deep in water and interact with the dolphins!

Are you and your mom thinking of doing any tours?!

I'm sort of looking at all of them but I am mostly considering the train one, behind the seeds, and a segway tour. Mom really wants to ride a segway but is worried about her balance. I think she will be fine. Any thoughts from anyone on choosing between the off-road segway tour and the world showcase tour? I am leaning toward the world showcase one just because it would be cool to get to see world showcase so early in the morning.

I did look at trying to get my scuba certification before we go but it would be difficult to get it done. Plus the cost of the classes (plus gear rental) is steep! I know it would be good for future trips but...I was spoiled by scuba diving the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. They went over the basics and made sure everyone was comfortable, and then we were off. It was incredible and all the scuba people I know were horrified that they allowed people without certification to dive. I was used to breathing off a tank from being a firefighter anyhow and am quite comfortable in the water so I never was concerned. But since I had that experience, now I kind of think I don't really want to pay so much for something I might only use once or twice. Maybe someday...

[Jacca5660]

Amy, do you mean Behind Seeds Tour?! That one is at The Land pavilion. B-dude and I did that tour and really enjoyed it! It's not all the pricey either. It was informative and fun! We've also done the Segway Tour in Epcot which was awesome. And of course, Dive Quest is my absolute fav., but you have to be a scuba diver for that one. They have an Aqua Seas tour which allows you to basically snorkel at the surface of the water, or the Dolhpins in Depth Tour, where you are waist deep in water and interact with the dolphins!

Are you and your mom thinking of doing any tours?!

I'm sort of looking at all of them but I am mostly considering the train one, behind the seeds, and a segway tour. Mom really wants to ride a segway but is worried about her balance. I think she will be fine. Any thoughts from anyone on choosing between the off-road segway tour and the world showcase tour? I am leaning toward the world showcase one just because it would be cool to get to see world showcase so early in the morning.

I did look at trying to get my scuba certification before we go but it would be difficult to get it done. Plus the cost of the classes (plus gear rental) is steep! I know it would be good for future trips but...I was spoiled by scuba diving the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. They went over the basics and made sure everyone was comfortable, and then we were off. It was incredible and all the scuba people I know were horrified that they allowed people without certification to dive. I was used to breathing off a tank from being a firefighter anyhow and am quite comfortable in the water so I never was concerned. But since I had that experience, now I kind of think I don't really want to pay so much for something I might only use once or twice. Maybe someday...

The Segway does it all for you. I have a buddy that has one and it can handle my FAT A**! You mom will be fine!

[Amy]

...The Segway does it all for you. I have a buddy that has one and it can handle my FAT A**! You mom will be fine!

That is sort of what I told my mom...well, minus the big butt comment You pretty much just have to stand on it right? there really isn't any balancing other than you lean a little forward to go?
EDIT: I've been looking at the UnDiscovered Future World tour too ~ anyone been on that one?

[Jacca5660]

...The Segway does it all for you. I have a buddy that has one and it can handle my FAT A**! You mom will be fine!

That is sort of what I told my mom...well, minus the big butt comment You pretty much just have to stand on it right? there really isn't any balancing other than you lean a little forward to go?
EDIT: I've been looking at the UnDiscovered Future World tour too ~ anyone been on that one?

Correct!

[boilerbabe]

We've only done the Segway Around the World tour and we loved it, actually we've done it twice now. It's so cool to see WS in the a.m. and don't worry about balance, they take you through a tutor session before you head out! Lotsa fun!

You got to dive the Great Barrier Reef? That is a site divers dream of! Very cool, we're diving tomorrow, but in Lake Mich. not as exciting!

The other tours at the Seas don't require a scuba cert.

[MmeLeota]

We have never done any of teh tours at WDW either, but I would definitely also be interested in knowing others' input regarding tours.

[cousininmiami]

We went on the Keys To The Kingdom Tour last Fall, and it was amazing. I chose the time that was first thing in the morning so it wouldn't be too hot and also get into the park before it opened (really cool!).

First off going into Magic Kingdom when it was still closed was so awesome, I felt like a little kid. You go in to the left and check in at Guest Services and wait in the breezeway for the whole group to gather. We got Guest lanyards issued to us, were given a menu to order lunch (which is included) and had about 20 minutes to wander around Main street with nobody there, again, sooooooo awesome! Pictures galore of the castle and Main Street with no other people there! We propped up the camera on top of garbage cans to take pictures of the two of us together. This was so much fun, and the tour hadn't even started!

The tour finally began with about 20 people and our tour guide. We were issued headsets and a radio pack so that no matter how many people were with us, or how noisy it was we could hear our tour guide. He was about 30 years old, very energetic and very knowledgable. We started of course with the statue of Roy Disney, and began a slow journey down Main Street with the names on the various windows being pointed out as well as history, history, history! We took a ton of pictures, listened intently, learned a lot, and asked questions! We all rode The Jungle Cruise, Pirates, Haunted Mansion, and Hall of Presidents together. Each time learning more history and trivia. We went backstage to see the large area that houses the Spectro-magic parade floats, and watched people working on them, and saw the trash system there at MK. Very cool and interesting! And of course, no pictures backstage! We also went on the Haunted Mansion from a backstage area behind the mansion itself where the CM's enter. Wow, this was cool! We talked to Haunted Mansion CM's backstage, and they never broke out of character, even behind the scenes! We had lunch upstairs in the private dining room of the Columbia House next to the Haunted Mansion where we were given an individual certificate of our participation and a Keys to The Kingdom PIN!!! The tour concluded with a trip down through the famous UTILIDORS!!!!!!! By that time I was sure I had died and gone to heaven. Of course no cameras are allowed in the underground, but I will have those memories forever.

At the beginning of the tour, before we began, I was talking to our Tour Guide and I mentioned that my entire life my dream was to become a Disney Tour Guide. The Jockey outfit, the little stick they carry and the coveted gold Disney pin only worn by the Tour Guides. I told him the story of when I was a little girl in the 60's, I had memorized a speech from one of the Disneyland shows of Miss Disney Tencennial when Walt introduced her. I can still recite it today. Anyways, kind of a cute (but a little dorky) story. Soooooooooo, low and behold, when we got back to our room late that day at the Wilderness Lodge, there was an envelope that had been pushed under our door! I opened it up and it was a note from our tour guide and one of the gold tour guide pins! He wrote that only tour guides are to ever have one but he asked for special permission to give one to me. He said to keep my dreams alive and someday I just might be a tour guide! I burst into tears, and clutched my pin tightly. This was for sure the end of a long day full of dreams that I will never forget!

[Amy]

Aww, that was so special of the tour guide to do that for you! It sounds like you had an awesome tour

[flamingolady]

Last year my parents, who are in their 60's, and aren't really Disney fanatics, went on the "Keys" behind the scenes tour at MK. I wasn't sure what their reaction would be, but they LOVED it. It lasted a couple of hours and there was alot of walking, and they had a very nice lunch. They were sworn to not talk about some aspects of the tour. Whatever tour you decide on, I'm sure you won't be disappointed.

[Amy]

Last year my parents, who are in their 60's, and aren't really Disney fanatics, went on the "Keys" behind the scenes tour at MK. I wasn't sure what their reaction would be, but they LOVED it. It lasted a couple of hours and there was alot of walking, and they had a very nice lunch. They were sworn to not talk about some aspects of the tour. Whatever tour you decide on, I'm sure you won't be disappointed.

Thanks flamingolady! I went on the Keys tour too but it was several years ago. I don't remember them telling us not to tell any secrets of the tour. I'm sure I will like any of the tours too ~ that is the problem! Narrowing it down to just one is hard Plus it does take time away from the go-go-go that I so like to take part in while I am there...