Backstage Magic Tour Information

[Michael Hewell]

While referring to the Backstage Magic Tour in a post about the Keys of the Kingdom, I reported that it did not go to the backstage area of Fantasmic. I was wrong! I knew that they were wanting to, but the last time I asked one of my friends who is a tour guide for the tour, she told me that they had not reached a decision. Good news for those interested: You will now be provided with all the information on how they put on the show and see the backstage areas of the 'island.'

The following information should hopefully provide you with the answers to your questions about this fantastic tour:

The tour begins at 9 AM at Epcot on Monday through Saturday, and is a seven hour experience. Park admission is not required. However, if you wish to enter the parks after the tour, you must use your park admission ticket, no matter how many hours are left in the day. (I promised my source I would type that ...)

During the seven hours you will go backstage at some of the most sought after locations in the first three theme parks. (This tour does not include any Animal Kingdom portions.) You will also feast on an all-you-can-eat lunch at Momma Melrose's, and it is included in your tour fee.

The cost is $199 with tax per guest and you must be at least 16 years of age to take the tour. No, there are no exceptions to this rule ScottR! Attention American Express card members: Let them know you will pay with your Amex when you reserve the tour and your cost is only $159.20. What a bargain!

The tour includes:

At Epcot: The 'American Adventure' from the other side and below the stage, On top and behind the scenes of the 'Living Seas,' and below and behind the scenes of the pods at 'Body Wars.' Warning: You may never want to ride this attraction again when you see what it really does!

At MK: A complete 'Tunnel' (utilidor) tour, CM and entertainment wardrobe, hair and makeup rooms, the Computer Control room, and the Production Center where the performers practice, as well as where they maintain and store all of the floats used in the day and evening parades.

At MGM: 'Fantasmic' backstage and a 'behind the scenes' tour of the show, lunch.

Central Shops: Another walking tour that includes the wood working, steel work, repair, painting, and other areas that I would rather not report. Let it be a surprise. This is the most 'backstage' part of the tour. Picture a magical place where the 'elves produce the toys ...' and you get the idea.

As I mentioned in my previous posts about Keys of the Kingdom, I was trained for this tour and was amazed at all the places the guests got to visit. I will never again be allowed access to these areas without being a guest on this tour! It is an entire day affair, so I only recommend it if you have the extra day during your vacation. It IS worth EVERY dollar spent. Enough said about that ...

There are only 20 guests allowed on each tour, so I recommend that you call 407-WDW-TOUR (939-8687) as soon as you know the date that you can experience it. This tour can be reserved up to a year in advance, and has a minimum 24 hour reservation request policy -- no walkups are accepted. There is a $40 cancellation fee per guest if you cancel on the day of the tour.

Although you are on a very comfortable, air-conditioned bus throughout the tour that serves refreshments, wear some good walking shoes! Go and have a great day! Any Disney fan should at one point in their lives experience this tour.

I'll answer any questions that I can for you, as long as they don't give away secrets of the tour.



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Michael Hewell
MICHAEL'S VIPS

[DisneyaHolic]

Since there is an American Express discount for this tour, do you know if there is a MKC discount? Or any other discounts? Do I sound cheap? I don't mean to be - I am a poor teacher, and I hunger for travel!!!
Thanks for the information!!!!

[beth]

Michael, I have done the Keys to the Kingdom tour, but wasn't that thrilled with the guide (it wasn't you!!!) and I have also done the World Showcase tour at Epcot. Will this tour be worth my money, having done those others. You've got to admit, it's an investment! But the way you talked about it...I wanna go!



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beth
[email protected]
Intercot Staff Member

"I'm just sitting here watching the wheels go round and round"

[Michael Hewell]

There are three discounts available for this tour. In order they are:

DVC members, 10%: $179.10
Annual passholders, 15%: $169.15
American Express, 20%: $159.20

I am sorry to report that there are no Magic Kingdom Club discounts for this tour.

Beth: I was also a Hidden Treasures tour guide (!) and I can report that it really has no overlapping information with this tour. The backstage portions of HT is minimized because the main emphasis is on the 'hidden treasures' that are in the World Showcase that most guests are not aware of.

The Keys of the Kingdom backstage information does overlap a lot, but as you know, was only about 45 minutes of your tour. There are also additional backstage areas in the MK covered by Backstage Magic that are exclusive (and very interesting) to that tour.

As far as the quality of the tour guides for Backstage Magic: They are a very small, dedicated group of people. The manager in charge of the program is very selective and demands the most from her cast members. They want to be there, however, and it has been my experience that they were always very enthusiastic about the program. It's hard not to be when you get to go to the places that they do. It really is an amazing tour!

I must add that the manager's demanding form of training for this tour was VERY useful to me for subsequent tours and other public presentations. I actually changed portions of my Keys of the Kingdom tour because of 'helpful hints' from her program. I wish that all cast members at WDW were as well trained as her guides. Have I done enough advertising for this tour yet??

Tell them that Michael from MICHAEL'S VIPS sent you!



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Michael Hewell
MICHAEL'S VIPS

[SteveL]

How about a CM discount? Sometimes it's hard to find out where they apply (even though there are some pretty good websites about this).

[Jean]

Michael: That sounds awesome. I think dh and I will do it in September, as always, wonderful info, my hat's off to you. Is this site great or what??? Jean

[Michael Hewell]

Dear SteveL:

Cast Members and up to one guest can take the tour at $129.35 each. On the morning of the tour, you must show your current CM ID. CM's may not reserve or pay for this tour for someone else. (i.e. One of the people actually taking the tour has to be a CM.)

I checked again, and this is the only discount that I did not list above. I also asked if there was a distinction provided between WDW CM's and WDC CM's and the host said that there was none in her computer. Hope this helps ...


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Michael Hewell
MICHAEL'S VIPS

[This message has been edited by Michael Hewell (edited March 22, 2000).]

[beth]

Thanks for the info Michael (you were definitely not my guide in the World Showcase! Unless you were masquerading as a woman! ).

I'll have to try and twist hubbys arm on this one, it sounds great!

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beth
[email protected]
Intercot Staff Member

"I'm just sitting here watching the wheels go round and round"

[ScottR]

How long is it till' I am 16? I WAN'T TO GROW UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I CAN'T WAIT!!!!!!!!!!!

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Scott Reed Lakeland, Florida, 30 minutes from WDW
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[Lacy]

Michael you have really got me interested in this tour. I don't get to go to WDW very often so I can't decide if I should spend one of my 7 days on the tour. How much more information at the MK do you get that is not given on the keys to the kingdom tour? I am really interested in the back stage working of WDW but I don't want to take away from my time at the parks since! Do you think it would be worth it? I am especially interested now that they take the tour behind the scenes of fantasmic! You did too good of a job advertising!

Do you think people that are not "disney nuts" would be as impressed with the tour? Because my family loves disney but I don't know if any of them would like to spend a whole day on a tour. Any advice on how to convince them that it would be worth the time and money?

Thanx for all your wonderful info.

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"I only hope that we never lose sight of one thing--that it was all started by a mouse" ºoº

[Michael Hewell]

Dear Lacy:

If I was planning your itinerary I would not be 'allowing' you to go to seven days of the theme parks! I would be pushing for you to take at least every third day off and spend it at the water parks or some other fun activity.

Taking this tour would be a great 'off' day for your family (or at least everyone 16 or older ... ) Although I wrote that it is an all-day tour, it's not really when you think about the timing. It begins at 9 AM and finishes at 4 PM. That allows for a lot of evening hours for other things (or rest).

Should a non 'disney nut' take this tour? Anyone who is interested in the design and engineering that goes into theme park attractions should take this tour. I have never seen anyone even remotely bored by this tour. Have them read my post, and if they are not interested, maybe those that are interested should, and those that are not can find something else to do. It's not like there isn't a lot of options for everyone!

Although I love the Keys tour, and why wouldn't I (?), the Backstage Magic Tour is Disney's finest. When you consider that it is only two hours longer than Keys, it's amazing what you have seen when it is finished.

I've either helped your decision, or made it worst!



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Michael Hewell
MICHAEL'S VIPS

[K8screen]

Can you explain the difference between the backstage magic and the keys to the kingdom tour? I definitely want to treat myself to one or the other this trip.
Also, how much does keys to the kingdom cost and where, and how far in advance do I make my reservation?
I will be going in October.
Im sure this has been answered before, but I cant find it
Thanks


[This message has been edited by K8screen (edited March 25, 2000).]

[Goofy's Girl]

Michael -

You've really made me think about booking this tour. I have a couple of "crazy" questions for you:

Am I correct in assuming that it is wheelchair accessible?

Are rest stops built into the tour?

Are cameras permitted on any portions of the tour, or should we just leave them at home?

Thanks.



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Goofy's Girl and Minnie Moo's Mom
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20 trips (1976-1999)
Next renewals of Pixie Dust:
September 2000 - Shades of Green
October 2000 - Attending a conference
December 2000 - Caribbean Beach

[Michael Hewell]

Dear K8screen:

There was a topic thread on the Keys of the Kingdom tour, but it had been pushed back to page 2. Here's a link to it. I believe I answered all of your questions there. Please let me know if you have any others. If you post a question on its topic, it will 'bump' it back to the top of page 1.

Go to: http://www.intercot.com/boards/Forum6/HTML/001343.html

Dear Goofy's Girl:

Those are not 'crazy' questions, those are 'very important' questions!!

Yes, the tour is 100% W/C accessible. However, they limit the number of guests using them for any one tour. It is important to book the tour as soon as you know which day of your vacation that you would like to take it. So please pre-plan ...

About rest stops? Yes and no. There is a sit-down, restful lunch for the day. And because the entire tour is a backstage experience, you are shuttled in a bus to the off-stage entrance of each attraction. Those 'breaks' on the air-conditioned bus are certainly beneficial.

The longest walks are at Central Shops, because it is a very large place, and the MK portion of the tour. The tunnel system is underneath most of the park, and that is where you are for a lot of that portion.

If this helps you: Although the Backstage Magic Tour is 2 hours longer than Keys, I was always much more tired from the Keys tour. There is no 'shuttle' service for Keys; you walk everywhere and it is go, go, go.

I often worked double shifts at Disney (as do a lot of cast members because of the low pay ...) and I could only work another shift after Keys if I was sitting down at the guest relations window! After Backstage Magic, I could continue all day with no problem! Does that help with your decision?

Regardless of the physical stamina issues, the Backstage Tour is by far the better tour. Again, Keys is excellent, Backstage is even better!

About cameras: 100% of this tour is backstage. They prefer that you not even bring cameras with you. If it makes you feel better: CM's cannot take any photographs backstage either. (Some innocently do of their friends at work, but should not.)


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Michael Hewell
MICHAEL'S VIPS

[This message has been edited by Michael Hewell (edited March 26, 2000).]

[Lacy]

Michael I think you have talked me into taking the Backstage Magic tour! I am very excited about it! However I have just one more question. None of my family thinks that the tour would be worth the $200 for them. So I would have to do the tour alone. Would you recommend taking the tour by myself or would it be a more enjoyable experience with someone else that I know?

Thank you so much for all your wonderful information!

[Michael Hewell]

Dear Lacy:

I think it would be more enjoyable with someone, but most of the tour is you listening to your tour guide and looking at everything. It doesn't take company to do that. The 'average' guest that takes the tour is very friendly and loves the topic, so I wouldn't worry about making new friends.

Everyone usually bonds into a 'family' group anyway on these type tours -- that has been my experience anyway.

For lunch, I suggest that you ask your tour guide if you could dine with them. I'm sure they would love the opportunity.

An idea? If anyone in your family is even thinking about it, offer to personally refund their $200 if they do not love the tour. Although it is easy to put YOUR money where MY mouth is , many guests comment that they would have gladly paid more for the tour. For example, just a few years ago it was $120, and yet they still fill EVERY seat on this tour. Someone must have been listening to their comments ...

I was hoping that someone that took this tour would visit these boards and leave a comment. Anyone out there??



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Michael Hewell
MICHAEL'S VIPS

[Lacy]

Good idea Michael but as a college student I don't have much money to offer to others!!!! However I will still try to use my persuasion because I think they would enjoy the tour, but even if I can't convince them I will still treat myself!

I think that eating lunch with a cast member would be a very enjoyable experience! In Birnbaums it says that you get to paint a cel on the tour is this still true?

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"I only hope that we never lose sight of one thing--that it was all started by a mouse" ºoº

[Michael Hewell]

Lacy,

The painting of the animation cell is what they used to do while at Disney-MGM Studios. That time period was replaced to include the Fantasmic backstage experience. I'm glad to hear that you seem to have decided on the tour. Any chance of you taking advantage of any of the available discounts?



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Michael Hewell
MICHAEL'S VIPS

[disneydave]

I just have to say that I just went on this tour (BM) myself and it was worth EVERY PENNY. I think the comments here are great, and just have a few notes:

I went myself...went to WDW w/ my parents and my aunt and uncle. I had been there twice before, but my family had never been to WDW. Needless to say, I was a little nervous going alone, but it was great! We had a total of 24 people on the tour, including one in a wheelchair. We did everything, and had no problems at all. Of the people on the tour, only about half were Disney nuts like me, and the rest were just there for the experience. Even the one guy who went just because his boss was there and wanted to go (they were in on business) walked off enjoying it.

As far as lunch, I just introduced myself, and we all talked Disney the whole time...everyone is REALLY friendly...remember, you get sprayed w/ pixie dust when you enter WDW.

And finally, I am only 22 and loved it...even though I wish it cost less, using my American Express really helped out, and you get some really REALLY cool souveniors for the money.

Oh yeah, I took my camera and got a photo of where we came onstage, I figured that way I could at least see where they were, and if you want I can scan and show ya where, and also got a photo of myself with our tourguide (Tom) who was great.

In short, GO FOR IT!!!

Have a Disney Day!

Disney Dave

[Wyatt]

Warning! I took this tour with my family, and I was sorry I did. Some things (magic) being one of them, are left better unexplained. I felt it ruined the magic of the experiences. I never again enjoyed experiencing any of the attractions I had been backstage to see. So, just wanted to let you know this opinion.