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Brought to you by...
John and Donna Gross "The Full Mickey - At a Discount!" The Wall Street Journal
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Brian writes:
Walt Disney World - Off the Beaten Path - Bet you didn't know Disney offered
these
"Why Pay More? Take Advantage of Free Factory Tours."
"The easy-going Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground at Walt Disney World
is home to a new-age Segway tour through the woods." You can also take
a Segway tour at Epcot.
"FOX 35's David Martin goes behind the scenes of the happiest place on earth."
Interesting video of Disney's Keys to the Kingdom behind-the-scenes
tour.
Twisney.com enables others to track you as you make your way through
the Walt Disney World parks! "I thought it would be pretty neat to just take
some pictures while I was there and get those to automatically plot on a
map so that my wife and daughter, who were going to be home for that trip,
could see our progress," Mitchell [the developer] says.
"Hop on a Segway and take The Wilderness Back Trail Adventure... The
wheels on these Segways are bigger, but you can go only 6 mph -- other Segways
hit 12 mph." WDW Tours handles most reservations. Call 407/939-8687. Most tours are limited to those 16 and older. Prices quoted are per person: Around the World at Epcot: Takes place at 7:45, 8:30 and 9:00 AM all week long. Two-hour tour of the World Showcase Lagoon by Segway Human Transporter. Must be at least 16 and weigh between 100 and 250 pounds. Parental consent needed for minors. $85 + park admission. Sign up at Guest Relations at the Main Entrance.
Backstage Magic: 7-hour tour takes visitors
through the tunnels underneath the Magic Kingdom and backstage at Epcot and
Disney's Hollywood Studios. $199 includes lunch. Park admission is not necessary.
Available Monday - Friday.
Behind the Seeds: Daily 10:30 AM - 4:30 PM.
Tour of fish farms and greenhouses at The land Pavilion at Epcot. Adult:
$12; child (3-9): $10. Epcot Seas Aqua Tour: 2 1/2-hour encounter with sea creatures at Epcot's The Seas With Nemo & Friends pavilion. Takes place daily at 12:30 PM. Cost: $100. Price includes gear, refreshments, T-shirt and souvenir photo. No park admission required. Keys to the Kingdom: Available all week at 8:30, 9:00 and 9:30 AM. 5-hour tour of the Magic Kingdom. Includes visit to Production Center and tunnels underneath the park. $60 + park admission. Simply Segway: 11:30 AM daily at Epcot. One hour Segway training. Takes place indoors only. $45 per person + park admission. Sign up at Epcot's Guest Relations. The Magic Behind Our Steam Trains: 7:30 AM. A behind-the-scenes look at how the steam engines work in the Magic Kingdom. Disney takes you where the trains are kept, shows you how the trains are prepared for daily operation, discusses Walt Disney's infatuation with trains, and explains how the trains in the Magic Kingdom were built. Three-hour tour costs $40 + park admission. Monday - Thursday and Saturday. Must be at least 10 years of age to attend.
Mickey's Magical Milestones: 9:00 AM
on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Follow the developments in Mickey's
career through a 2-hour exploration of the Magic Kingdom. $25 + park
admission. Lots of walking! Must be 10 or older.
The Wilderness Back Trail Adventure: 8:30 AM and 11:30 AM on Tuesdays,
Fridays and Saturdays. Two-hour tour of the Fort Wilderness
Campground via the two-wheeled Segway.
$85. Yuletide Fantasy: 3 1/2-hour tour of holiday decorations at theme parks and resorts. Cost: $69. Does not include theme park admission which is not required. Available during the Christmas holiday season. Must be 16 or older. |
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Elizabeth writes: "I will be going to WDW the first week of Dec. and will be staying at All Star Movies....I have booked the Keys to the Kingdom tour for 8:30 AM.....my question is.....I will not be renting a car and am planning on using the buses, will I be able to make it to Magic Kingdom in time for the tour or should I plan on taking a taxi...I was told the buses start running at 7:00AM and that day is also an early opening for MK....You seem to have the best info around...Thanks in advance. P.S. This is my 2nd SOLO trip....I had such a good time last time that I'm doing it again...Thanks for publishing my letter about my last trip." The buses start running one hour before the parks open. So you should have plenty of time. Our readers love letters like yours! Thanks for your kind words.
Safari Tour at Animal Kingdom Lodge: Beth, our travel agent, writes: "There's a new tour at the Animal Kingdom Lodge which started earlier this month and has received very little publicity. It's called the Mnyama Safari (pronounced Wanjama), and it's only available to concierge guests staying a the AKL. You must be 16 or older, and there is a limit of just 8 guests for this one. It's a 1-1/2 hour private tour that recreates an afternoon game drive. You get to spend time with members of the Animal Kingdom team and learn about the history, architecture and animals. (Plenty of photo ops, too!) Following the tour, you get a multi- course meal at Jiko. This is a pre-determined menu which includes wine pairings, and all eight people dine together. You meet an hour and a half prior to sunset for this tour, and the price of $150 per person includes tax and gratuity. You can reserve 90 days in advance by calling 407-938-4755."
Millie writes: "John, We're going to Disney again in January. Do you have any suggestions for the backstage tours? Appreciate your insight and all the newsletters. Thanks." The most popular are the ones that go behind the scenes or, in the case of the Magic Kingdom, under the streets!
Beth, our travel agent, writes: "Everyone knows about the theme parks. Most people know about the water parks, Downtown Disney, and miniature golf. A lot of folks are aware of spa treatments and backstage tours... but there's so much more. If you've been to Disney a few times and want to do something different on your next trip, or you've never been, but want to try something really special then consider these items... Re-Hitching Party Garden Grill at The Land Pavilion (Epcot) If you're celebrating your anniversary, let them know when you make your dining reservations and be sure to ask if the party is available. Preacher Sam and Best Man Mickey will "rehitch" you, then present you with a certificate and a cake. Other diners participate, so it's fun for everyone. Afternoon Tea Gardenview Lounge (Grand Floridian) Daily, 2-4:30 PM. All sorts of yummy "tea" foods and a wide variety of teas are served. The price depends on what you choose to eat. You can go a la carte (items range from $2.75 for pastries to $12.50 for a fruit and cheese platter) or get a package deal (ranging in price from $12.50 to $24.50 per guest). For the youngsters there's Mrs. Pott's Tea, a great little package with sure-to-please snacks and special "tea" (chocolate milk) for $8.50 per child. Yuletide Fantasy Tour Ever wonder just how they manage to transform all of Disney World into a magical, festive wonderland every winter? Well, this is the tour for you! A 3-hour behind the scenes look at how it all happens. You must be at least 16 years old. No theme park ticket is required. The normal cost is $59 per person, but discounts are usually available... Behind the Seeds Green Thumb Emporium - The Land (Epcot) At just $8 per adult, $6 per child, this is one of the few tours that is both very affordable AND open to children. It's a one hour walking tour of The Land greenhouses. You'll learn about the cutting edge growing techniques used there, how helpful insects minimize the need for pesticides, and more. Strollers and wheelchairs are allowed. Pirate Cruise Grand Floridian Monday, Wednesday, Thursday - 9:30-11:30 AM. $28.17 + tax, ages 4-10. Kids dress like pirates and take off across the Seven Seas Lagoon in search of treasure. After their search, they have a snack and divide up their finds. They accept reservations 120 days in advance for this one, and sneakers and socks are required attire. Children's Clubs The deluxe resorts have great children's "clubs" where parents can leave their children for a few hours and go have a few fun hours on their own. (Great way to get a relaxing dinner out!) $8-10 per hour, includes dinner, minimum of two hours, maximum of 4 hours, open 4:30 PM - midnight daily. (Pagers are provided for parents.) Kids must be at least 4 and potty trained. The programs will accept children through age 12. Reservations are advised, but walk-ins may be accepted. Hotels give priority to their own guests. Cancellation is required to avoid penalties, and program details can vary. Most children have a great time at these places so you don't have to feel guilty leaving them, and Disney pays a great deal of attention to security and safety - better than most daycare facilities! The list really goes on and on. For details and reservations, or to find out what else there is to do, call 407-WDW-DINE if you want to eat as part of your experience, or 407-WDW-TOUR if you want to learn something new without eating. (There are a few exceptions to that - like the Keys to the Kingdom Tour includes lunch and it's booked through the Tour folks, but food seems to be the key factor when deciding which number to call in most cases.)"
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Disclaimer: We cannot guarantee the accuracy of information contained on our site. Always check to be sure. The views and opinions expressed by others do not necessarily reflect the views of AffordableDisney.Com. Walt Disney World, Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure, SeaWorld, Busch Gardens and other companies mentioned on our site and in our newsletter are registered trademarks of their respective companies. The use of these trademarks is for editorial reasons only. No endorsement by the Walt Disney Company or any other company is implied. |
