Our guide introduces himself.

On a recent Walt Disney World visit, I was out the door of my resort at 7:00 a.m., not for a meal with Mickey or for an especially ambitious run at rope drop, but rather for the bright-and-early Magic Behind Our Steam Trains tour at the Magic Kingdom. I’ve been making admirable progress on my quest to eventually do everything at Walt Disney World, but this particular tour had been repeatedly pushed to the bottom of my to-do list for years. Two factors finally made it rise to the forefront: first, I was traveling solo and thus had no cranky kids or hubby to complain about the potentially “boring” topic, and second, I was staying at the Bay Lake Tower, which made getting to the tour itself particularly convenient.

First some housekeeping basics and then I’ll give my impressions of the tour.

• What the tour all about? The Magic Behind Our Steam Trains Tour gives in depth information exclusively about the steam trains at Walt Disney World, their history, operations, and maintenance, as well as Walt Disney’s personal experiences with and interest in train travel.
• Who can take the tour? The tour is open to guests ages ten and up. This makes it one of the few backstage experiences that allow children. The official Disney website mentions that children must show photo ID proof of age. The tour I took included a 12 year old boy. He was not asked to show any proof of age. Nor were my 13 year old twins asked to show proof of age when we took the Dolphins in Depth tour a few months ago. In my experience, cast members are much more stringent about asking for official age identification when the required event age is 16 or older. In other words, don’t worry overly much about not having photo ID for a child who is not yet of driver’s license age.

Telling us stories under the Main Street Station.

• How much does this cost? The current price is $49.00 per person. I am a Disney Vacation Club member and thus asked for and received a 15% discount. There may also be tour discounts for annual pass holders, Disney Visa card holders, AAA members, etc. It never hurts to ask. Park admission is required, but not included in the price of the tour. To get into the park for the tour, you will need to use a regular park admission ticket.
• What time is the tour? The tour starts promptly at 7:30 a.m. Guests are asked to arrive 15 minutes early. I mentioned above that I chose to take this tour when I was staying at the Bay Lake Tower (adjacent to the Contemporary resort). Bay Lake is just a 5-10 minute walk away from the Magic Kingdom, thus I would not need to rely on the sometimes sketchy early morning Disney transportation system to get there on time. As a courtesy, Disney allows guests arriving by car to park at the Contemporary rather than at the Transportation and Ticket Center. Have your tour confirmation number in hand if you plan to do this. However, if you’re planning to stay at the Magic Kingdom after the tour, you’re probably better off arriving extra early and just parking at the TTC. It’s considered poor form to leave your car at a resort other than your own for more than the 3-4 hours maximum required for a meal/tour/shopping.

At the roundhouse, Anibal shows us the train.

• Where do you meet? The meeting point is just outside the gates to the Magic Kingdom. There was no specific signage pointing me to the group. I had to ask a cast member.
• How do you make reservations? Reservations must be made over the phone. Online booking is not currently available. Call 407-WDW-TOUR (407-939-8687).
• How many people will be on the tour? The tour limit is 20 guests. The day I experienced it, there were 19 in the group.
• How long does the tour last? It’s about three hours long. This includes one 15-minute break about 2/3 of the way through the tour.
• Are there snacks? The mid-tour bathroom break takes place at the Main Street Chamber of Commerce building. Guests are offered complimentary water bottles and coffee. If you’re starving, there’s a popcorn cart about 10 paces away, but you’ll have to pay for it on your own.

The manufacturer's seal.

• Is photography allowed during the tour? I’ve been on at least half a dozen backstage tours at Walt Disney World. On each of these other tours, cast members and guides were incredibly strict about policing a no-backstage-photos policy. But while both the WDW website and the reservationist on the phone were very clear that no photos could be taken during the behind-the-scenes portion of the tour, I found that this was not the case in practice with the Steam Trains tour. We were asked to put away cameras and phones for about five minutes while we passed a secure backstage cast member park entrance. Otherwise, we were free to take as many pictures as we wanted of the train and associated backstage areas. This was a very pleasant surprise.
• What happens if it rains? The show must go on. At least an hour of the tour is fully outdoors. Plan to dress appropriately.

Panoramic view of the backstage roundhouse.

Now that all the basics are out of the way, here’s what happened on the actual tour.

We were greeted right on time, checked off the reservation list, and provided with a special Magic Behind Our Steam Trains name tag. After being given a rest room opportunity and cautioned that the next bathroom stop would be two hours away, we entered the Magic Kingdom using our park passes.

Up close and personal with the train mechanics.

I should say at this point that I am not a train person. I’m happy to ride trains to get from point A to point B, but I’m not particularly into trains as a hobby or form of study. I am, however, a Disney person – a very well informed Disney geek.

Our guide, Anibal, introduced himself and gave a bit of personal history. He is a Walt Disney World VIP tour guide and Adventures by Disney guide in training. He was extremely animated and personable, and well taught in train basics (at least he gave that impression), but he is not a born and bred train aficionado. My impression was that if you had a deep mechanical background and asked a very specific operational question about the trains, he would not have been able to answer it.

This was the only WDW tour I’ve been on where the guests were not asked at the beginning to introduce themselves and give a basic bio. However, in chatting a bit with my tour mates, my guess is that one third were Disney geeks like me, one third were train geeks, and one third were just along for the ride to keep someone else company.

Inside the engine cab.

Our first stop on the tour was the covered area under the Main Street train station. The guide gave us a brief description of the four trains servicing Walt Disney World, their unique characteristics, and how they were acquired. Anibal had great energy, but nearly everything he was saying could also be learned by simply reading the signage posted there. In fact, I took photos of the signs and read them at home to refresh my memory about what was said on the tour.

We then walked upstairs and boarded one of the trains, on our case it was the Roy O. Disney. We learned some basic protocol about steam whistles and about the jobs of the various train workers such as the conductor and the engineer. Here, and throughout the entire tour, every piece of information was recounted by Anibal, not by any cast member that actually works on or with the train on a daily basis. I’m sure this is because Anibal is trained to interact with guests and the train engineers are trained to, well, do trains. But I have to say that I found this frustrating. Again, I’m not a train person, but I do like to see/hear local flavor. Anibal’s smooth patter was fine, but I think I may have gotten a better sense of what drives someone to train work, or what powers their train passion, if I had actually heard a train worker speak.

We could pose for photos with the train workers, but they did not speak to us as part of the tour.

After a half lap around the park, we got to a rail line spur which allowed us to be backed into the roundhouse. The roundhouse is a large building, just off stage, where the trains are maintained, repaired, and stored during the night. One of the most interesting visual parts for me was seeing that the monorail roundhouse is simply the second floor of the steam train roundhouse. The trains of the past and the trains of the future sleep together. It almost seemed like it could inspire a portion of a Cars film.

At the roundhouse, Anibal took nearly an hour describing parts of the train. I enjoyed seeing the hulking size of the vehicles, smelling the acrid steam, and feeling the heat radiating off the engine, but the actual lesson about which parts of the train do what was sort of lost on me. I took notes that say things like “train swirls fuel,” “inject fuel into firebox,” “little wheels are the pilot wheels,” and “10/6.” I have no idea what those things mean. And even I was taking the notes, I found myself wondering whether the train enthusiasts on the tour either already knew everything or thought the entire experience was too “dumbed down” for their level of knowledge.

The tour's refreshment stop.

Toward the end of the roundhouse portion of the tour, we were allowed to briefly sit inside the train cab and see the various gauges and dials. It was here that I found myself yearning to actually DO something. I wanted to move a lever or blow the whistle. But nope, nothing. Not here, nor anywhere else on the tour were guests able to interact with anyone or anything. It was like a lecture hall on giant, steam-powered wheels.

After the train exploration, we hopped back on board and again went into the onstage area of the park. We disembarked at the Main Street Station and walked over to the Chamber of Commerce for a bathroom and beverage break. We then walked back to the second floor of the station where Anibal used a retro PowerPoint-esque flip chart to describe Walt Disney’s affinity for trains. This focused primarily on his relationship with Roger Broggie and other early Imagineers, as well as the installation of a scale railroad at Walt’s California home. Again in Disney geek mode, I did enjoy these stories, but I had already encounter versions of them earlier both in my general Disney reading and at the Walt Disney Family museum in San Francisco.

The last section of the tour was a flip chart talk about Walt Disney's relationship with trains.

When the tour was over, we were all given Disney trading pins themed to the Magic Behind Our Steam Trains tour.

Over all, I’m glad went on the tour, but it’s not something that I’d want to do a second time. (Conversely, I’d be happy to take the Backstage Magic tour a second or third time.) And I’m glad that I didn’t take this with my three teenage daughters. They would have been itching to move at a much faster pace.

The Disney history discussed on the tour is available in other places, and the mechanics of the train itself simply wasn’t particularly impactful for me personally. I also found myself wondering whether true train lovers would have been bored because of possible oversimplification of the engine operation or because of too much emphasis on the Disney history.

If you are interested in Disney and trains, but don’t want to take the full tour, you may want to head over to the Iron Spike Room in the lobby of the Wilderness Lodge Villas building. Two of Walt’s home train cars are displayed there, as well as other photos and train memorabilia. And as I mentioned, the signage posted under the Main Street Station gives a wealth of information. Also, you may be able to hunt down a library copy of the excellent book, Walt Disney’s Railroad Story.

So fellow travelers, have you taken the Magic Behind Our Steam Trains tour? How did you feel about it. Is this something that you would consider taking in the future? Are you a train person, or a Disney person, or both? Let us know in the comments below.

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Have you done the Walk in Walt’s Disneyland Footsteps Tour? Actually the real question is: have you done it since September 9, 2012? Because it changed! For the better! If you haven’t, you may wonder if it’s right for you. I think it’s a great tour, and the answer is probably a resounding, “Yes, it is right for you!” In my opinion, it’s great even for frequent Disneyland visitors. So here are some details that may help you decide. Keep in mind that all of these details are subject to change. The price could change, attractions could change, yada yada yada. There, we got that out of the way. Read on!

1. When to Book? – You can book this tour 30 days in advance at 8 a.m. Pacific Time by calling 714-781-TOUR (8687). The question is: should you book it that early? And the answer is probably yes. This is a very popular tour these days, and it actually does sell out. So when you are sure you want to do it, book it. If you’re not sure of your plans, on the other hand, don’t book it! It’s non-refundable, and you pay when you book!

2. How Much Moolah? – The price for this tour changed in September when the tour, itself, changed. It’s now $109 a person. The good news is that there are some discounts! Disneyland Annual Passholders, DVC Members, AAA Members, and Disney Visa Cardholders all get a discount that takes the cost down to $87.20. You will also need your own admission into Disneyland for the day.

3. When is the tour? – The tour is currently offered every day! That’s good news if you’re only there for a short stay! It’s offered at 9:30 every morning and lasts about 3 hours, sometimes a little longer.

4. Can I hear? – Are you worried it will be hard to walk around a busy theme park in a group of people and hear what the tour guide is saying? Don’t be. Each guest is given a headset to hear what the guide is saying. The guide also uses the headsets for some audio bonuses. Try not getting goose bumps when the guide plays Walt’s Disneyland opening day speech. And walking through the park hearing music and other spiels from attractions is a great touch.

5. What Will I Hear? – I’ve heard this referred to as a “storytelling tour,” and, in my experience, that is very accurate. Our guide told us so many stories about Walt, I really felt like I was seeing the park from his eyes. I’d heard some of the stories before, but others amazed me. At one point in my recent tour, another guest was near our group and heard one of the stories. She, like several of us on the tour, was wiping away tears from her eyes at the end. She quickly declared she was taking the tour on her next visit. Good choice, random park guest!

6. Do I Get to Go in Club 33? – Yes! Well, kind of! You get to go into the lobby of Club 33. Even the lobby is beautiful. We heard stories about Club 33 and then we were given some time to take pictures in the elevator. I also had time to check in to Club 33 on Facebook and impress all my friends. More value for my tour dollar right there!

7. What’s the Highlight? – This is an easy one. The highlight of the new version of the tour is a visit to Walt’s original apartment in Town Square. The opportunities for the average guests to get into this piece of history are few and far between. Well, here’s your chance. The tour now includes a stop in the hallowed apartment. Guests aren’t allowed to take any pictures of their own, although the tour guide will take one picture of each guest with the guest’s camera.

8. Isn’t 3 Hours a Long Time To Go at Disneyland Without Food? – Um. Yes. So at the end of the tour you are rewarded with your very own lunch! At the beginning of the tour, guests are given a menu with choices, and they place their order. Typically there are sandwiches and salads with chips or fruit on the side. You can also pick a dessert, and the choices are usually a Mickey Chocolate Caramel Tart, Mickey Sugar Cookie, or a Matterhorn Macaroon. Sodas are also included. The food is prepared by the Jolly Holiday Bakery.

9. Isn’t 3 Hours a Long Time to Not Go On Any Rides at Disneyland? – Yes again! Maybe that’s why you do get to enjoy some rides on this tour. Typically you will get to ride Peter Pan’s Flight and it’s a small world and take a trip on the Disneyland Railroad. Anyone who has seen the line at Peter Pan on a busy day knows what a benefit bypassing the line on that one can be!

10. Are There Any Other Extras? – There sure are! At the end of the tour you are given a really neat souvenir pin. The pin depicts the famous lamp from Walt’s apartment, a collectible by any stretch of the imagination. Rumor has it that there is also another special gift that will come in the mail a few weeks after the tour. It’s a surprise!

Have you done the new tour? Do you have any questions about it? Share with us!

10 Questions You May Have About the Walk in Walt’s Footsteps Tour is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.

I hugged a dolphin at Epcot. And you can too!

My family of frequent Walt Disney World visitors is always looking for new Disney activities. We were excited when my twin daughters recently turned 13 and thus became old enough for the entire family to experience the Dolphins in Depth tour at Epcot together. During the tour we got to go backstage, enter the giant Living Seas aquarium, and get some quality bonding time in with a real live dolphin.

Our first stop was the meeting area outside the gates of Epcot. We were greeted by two cast members who gave us a little welcome speech and had us sign boilerplate waivers. We introduced ourselves and met the other guests on the tour. There is a limit of eight guests per Dolphins in Depth experience. Our group included my family of five plus a mother and her two adult schoolteacher daughters. This made for a very manageable experience.

We also were told that we could not take any photos backstage (thus the lack of photos in this article) and that, for the safety of the aquarium sea life, we must remove any and all jewelry before embarking on the tour.

First page of the waiver for children.

This “remove all jewelry” thing almost ended up being a deal breaker for my family. We were happy to remove our necklaces, earrings, and watches. But I simply could not remove my wedding ring due to pesky post-pregnancy weight gain. (Um, yes, my “babies” are 13. Don’t judge.) I told the cast members that I hadn’t been able to take off the ring for years and demonstrated that the ring was absolutely not going to fall off into the tank. I was asked to try again inside using soap and conditioner as a lubricant. The fact that even with soap, I couldn’t get the ring off seemed to upset the staff. I had to suggest taping the ring around my finger as an added measure of protection. This seemed to satisfy them, but it really should not have been such a challenging scene. I can’t believe that I was the first person to take this tour who couldn’t get a ring off. This would not be the tour to take if you have other jewelry or piercings that cannot be removed or securely taped. If, for example, you’ve recently had your ears pierced and can’t take the studs out for several weeks, you should not sign up for this tour.

Once the formalities were covered, we were ushered into a backstage hallway where we learned about dolphin anatomy and had the opportunity to ask questions about the experience. I’ve been on half a dozen other backstage tours. While most do encourage guest interaction, I have to say the small size of this tour group made for a particularly personalized experience. It was very much like a conversation with the Epcot cast rather than a lecture. We felt free to ask questions at every point.

After the anatomy lesson, we entered a workroom the back of the aquarium tank. This was our first view of the actual dolphins. They were held in a gated area, about the size of large backyard swimming pool, off the main tank. We learned that there are four dolphins at Epcot and that they each have their own personalities and proclivities.

My first impression: These guys are BIG, much larger than I had expected.

After this introduction and a short video about how the dolphins are trained, we were lead into locker rooms. There are, obviously, separate locker rooms for men and women. We were instructed to take off all jewelry and hair accessories and leave them in a locker with our valuables, cameras, etc. We then gave the locker keys to a cast member who subsequently put those keys into a lock box. I felt confident that my gear was secure.

Still in our street clothing, we had a very brief stop at a catwalk-like area over the main tank. We got to see here how much water the dolphins really had to move in when they’re given room to roam.

We then went into the main on-stage Living Seas exhibit. I was a bit frustrated since we had just been told to leave our cameras behind, but we were in an on-stage zone where photography is allowed. Grrrr. Anyway, we had a reserved, front row, spot for the public dolphin training session. Here, and in many subsequent comments, we learned that there is no right or wrong in dolphin behavior. They make their own choices. Sometimes they perform as planned, other times they do not, and both situations are perfectly OK.

Following the public show, we went back into the locker room to change for the water experience. Cast members had placed a name tag on a second locker for each guest. In the locker was a wetsuit and water slippers. We had earlier told the cast members what our shoe size was, but no one asked about other sizes. They had just guessed about what would fit.

We had a few minutes to use the facilities and change. There are about half a dozen private changing areas with curtains within the main locker room, so if you’re more comfortable with a bit of privacy, that’s an option.

The women in the other family in our group had worn their swimsuits to Epcot under their clothing, so they just had to take off a layer and put on the wetsuits. My girls and I had to undress, put on swimsuits and then put the wetsuits over this. This was all easier said than done in the short amount of time allotted. The wetsuits were tight and we needed to help each other quite a bit to get things zipped in the proper places. If I had to do this again, I’d start with the swimsuits already on.

More housekeeping: My girls and I all have fairly long hair. Anyone with chin-length hair or longer is required to have it pulled back when they’re in the tank. However, you can only use special biodegradable hair ties provided by Disney to do this. In my opinion, these ties are quite flimsy. If you have very long or very thick hair, ask for two or three of the special ties.

Then it was time for the tank. Each of the two families in our group had our own guide. We were led into a small dock-like area at the top of the main tank. This put us in the water about waist high.

We had more instruction and demonstrations about dolphin behavior, and then the trainer called a dolphin over to meet us. My family interacted with Calvin. First we were allowed to pet him in a specific way. I had never done anything like this before so and found it to be quite a moving experience. I won’t spoil everything, but I will say that we spent about 30-40 minutes actually in the water with the dolphins. We learned some of their commands, got to touch them several times, and had the opportunity to ask dozens of questions.

During the dolphin interaction, each guest on the tour has the opportunity to have a photo taken. Since my family had five members on the tour, we were allowed five photos. Instead of each taking individual shots, we opted for three solo shots of the girls. For my photo, I chose to have a picture of the the girls together with the dolphin. And my husband opted to have a shot taken with the entire family with the dolphin.

We were given printouts of the photos as we left. I have to say that the print quality was not super spectacular. They prints were slightly grainy and the redeye in the photos had haphazard touch-ups. But I suppose when you’re posing with a capricious 500 pound mammal, you can’t really complain.

After the water experience, we went back to the locker room to change. There are showers available, but not a lot of time. We did opt to rinse off for a second. Shampoo and body wash are provided in wall mounted dispensers. You should plan to bring your own hairbrush and whatever else you’ll need to facilitate a quick clean up.

The parting swag for the trip was a lightweight drawstring backpack. We ended up using these to corral our wet swimsuits, but I wish we had been provided (or had known to bring) a plastic bag for this purpose.

Back in clothing, we went to a classroom where we learned more about ecological impacts on dolphin habitats and filled out program evaluations.

At the end, we were ushered back outside the gates of Epcot. To get back inside the park, you have to go through the ticket turnstiles.

The question you are no doubt asking now is, “Is it worth it?” As usual, the answer is, “It depends.” For my family, this certainly was worth it. We had never done any marine mammal interaction before and my daughters had never been backstage at Epcot, so those aspects of the event were thrilling for them. My often cranky husband LOVED interacting with the dolphin, and if he’s happy, I’m happy. However, if you’ve done other dolphin interaction while on a cruise or if you’re planning to have dolphin experiences at SeaWorld, the fairly steep pricing of this may give you pause. You may want to do a bit of comparison shopping before taking the plunge.

Here are the details you need to plan your tour

• Age requirement: All guests must be at least 13 years old.
• Cost: The current price is $194.00 per person. As Disney Vacation Club members, we received a 15% discount. ALWAYS ask about discounts when booking any Disney tour.
• When is it offered: M-F at 9:45 a.m. We initially tried to book this tour for Christmas Day, but it was not offered then. Holidays may be blocked out.
• Maximum party size: This tour can only accommodate 8 people per day.
• To book: Call 407-WDW-TOUR (407-939-8687)
• Theme park tickets are not required.

So folks, have you done the Dolphins in Depth tour? What did you think? Is this something you have on your bucket list? What questions do you have about the experience? Let us know in the comments below.

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The Yuletide Fantasy Tour is about holiday traditions around the world with a little bit of Disney holiday traditions sprinkled in. It is open to guests age 16 and older and is only available select days in November and December. In 2012 it is offered Monday through Saturday at 9am from November 26 to December 29. There are a few exceptions to this schedule: the tour is not offered on 11/30, 12/1, or 12/25. This review is based on the 2011 tour, so some changes may have occurred for the 2012 season.

Like the Holiday D-Lights tour, Yuletide Fantasy is a multi-park tour offered by the Disney Institute. Since separate park admission is not required, Disney Institute tours usually have higher prices than single park tours such as Keys to the Kingdom.

At $84 (without discounts or tax) for 3.5 hours, the Yuletide Fantasy tour may look like a losing proposition compared with other tour options. For example, the 4.5-5 hour UnDISCOVERed Future World tour is only $54.

When reviewing tours, I place a lot of emphasis on value: not just the cost of the tour or the use of a ticket day, but what you receive in exchange for forfeiting precious vacation hours. As I set out for my Yuletide Fantasy Tour, I kept that in mind since a 9am tour means giving up valuable early morning park time.

Our group met outside Guest Relations to the far right of Epcot’s turnstiles. By the time 9am rolled around, all 34 folks in my group had arrived, signed in, and received name badges. Then we were off to the tour bus. In addition to providing a welcomed seat between stops, the bus also served as our locker.

Holiday Traditions Around World Showcase

Since there were 34 of us, we had two guides. We divided into two groups and split up during the stops. This meant each guide only had 17 people, which was much nicer than when I’ve been in a group of 32 with one guide on other tours. Both guides were enthusiastic about the holidays and thrilled to have the opportunity to lead this limited seasonal tour.

Our first stop was the Germany Pavilion. We entered through a backstage gate and stepped out into a deserted World Showcase. When I booked the tour, the phone agent assured me there was no difference in content between the 9am tour and the 1pm tour. [Note: the 1pm option is not available in 2012.] For me, there is all the difference in the world between going on a tour when a park is closed and when it is open. Even if a later option is available, do the 9am tour.

Since the World Showcase doesn’t open until 11am, there were still Disney maintenance crews and custodians sprucing everything up at 9:15. We were allowed to take photos onstage as long as we didn’t take any photos of the workers, vehicles, etc.

Here our guide told us about the origins of the Christmas tree and other traditions that started in Germany. We also visited the Christmas shop, Die Weihnachts Ecke, and discussed the questionable history of the pickle ornament. Afterwards, we stopped outside the miniature village and train set on the the way to the Italy Pavilion.

Shimenawa, traditional New Year's decorations of rice straw rope, grace the doorways in the Japan Pavilion.

In Italy, we learned about the witch, La Befana. This and several of the other stories we heard on the tour overlap with the tales told by the Holiday Storytellers in World Showcase. Having heard all the Holiday Storytellers before, I found that the guide elaborated on their stories rather than repeating them.

Other tales we heard that relate to the Epcot Storytellers were the history of Hanukkah and Kwanzaa in the American Pavilion, as well as the story of the daruma dolls in Japan. Our tour group included a couple from Japan, who validated the guide’s explanation of the daruma dolls. This was really a special moment for our group and the guide, who had never had a Japanese guest take the tour with him before. The couple also identified the shimenawas, rice straw ropes, that are the Japan Pavilion’s only holiday decorations.

After we finished up the four countries (Germany, Italy, USA, and Japan), we exited backstage near Japan to our awaiting coach.

Magic Kingdom

Crowds for the Christmas Day Parade taping filled the Magic Kingdom

On our way to the Magic Kingdom, our lead guide confessed that he wasn’t sure what we were going to see or if we were going to be able to do the tour as usual. I took the tour the morning of the taping of Disney’s Christmas Day Parade in the Magic Kingdom. Organized chaos is definitely the appropriate description for what we witnessed.

We made our way into Town Square and circled around the parade crowds to the bathrooms next to Guest Relations. After a quick break, we all huddled outside the Chamber of Commerce to learn about why fruit and candy canes are used in the decorations in early 20th-century Town Square.

Next, we made our way through the parade taping hubbub and through the gift shops (which were being blocked off to guests) to little alley on the right-side of Main Street. Here we learned how the story of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer was created and handed out at Montgomery Ward.

It was a very heartwarming story – which of course I went home and looked up on Snopes. Totally false. This is just one example of how many stories on Disney tours are just that – stories: part fact, part legend. I understand many of the cultural tales we heard during the World Showcase portion of the tour may have many variations, but I sort of expected the information about Rudolph to be accurate seeing as how it is relatively recent history. My discovery didn’t devalue my experience on the tour, but my heart feel a little colder.

The whole time at Magic Kingdom, we kept hearing the parade taping crew shouting over megaphones at the crowd. They were trying to keep everyone pumped up and excited for the cameras. This sometimes drowned out our guide, but it really added to tour experience. Personally, I would never bother to go to the park during the taping on my own, so it was fun to be able to march through all the blocked off area as part of an official group.

Grand Floridian

Next we visited the Grand Floridian, the crown jewel of Walt Disney World’s resort holiday displays. The Grand Floridian not only boasts one of the nine giant trees on property, but it is also home to the famous gingerbread house (which, in true Disney fashion, doubles as a gift shop).

Here we had 15 minutes to check out the decorations at our leisure. It was pretty busy in the lobby, and I was very glad I had already visited before to get photos of the gingerbread house without mobs of people in front of it. I used up most of my 15 minutes lying on the ground waiting for people to move away from the tree.

As we boarded the bus, our driver handed out Mickey-shaped holiday crisped rice treats. I heard a few guests wondering why we didn’t receive gingerbread like what is sold from the gingerbread house. I’ll tell you why – it tastes stale! I know some people like it, but I was delighted that we didn’t receive chocolate-covered shingles.

Holiday Services

Our last stop was definitely the most anticipated – backstage at Holiday Services.

The Holiday Services warehouse is located on the north end of property in the same area as Central Shops (seen on the Backstage Magic Tour) and Event and Decorating Support (seen on Holiday D-Lights). I’ve never seen the HGTV Disney Christmas special, but it is my understanding this is the warehouse they visit on that show.

For a warehouse, it is pretty magical. Rows upon rows of decor are labeled with resort names. Trees and wreaths are stored whole, complete with wired-on ornaments and lights. There is an aisle of buckets filled with every size, shape, and color of LED lights. There are endless open bins of theme-specific ornaments. They even have shelves dedicated to gallons of glitter representing every shade in the rainbow!

We got to walk through the main storage area and workstations. We also spoke with a few of the 26 Cast Members who work on Christmas year-round. They go one by one through previous years’ decorations, inspecting them for necessary updates: worn ornaments, damaged bows, etc.

This was hands down my favorite stop. I could write whole essays on what we learned at Holiday Services, but I want to save some for you discover yourself on the tour.

After leaving Holiday Services, our bus dropped us back off near our meeting location in front of Epcot. On our way out, the guide handed us each a commemorative tour pin. These holiday tour pins change yearly, so the 2011 edition was limited to those guests going on Yuletide Fantasy that season. The 2012 tour will feature a different pin.

All in all, the tour was fantastic. I had low expectations based on some previous reviews and was certain it was overpriced at $84. However, as we were saying our farewells, all I could think about was how much I wanted to do it again next year.

Yuletide Fantasy was the perfect way to get in the holiday spirit. It really made me stop and admire the beauty of Walt Disney World this time of year. Learning about the various customs and legends from the World Showcase countries increased my appreciation for all the thought that goes into the decorations. Visiting backstage emphasized all the hard work and organization it takes to pull it all off.

Was it worth it? Absolutely. As I’m writing this, my desire to retake the tour has only increased. It may not be the cheapest per-hour tour, but it would be a perfect addition for anyone taking a trip to the World during the holiday season. If I had to chose between this and the Holiday D-Lights tour, I would pick Yuletide Fantasy every time.

Yuletide Fantasy Tour Tips

1. Book early. Holiday tours should be available for booking by late June. Book online or by calling (407) WDW-TOUR (407-939-8687).
2. Ask about discounts: AAA Members, DVC Members, and Annual Passholders receive 15% off. Disney VISA Cardholders receive 20% when paying with their cards.
3. Take the 9am tour. It’s worth getting up a little earlier to see an empty World Showcase.
4. Bring a camera. Do I need to repeat myself? Empty World Showcase!
5. Bring weather-appropriate clothing, Disney tours go on rain or shine. There aren’t too many hurricanes in December to cause a cancellation.
6. If you’re planning on making a Epcot lunch ADR, don’t make until 1pm or later. The 9am tour finished up around 12:30.

Have you tried the Yuletide Fantasy tour?  Do you plan on trying it out? Let us know what you think!

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As much as I absolutely ADORE the Disney theme parks and the Disney Cruise Line, if I were forced to swear upon a cup of Dole Whip, I might have to confess that my favorite part of the Disney Destinations family is now Adventures by Disney. In 2009, I went to Costa Rica with AbD. In 2010, I sent my parents and oldest daughter to Ireland with AbD. In 2011, I saw several European countries with the combined Barcelona Escape and Mediterranean Magic AbD trips. As you’re reading this, I’m off on the AbD Quest for the West to Yellowstone and environs. Next month, I’ll be on an AbD Germany excursion. And in 2013, I’ll being seeing China and Hong Kong with Adventures by Disney.

Um, can you tell I’m hooked?

The view from my hotel bed in Costa Rica.

To date, Touring Plans has not had much coverage of the Adventures by Disney part of Disney travel. And frankly, we’re not sure if Touring Plans readers are interested, so this is little test post. I’m here to answer some of the basic questions about AbD. If you want more, let us know. Or if this seems too far afield from your regularly scheduled Disney parks planning, let us know that too.

And now, on with the show …

What exactly is Adventures by Disney?

AbD is luxury group touring to destinations around the world, with Disney-trained guides. The key words in that sentence are “luxury,” “group,” and “Disney-trained.” Currently there are trips to destinations North, Central, and South America; Asia; Africa; Australia; and Europe.

Why did you take your first trip?

We wanted to show our children more of the world. As much as we love visiting Walt Disney World (my 12-year-old twins have been more than 20 times), we also understand that Epcot’s France is not the same as the real France. (Ahhh, would that it were so.)

Aren’t the trips kind of expensive?

The lobby of our hotel in Barcelona

It depends on your perspective. Are these trips big ticket items? Generally, yes. It might be possible to cobble together similar itineraries on your own for less money.

However, when you consider that you’re staying in the poshest hotels in town, have access to activities not available to the general public, have front-of-the-line access to activities that are available to the general public, and have the expertise of experienced guides, those are value-added items that are worth paying extra for.

What sorts of activities do you do during the trip?

It varies by destination, but generally there is a mix of culture/educational experiences (museums, historical sites), culinary experiences (cooking lessons, farm tours), physical activity (hikes, rafting, biking), hands-on art activities (pottery painting, native crafts), animal encounters (meeting pandas, searching for sloths), and unscheduled relaxation.

I’ve looked at the itinerary for a trip I’m interested in. Most of it sounds great, but I’m concerned about one of the activities. Do I have to do everything on the trip?

There are often alternatives for the more strenuous activities. For example, the guests on my Costa Rica trip included a 70+ year old couple and their teenage granddaughter. The girl wanted to zipline, but the grandparents had medical contraindications. The teen was able to zip with the kids, while her grandparents were able to take a gentle stroll through a butterfly garden. If there are just one or two things that have you worried, it may be worth speaking to an AbD representative to see if there are easy alternatives.

Is it weird traveling with a group?

Kids make fast friends on AbD trips

I have to say that this was my number one biggest fear before embarking on my first Adventures by Disney trip. I mean, what if I’ve paid all this money and then I’m stuck hanging out with a bunch of jerks for a week. Won’t that ruin my family vacation?

The first thing to remember is that everyone else is in the same boat (possibly literally). They’ve all also paid big bucks for the trip and they don’t want their vacation ruined either. This basically means all participants are on their best behavior. The AbD trips typically include 25-40 guests (40 is the maximum). This is small enough so that you can have a chance to chat with everyone if you want to, but large enough so that if someone is not your cup of tea, you don’t have to spend much time with them.

While initially reticent about group travel, I’ve now come to enjoy meeting new folks almost as much the trip itself. I’ve maintained friendships with several of my former trip mates.

Also, an unanticipated perk of the group is that there are often other kids for your kids to hang out with. My daughters have found similarly-aged children to bond with during all our AbD vacations. So, much like on a cruise, they’re occupied with their friends, as well as with you. This gives mom and dad a little bonus grown-up time. Yes!

The group situation is also particularly good for families with just one child, or for families with children with a wide age disparity. You’re on a family trip, but the youngsters don’t feel completely deprived of peer companionship. I’ve also had several single parents on my AbD trips. The group situation allows some time for them to relax, either alone or with other adults, while their children are happily engaged with the other kids.

I don’t have kids. Will I be overwhelmed by them on an AbD trip?

My Mom learns perfect pour technique on the Guiness factory tour during the AbD Ireland trip

There are adults-only AbD vacations, if that’s what you’re looking for. However, on all my AdD trips there have been childless couples or small groups of friends that seemed to be having a great time. There are age minimums for the AbD trips, which means that there won’t be tiny babies crying or anything like that.

What are the guides like?

They are perfect. Really.

I sound like a commercial, I know. But you should also know that I’m more than willing to call Disney out when something isn’t working. The AbD guides are often the creme de la creme of regular parks staff (in the off season, my Mediterranean Magic trip guides work in Guest Relations and Entertainment at the Magic Kingdom), so they’re well versed in Disney attitude and service, plus they also receive oodles of specialized AbD training. But the best part of all is that they’re real people and will adjust their behavior according to the circumstances. If you tell them that you want to sleep on the bus, they’ll leave you alone. They’ll act like grown-ups around the grown-ups and like kids around the kids. They’ll make all your vacation problems go away, you’ll never see them sweat, and they’ll find you the best cocktail in town at the end of the day. If I had an AbD guide in my real life, I could rule the world.

How are the hotels you stay at?

They’re fantastic. All the hotel names are published on the AbD website, so you can go check them out for yourself on TripAdvisor. The AbD hotels are almost always in the top five or ten for the region. In Costa Rica, our hotel had panoramic windows so that while lying in bed we gazed out at a garden of hibiscus and the Arenal volcano beyond – truly breathtaking.

What’s the food situation like?

Rafting in Costa Rica

It really depends on where you are. There are always some basic items for fussy kids, or adults. For example, something like plain pasta will likely be an option in much of Europe. But in many cases you’re dining in local establishments, eating local food. You’ll nearly always have a choice, but it might be a choice between two or three items rather than dozens. Some special diets can be accommodated on most trips. I’ve had vegetarians on my trips who found plenty to eat. And on my Mediterranean trip, a gluten sensitive guest was provided with gluten-free dough during our pizza-making activity. I have found the quality of the food to be good to excellent during all my AbD travels, including one of the best buffet-style meals of my life at the Fairmont Monte Carlo. However, if you’re a seriously picky eater or you have severe allergies, you’re going to want to ask a lot of questions before booking.

Do you feel like you’re missing something by not dealing directly with the locals?

Maybe. However, many of the trips do have a fair amount of down time built into the schedule where you can go off and explore on your own. Check the individual itineraries for specifics.

On the other hand, I have to be honest and say that I’m happy to forgo some aspects of local color. For example, the AbD folks do lots of research and know where there are clean, American-style toilets at nearly every excursion venue. ‘Nuff said.

Is the trip complicated to arrange?

Watching the street artists in Florence

Not at all. Depending on your destination, you can do it all with just one phone call and one form. And really, that’s the beauty of it. If I had to plan at trip to visit Barcelona, Monte Carlo, Eze, Rome, Florence, Naples, and Majorca, including hotels, transportation, meals, and site visits, I might have spent weeks on the phone and online doing research, making bookings, confirming bookings, and problem solving en route. With AbD, the whole thing was done in less than an hour.

What happens if something goes wrong during your trip?

On each of my trips, there have been guests impacted by minor illness. Disney has access to qualified local doctors and hospitals at every destination.

For other types of trip irritations, the guides have the power to problem-solve on the fly. For example, one of my Costa Rica guides told us that on a previous trip a local transportation accident (not involving the AbD guests) forced them to be stuck on a bus for four unanticipated hours. This type of thing could happen to anyone during travel (it has happened to me on the Jersey Turnpike several times), but the AbD guides walked to a local farm stand and got fruit and water for everyone. They pulled out a ball and frisbee from the back of the bus and turned a disaster into an impromptu countryside picnic.

Of course you should make sure that your own medical insurance is up to date and that you have access to information about your own prescriptions and other medical needs.

Personally, I’d also recommend trip insurance for an expenditure as large as an AbD trip. My own Mediterranean AbD trip return home was delayed by several days due to Hurricane Irene. Our trip insurance covered the hotel, meal, taxi, and personal care costs we encountered because of the delay. You should read the fine print of any policy carefully, but it’s certainly worth looking into.

Are there any other cool perks of AbD travel?

Some of the dessert offerings during our Monte Carlo lunch

There are all sorts of lovely details about AbD travel. We got AdD backpacks and Disney trading pins. Our guides had Purell for us before every meal and often mints afterward. They bought us fun paper fans when we had a long walk in 90+ degree heat. And they’re always at the ready with bandaids, Tylenol, and duct tape.

The AbD guides are also taking photos at every stop. It’s like having your own personal PhotoPass photographer with you for the whole vacation. I LOVE that I’m actually in my trip pictures. And yes, the CD is included.

Repeat customers may even be eligible for free round trip limo service to and from their home to the airport. Promotions may vary, but you should be sure to ask.

What do you like most about AbD trips?

When I was discussing AbD with Touring Plans fearless leader Len Testa, he mentioned that he’d be reticent to take an AbD trip because he’s a control freak (his words, not mine) and wouldn’t want to leave planning his trip to someone else.

In my mind, Len’s objection is AbD’s biggest selling point. As a busy mom, all I do all day, every day, is plan things. I plan meals and carpools and entertainment and education for my family. And in my down time, I plan Walt Disney World vacations for other guests on the Walt Disney World Moms Panel. I love my family and I love helping Disney guests, but once in a while a girl needs a break, ya know. On an AbD trip, I don’t plan anything; I don’t schedule anything; I don’t cook anything; I don’t drive anyone anywhere; I’m not even plotting out how to get my next FASTPASS. Someone else is taking care of all that. For me, it’s the only time I get a REAL vacation.

So what’s the downside?

Watching a sheep herding demonstration in Ireland

Well, the trips aren’t cheap. And you may have some personal interests in a particular area that can’t be accommodated due to the tour schedule. For example, when you go to the Louvre with AbD, you’re there with a guide for a specific amount of time. You can’t really linger for hours over one stunning Monet.

There may be portions of the trip that are outside your comfort zone. My admittedly prissy daughter was reluctant to take the Ireland trip because of a moderate biking component. She powered through and ended up loving it, but you may have to endure one or two activities that aren’t exactly your speed.

So Citizen of the world, now that you’ve gotten a taste of AbD, are you interested in learning more? Would you like trip reports on my Adventures this summer? Are you interested in periodic posts as I plan my AbD trip to China? Do you have any other general AbD questions? (By the way, “no” is an acceptable answer to all of this.) We’d really appreciate feedback in the comments below. Thanks!

Adventures by Disney, Basic Questions Answered is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.

To wrap up our Free Tour Series, we’re back at the Animal Kingdom Villas. That’s right, Kidani Village is home to two free tours! In addition to the Sanaa Cultural Tour, they also offer African-Inspired, Disney-Designed.

The afternoon I took the African-Inspired, Disney-Designed tour, it was just me and a family of four. However, we had three Cultural Representatives leading the tour. The primary Cultural Representative, a young man from South Africa, was training two new tour guides from other areas of the resort. The combination of multiple tour guides, new trainees and fairly strong accents made it very difficult for me to hear/understand all of the information presented on the tour. I’m confident that a normal tour with one guide would be easier to follow, but I still recommend standing as close to the guide as possible to make sure you don’t miss anything.

Each quote painted throughout the resort is accompanied by bronze butterflies.

We all meet in front of a tour sign outside Johari Treasures, the gift shop inside the Kidani Village lobby.  ”Johari” means jewel in Swahili. The tall, arched lobby windows overlooking the savanna form the center jewel of Kidani, which is Swahili for necklace. For those paying attention, the meaning of Kidani was also discussed on the Sanaa Cultural Tour. These two tours have a fair amount of overlapping information.

After quick introductions, we headed outside to the Animal Kingdom Villas lobby entrance, which serves as the beginning of the resort’s story. If you have ever visited Kidani Village, you may have noticed the various proverbs painted on the walls. Outside the lobby, is the opening proverb from Ghana, “Proverbs are like butterflies, some are caught, some fly away.” This quote explains why all of the proverbs throughout the resort are accompanied by little bronze butterflies.

Lost-wax cast bronze clock

From there, we reentered the lobby to continue the story. Just like Animal Kingdom Lodge, Animal Kingdom Villas is inspired by many different African cultures. The lost-wax cast Asante Clock that greets guests in the lobby was made in Cameroon. Our Cultural Representatives pointed out several other pieces of art and thematic details in the lobby before we moved on to the library.

The Kidani library features several more African artifacts, including photographs of Cameroon architecture. The signature piece, however, is not actually African. Next to the fireplace, hangs two large robe tapestries embroidered with the names of the Animal Kingdom Villas Founding DVC Members. It is a nice tribute to all those families who bought into the resort before it opened in 2009. These Founding Members also received personal plaques with a framed beaded necklace, paying homage to the name Kidani.

Next, we traveled downstairs to visit the resort’s only restaurant, Sanaa. This portion of the tour was essentially an abbreviated version of the Sanaa Cultural Tour without at any food. I would think there are enough to details in Sanaa that the two tours wouldn’t need to repeat, but I guess most guests don’t take the time to do both. If you are interested in both tours, I will mention that it is not really possible to do them back to back on the same day. While the Sanaa Cultural Tour starts at 4 p.m., you would probably have to skip out on the bread sampler at the end (the best part!) to catch the African-Inspired, Disney-Designed tour up in the lobby at 4:30 p.m.

Kidani Village Lobby

After Sanaa, the tour wrapped up with a trip out to the savanna. The outdoor savanna overlook area at Kidani Village is much smaller than the one at Jambo House. However, you are on the same level as the animals and the it feels more intimate than over at the Lodge. Plus, they lure the animals towards the overlook right around the time the tour ends, so they can be viewed by dinner guests when Sanaa opens. Every time I’ve been on the overlook around 4-5pm, there have been plenty of zebras, giraffes, wildebeests and various birds close by.

Despite the difficulties in hearing the guides on the day of my tour, African-Inspired, Disney-Designed is a fun tour for folks interested in Disney themeing. The Animal Kingdom resorts are my favorite with their combination of beautiful design and African wildlife. If I had to pick just one of the Kidani Village tours, I would recommend the Sanaa Cultural Tour simply because you get to sample some of the cuisine. However, if you already have plans to dine at Sanaa, taking the African-Inspired tour beforehand would make for a lovely evening.

The African-Inspired, Disney-Designed tour is currently offered at 4:30 p.m. daily. No reservations are accepted, and all you need to do to attend is show up at tour sign outside the Johari Treasures gift shop in the Kidani Village lobby .  The tour is open to all ages and lasts 20 minutes.   As resort activities can change monthly, check the Resort Activites Calendar or call (407) 938-3000 to confirm the tour schedule.

Missed the first four installments of the Free Tour Series? You can check them out here.

Have you tried the African-Inspired, Disney-Designed Tour?  Do you plan on trying it out on your next trip? Let us know what you think!

Free Tour Series: African-Inspired, Disney-Designed is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.

This year’s Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival is in full swing, and the park has never looked more gorgeous. What better way could there be to explore all the amazing displays and learn what it takes to put on this signature event than with a tour? Thankfully, the Gardens of the World Tour lets guests do just that!

Offered only during the Festival, Gardens of the World offers guests a unique opportunity to explore Epcot along with members of Disney’s Horticulture group. As the team responsible for bringing Epcot into bloom, the Horticulture tour guides are the perfect folks to share the ins and outs of maintaining the park’s landscaping during the Festival and throughout the year.

Periwinkle Fairy, from the upcoming The Secret of the Wings, debuts as a topiary at the 2012 Flower and Garden Festival.

While I attended last year’s Flower & Garden Festival, this was my first time taking the two tours offered. The previously reviewed English Tea Garden Tour was a fun, free way to enjoy the Festival’s offerings. However, that quick tour is no match for the amount of information and access provided on Gardens of the World.

To start, tour guests met outside Epcot at Guest Relations at 9am. If you take this or any other tour, make sure you are early. For the first time in almost 20 tours, I was late. Somehow after arriving one minute late, it took over 15 minutes to finally catch up with the group. If you are ever late for a tour, immediately go to Guest Relations. Provided your tour allows late arrivals (some don’t), Guest Relations will find a Cast Member to escort you to meet up with the group.

By the time we found my group, they had already received name tags, pins, discussed the main entrance Fantasia topiaries, and made their way behind Spaceship Earth. Things were moving fast. I was handed a name tag and a headset. Almost all the paid tours use headsets to allow guests to hear despite their proximity to the guide and the volume of the crowds in the park. My tour had 21 guests, so I was very glad I could still keep up with what was being said despite trailing the group.

Guests can interact with butterflies and view cocoons in Bambi's Butterfly House.

At the point I joined, the group was learning about how the giant peacock topiary behind Spaceship Earth had to be lowered earlier that week because it didn’t flow with the surrounding flower beds, which are supposed to represent the bird’s tail feathers. This was one of the examples of how Disney is constantly evaluating and updating displays throughout the Festival. Another example was the sand sculpture highlighting the new Chimpanzee nature film, which will be completely rebuilt several times throughout the festival as the sand is eroded.

From there we made our way through Future World East into the For The Birds and Pixie Hollow gardens. Much of our tour was spent learning about the details in to the special displays throughout the park. Even though I had visited Epcot during Flower & Garden before, I never realized just how many displays there are. I counted at least seven on the tour, not including the country-specific landscaping throughout World Showcase. This tour did a fantastic job of encouraging us to really explore all the beauty the Festival has to offer.

Next, we learned about the creation of the flower berms and floating baskets in the waterway leading up to World Showcase. We also visited Bambi’s Butterfly Garden, my favorite Flower & Garden Festival staple. Then we walked by the rose gardens and the sand sculpture before making our way into World Showcase.

While there was plenty to see in Future World, World Showcase took up the bulk of this 3 hour tour. Starting from Mexico, we visited each and every pavilion. We even got to enter the Showcase before it opened to regular guests. I’m a big proponent of taking early tours that allow for a private park experience. I spent as much time taking photos of empty pavilions as I did learning about horticulture.

Prince Philip and Princess Aurora waltz outside the France Pavilion.

One thing I didn’t realize until this tour, is that many of the flowers and displays for the festival are donated from outside parties, as well as other departments within Disney. Mexico’s orchids are provided by Animal Kingdom, which features orchids in its Oasis area. Many of the Mexico orchids are kept in pots and will go back to Animal Kingdom at the end of the Festival. The orchids that have been sewn into the palm trees will stay and may bloom a few more times before being removed.

Similarly, the Japan pavilion features a gorgeous display of bonsai trees. Each has been donated by a private owner to Disney. Our guide indicated that due to the delicate nature of bonsais, making sure these were returned in great condition is one of the most stressful tasks for the horticulture team.

Our group also learned about the process of creating topiaries for the festival versus building permanent topiaries elsewhere on property. If you have visited Topiary Production on the Backstage Magic tour, this part of the tour will be very redundant. I spent this part of the tour searching for the even the smallest sliver of shade. Fortunately, the headset let me stand far off without missing out on what the guides were saying.

Commemorative Gardens of the World Tour Pin

Which reminds me: WEAR SUNSCREEN!!! I wore SPF 75 and still ended up with a terrible sunburn from this tour. Three hours of standing in direct sun is no joke. I spent much of the tour standing at a distance to be in the shade and even walked off at one point to get water. As a native Floridian, this was my first time getting a serious sunburn at Disney. If I were taking this tour again, I’d carry an umbrella to block the sun. Bringing a water bottle would be a wise idea as well. If it’s this bad in March, May is going to be brutal.

In the France Pavilion, we learned about how Disney constructs the hanging plant baskets. One of our guides works on the indoor plants at Magic Kingdom, including the hanging baskets in Crystal Palace. It never occurred to me how much work goes into choosing and maintaining the arrangements. Did you know that each of Epcot’s hanging baskets weighs up to 60 pounds? The larger the arrangement, the less likely it will dry out between daily waterings.

2012 Epcot Flower & Garden Festival Poster

We wrapped up in Canada. After learning about the irrigation system used for the trees on Canada’s “mountain”, we got to go backstage to view the pavilion from the other side. While this backstage portion of the tour was very short, it was fantastic to see how the mountain is constructed with deep planters and a pipe-system for the water. Here we each received a copy of the 2012 Flower & Garden Festival poster in a large tube. These posters cost $19.95 at the Festival Center, so it was really a nice surprise for tour guests.

Aside from being preoccupied with potential dehydration and sun-poisoning, I learned a lot from this tour. Most of the guests were avid gardeners, many taking notes on the specific plants used throughout Epcot. We each received a card with contact information for the Horticulture group should we have any follow up questions. Both of our guides were excellent and clearly passionate about their jobs.

If you are even the slightest bit inclined to learn more about gardening techniques and the process for pulling off the Flower & Garden Festival, I definitely recommend this tour for you. Bring some water, wear sunscreen and walking shoes, carry an umbrella, and you’ll have a good time.

If listening to questions about mulching techniques isn’t up your alley, you might want to reconsider. I’m not a gardener, and (sun aside) I had a reasonably good time. However, if I were facing time or budget constraints, I would skip the tour and just enjoy the beauty of the festival on my own. If you want to experience more Epcot but aren’t into plants, the UnDISCOVERed Future World tour is a good alternative. If you want to focus on Flower & Garden but want less of a commitment, try the English Garden Tea Tour. Just be sure to go late in the day to avoid heat exhaustion!

The Gardens of the World tour is currently offered Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays at 9am through May 20, 2012. It costs $60 and requires separate park admission. Guests must be at least 16 years old to take the tour. A 15% discount is offered for AAA Members, Annual Passholders, and DVC Members. Disney VISA Cardholders are eligible for a 20% discount when booking with their Disney VISA. To book, call (407) WDW-TOUR (407-939-8687).

Have you tried the Gardens of the World tour?  Do you plan on trying it out on your next trip? Let us know what you think!

Gardens of the World Tour Review is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.

Sanaa Podium

Our forth installment of the Free Tour Series takes us back into the resorts and into yet another restaurant. Thanks to the Sanaa Cultural Tour, I recently discovered what is quickly becoming one of my favorite places to dine on property. This quick 20 minute tour takes guests through the lone table service restaurant at the Animal Kingdom Villas and ends with a tasty treat. (That’s right, more free food!)

First, if you’re not familiar with the Animal Kingdom Lodge and Animal Kingdom Villas area, it’s important to note that each go by a different name. The Lodge building is called Jambo House, whereas the Villas reside at Kidani Village. Whether you are driving or using Disney transportation to get to the resort, you will want to stop at Kidani Village for this tour.

Sanaa Dining Area

If you drive and choose to self-park, it can be a very long walk from where the parking lot elevator takes you to the central lobby area. Fortunately, you’re walking indoors with glimpses out on to Kidani’s savannas, but make sure you remember which elevator you used so you can find your car again. I won’t say that I lost my car when I did this tour, but I will say that I took the scenic route to find it.

Sanaa is located below the check-in area in the center of Kidani Village. When I checked in at the podium for the 4pm tour, I was the only only guest. The Cultural Representative leading the tour, a young woman from Botswana, waited 10 more minutes to see if anyone else would be joining us. No one did, and the woman seemed a bit surprised that I was there. I guess not many folks take advantage of the tour.

Window overlooking the savanna

Since I had a private tour, the Cultural Representative took her time and was very patient with my taking photos. If you haven’t been, Sanaa is gorgeous. Aesthetically, it is my favorite restaurant on property. “Sanaa” means artwork in Swahili, and the place is covered with a diverse collection of beautiful pieces. The walls are adorned with a items from various African cultures so as to evoke a trading market atmosphere. Beads and necklaces are prominently featured and are a nod to the word “Kidani”, which is Swahili for necklace.

The Representative led me around the intimate dining area explaining the cultural significance of each of the African pieces. She even pointed out a Hidden Mickey as well as Sanaa’s own Pride Rock. Given the small size of the restaurant, I was amazed at how many different design elements had been incorporated. Everything was beautiful, though I did question the logic of displaying beaded loin cloths directly behind the heads of eating guests. My guide laughed, and said she often thought the same thing.

The canopy is made from ship sails in this boat-inspired room.

We finished up in the bar area, which is now on my lists of places to return. Even at 4 in the afternoon, the bar was cozy and inviting. Here the Cultural Representative turned me over to one of Sanaa’s chefs. The chef came out and explained how they use tandoori ovens to make naan bread as well as slow cook their meats. He also brought out a sample of their Indian-style Bread Service appetizer, including fresh naan and three different dipping sauces. Since it was only me on the tour, I had the whole thing to myself. Fortunately, I quickly made friends with two ladies at the bar who were more than happy to help me polish off the food.

If you order this appetizer in the restaurant, you get to choose from a selection of nine sauces. On the day of my tour, they gave me the cucumber raita, mango chutney and something green that I still don’t know what it was. I happened to come back for dinner with a group, and we had two orders of the bread service. Rather than having us pick six sauces, the waiter brought us all nine options. This was fabulous, and I highly recommend doing the same if you find yourself with enough people to share.

Indian Style Bread Service Appetizer

Overall, the tour was short and sweet. Even taking my time time to eat and chat with my new friends, I was out of there in 30 minutes. I’m sure with a larger tour group asking questions, it could take longer. If you do go, I highly recommend asking your Cultural Representative about their home country and experiences. My guide was a busy handling a guest conundrum at the end of my tour, so we didn’t talk much. However, I have chatted up the Cultural Representatives over at Jambo House, and they all were very happy to share.

The Sanaa Cultural Tour is a great respite away from the parks. If you are staying over in the Animal Kingdom area or just want an excuse to come check out the gorgeous resort and savanna, a free tour is just the ticket. A great trip would be following this tour with a drink at the bar or an early dinner at Sanaa. Either way, be sure to check out the animals on the savanna viewable through the windows before the sun goes down.

Tribal Drums

On the other hand, if you want to see Jambo House, try the previously reviewed Culinary Tour of Boma and Jiko. That tour offers a glimpse into two restaurants, but I don’t consider either half as beautiful as Sanaa. Then again, you get double the samples – so it’s a toss up! You really can’t go wrong with either tour.

The Sanaa Cultural Tour is currently offered at 4 p.m. daily. No reservations are accepted, and all you need to do to attend is show up at the Sanaa podium in the Animal Kingdom Villas.  The tour is open to all ages and lasts 20 minutes.   As resort activities can change monthly, check the Resort Activites Calendar or call (407) 938-3000 to confirm the tour schedule.

Have you tried the Animal Kingdom Villas Sanaa Cultural Tour?  Do you plan on trying it out on your next trip? Let us know what you think!

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The Tea Caddy Shop

For the third installment of our Free Tour Series, we’re heading out of the resorts and into the parks. The Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival brings us two seasonal tours each spring – and one of them is *gasp* free! (The other is the popular Gardens of the World tour, which we will be reviewing soon.)

Now through the end of the festival on May 20, guests can embark on free 20-minute English Tea Garden Tour hosted by Twinings in the United Kingdom Pavilion. Having missed this tour during previous years, I was antsy to check it out the first week of this year’s festival.

First off, thank goodness I tried for the first tour time of the day. When I arrived Saturday just before the start of the 2pm tour, I was very dismayed to learn that it was already full. Full! I’ve never had this issue for the free resort tours, but this one has a lot more press and traffic thanks to the popularity of the Flower & Garden Festival.

Entrance to the English Tea Garden

Tip One: If you really want to catch the English Tea Garden Tour, sign up early! Tour sign up is inside The Tea Caddy shop in the UK Pavilion just across from the Yorkshire County Fish Shop. You must be signed up in advance to participate, and guests can only sign up for that day’s tours. There are 20 spaces per tour, and you can sign up as soon as World Showcase opens at 11am. Your whole party doesn’t need to be there to sign up.

Fortunately, I was able to snag one of the last spaces available for the 4pm tour. The Tea Caddy Cast Member took down my name and handed me a small laminated ticket for the 4pm tour. This ticket does not come back into play until the end of your tour, so hold on tight!

Left with 2 hours of free time, but too dang hot to walk anywhere, I decided to hang out in the Tea Garden anyway and take photos. As I hung during the early tour group, I noticed two things. One, it was really too bright for photos. And two, the folks in the tour group looked miserable and visibly sweaty. Which brings me to….

English Tea Garden Tour Group

Tip Two: Don’t take the 2pm tour! It is just too hot! Unless you happen to visit Epcot on an unseasonably cool day, opt for the 4pm or 6:30pm tours. By 4pm the Garden was shady and perfectly comfortable. Come late April or May however, you might want to stick with the 6:30pm tour. The 2pm tour is only offered Friday-Sunday anyways to accommodate weekend crowds.

Once 4pm came around, I checked in with the tour guide on the backside of The Tea Caddy shop in the English Tea Garden. All 20 guests were there, which makes for a crowded tour in such a small area. Many non-ticketed guests wandered by and were dishearten to find out the tour required prior sign up. The guide did nothing to shoo away these hangers-on, but most left when they realized how crowded it was.

Our tour began with an introduction to the Twinings of London tea company, which sponsors both the tour and The Tea Caddy shop. The tour is a bit like an extended commercial for Twinings, which was disappointing at first. However, I quickly gained new respect for the company and the tour when I learned that it had been in business for 306 years and made many unique contributions to how we enjoy tea today. For instance, Thomas Twining created my personal favorite, Earl Grey Tea, for Charles Grey, the Second Earl Grey.

Earl Grey Tea Cup

The rest tour of consisted of working our way around the garden, stopping in front of each of the giant tea cup planters. The first planter had Camellia Sinensis, the plant which most teas are made from. Black, white, green, and oolong teas all come from this one plant. The remaining 12 planters on the tour were each designed to showcase a different tea blend offered by Twinings.  If you’ve already visited in previous years, it’s worth noting that 5 of the tea blends featured are new to the garden in 2012.

At the end of the tour, we handed the guide our laminated tickets in exchange for a couple of tea packets. Cast Members also offered us fresh-made samples of two of their cold brew teas. These samples were made available to anyone in the shop after the tour ended, so I got to try all four varieties by hanging around for the 2pm & 4pm tours. I was very tempted to purchase some of the Lady Grey variety, which was super refreshing after standing I’d been standing in the sun all afternoon.

Overall, it was cute tour that gave me an opportunity to experience the Flower & Garden Festival beyond the landscaping.  I wouldn’t recommend it for first time guests or for those with limited time at Epcot. Since you need to go early to sign up and then come back later for the tour, it can definitely be a bit of a time suck if you were not already planning to be in that area. Also, it may not be the best choice for kids who may get bored standing around listening to the history of tea.

China Oolong Tea Cup

However, if you are looking for something new to experience at this year’s festival, the English Garden Tea Tour is a great choice. Not only is it free, but it gives you a new appreciation for one of the world’s most popular beverages. And if you’re a fan of British accents, this is a sure way get your fill since the tour is lead by international Cast Members. Just be sure to sign up early for one of the later tour slots and stay in the shade!

The Twinings Tea Garden Tour is only offered only during the Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival (this year’s dates are March 7 to May 20, 2012). Monday through Thursday, tours are held at 4pm and 6:30pm. Friday through Sunday, tours are held at 2pm, 4pm and 6:30pm. You must register in advance on the day of your tour in The Tea Caddy shop in the UK Pavilion. The tour is open to all ages and lasts 20-30 minutes.

Have you tried the Twinings Tea Garden Tour?  Do you plan on trying it out on your next trip? Let us know what you think!

Free Tour Series: Twinings Tea Garden Tour at Epcot is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.

Boma Restaurant at Animal Kingdom Lodge

For the second installment of our Free Tour Series, I want to share with you my experiences on the Culinary Tour at Animal Kingdom Lodge. Like the Wonders of the Wilderness Lodge tour, the Lodge’s Culinary Tour is a true hidden gem.  While this free tour is short on time and trivia, it involves food samples from both of the resort’s table service restaurants, Boma and Jiko. You heard me – free food! (Now, do I have your attention?)

Animal Kingdom Lodge and Animal Kingdom Villas have what I consider to be the best Activity Calendar of all Disney’s resorts. The Culinary Tour is just one of the many free activities available to guests, but is by far the most delicious.

The Culinary Tour is a 30-minute tour of the Boma and Jiko restaurants with a few food samples thrown in. You do not need to be a resort guest to enjoy this tour, all guests are welcome. I have done this tour twice as a non-resort guest. Most recently, I did the tour solo just to make sure it was still up to snuff. And by “up to snuff”, I mean I wanted to make sure they were still handing out free food. (Priorities.)

Buffet at Boma

My tour group consisted of five other adults, several of whom had not yet dined at either restaurant. One of Boma’s Cultural Representatives greeted us at the restaurant podium right at 4pm.  Cultural Representatives are Cast Members who’ve come from Africa to work at Walt Disney World for a year.   The play a variety of roles at the resort, including working in the restaurants, serving as Savanna Guides or leading the many available resort activities.

Our Boma Cultural Representative was a young woman from South Africa.  She took us on a short tour of the dining area, explaining the story behind the decor. Boma is Swahili for “enclosure,” which is represented by the wooden walls used to section out the seating area and set the tone for the restaurant. Even though I had taken the tour before, I learned new things by taking it with a different Cultural Representative.

Zebra Dome at Boma

During the tour, the Boma staff are getting ready for the buffet to open at 4:30pm. Our Cultural Representative led us through the buffet line explaining the African influences of the various dishes. For anyone who is hesitant to try out Boma because it’s “too exotic,” I highly recommend taking this tour just to see first hand what they have to offer. Even the wilder sounding dishes turn out to be made of common ingredients in American cuisine. For example, the previously labeled “Zanzibar Katoga Soup” has been changed to “Zanzibar Crab Soup” since I took the tour in May 2011. Same soup, clearer label. (I’m sure those suffering from shellfish allergies are thankful.)

Speaking of the Zanzibar Whatever Soup, one of my Boma favorites, I got to try some on the tour! For our first sample, we choose one of the four soups that had been set out for dinner. The soup options depend on what is ready at the time of the tour, but we had the choice of the Zanzibar Crab, Chicken Corn Porridge, Lentil and Sausage, or Butternut Squash (which is sweet like pumpkin pie filling). The first time I took this tour, we ended up staying for an impromptu dinner at Boma just because of the soup samples. I channel the voice of Len Testa when I say “fabulous!”

Jiko Restaurant at Animal Kingdom Lodge

To wrap up the Boma portion, we each received one of the famous Zebra Domes from the dessert station. If you’re not familiar, Zebra Domes consist of an Amarula cream filling sitting on a thin chocolate cake base.  It is coated in white chocolate ganache, the bottom covered in tiny chocolate squares, and the top striped with dark chocolate.  Amarula, an African fruit liqueur, gives it a vauge alcoholic coffee taste.  I’m not a fan of anything with liqueur, but they certainly have a cult following.

Next, we met a Jiko Cultural Representative from Zimbabwe. She gave us a quick tour of the bar and main dining area, pointing out a Hidden Mickeys as well as the tributes to African culture. The Jiko portion of the tour was considerably shorter because we did not spend anytime discussing the food options since guests can read a menu, unlike for the buffet-style Boma.

Jiko, The Cooking Place, gets it’s name from the open view cooking area in the middle of the restaurant. Here, the six of us split two orders of the Tastes of Africa appetizer. This consisted of a trio of breads (papadum, whole wheat lavosh & flaxseed naan) and four hummus-style spreads of varying spiciness. While we ate, the Cultural Representative answered guests’ questions about the restaurant and her experiences working so far from home. I never felt rushed, but we were all done by the time they started seating dinner guests at 4:30pm.

Jiko is home to one of the largest Hidden Mickeys on property.

All in all, I definitely recommend the Culinary Tour at Animal Kingdom Lodge.  It is a great opportunity to add a low key activity your day.  If you are staying elsewhere and looking to resort hop, I’d recommend paring the tour with an early meal at Jiko or Boma.  If you don’t mind eating early, you could probably get away without having an Advanced Dining Reservation and waiting to pick your restaurant based on the tour. Both will normally have space available right when they open at 4:30pm. You can also check out The Mara, the resort’s quick service option which has a few unique flatbreads and African inspired dishes in addition to standard quick service fare.

While you’re over at the Animal Kingdom Lodge, make sure to also check out the variety of African animals on the savannas outside the lobby.  Savanna guides are out there most of the time to answer guests’ questions about the wildlife.   Plus, if you linger long enough, they offer night vision animal viewing each evening at after dark past the pool on the far end of the resort.

Taste of Africa Appetizer at Jiko

However, I would not recommend going out of your way for this tour – particularly if you are relying on Disney transportation.  As fun as I thought it was, it is not worth dragging your kids out of the park and taking a bus over to taste soup.  Your kids may very well enjoy the tour, but the only children I’ve seen on it had to be taken away after 10 minutes because they were bored. Like most tours, the Culinary Tour is best for folks who have been to Disney a lot and are looking for a new experience. For those guests staying at the Animal Kingdom Lodge or Animal Kingdom Villas, it is a good way to make the most of your visit.

The Culinary Tour is currently offered at 4 p.m. daily. No reservations are accepted, and all you need to do to attend is show up at the Boma podium in Animal Kingdom Lodge.  The tour is open to all ages and lasts 30 minutes.   As resort activities can change monthly, check the Resort Activites Calendar or call (407) 938-3000 to confirm the tour schedule.

Have you tried the Animal Kingdom Lodge Culinary Tour?  Do you plan on trying it out on your next trip? Let us know what you think!

Free Tour Series: Culinary Tour at Animal Kingdom Lodge is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.