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Adventurers Club

by Sue Schultz, December 2000

On Monday, December 4, 2000 my husband and I took the Yuletide Fantasy Tour. We met our tour guide, Carrie, at 8:45 a.m. at Epcot guest relations. We had 15 in the group. I would say that all were veteran Disney travelers and were looking for something special to add to their trip. We especially were excited about the tour as this was our first time seeing Disney in all it's Christmas Magic. We were not disappointed.

We started our tour backstage through the area getting ready for Illuminations 2000 and saw the barges and all the other workings that help put on this tremendous show.

In World Showcases we started in Germany. It was wonderful being in the World Showcase before it was opened to the general public. It gave a really sense of peace and awe to view the countries and listen to the explanations about the different traditions each place had and what impact there was on certain traditions that we still do today. The countries we visited were Germany, Italy and Japan and also the American Adventure and talked about all our American traditions and also viewed the Jewish and Kwanzaa displays there too.

Back into the van and we were transported to MGM. We came onstage in New York Street and saw the Osborne Spectacle of Lights. Carrie told us about the history of the Lights and how Disney came to using them for the Christmas Festivities. We headed for the main street of MGM and saw the Christmas of the 40's & 50's Hollywood style.

Back to our "coach" and off to Magic Kingdom. It was like going back into time and reappearing in Dickens's Christmas Carol. The trees, street and all were decorated in all its' Victorian Finery.

We finished our trip at the Wilderness Lodge. Carrie told us about the trees used in the various parks and on site properties and the theming done. Disney has it's own department that makes the various ribbons used in decorating the trees, etc. through out the properties. They have a whole Department devoted to Christmas only and are kept busy year round. On our way back to Epcot Carrie gave us each a beautiful 2000 porcelain ornament as a remembrance of our tour. We really enjoyed this special peek behind the scenes and recommend this tour very highly.

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 Hidden Treasures - Ended 4/27/07 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

General Tours BackStage Magic Yuletide Fantasy VIP Services