Marceline to Magic Kingdom Tour

I think we've decided on KTTK based on the facts that 1) If I only ever get to do one tour ever, I think I'd rather do KTTK and 2) If we decide to do a tour on our 2016 trip, I feel better about asking the in laws to watch Penny for a 3 hr tour vs a 5 hr tour so we'll save Marceline for next time

Quick question: do you tip the tour guides? Normally I would, but I know in Disney some occupations don't accept tips.

We've never tipped them nor have we seen anyone do so. I get the impression it's one of those non-tipping jobs.

I'm definately doing this tour in October. Still deciding if I want to do the KTTK tour as well. How far in advance can you book these tours?

We've booked by calling ahead and we have also booked once we arrive at the resort. You should be able to book now, but it might be like dining and you may have to wait until the 180 day mark, I'm not sure. The earliest we have booked a tour is 4 months out. The KTTK tour is daily, so you might have a better chance in booking that one once you arrive. We did that in April one year with no problems. There are 3 different times that it starts - 8:30, 9:00, and 9:30 (at least I believe that's right). The Marceline to MK tour is only at 1 time of day and only on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, so that one might be harder to book if you wait. Have fun with whatever you decide!

Thanks Jan

All, This tour is not only on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Just call the reservation line and see if they have it available for the day you would like to go. I literally just got off the phone, and booked the tour for SATURDAY March 29th. So, make sure you check first. I believe they only offer it 8:15 am.

Hey I just booked this for September and the CM said no cameras or video- can anyone who has done the tour comment on this? Also how early will they let you in the park for an 8:15 tour?

Yes I was told the same thing...no cameras or video and you need to bring a photo id as well. I will be doing this tour in May. And yes they did tell me the same thing must be inside MK by 8:15 so I'm going to make sure am there by 8 don't want them starting without me.

Ken brought his camera with him and he took pictures everywhere except backstage. He even took pictures in Liberty Square with no one around - that was cool. We arrived about 7:45 and they let us in at that time with no issue. Enjoy!

As Jan mentioned, cameras are not a problem. The policy says "no cameras" but what they really mean is no photos in certain areas. Let's face it, everyone has a camera of some sort on them.

So, you can bring a camera but they will tell you when you're not allowed to take photos. The tour guide for our Marceline tour was really good. He allowed photos of the still closed MK even in areas that were still roped off. But no pics were allowed in the officially backstage areas of course. My understanding is that the park is treated as backstage when it is closed to the public, but if it's "show ready", then photos are allowed. They don't allow photos if work trucks are still running around the park. I just made sure not to point the camera in the direction of work vehicles. I think the tour guide recognized that I was respecting the rules and he wasn't too concerned.

Anyway, I always take my camera on the backstage tours and have had no issues at all. I showed up with my DSLR style camera for the Marceline tour and the guide mentioned to me that I wouldn't be allowed to take photos backstage (which I already knew of course). But it's a funny thing that they single out the people with larger cameras. In my mind, it's all the smart phones and mini-cams they should be concerned with. If I go to take a photo with my camera, everyone around me will know I'm taking a photo.

Anyway, the Marceline tour was really good. The Haunted Mansion backstage peek was an absolute thrill for me.

Here are a few shots from the Marceline tour of a deserted Magic Kingdom...

Ok great. That's the same policy as the KTTK Tour. Very good. Thanks

It's a great tour Colonel. I'm sure you'll enjoy it as much as I did.

Clone stamp that crane out of there!

For real - Ichabod the Crane needs to go!

Can anyone confirm the backstage portion of the tour recently? I just booked this tour for June and am really excited about the HM backstage portion. At first, the Disney Cast member on the phone said "no pictures backstage" but then later in the conversation said that, since the tour was open to those 12 and older, there was not a backstage portion. While I'm sure the tour would be cool either way, the backstage portion as stated on these reviews is what really sold me. I may cancel if it doesn't include that. Thanks!

Hello Mark & welcome. KenJ just did this tour in January: http://www.wdwforgrownups.com/forum/marceline-magic-kingdom-tour#comment-1053257 . yes they did the HM Backstage part.

Hi Mark, welcome to the forum!

As MrHub mentioned, we took the tour in January and the HM was definitely on the menu.

However, a little story that I didn't share in the other thread...

First, I'm a HUGE behind the scenes fan of pretty much anything. I love seeing how things work so I'm interested in any tour that offers a glimpse behind the curtain.

On a previous visit, we took the Undiscovered Future World tour at Epcot. One main reason I took it was that I read we were supposed to see the Illuminations barges in their holding areas backstage. But on our tour, it never happened. I was very disappointed because that was what I was really looking forward to seeing.

Anyway, when we took the Marceline tour, we rode HM and then our guide talked about it a bit afterwards. We were standing just outside of the HM exit. Then he said "okay, we're going to head over to the castle now and talk a bit about that".

Well, I was about to blow my stack. I was thinking "HEYYYY! What about the behind the scenes at HM?" I was so angry that I almost just gave my headset back to him and cut out of the tour. I was walking along fuming....

We took a washroom break by the Tangled themed area (beside Its a Small World). After the break, our guide said "well I have a surprise for you all". OHHHHH... I knew it was coming!

Yep, he proceeded to take us through a backstage entrance and then into the back entrance of HM. I won't give away what we saw, but I'll just say it was the highlight of the tour for me. It's much different standing inside that attraction on the ground level right beside the ballroom. Very very cool indeed.

I highly recommend this tour to anyone that's interested in MK attractions. It was time well spent!

Thanks Ken, we are like you in that we like to look behind and see how things work. We want to book this but only because we want to see behind HM and I think I would be the same if we didn't see inside HM!