It sounds cliche until you really see just how stark a contrast there is behind a backstage area and the hustle and bustle of Magic Kingdom. One guest asked him why a man with a masters degree would start out sweeping the streets? Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Disney does not want all the secrets being spilled and ruining future tours or the Disney experience for other visitors. Learn when advance reservations can be made. Walking for hours in the hot Florida sun would make anyone hungry and thirsty. (PS. This and a few other stories of the production of the park and how Walt was able to buy the land made for an interesting walk along MS. One thing that hasnt changed is the elevator in the upper left of the image it takes Cast Members (and Cinderella) right up to Cinderella Castle. He also created the Dr. Finlay character, the hero of a series of stories . I read some reviews by people who loved the tour. Lunch. I cant stress enough how lifeless the park is without the real magic of Walt Disney World the Cast Members. The first one I experienced was Keys to the Kingdom, a half day tour of the Magic Kingdom. The tour takes guests throughout the park, both on-stage (in the park) and off-stage (behind the scenes). Thats the underside of the moat for Cinderella Castle. The gold coloured pin complete with Mickey ears is a nice souvenir to remember the tour. I'll save most of the magic for you, but I've still got a lot of spoiler-free fun to share! Added to these tunnels we spotted the pin shop for cast members, training sessions, costume fitters and even a canteen for weary Poohs and headless Tiggers. This gives people a peek into this world-famous park that they would otherwise never enjoy. Keys to the Kingdom by Garth Nix is a 7 book series by Garth Nix. If you book this tour, does it include admission to the Magic Kingdom? While we previously took a Good evening from the first night of the 2023 EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival! This tour is fantastic. We ended near the side of the castle. Well get into the other reasons as the article continues. The utilidors also feature the ingenious AVAC (Automated Vacuum-Assisted Collection) garbage disposal system, which relies on pneumatic tubes to get rid of the tons of trash generated by park visitors every year. Youll make your way down the parade route next to Splash Mountain as you head backstage for the first time on the tour. Audiobook. of the Magic Kingdom and then goes backstage into utilities and other "off-stage" workshop areas. You will have a guide who will take you around the park pointing out historic or unique facts. The gentleman who took us on this tour was great! As of the date of this article, Keys to the Kingdom costs $99 with . We recently experienced this tour and this review will cover that experience. They started and ended on time. They must also have a valid photo I.D. He also explained how many plain-clothes security guards are posted all through the park to keep an eye on any troublemakers etc. Here are a few things to keep in mind before buying tickets and heading to Florida. keys to the kingdom tour spoilers We were lucky enough the other day to get a booking on the Keys to the Kingdom tour at Magic Kingdom. Disney's Keys to the Kingdom tour is a 5-hour walking tour of the Magic Kingdom, one of the most beloved parks in the Disney family. Below, you can take a look at the full Big Sky season 2 episode 16 synopsis with some more information all about it: "Keys to the Kingdom" - Relationships are put to the test all over town as Jenny senses something is off with Travis; Ren and Jag's suspicions of their father and Alicia grow; and Cassie, Jerrie and Lindor find themselves . We had an 9am tour with Michael and had a blast. 2021 HONDA GL1800 GOLDWING DA-M DCT TOUR LARGE TOP BOX 2,700 MILES Distance from . See the low ceiling that Mickey and Minnie are getting ready to walk under? Heres a look at the area that youll be able to experience. Spoilers ahead (particularly in the first three feats). The only thing to consider is that it did not end exactly at the starting point, but close. The CM must answer, when on-stage, that Tinkerbelle uses fairy dust. He said that despite having a masters degree in marketing and business studies, he used to sweep the roads before becoming a tour guide. You will not be disappointed! Sounds like a fun tour, how much did it set you back again?? Heres how Disney describes the Keys to the Kingdom tour: Unlock the fascinating history ofMagic Kingdom parkand gain backstage access to legendary hidden areas. It is an adults-only experience. Enjoy the tour. Walt Disney supposedly came up with the utilidors when he saw a cast member in a Frontierland costume in Tomorrowland and wanted to keep such out-of-place moments from detracting from the magic of Disney. With Gregory Peck, Thomas Mitchell, Vincent Price, Rose Stradner. The tour is an additional fee on top of your park ticket. This involves going backstage in secret locations, learning everything that makes the most beloved spots in Disney World a reality. I'm also very picky with food but the cast members made every accommodation to sort lunch for me (which is included in the cost). The Duke and Duchess of Sussex . During our 8am time window, we arrived backstage at the parade warehouse with no activity beyond some testing of the new parade floats. However, most travel-savvy individuals would likely advise you against waiting so close to time! They are in fact a series of rooms and walkways in tunnels buried behind the park that transport staff, food, merchandise to all the shops and rides without seeing anyone looking out of place on the on-stage areas. Lunch is included. The Keys of the Kingdom: Directed by John M. Stahl. After Ryan tells Jay about Lisa's plan to honor Nate at the fight, Jay cuts to the chase: "I'm not going to do anything to hurt myself, so you don't have to worry about that.". You order it at the beginning and its ready when you get there. Additionally, you're at the mercy of the temperatures outside as you are not inside much at all during the tour. Thanks. Meet at: Magic Kingdom, City Hall at least 15 minutes before your tour leaves. Hi everyone, I have a short, solo trip planned to WDW and have a single day at the MK. A similar discussion will happen near Pirates of the Caribbean before leaving Adventureland for Frontierland. Why not buy them ahead of time? On the other hand, you should strongly consider going on the Keys to the Kingdom Tour if you are: There are so many captivating aspects of the Keys to the Kingdom tour. Seeing Mickey Mouse putting on his (her) head or watching Tinker Bell being lifted onto a treasure chest via scissor lift is something that we all know happens, but might not want to see. As a huge Disney fanatic, one of the tours that has been on my bucket list for quite some time is the "Disney's Keys to the Kingdom Tour" at Magic Kingdom Park. Particularly essential for Disney Enthusiasts or anyone who has an appreciation for the time and effort they go to maintaining and operating the worlds number one theme park. But do save room in your stomach this tour offers lunch as part of the package. Then you are in for a treat. Price . You cannot take pictures in the backstage areas, but I don't recall restrictions otherwise. Lunch is at Pecos bill's so don't eat there another day. What do you see and learn on the tour? In our case, it was simply a matter of arriving too early before any of the cavalcades began or were even being prepared. Unlike Jungle Cruise where you get a special spiel thanks to your guide taking control of the microphone, the ride on Haunted Mansion is a standard ride. He was born and raised in Canberra . 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Of course, it is important to remember that the souvenir you receive could look different. Credit: Susan. Essentially, the tour begins with a brief introduction to the Five Keys because they will be referenced at various points throughout the tour to describe the reasoning behind certain operational choices or decisions. The utilidors, for those that do not know, they arent an urban legend. Youll gain insight into Walts thought process as he was designing the park, learn fun trivia and little-known facts, discover hidden Mickeys and other often-overlooked details, and more. She asked us if we were on the tour and we said yes. The meeting point was empty, so we rang the bell and a CM promptly appeared. Keep an eye on the weather forecast as well and bring an umbrella or raincoat just in case the heavens open while you are on the tour. He asked us to turn round and look at the hills to the left of the Splash Mountain ride. 7:00 AM to 11:00 PM Eastern Time. Our tour guide was Alexander. I worked as a Disney Imagineer, creating, designing, and constructing the parks, for eight years. Yes, you will be able to get a refund. Our guide Lynn had me welling up before we even stepped off the porch to begin the tour - not only was she lovely and [obviously] very knowledgeable, her personal stories about her love of Disney touched me deeply. There we had personalized place cards with our Keys to the Kingdom pin inside and our lunch was waiting for us at the table. 17,250 Part exchange welcome Nationwide Deliver . The tour does not wait for late arrivals and while it may be possible to join the tour at a later point, its not guaranteed. For me, Disney's Keys to the Kingdom Tour stands out as the highlight of our Walt Disney World vacation last year. What were the hearing devices used for exactly? To learn more about the Five Keys, check out our article below. 1. Walt Disney World's website brands the Keys to the Kingdom tour as "an in-depth, 5-hour look at the most iconic theme park at Walt Disney World Resort.". For The First Time In Forever Can I say something crazy? Our tour guide was Mary Elizabeth, a young woman who was more than knowledgable about Disney World and anything related to it. Our tour begins on Main Street USA and an overview of the guiding principles that are intended to govern Cast Member behavior and company direction: The Five Keys. This summer, my dream finally came true! Not on the tour.) It also includes lunch and other perks. Etc etc. All that said, we felt that the price was fair and while the tour is long, it was worth it. There is a plethora of budget-friendly options that do not involve staying at a Disney World hotel. Heated Seats & Grips, Chrome Accents, Highway Pegs, Rear Bumper, Rack & Spoiler 19,995 . There were 20 of us and our tour started at 9:30. I took the Keys to the Kingdom tour today. We had a nice lunch at Peco Bills included, I love mexican so that was a bonus. Tiny explained to us the on-stage and off-stage rule that all CMs had to abide by. Thats where the tour ended. The Dumbo ride is at all 6 Disney parks, and the opening-day rides at Disneyland are still running. Hey guys I'm new here but I think it's already time for me to start with my own thread for my personal charts. Taste of Magic Kingdom VIP Tour Review (Revamped Routes, New Food, and More). I am trying to decide whether this is the time to do the Keys to the Kingdom tour. Guests taking the Keys to the Kingdom tour must be 16 years of age or older. In a broader sense, there are three things that keys signify: 1 - Keys signify access. I've taken this tour twice now, most recently when my oldest son turned 16 and was old enough to experience it with me. Explore secret locations youve always wondered about and get the inside scoop on some of your favorite attractions. Going back to Tinkerbelle, she is actually is an elementary school teacher who does the TB bit for extra cash strange but true. We entered them in Fantasyland and exited near Town Square Theater. Throughout the tour, our guide continually pointed out how much of the park has all those keys in place. These legendary tunnels run underneath just about every corner of Magic Kingdom and you get to walk quite a bit of the tunnel system (much more than we had expected). Certified Akashic Record Reader & Life Coach. Do not hesitate to book this if you are at all worried. We arrived at the Magic Kingdom parking lot shortly before 7:15am and were held at the Transportation and Ticket Center security checkpoint until shortly before 7:30am. Re: Summer's Keys to the Kingdom Tour Review*SPOILERS*. " And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." -Matthew 16:19. . ENJOY!!! Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. Hi, I highly recommend it! Thus, you can enjoy everything you are learning and experiencing without worrying about how you will fix the rumble in your stomach later! The tour takes guests to backstage areas for a behind-the-scenes look at Magic Kingdom Park. Re: Summer's Keys to the Kingdom Tour Review*SPOILERS*, I have to say this was DEFINITELY the highlight of my trip. Have you hugged a Disney Villain today. Tiny explained that although the CMs arent the best paid they are given great career prospects, degree and further training opportunities, discounts, free tickets, reduced cost accommodation and even great healthcare benefits. Work with me! Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. This is probably a good time to talk a bit about who this tour is for. Previous tour guests received a key pin with mouse ears engraved with the words Disneys Keys to the Kingdom on it. We were lucky enough the other day to get a booking on the Keys to the Kingdom tour at Magic Kingdom. The British Disney Blog is not an official site of The Walt Disney Company or of Universal Studios. The hidden Mickeys throughout the park are just one example of the fascinating features that are revealed on the tour. Last but certainly not least, we come to a world-famous non-secret of Disney World: the utilidors. For example, Annual Passholders currently get 15% off the cost of the tour. The Keys to the Kingdom Tour gives guests a peek behind the curtain into this fascinating world. He was EXCELLENT! All the little details were cool to know and to see behind the scenes was cool too, it was funny watching people watching our group go behind the scenes and wondering where we were going lol! Annual Passholders and Disney Vacation Club Members qualify for a 15% discount. There impression of the tour just wasnt what I experienced although the guide was very good the tour also. Disney's Keys to the Kingdom Tour is held each morning at the Magic Kingdom, with four staggered start times between 8 a.m. and 9:30 am. Our tour ended with a focus on Roy Disney and the hard work that he put into the final months of his life to get Walt Disney World opened to the public. Access the famed underground Utilidor tunnels that allow people and supplies to travel beneath the park unseen. A hat? The Keys to the Kingdom tour at Walt Disney World does just that. When you check in for the tour they will give you a menu, which is diferent from the normal selection from Pecos Bills to choose from. Lunch is included with the tour, and each tour guest receives a commemorative gift. The Pin Shop was quite interesting, its the place where the CMs are handed their pins to swap with guests and any mail orders from guests are undertaken. Tiny showed us the machine that pumps the popcorn scent into Main Street and various other cool features (dont want to spoil all the surprises). I have to say this was DEFINITELY the highlight of my trip, my mother told me that I was on a "Disney High" for the rest of the day after I took it. I would recommend requesting a tour with him, as the other guides did seem more dry in their presenting skills. Earlier in the article, we teased that the Keys to the Kingdom tour reveals the true magic of Walt Disney World. Its cumbersome, but it makes more sense than saying that photos of a Main Street USA window arent allowed during the tour even though hundreds of guests were walking by the same window and the park was already open. How do I get the reservations for the Disney's Keys to The Kingdom Tour. We were in a group of 20 but it all moved at a slow enough pace where Lynn looked for shade and rest appropriately. I don't mind spoliers. As I'm already working on a respect thread over on OBD, this here is just an abridged version of the the best feats. Your guide might cover topics like forced perspective or sightlines to show the care that went into creating Main Street USA. As amazing as the Keys to the Kingdom Tour is, it would not be suitable for everyone. Same-day reservations can be made on a limited basis and are subject to availability. February 21, 2020. What are the "keys of the kingdom" you ask? Content of britishdisneyblog.com is 2010 - 2012. There we had personalized place cards with our Keys to the Kingdom pin inside and our lunch was waiting for us at the table. You are also not allowed to initiate conversations with cast members backstage unless they speak to you. For example, in the Marceline to Magic Kingdom Tour we were able to see the Haunted Mansion ballroom scene like never before. For lunch, we were told that our tour would be going to Pecos Bill Tall TaleInn & Cafe. Website content may not be reproduced in whole or in part without the prior written permission of britishdisneyblog.com. Alison A. Armstrong. 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