Backstage Magic Tour
The Backstage Magic Tour offered By Disney
They had a few props out for us Disney nerds on the tour! lol
Our guide went over how some animatronics are created, between what type of cover is used to the painting of them. Disney actually created this department in order to keep his employees that worked on movie props under his company. Once done with a movie, they could still be employees for him. This saved his well trained employees from jumping ship and using their skills under competitors.
Backstage Magic Tour review
If you need more information regarding this tour or more,
please contact me at
dealingwithdisney@gmail.com
please contact me at
dealingwithdisney@gmail.com
DO you ever wonder how Disney does it all?
Wonder no more
This 7 hour tour takes you back behind the scenes that keeps Disney running. This tour is also considered an Adventures by Disney Tour.
If you want more information about Adventures by Disney, please email me below!
Wonder no more
This 7 hour tour takes you back behind the scenes that keeps Disney running. This tour is also considered an Adventures by Disney Tour.
If you want more information about Adventures by Disney, please email me below!
The tour is $275.00 per person for ages 12&up
No park ticket required for the tour itself.
It also comes with lunch at Whispering Canyon
Lots and lots of bottled water is available for you throughout tour.
Also cookies! It's like an everything free type cookie..Free of gluten, nuts etc. It was ok. It was edible.
Must wear closed toe shoes.
No park ticket required for the tour itself.
It also comes with lunch at Whispering Canyon
Lots and lots of bottled water is available for you throughout tour.
Also cookies! It's like an everything free type cookie..Free of gluten, nuts etc. It was ok. It was edible.
Must wear closed toe shoes.
You start off in EPCOT, meeting up in front of Guest Services which is to the right of the main entrance gates. They have signs that say' tours meet here'
Tour starts at 9am
Tour starts at 9am
We did arrive about 8am. We grabbed a drink and a donut at a little hut right under the monorail tracks in front of EPCOT's main gates. They offered many choices. They were fresh and yummy. Not crowded at all and fair prices.
We started out on a bus that took us around the back side of EPCOT that I never knew existed. They do such a good job at hiding their operations that, many just don't think about it.
Normally the tour starts at American Adventures (America World showcase) however, during my tour the attraction was under refurbishment so we instead had a back stage look at Test Track.
I now know why this attraction goes down as often as it does. This ride is so computerized that if any little sensor goes off, it can shut down for safety. Just if one seat belt goes off, they have to stop the attraction, pull the car off and load another. We saw the loading zone and garage where they were kept/worked on.
They have so many maintenance check points in place it is crazy but I am so glad they do. Disney definitely puts safety first.
They have so many maintenance check points in place it is crazy but I am so glad they do. Disney definitely puts safety first.
Our next stop was the Costume warehouse.
WOW! just WOW
SO many departments within this warehouse.
From the creation of the patterns, the selections of the fabrics, Embroidery departments, Costume designs, sewing rooms, dry cleaning section and costume prop section. One wall is dedicated in buttons, wardrobe patches and fabric swatches .. SO pretty and I felt like a little kid, wanting to run my hand along every item.
WOW! just WOW
SO many departments within this warehouse.
From the creation of the patterns, the selections of the fabrics, Embroidery departments, Costume designs, sewing rooms, dry cleaning section and costume prop section. One wall is dedicated in buttons, wardrobe patches and fabric swatches .. SO pretty and I felt like a little kid, wanting to run my hand along every item.
Also learned a cool tidbit, all costumes(uniforms-all) have RFID chips. Cast members check out their costumes and can either return them to be dry cleaned or can clean them theirselves. They are checked out to each employee via scanning. Talk about product control.
It was so nice seeing how well they treat their cast members. During our tour, it was their exercise break. The sew room was up and loosening up their bodies to help prevent cramping.
I did get to touch Jack Skellington's jacket!! EEK! Every white line is embroidered. No detail is left out! Every line!!!
When creating princess dresses, they first make a mini version. Every detail is in those mini dresses. This is done so they can see how the many fabrics will lay, feel and go with over all design. They would not let me take it for some reason??? weirdos.
When creating princess dresses, they first make a mini version. Every detail is in those mini dresses. This is done so they can see how the many fabrics will lay, feel and go with over all design. They would not let me take it for some reason??? weirdos.
Next:
Laundry rooms.. I don't mean just rooms but Giant warehouses dedicated to laundry. The one we went to covered all the moderates and Value resorts. Yes, that means there are two of them!
Ok, I will admit, I wasn't crazy about seeing this part of the tour....
But when I realized how streamlined & efficient this center operated, left me in awe.
The laundry gets brought in, separated, bagged(bags have RFID) chips, washed, dried, sheets are ironed(YES, a nice large machine irons all sheets!!!) and folded. Machines do the folding too!!! What-what!!! The bags are numbered and tracked. They bill out to the resorts that receive the items for accounting.
Laundry rooms.. I don't mean just rooms but Giant warehouses dedicated to laundry. The one we went to covered all the moderates and Value resorts. Yes, that means there are two of them!
Ok, I will admit, I wasn't crazy about seeing this part of the tour....
But when I realized how streamlined & efficient this center operated, left me in awe.
The laundry gets brought in, separated, bagged(bags have RFID) chips, washed, dried, sheets are ironed(YES, a nice large machine irons all sheets!!!) and folded. Machines do the folding too!!! What-what!!! The bags are numbered and tracked. They bill out to the resorts that receive the items for accounting.
Disney also has a station of carts with clean linens/towels just held in reserve for cases of emergency such as the hurricanes. They think of everything!
Next stop: Lunch:
Whispering Canyon located at Wilderness Lodge Resort.
It was a set meal the 'all you care to enjoy skillet'
Pork ribs, Pulled pork, roasted chicken, sausage, Mashed yukon potatoes, corn on the cob & Baked beans.
You also get the huge strawberry cobbler. Let me say, it was Yum-MEE
Whispering Canyon located at Wilderness Lodge Resort.
It was a set meal the 'all you care to enjoy skillet'
Pork ribs, Pulled pork, roasted chicken, sausage, Mashed yukon potatoes, corn on the cob & Baked beans.
You also get the huge strawberry cobbler. Let me say, it was Yum-MEE
It was not the normal Whispering Canyon service however. I am sure it was because they were catering to a large group. It felt rushed and waiter seemed slightly stressed.
Next: We went to the mechanical area? I forgot the name (樂)
Basically where parts go that need to be mended!
We saw so many ride components it was so cool! I was a nerd in heaven!
They have multiples of everything so backups are ready to go up should there be a problem!
They had tons of parts belonging to mine carts of the 7 dwarf mine train. They have their welding department, their animatronics department. We weren't really allowed in that area. It was Top Secret. I just knew they had some of the new Star Wars Land items being worked on back there!
Basically where parts go that need to be mended!
We saw so many ride components it was so cool! I was a nerd in heaven!
They have multiples of everything so backups are ready to go up should there be a problem!
They had tons of parts belonging to mine carts of the 7 dwarf mine train. They have their welding department, their animatronics department. We weren't really allowed in that area. It was Top Secret. I just knew they had some of the new Star Wars Land items being worked on back there!
They had a few props out for us Disney nerds on the tour! lol
Our guide went over how some animatronics are created, between what type of cover is used to the painting of them. Disney actually created this department in order to keep his employees that worked on movie props under his company. Once done with a movie, they could still be employees for him. This saved his well trained employees from jumping ship and using their skills under competitors.
From here, we went to Magic Kingdom( bag check and all)
We went through the Utilidoors, to see the underground operations of the Magic Kingdom along with fun facts. I did get a tad bored on this part since I had already experienced the Keys to the Kingdom tour. It was mostly a repeat on this section of the tour but I did hear a few more little fun facts. They separate their trash. From Animal Kingdom, some employees can take the animal poo for their own personal garden as fertilizer. They literally think of everything to make it run as efficient and eco friendly as it can.
We went through the Utilidoors, to see the underground operations of the Magic Kingdom along with fun facts. I did get a tad bored on this part since I had already experienced the Keys to the Kingdom tour. It was mostly a repeat on this section of the tour but I did hear a few more little fun facts. They separate their trash. From Animal Kingdom, some employees can take the animal poo for their own personal garden as fertilizer. They literally think of everything to make it run as efficient and eco friendly as it can.
Over all a very insightful tour.
We did pass a few other Disney centers along the way such as their medical location where employees can see a Dr. on property, bakery locations for some of their famous snacks found on property, sports fields for employee teams, The D store(cast member only store).
We did pass a few other Disney centers along the way such as their medical location where employees can see a Dr. on property, bakery locations for some of their famous snacks found on property, sports fields for employee teams, The D store(cast member only store).
I was amazed at how self sufficient this company truly is. The logistics of it all is incredible. They invest in their employees, in their service, in their products so the guest can have the magic that is sold to them! The entire operations structure is fascinating.
At the end of the tour, we are taken back to EPCOT via our bus (which includes a bathroom)
We could enter the park but we would have to use a ticket for that.
We did this tour on our last day -we drove home afterwards.
We could enter the park but we would have to use a ticket for that.
We did this tour on our last day -we drove home afterwards.
Was sad we could not take pictures during majority of tour. On a positive note, the guides do take some pictures that you obtain from a site with a passcode.
We were also given lanyards on this tour along with a special Disney Pin as a souvenir.
We were also given lanyards on this tour along with a special Disney Pin as a souvenir.
I highly recommend this tour!
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