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by Bill Powell, February 2001

Our first full day would prove to be very special, our Disney friend had arranged for Leslie and I to participate in the "Backstage Magic Tour". We started the day with room service breakfast before reporting to Guest Relations at EPCOT to meet our guide at 8:45 AM.

We were fortunate to have Susan as our guide for this seven-hour tour. The grouped numbered 17, following a short orientation in the guest relations plaza we walked over to our mini-bus, provided by Mears, and we were off backstage to our first stop, The American Adventure.

Arriving backstage at this popular attraction we were ushered into the area under the theatre. Here we saw the entire show in it's combination horizontal and vertical "elevator". Disney cast members were working on the wigs of Ben Franklin and Mark Twain. The wigs are made of human hair and cost an average of $2,000 to $4,000 each. Each of the wigs also has an "understudy" which can be mounted while the principal wig is washed and styled. Each wig is checked each day before the first show.

One very interesting aspect was that animation technicians were working on the George Washington figure replacing one of the activators. We saw this horse mounted figure undressed and having the activator being replaced. We also got the opportunity to talk to these technicians and learned that each and every figure in the show is checked everyday.

For those of you who have wondered how this show works. All of the audioanimatronic figures which are utilized during the show are mounted on this very large horizontal "elevator". As the audience is entering the theatre this elevator move to the back of the under theater area which places the figures of Franklin (climbing the stairs) and Twain directly under the stage. As the show begins this tableau is raised into place. When this
segment is over the scene returns to the horizontal carriage and it move forward putting the second tableau in place to be raised. This continues throughout the show until such time that the entire show is actually under and behind the stage.

As the audience departs and the new audience enters the entire show recycles moving under the audience for the sequence to start again. This is fascinating technology. On the technology side, this attraction has one of the largest rear projection screens in the world and utilizes six special projectors just for the effect of sunrise at the end. Interestingly this attraction is still powered by same computers that were in place at the
opening of EPCOT. They appear ancient but as was pointed out they work well, and if its not broke don't fix it.

Next we were off to the Living Seas, here prior to entering the building we learned how only the "show sides" of the buildings are decorated and landscaped. Backstage of this attraction there are significant support equipment including giant filtration equipment, holding tanks and preparation facilities to support the marine life featured in this attraction.

Walking from the backstage area towards the attraction exit we encountered a change in pavement color which marked the first area that was visible to the public. This color change marked the position where cast members must be "show ready".

While at the attraction we spent a great deal of time visiting the Manatee environment where we learned a great deal about these endangered gentle giants.

Next we were bused to the back of the Wonders of Life attraction and entered a door which led to a room under the Body Tours attraction. First we viewed guests aboard one of the simulators via a TV monitor--each of the motion rides at Disney are monitored for guest discomfort and "code V's". A code "V" is Disney for a person who appears ready to get sick.

Next we moved to a room directly under one of the simulators and were able to view the ride in operation. It is incredible the amount of motion these simulators do--moving a total of 12 feet right to left and 12 feet up and down. We were led to a small Plexiglas enclosed area and were able to see one group of guests disembark and another group embark. We then viewed the entire ride sequence. After seeing this unique vantage point I don't know If I would ride this attraction again! Only kidding.

We left EPCOT and were bused over to Disney MGM studios. First stop was backstage at Fantasmic and a chance to see how some of the special effects, which make this show so wonderful, actually work. We toured some of the storage sheds, for example where the "snake" is kept, a rehearsal hall and then walked over to the stadium to see more of the special effects.

Next stop was creative costuming, where the one of a kind costumes are created. This is the area you view from the trams on the Backlot Tour. It was really unique to be inside the room watching and talking with the seamstresses and waving at the trams as they passed. Before leaving each tour participant received a ribbon containing actually swatches from the fabric used to make the beloved characters costumes. I chose Mickey and my wife Snow White, this is quite a souvenir.

Then it was off to a family style lunch at Mama Melrose's. No longer does a street performer join the group since it was determined that it was better for the group to interact. Our waitress at Mama's was Cindy (last name "Rella") and she was just wonderful--really a show in herself. The food was wonderful and abundant. A great time was had by all.

Back to the bus and over to the Magic Kingdom. First stop was the production area where we viewed all three parades in residence. The Magical Moments daytime parade, the Main Street Electrical Parade in it's last month and Spectromagic, which replaced the Main Street Electrical Parade on April 2. We got to view the floats up close and personal, were told of the 598,000 bulbs in the Main Street Electrical Parade (they are in series of 7, one light goes out 7 lights go out). We also got to see the driver seats and learned about the sync sound and how it works.

Then it was into a rehearsal hall and parade get ready area. It was interesting to see how the costumes are prepped for the daily parade. We were given the opportunity to actually hold one of the Main Street Electrical Parade costumes, the bottom portion alone of which weighed some 40 pounds!

Then it was off to the Central Shops, this is the real heart of the Disney Magic. Central Shops is responsible for developing and building virtually all of the items you see in the Disney Parks, including Disneyland, Disneyland Paris and Tokyo Disneyland in addition to the four Florida parks. This included the audioanimatronic figures, the signs, parts of the hotel interiors. This area which covers many acres included machine shops, sign
shops, restoration areas, the transportation shop (Motto "We move the Magic"), the mechanical Animation shop (Motto "We make the Magic move").

During our visit to the Animation Shop we saw a Zebra from the Jungle Cruise undergoing a "100,000 wag" test--this unit was just refurbished and was undergoing a 48 hour test of the units that wag the tail and move the head and ears. We also saw several of the "Small World" dolls having their activators replaced and also had the opportunity to meet one of the Imagineers, ED, who has been with Disney for 27 years and is responsible for making the drawings come to life.

Next it was on to the area where they refurbish the horses on Cinderella's Carousel. Did you know that one of the horses is Cinderella's? It has a small bow on it's tail. Each of these horses is redone approximately every three years. As we were walking through this area we encountered one area with nothing but Mickey heads being finished. It was a little disconcerting to see our idol beheaded and to see so many heads in a variety of costume styles.

Back to the bus and one to what is one of the highlights of the tour--the Utilidors under the Magic Kingdom. We entered via an employee entrance and were shown the central costuming shop--where all of the cast costumes for the various attractions are stored. Each costume is bar coded and each cast member has a bar coded card. As the costumes are issued the bar code is read and added to the cast member's account. The same happens when the costume is returned, the bar code is read and deducted from the cast member's account.

Central costumes contain more than 1,000,000 pieces ranging from the jeans worn by Splash Mountain Cast Members, to the belts on the costumes in Liberty Square. This area is huge. Then it was on to hair and make-up where the "face" characters are made up prior to going "on stage". We watched as a cast member was transformed into Hercules.

Next it was off to the computer room, the nerve center of the Magic Kingdom. Within this area is Parade Central which we visited just as the Magical Moments parade kicked-off. We watched as one person directs the parade while watching on three TV monitors and two computers trace the parade's process. The software recognizes each float and indicates if the float is moving too fast or too slow allowing the coordinator to pace the
parade. We learned how the Sync music is coordinated by "plugs' embedded in the pavement along the parade route. Each plug is approximately 3 inches long and 1.5 inches in diameter. On your next visit to the Magic Kingdom look close on the street along the parade route and you may spot one of the plugs that looks a lot like a wad of gum on the pavement. These plugs trigger the sound equipment on each float.

We were able to talk to the parade coordinator and watch the parade progress through Frontierland to Liberty Square. As the parade started over the bridge to Castle Circle we started to walk through the Utilidors from the computer room which is under Frontierland to the hub and down under Main Street. We emerged from the Utilidors behind the camera shop on Main Street and came through a cast member entrance to enter Town Square in time to watch the entire Parade.

After the parade it was back to the bus and back to EPCOT. During the several bus transfers during the day Susan posed interesting Disney Trivia questions which enhanced the "downtime". Upon arrival back at EPCOT each tour participant received an agenda of the day's activities and a very special Plexiglas Mickey Mouse with the logo of Backstage Magic engraved in the base. These adorable Mickey's were handcrafted at Central Shops. We also got to keep our "Through the Looking Glass" name badges and a "Backstage Magic" folder containing the agenda and the Mickey.

The tour was an incredible experience for my wife and I and would surely be enjoyed by any real Disney Fan. One caution do not take this tour until you have experienced the on-stage Magic in each park.

Other Tour Reviews:

Animal Kingdom Backstage Safari Wild By Design

Epcot Simply Segway Experience Around the World --on a Segway Epcot Seas Aqua Tour Behind the Seeds Divequest Dolphins in Depth Gardens of the World - Seasonal Hidden Treasures - Ended 4/27/07 Nature-Inspired Design Segway Tour Undiscovered Future World

Magic Kingdom Family Magic Tour Keys to the Kingdom Magic Behind the Steam Trains Mickey's Magical Milestones Virtual Magic Kingdom Tours - Discontinued

Disney's Hollywood Studios Inside Animation -- Discontinued 2002

Other Tours BackStage Magic Holiday D-Lights Yuletide Fantasy VIP Services Wilderness Back Trail Adventure