Been on Disney Tours?

All four parks, waterparks, and other magic in Central Florida

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cousininmiami
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Re: Been on Disney Tours?

Post by cousininmiami » Oct Tue 11, 2011 9:17 am

The Wild Africa Trek was amazing! We had a small group of 12 people with 2 trek guides and our own photographer. We could bring a small camera if it could be attached to the vest. I specifically bought a new digital camera, a waterproof underwater camera, just for that tour this summer. It was in July and was rain or shine so I didn't want my big Nikon to get ruined. It was a wonderful tour, repelling over the edge of cliffs, walking over rickety bridges with alligators underneath, getting up close to the animals. Super cool! And even though I took a lot of really great pictures, the official photographer with us took a couple of hundred. About a week after we got home, the photo CD arrived in the mail! This was included with the tour, as well as lunch out in our own private Boma out in the middle of the Savannah with animals all around us. Towards one side you could see the Lions on Pride rock, to the other side Giraffes, and various animals were everywhere just strolling by! 8-)
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Repelling over the cliff to the Alligator pit!
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Boma on the Savannah where we had lunch!
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Yup this was fun!

Our next tour was Undiscovered Future World, this was really cool! We went behind the scenes of all the areas of EPCOT Future World and seamlessly went from one to the other behind the scene in seconds. Weird really, as it takes a few minutes to get from Journey into Imagination to The Living Seas on stage, but behind the scenes it's just a minute! We saw where they clean and sanitize the 3d glasses and how that process works, went behind Soarin', then went on it from a back door, went behind the Living Seas to an area where they have private dinners and functions, behind Test Track to see them repairing vehicles, into the private lounge inside Mission Space, and behind the Dinosaurs at Ellen. There was a whole lot more but those were the highlights! You can take pictures everywhere except for behind the scenes. I would do this tour again! :D
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This is from up above in Mission Space in the Lounge!
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Oooops... wasn't supposed to take this! (slaps back of hand)!

The next tour we did was the SEGWAY Tour through the countries in EPCOT. This was 3 hours of pure fun! We were set up with helmets, headphones to hear our tour guide and taught how to ride a SEGWAY. Surprisingly it only took about 5 minutes to get the hang of it! This tour is all about the details of World Showcase really, like a walking tour of the countries but on a SEGWAY. There is a pouch in front of your SEGWAY so you can bring a camera to take pictures when you stop, because you can't have anything in your hands when you are riding. My husband wants to do this one again at Christmas when we go, actually I think he just wants to buy a SEGWAY! :lol:
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In previous trips we did the Behind the Seeds Tour. This was fun and informative, you really learn a lot and have a good time doing it as well. Trying some of the fruits and vegetables and letting ladybugs go in the big part of the greenhouse are highlights. Here you can take as many pictures as you want, it's a blast!

The final tour I have done is the Keys To The Kingdom. This is the mack daddy of all tours in my mind! Walking through the Magic Kingdom before it opens, listening to all the unbelievable details from your tour guide and riding a few rides are amazing. But going under to the Utilidors is really the highlight. For CM's this is a ho-hum, this is where they work! But for us it was so cool to see how they get around, where everything is and how it works. 8-) It was very, very magical doing this tour and it hold the most special memories for me! 8-)
°o° "...it's a great big beautiful tomorrow, shining at the end of every day" °o°

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Amy
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Re: Been on Disney Tours?

Post by Amy » Oct Tue 11, 2011 12:18 pm

Wow ~ great descriptions of the tours ~ with photos!! I really am going to have to check out the Wild Africa tour...it sounds awesome :D

boilerbabe
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Re: Been on Disney Tours?

Post by boilerbabe » Oct Tue 11, 2011 12:19 pm

Thanks for sharing cousininmiami! Now I'm really pumped about the The Wild Africa Trek! I have a waterproof camera that I use for diving, I can use it w/o the underwater housing, thanks for the tip, I will be sure to take that with in Jan!!! It's much smaller than my Sony.

The pictures were awesome! The FW tour looked interesting too! And we've done the Segway tour twice, loved it!!!
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cousininmiami
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Re: Been on Disney Tours?

Post by cousininmiami » Oct Tue 11, 2011 1:21 pm

Another use of the waterproof camera is on any wet rides like Splash Mountain etc! I had a great time with this camera its a Fuji 12.1 megapixel, great quality! Thanks all for liking my pictures, I have about 2000 more pictures from this summers trip :shock: . Wanna come over for a slide show?? :wink:
°o° "...it's a great big beautiful tomorrow, shining at the end of every day" °o°

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MmeLeota
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Re: Been on Disney Tours?

Post by MmeLeota » Oct Tue 11, 2011 1:35 pm

Awesome pictures and descriptions cousin!!! :D
I called about the Wild Africa Trek last week. The CM told me that it is currently $189 (cheaper than a couple of the other tours), but they aren't currently booking for January. I want to do this one so badly!!! But I think we will have to wait until another WDW trip, as I don't think hubby will be up for it. The CM also informed me that there is a less strenuous version of the tour as well. Since I was just getting some general tour information, I didn't ask for details of it...but that may be an option for us.

I think they don't list the price online because it is such a physical tour, they want to make sure you know what you're getting into first.

cousininmiami
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Re: Been on Disney Tours?

Post by cousininmiami » Oct Wed 12, 2011 7:55 am

I highly recommend the Wild Africa Trek, it is very special!
°o° "...it's a great big beautiful tomorrow, shining at the end of every day" °o°

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momeja
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Re: Been on Disney Tours?

Post by momeja » Oct Wed 12, 2011 1:32 pm

Great pictures! I think the Wild Africa Trek sounds very fun.

We did the Family Magic Tour several years ago and loved it. I'd like to do it again, although I worry that it won't have the magic it had the first time.

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Re: Been on Disney Tours?

Post by Mousekedude » Oct Wed 12, 2011 3:19 pm

Awesome info and pics of the Wild Africa Trek, Cousininmiami! Thank you! And I have to confess, I misunderstood Mouseoholic. In a prior post I said she has already booked it for us, but in talking to her again, she said she tried to book it for January, but hasn't been able to yet. So hopefully she'll be able to do so soon. She's still in Australia... and will be for the next couple of weeks... but I know she's staying on top of our trip arrangements, even if she can't come on Sub and post. I'll let y'all know as soon as we get something booked, and what it cost.
Thanks, also, for the tips on the camera. I wouldn't have known that, and would probably have shown up with our bad-a** Nikon, only to be told that we couldn't take it with us! :shock: So now we'll probably make it a point to take one of our smaller ones. :D

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