2 days ago
I got into the secret areas of Disney World – including hidden underground tunnels and going on rides without queuing
As a Disney parks super fan, there is one thing I've had on my list for years – The Keys to the Kingdom Tour.
This five-hour walking tour through the Magic Kingdom in Orlando is a chance for guests to go behind the scenes on rides, learn secrets about the park, deep-dive into the history and even get the chance to visit the famous 'utilidors' – the backstage tunnels that run under the park.
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I've been lucky enough to have been visiting Walt Disney World since I was eight and my fascination with Disney and other theme parks has continued to grow.
The Magic Kingdom Park opened in 1971, just four years after the death of Walt Disney and was completed by his older brother, Roy.
There is so much magic and mystery surrounding the park and fans love to speculate on how things are run behind the scenes.
I had an Orlando trip planned with my family this July and, of course, this included a three-day Disney trip.
As I had a big birthday this year, I decided to treat myself to the tour which costs between $149-$169 (£109.92-£124.67) per person, plus tax and separate admission is required.
Bookings are made using the chat function on the My Disney Experience app.
You must be at least 16-years-old to join the tour, presumably so that small children don't have nightmares after seeing Mickey Mouse without his head.
My tour began at 8am which also meant 'rope dropping' the park - aka being one of the first to enter – always an exciting way to start the day.
Our group met at Town Square Theatre, just steps away from the main gate.
We collected name badges, a listening device and as many bottles of water as we could carry to stay hydrated in the Florida heat. We also selected our lunch which is included.
Lunch was at the New England-themed Columbian Harbour House in Liberty Town Square, so it had to be a lobster roll for me.
Our tour guide, Scott, was a joy to listen to. It was clear from the moment he greeted us that he truly loves the parks and all things Disney.
Originally from Boston, Scott explained that he started his Disney career at a young age and originally worked on the famous Jungle Cruise ride as a 'skipper' – the team members who steer the boats and regale guests with many jokes along the way.
Scott left Orlando and completed a theatre degree but was once again drawn back to the magic and has worked for Disney ever since.
We started off our tour in Main Street USA, which is known as the 'opening credits' to the park.
Scott pointed out all the fun nods to some of the contributors to the park, such as designers and artists, displayed as proprietors in the Main Street shop windows.
Things that most guests would walk by without a second thought all have meaning in the Magic Kingdom and Scott explained how every last detail has been thought out – from the positioning of the trees to the colour of the pavements - even the smells.
Walt Disney once used the term 'weenie' to describe things to pull the attention of guests – Cinderella's Castle being the main 'weenie' to get you down Main Street.
Just like a dog would follow a hot dog weenie.
Our first chance to go 'backstage' just off main street didn't disappoint.
Here we saw where all the parade vehicles are stored and maintained.
We couldn't learn about Disney World without tackling some of the rides.
Our group was treated to a private tour on the iconic Jungle Cruise with Scott stepping back into his skipper shoes and giving us some intel on the attraction.
We learned how deep the water really is and why it's the colour of rust (shhh it's to hide the shallow depth and underwater animatronics).
We also learned the fun story of how the ride came to be.
Although it's now famous for its corny jokes, originally the ride was a lot more factual until Walt Disney himself stepped in.
He noticed on the original Disney Land version in California that guests were all queuing for one boat in particular.
It turned out that the 'skipper' on board would tell loads of jokes mixed in with the facts and the guests loved it.
So, jokes were added to the script and that's the version that made its way to Orlando.
We also stopped by the classic Haunted Mansion, where Scott told us how many of the 'ghost' effects are achieved and then we were allowed to bypass the queue and take a ride ourselves, looking out for some telltale signs we'd learned.
As a proper theme park geek, I had some questions that Scott was more than happy to answer.
I'd heard a rumour about families scattering loved ones' ashes on the Haunted Mansion ride to ensure they become one of the 'happy haunts' of the attraction.
Scott confirmed that this is 100 per cent true and is a huge headache for the cast members when it happens – usually about once a month.
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"The whole ride needs to be shut down and decontaminated.
"There are cameras everywhere and we see everything so please don't do it," he said.
The highlight of the tour for most of us was getting to go into the famous utilidors.
These are secret tunnels that run under the Magic Kingdom and are some of the world's largest utility corridors.
They allow employees to travel quickly around the park without being seen by guests, so they don't ruin the illusion – this is especially important for costumed characters.
It was particularly cool to catch a glimpse of the costume room, where every costume in all Disney parks across the world are made to ensure consistency.
So, if you ever see Tiana in Disneyland Paris or Hong Kong Disneyland, know that her outfit was made in Orlando, directly beneath the Magic Kingdom.
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Being in the famous tunnels was amazing and Scott gave us a fantastic history tour of the tunnels and the park itself, including the creation of Disney Land in California, Walt's death and the history of the company – it even got a bit emotional at some points.
At the end of the tour there was a chance to ask any last minute questions and we were all presented with a lovely golden key badge to mark the occasion.
For big Disney fans like me, this tour is a must.
I just wish I had done it sooner.
Holidays to Disney World are also expected to be cheaper this year, with a 'first-of-its-kind' discount for kids.
Plus, one man has been to Disney theme parks more than 50 times and has revealed the free hack that can save you hundreds on holiday.
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