Going to Disney World is a magical experience on its own. And if you’ve read the guide up to this point, you know “Experience” is one of the legs on our Three-Legged Stool for planning your Disney World trip. One of the great ways to “level up” the experience of your trip to Disney World is taking a backstage tour. The term Disney World backstage tours may be a little misleading in that some of the tours are very much on the front of the stage. Ever seen people swimming in the water at Caribbean Coral Reef with 6,000 of their closest friends? That’s not so backstage.
Disney World backstage tours are truly unique way to see and experience things that not everyone has access to, at least if they don’t want to pay. Below is a list of all the backstage tours available, along with some relevant information for each of them. For experiences we’ve had a chance to take ourselves, we’ll also include a link to the review we posted on our blog.
A quick note with some of the fine print before you read the list.
Tours, prices and availability are always subject to change.
Most of them require a park admission, in addition to the cost of the tour.
The experiences can change, even though the tour is still going.
Not every tour runs each day.
Most of the tours involve walking throughout the parks.
Before booking any tour, you should check out the official Disney World Special Events & Tours Page for the most up to date information. For more information or to make a reservation, you can call Disney at (407) WDW-TOUR.
Alright, with the fine print out of the way, lets get to the list!
Magic Kingdom Backstage Tours
| Tour | Duration | Cost | Discounts | Restrictions | Our Review |
| Keys to the Kingdom | 5 Hrs | $99/person | Annual Passholders, Disney Chase Visa and DVC Members qualify for a 15% discount | Video and photography is strictly prohibited. Guests must be 16 years of age or older and have a valid photo I.D. | None |
| The Magic Behind Our Steam Trains | 3 Hrs | $54/person | None | Guests must be 10 years of age or older. | None |
| Ultimate Day of Thrills VIP Tour | 7 Hrs | $349/person | None | Guests under age 18 must be accompanied by an adult | None |
| Ultimate Disney Classics VIP Tour | 4 Hrs | $249/person | None | Guests 16 years of age and under must be accompanied by a paying adult | None |
| Walt Disney: Marceline to Magic Kingdom Tour | 3 Hrs | $49/person | None | Must be at least 12 years old. Guest under 18 must be accompanied by an adult | None |
| Family Magic Tour | 2 Hrs | $39/person | None | Guests 16 years of age and under must be accompanied by a paying adult | None |
| Disney After Hours | 3 Hrs | $119/person | None | Only runs January – March. Must meet attraction height requirements | None |
| Private VIP Tours | However long you want, minimum of 7 hrs | $425 or $625 per hour, depending on the season | None | Private VIP Tours have a minimum duration of 7 continuous hours Parties larger than 10 Guests will require more than one VIP Tour Guide | None |
Epcot Backstage Tours
| Tour | Duration | Cost | Discounts | Restrictions | Our Review |
| Behind the Seeds | 1 Hr | $25/Adult $20/Child | None | Guests under 12 must be accompanied by a paying adult. | None |
| Epcot Seas Adventures – Aqua Tour | 2.5 Hrs | $145/person | None | Guests must be 8 years of age or older. Guests under 12 must be accompanied by a paying adult. Must use Disney provided gear, can’t bring your own. | None |
| Epcot Seas Adventures – DiveQuest | 3 Hrs | $179/person | None | All Guests must be SCUBA-certified and 10 years of age or older to participate. Guests 10 to 12 years of age must be accompanied by a paying adult (18 years of age or older). You will need to provide proof of certification, such as a C-card or verification from a certifying agency. Must use Disney provided SCUBA gear. No cameras permitted backstage. | None |
| Epcot Seas Adventures – Dolphins in Depth | 3 Hrs | $199/person | None | Guests must be 13 years of age or older. All participants under 18 years of age must be accompanied by an adult Guests must be able to fully understand English | None |
| Gardens of the World | 3 Hrs | $85/person | None | Guests must be at least 12 years of age to participate in this tour Guests under 18 years of age must be accompanied at all times by a parent or guardian who is registered for the tour Runs seasonally during the Flower and Garden or Food and Wine Festivals. | None |
| The UnDISCOVERed Future World | 4 Hrs | $69/person | Annual Passholders, Disney Chase Visa and DVC Members qualify for a 15% discount | Guests must be at least 16 years of age | None |
| World Showcase: DestiNations Discovered | 5 Hrs | $109/person | Annual Passholders, Disney Chase Visa and DVC Members qualify for a 15% discount | Guests must be at least 16 years of age | None |
Animal Kingdom Backstage Tours
| Tour | Duration | Cost | Discounts | Restrictions | Our Review |
| Wild Africa Trek | 3 Hrs | $189.00 – 249.00/ person depending on time of year | None | Participants must be 8 years of age or older and at least 48 inches (122 cm) tall Guests under 18 years of age must be accompanied by a participating adult Participants must be between 45 and 300 lbs. with the harness gear on | Review |
| Ultimate Nights of Adventure VIP Tour | 4 Hrs | $249/person | Annual Passholders, Disney Chase Visa and DVC Members qualify for a 15% discount | Guests 17 years and under must be accompanied by a paying participating parent | None |
| Caring for Giants | 1 Hr | $30/person | None | Guests must be 4 years of age or older to participate Guests under 18 years of age must be accompanied by a participating adult No cameras, video equipment or cell phones may be used while backstage | None |
| Savor the Savanna: Evening Safari Experience | 2 Hrs | $169/person | None | Guests must be at least 8 years of age to participate in this experience | None |
Hollywood Studios Backstage Tours
| Tour | Duration | Cost | Discounts | Restrictions | Our Review |
| Star Wars Guided Tour | 3 Hrs | $99/person | None | None | None |
Multi-Park Disney World Backstage Tours
| Tour | Duration | Cost | Discounts | Restrictions | Our Review |
| Backstage Magic | 7 Hrs | $275/person | None | Guests must be at least 12 years of age to participate in this tour Guests under 18 years of age must be accompanied at all times by a parent No cameras, video equipment or cell phones may be used while backstage Closed-toe and closed-heel shoes (such as sneakers) are required for this experience | None |
Wrapping Up
As you can see, there are lots of options to “up” the experience level. Check out our reviews of these Disney World backstage tours. We’re trying to get through them all, but obviously it takes time (and money).
If you’ve done one or more of the Disney World backstage tours, drop down in the comments section below and let us know what you think. Everyone in the community is looking for that next “can’t miss” experience or wanting to stay away from an overpriced tour that doesn’t do much.
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