5. How do steam trains operate?

Join the opening crew of engineers to learn about the Magic Kingdom’s turn-of-the-century trains on the Magic Behind Our Steam Trains tour. Walt Disney had a lifelong love of trains, and Disney loyalists will appreciate this fitting tribute to the man and his “other” passion. This three hour tour allows access to staging areas where the trains of yesterday and tomorrow share slumber space. The two-story roundhouse stores both steam trains (below) and monorails (above) when not actively in use, and provides bays for maintenance and repair work. After a private ride to and from the roundhouse, the train station sets the stage for a closer look at Walt Disney’s connection to trains, and their special place in his parks.

Learn about the daily routines and operations of the four steam trains that transport guests around the 1.5 miles of track encircling the Magic Kingdom, as well as the mechanics behind how they work, before climbing into the cab yourself to take a peek at the gauges and controls! The Lilly Belle, Roy O. Disney, Walter E. Disney, and Roger E. Broggie are fully restored antique trains with almost a century of history each, dating back to their service hauling sugar cane through Mexico. Today, they haul more passengers each year than Amtrak. These are just a few of the fun facts you’ll learn on the steam trains tour. The cost of the tour is $54, with a limit of 20 guests per tour. Minimum required age for this tour is 10 years. Photography is allowed on this tour, unlike many behind-the-scenes adventures.

6. Where did Walt Disney and his team of Imagineers leave their mark?

The Walt Disney World founders and creators left signatures and tributes in design details throughout the parks and resorts. While hidden Mickeys may be Disney’s worst-kept secret, they aren’t the only “Easter egg” styled features left behind to discover. Two tours specifically highlight the hidden touches and memories scattered throughout the Magic Kingdom - Walt Disney: From Marceline to Magic Kingdom, and Keys to the Kingdom.

From Marceline to Magic Kingdom is a three hour walking tour - considered to be the light version of Keys to the Kingdom, which lasts five hours. Marceline was Walt Disney’s hometown for a mere four years, but it left an indelible impression on the boy who would one day duplicate those memories in his plans for Main Street USA. From Main Street, through Cinderella Castle, and into Liberty Square, you’ll discover how Imagineers “signed” their contributions in clever ways, and how Walt Disney’s life events inspired the park’s appearance and layout to the smallest detail. This tour includes ride stops at The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, Carousel of Progress, and The Haunted Mansion, where tour guides will share secrets and facts about each, not the least of which is an amazing, backstage reveal behind one of The Haunted Mansion’s most intriguing scenes! While I’ll keep a couple of secrets to myself, I will say that many consider this tour (open to guests 12 years and up) worth the $30 price tag simply due to this stop.

Keys to the Kingdom is more than double the cost ($79), but it has the one big added “weenie” of a trip through the Utilidors. What’s a weenie? What’s a Utilidor? The weenie is what Walt referred to as the big lure that visually guided you into the parks, and the Ultilidors are what die-hard Disney geeks dream about. Just a couple more fun terms you will enhance your vocabulary with on a tour!

The Magic Kingdom is actually built above a ground-level megastructure known as the Utilidors, where Cast Members and park operation systems flurry about in a frenzy. It is the heart and brain of the Magic Kingdom, and it houses all of the park’s greatest secrets. Well, that may be a little exaggerated, but it is an exceptionally intricate, impressive area. You’ll also journey into the Production Center, home to the parade floats and show props, to learn what it takes to produce the large-scale performances Disney is famous for. Tour guides demonstrate how the “keys” of safety, courtesy, show, and efficiency are woven into the details of Magic Kingdom’s operation, with ride stops at Jungle Cruise, Pirates of the Caribbean, and The Haunted Mansion. Lunch at Columbia Harbour House is also included in the Keys to the Kingdom tour, which is limited to guests 16 years and up.

7. Where can you find a “hidden Tinkerbell”?

Back to the subject of hidden Mickeys - did you know that there are many other characters “hidden” in design elements? After you learn about the hidden Donald Duck at The Haunted Mansion, go on a hunt for the hidden Tinkerbell at Disney’s Boardwalk! The Boardwalk Ballyhoo tour is absolutely free, and you do not need to be staying at Boardwalk to enjoy this 45 minute guided glimpse through time.

Starting at the Belle Vue Lounge, period decor and games set the scene for this look at life in 1920s-1930s coastal towns such as Atlantic City and Coney Island. Guides point out decorative elements and working models that celebrate the vibrant amusements and fanciful elegance of early boardwalk recreation scattered throughout the lobby and pool area before embarking on a stroll beside the shops and restaurants that line the waterway. Your guide will likely point out the hidden Tinkerbell as you make your way to the elevators from the lobby, so pay attention for this unique find! This tour is open to all ages.

8. Where can you find the combined waters of over 20 nations?

The International Ceremony of the Waters was held over thirty years ago in dedication of the Fountain of Nations at Epcot. Samples from 25 bodies of water representing 29 nations were poured by national representatives into the fountain, in unison. The Fountain of Nations resides at the center of Future World, which is comprised of pavilions that spur from the central hub. The pathways and features of Future World’s two sides are meant to represent the hemispheres of the brain - with the left (logical) side consisting of straight lines and clean edges, and the right (creative) side composed of light, meandering walkways through water features. Little factoids like this are around every corner at Epcot, and you’ll learn all about the park’s design and operation on the UnDISCOVERed Future World tour.

This four hour tour examines Walt Disney’s original intention for Epcot, and the innovations behind Future World. Backstage pathways through the Cast Member Wardrobe Department and VIP lounges are high points of the tour, with a couple of ride stops along the way, including front-of-line access to Soarin’. You’ll learn behind-the-scenes secrets of Spaceship Earth, The Land, Mission Space, Test Track, The Seas pavilion, and Journey Into Imagination, on your way to the staging area for Illuminations: Reflections of Earth, where you’ll discover what goes into creating Epcot’s famed nightly fireworks and light show. At $64 per guest, this tour is limited to guests 16 and older.

There are a few things you need to know while planning any Disney tour. Advance reservations are generally required for most tours, and always a good idea! Make your reservations by calling 407-WDW-TOUR. Backstage areas are strictly "no photograph" zones unless otherwise clearly stated, and they do mean it! Souvenir photos are included with some tours. Discounts are often available for Disney Vacation Club members, Annual Passholders, and more. Walt Disney World’s guided tours offer a new way to view and appreciate the parks and resorts, for new and returning visitors alike. Nothing quite compares to a VIP experience cleverly smothered in edutainment, after all!