Welcome, Jenny! No matter how many times I visit the Walt Disney World Resort, I always find new magic awaiting my family and me, and some of that magic can be found in booking a
special tour during our stay. I'm excited to hear that you are looking to do the same!
I had the most amazing tour this past fall at Walt Disney World. Now, it's not a short one, so you'd use your whole day to experience it (no park tickets required), but it was worth every penny and every moment because we saw the parks like never before! The
Backstage Magic Tour is something I'll never forget. Something I've always wanted to do was to experience the utilidors under
Magic Kingdom. This series of tunnels running under the park is used for Cast Members to make their way around the park without ruining the magic by wearing a Tomorrowland costume in Adventureland, for example. That just wouldn't fit. So, Cast Members travel underground. It was so cool to get to see the inner workings of Magic Kingdom in this secret layer!
Over at
Epcot, we went behind the scenes of
The American Adventure. Wow! Who knew that the stage moved the way it does and how amazing the computer programs are that make that show operate the way it does. Pretty spectacular. Getting to go to Central Shops and experience how Cast Members take apart ride vehicles to keep them safe, and even getting some behind the scenes peeks at upcoming attractions there was so cool! I loved seeing the costumers at work in Creative Costuming designing and building the intricate pieces worn by Cast Members not only for the shows and Disney characters, but for all Cast Member costumes as well. What an operation!
Surprisingly, what impressed me the most was the Textile Services facility where the
Disney Resorts send their towels and linens to be cleaned. It was such a well-oiled machine! Dirty towels coming in, the carts themselves going through a "cart wash" while the towels made their way through washers, dryers, mechanical folders, and then stacked into freshly cleaned carts. With bags moving overhead full of dirty laundry, and a really unique system below to step-by-step clean these linens, I have such a greater appreciation when I pull a clean towel off the rack in my Disney Resort room now! However, I see you'll be traveling in June, so if you book that experience then, you'll instead get to visit behind the scenes at
Disney's Animal Kingdom's
Rivers of Light! Oh, what a sight that will be!
My son isn't quite old enough for this tour yet, but the moment he turns 12, I will take him on this tour, as he is so detail oriented and interested in how Disney works behind the scenes, this is something I would love to re-experience, and I know he'll love every moment too!
I hope you choose to experience this magical tour, Jenny! You'll remember it forever!
Marcy