Disney’s Keys to the Kingdom

Disney’s Keys to the Kingdom Tour highlights the fascinating history of Walt Disney World Resort and provides backstage access to secret areas of Magic Kingdom theme park.

This approximately 4.5-hour walking tour explores the stories behind the remarkable creation and growth of Magic Kingdom theme park. Hear the intriguing story of Walt Disney and learn how his innovative ideas, revolutionary visions, creative philosophies and amazing accomplishments brought the Theme Park to life. The journey includes stops at backstage facilities and a variety of favorite attractions.

One unforgettable highlight is a trip below Magic Kingdom theme park into the service tunnels known as the Utilidors. This is one urban legend that is absolutely, and almost unbelievably, true—the Guest accessible areas of Magic Kingdom theme park are actually on the second floor of a massive structure. The first floor—called the Utilidors—allows Cast Members, deliveries and even trash to be unknowingly transported below Guests’ feet as they wait in line for their favorite attraction.

Time & Location : 8:30am, 9am & 9:30am Everyday in the Chamber of Commerce (just inside Magic Kingdom on the left).

Ending Location: Main Street Train Station

Duration: 4.5-5 hours

Cost: $74 + tax (Discounts Available: AAA Diamond, AP, DVC, Disney VISA)

Theme Park Admission: Required

Park Visited: MK

Includes: Bottled water/coffee at check-in, Lunch at Columbia Harbor House, Commemorative Pin

Sample Tour Content*:

• Narrated walk down Main Street, U.S.A.
• Private, tour guide narrated Jungle Cruise
• Quick trip backstage in Frontierland
• Lunch at Columbia Harbor House in Liberty Square
• Ride on the Haunted Mansion
• Trip to down to famed Magic Kingdom Utilidors

*Disney’s tour schedules and content can change at any time due to a variety of factors. Rest assured, if for some reason the tour can’t or doesn’t go to one of the stops you’ve read about here or on other websites, your Tour Guide still has plenty of magic up their sleeves to make sure you have a wonderful tour experience.

Maximum Group Size: 20

Listening Devices Available: Yes

Hearing Disabilities: Yes

Wheelchair Accessible: Yes

Requirements: Guests must be 16+

Photography Restrictions: No photography is permitted during the backstage portion of this tour.

Bag Storage: Guests carry their baggage with them.  If you don’t want to hold your bag throughout a 4.5-5 hour walking tour, consider getting a locker at the front of the park.

Additional Notes: This is an outdoor walking tour – dress appropriately, wear suncreen & good shoes. Disney will not cancel or provide refunds for this tour (or most others) in the event of inclement weather (Disney will cancel for hurricanes, but not average rain).

Book: Call (407) WDW-TOUR (407-939-8687)

Coming soon!

Find other DTR posts about Disney’s Keys to the Kingdom tour here.

• AllEars.net Reader Reviews 62 reviews, latest from August 2011. This tour has an amazing 100% recommendation rate by AllEars.net Readers.

• WDWMagic.com Reader Reviews 18 reviews, latest from August 2011.

• Yelp.com Reviews 4 reviews, latest from June 2011.

• The English Disney Blog Review by Christopher Ro from March 2011.  Christopher went on the tour around the same time we did, and he heard some different facts.  This just goes to show that no two tours are the same.  Includes minor spoilers and plenty of British spelling.  Awesome.

• Trip Advisor Thread from January 2009.  Not too many spoilers here, but provides an outline of several guests’ experiences.

• DIS Unplugged Blog Review by Dave Parfitt from October 2008.  This review includes some spoilers, but is not a complete play by play.  Dave also did live audio from his tour which you can checkout down in the Related Podcasts section.

Note: This review and several others mention riding on 3 attractions during their tour.  In April 2011, we only did two attractions – this may well be a flexible part of the tour based on crowds when you go.  Also, we did the 9:30am tour, so the park was definitely more crowded than for the 8:30 or 9 tours.

• PassPorter.com Review by Laura Clarkson from April 2007.  Includes a few details and spoilers.

• MiceChat.com Tour Review by Summer from June 2006.  Summer’s trip report thread review includes TONS of details and spoilers.  Note: As of April 2011, we were able to bring our cameras on the tour but could not use them backstage.

• AllEars.net Review by Lisa Crawford from Jun 2002.  This short spoiler-free review discusses Lisa’s experience on Keys to the Kingdom as an individual in a wheelchair who is hard of hearing.

• DIS Unplugged Podcast Listener Review by David Parfitt from October 2008.  Dave won a Keys to the Kingdom Tour from the DIS Unplugged Podcast, so he called in with a live report from his tour.  You can read Dave’s written review here.  Discussion of the Keys to the Kingdom Tour starts at 20:38.

• WDW Today Podcast Listener Email by Rick of Port Reading, NJ from March 2006.  This quick email segment discusses the Keys to the Kingdom tour in terms of ruining the magic of Disney.  Rick’s emails starts at 5:30.

• Know of any more podcasts that discuss the Disney’s Keys to the Kingdom Tour?  Let us know at DisneyTourReviews@gmail.com