Cyclonic 55 Posted December 28, 2014 Report Share Posted December 28, 2014 Has anyone done this tour? What is the best way to get from the Fort to MK to take it? I was thinking taking the first boat to the Contemporary and then walking over. Will this work or should I just drive the the Contemporary? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
CCIntrigue...aka Gwen 547 Posted December 28, 2014 Report Share Posted December 28, 2014 If you do this tour, please let us know how it was! I'd love to surprise my DH with it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Beckers 1,136 Posted December 28, 2014 Report Share Posted December 28, 2014 Personally with something as time sensitive as that tour, I would drive.My parents took it and enjoyed it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dblr....Rennie 224 Posted December 29, 2014 Report Share Posted December 29, 2014 We did this a few years ago and drove and parked at the Contemporary and were able to park there all day, it is a very nice tour but it also depends on who gives the tour some are better then others. They start off at the Main Street station then head to the round house and explain the startup for the day, it ends up back at the Main Street station with a talk about Walt's railroad setup at his home. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mouseketab.....Carol 1,261 Posted December 29, 2014 Report Share Posted December 29, 2014 Since it is at the Magic Kingdom, unless you can park at the Contemporary, taking the 6:45am boat to the contemporary is your best bet. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ependydad...Doug 176 Posted December 29, 2014 Report Share Posted December 29, 2014 What about a taxi? That way, you don't have to deal with a car at the end of the day. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BeckersDadJohn 44 Posted December 29, 2014 Report Share Posted December 29, 2014 We were at one of the All stars, took early bus. Our guide was great. Pic of name tag & pin from couple of years ago. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Cyclonic 55 Posted December 29, 2014 Author Report Share Posted December 29, 2014 Thanks folks, I'll be sure to give a full report. Becky is starting at the campground that day, she has no interest, and because of a change in plans I have a day more on my pass than she does, and I figured I would do something she has no interest in. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Cyclonic 55 Posted February 16, 2015 Author Report Share Posted February 16, 2015 I said I would give a full report, but to summarize, I would say I don't know that the tour was worth the cost. I like trains, have been to plenty of railroads, and been in plenty of roundhouses, and this was not too much different then those. If you have never been to a working railroad but are interested, this might be for you. They go deep into detail of the operation of the trains and their railroad. You get there early and go into the park pretty much before anyone else. That in and of itself is interesting, I've always loved being in parks really early and watching them "wake up." You board toward the back of the train that carries the characters for the park opening. The train takes you around the loop to the turnout that heads back to the roundhouse, and then backs up into the roundhouse area. You can take as many pictures as you want, but you may not enter the roundhouse itself. They had several trains out and steaming warming for the day's operations. The roundhouse also stores the monorail trains, which pass overhead. I would have liked to have gotten a look at the inner workings of the monorails as well. The guide gives a complete overview of the train and what every part on the locomotive is for, as well as takes you up into the cab to explain the operation. You ride a different train back to the Main Street Station, where the guide then gives a history lesson of the railroad there, as well as the railroads in the other parks, each of the locomotives, and of Walt Disney's own backyard train. Yes, he even mentioned the Fort Wilderness Railroad. The tour was $54 plus park admission. It was a decent tour, very informative, and I learned a lot about their operations there. Below are a few pictures I took: Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Cyclonic 55 Posted February 16, 2015 Author Report Share Posted February 16, 2015 A few more photos: Quote Link to post Share on other sites
CCIntrigue...aka Gwen 547 Posted February 16, 2015 Report Share Posted February 16, 2015 Thank you for the summary. I'd been thinking about surprising my DH with this tour, but I don't think it would be worth the time and money. We have a railroad museum in our area complete with a working steam train and roundhouse that we've visited several times Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tri-Circle-D 2,059 Posted February 16, 2015 Report Share Posted February 16, 2015 Thanks for sharing your pictures, and for the review of the tour. It sounds very interesting, but I have to agree with you- it's a bit too expensive for me. TCD Quote Link to post Share on other sites
keith_h 420 Posted February 16, 2015 Report Share Posted February 16, 2015 Thank you for the summary. I'd been thinking about surprising my DH with this tour, but I don't think it would be worth the time and money. We have a railroad museum in our area complete with a working steam train and roundhouse that we've visited several times NC Transportation Museum or New Hope Valley? I've been to the NC Transportation Museum but not to New Hope Valley although it's closer. We are planning to see the Illinois RR Museum when we are up there in May and hope to get over to the Tennessee Valley Railroad in early fall. To get back on subject, this is something I'll have to keep in mind for the next time we visit the MK. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
CCIntrigue...aka Gwen 547 Posted February 16, 2015 Report Share Posted February 16, 2015 NC Transportation Museum or New Hope Valley? NC Transportation Museum in Spencer. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.