Marceline to Magic Kingdom

Maggie Ballantyne1.12.19When most people think of tours of the Magic Kingdom, they immediately think of Keys to the Kingdom. But have you ever heard of the Marceline to Magic Kingdom tour? I went on this tour on July 4, 2018 and had a great experience. Below you will find some fun facts about the tour and my encounter. I tried to minimize any spoiler alerts and give hints about what you could learn without revealing too much.The tour is very affordable, costing $50.00 per person, and lasts three hours. I found this to be reasonable and I definitely feel like I got my money’s worth. With early entry into the park, I took a picture of the (almost) empty Cinderella’s Castle and then went directly to check-in at the Town Square Theater. Here, each guest on the tour received a customized name tag, a bottle of water, and a headset so they could hear our Cast Member guide while walking through the park.The tour has a strong focus on the history of Walt Disney and the influencers from his hometown of Marceline, and how he incorporated them into the Magic Kingdom. Everything from the streetlights, to the lights at night, to some of the movie posters; they all have a particular purpose. After walking down Main Street U.S.A. our group headed into Liberty Square and then over to the Haunted Mansion.Disney Hint: Have you ever noticed the transition from gas looking to electric lights on Main Street? This is definitely on purpose!At the Haunted Mansion we went through the queue and learned a detailed history of why there are certain names on the headstones, why there is a raven above the organ, and much more. A Haunted Mansion Cast Member joined our group and told us further details about the story of the Haunted Mansion including both the narrative of the ride and the backstory of its creation.Disney Hint: The Haunted Mansion was not originally going to include a Ghost Host, but a different director. That director can still be seen throughout the ride because it was a last-minute switch. See if you can spot him!We had the opportunity to ride through the Haunted Mansion in an unexpected, but fun, way. We boarded the Doom Buggies and our guide talked to us throughout the entire ride in between the Ghost Host. Because we had the headsets, it did not disturb the other riders and we learned something new about each room of the mansion.When we got off the Haunted Mansion ride, we thought we were going to Tomorrowland, but we got an even better surprise. We were going backstage of the Haunted Mansion! To say my former Cast Member self was excited to be going backstage again is a major understatement, I was elated! Everyone put their phones away and off we went into the ballroom scene. I don’t want to say too much because I want everyone to experience it for themselves, but I will say WOW!Disney Hint: This room alone reveals secrets and stories about other rides in the park including Pirates of the Caribbean and the Carousel of Progress.After our great surprise, we did journey over to Tomorrowland and learned more about Walt’s involvement in the World’s Fair. Our final stop was a private viewing of the Carousel of Progress. Once again, our guide could point out some really cool parts of the ride I have never noticed before. She even brought a flashlight so we could see the transitions between each year.Disney Hint: The first scene of the Carousel of Progress is home to some props and friends from one of my all-time favorite Disney movies. But you will have to go on this tour to find out!I would highly recommend the Marceline to Magic Kingdom tour to anyone who loves the ins and outs of the details put into Walt Disney World, and to anyone who is interested in the history behind those details. I learned so much in a short amount of time that I want to do it again in years to come because there is such an abundance to take in and enjoy.If you would like more recommendations on special reservation items in the parks or at the resorts, contact me at maggie@wishesfamilytravel.com or follow my Facebook page at www.facebook.com/wishesfamilytravelmaggie