Reviews of Magic Behind Our Steam Trains – Magic Kingdom
Reviewed by BigJ91 Review Date: 03/10/2020
Rating: (10) Recommended
A true Walt Disney enthusiast or a railroad enthusiast will do this tour.
Pros:
HELLO!!! Get to see Main Street with no crowds, and be able to go back stage and see the locomotive close and personal while keeping safety standards. Exclusive name tag and pin.Cons:
NONE!Reviewed by billndawn Review Date: 09/29/2018
Rating: (10) Recommended
My wife and I took the tour on September 5, 2018. We walked from the Contemporary to the park and gathered outside with other tour folks at 7:15 AM. Our guide was the train engineer, Wendy, who took us inside the park and apologized to us since the engine was "misbehaving" and unavailable to take us behind the scenes back to the maintenance area. A bus arrived shortly and while we were waiting we got to take pictures of an empty Main Street since the park hadn't opened yet. When we got to the maintenance area, our engine was ready and after Wendy explained the operation of a steam engine locomotive and lots of interesting train stories related to daily operations. Then we each got to board the engine and sit in the engineer seat for photos. Then the train ride back to the Main Street station after a stop for Water at the Fantasy Station. Finally a short presentation on the steam train history and how important trains were to Walt. We were all disappointed to learn that the trains will be down sometime in the near future as the construction for the Tron ride ramps up. Catch this tour while you can.
Pros:
Informative, fun, see the maintenance facilityCons:
none for usReviewed by Smitty Review Date: 11/02/2016
Rating: (10) Recommended
My husband and I booked the Sept 15th tour. We took a cab from the French Quarter in order to be at MK by 7:30am for check-in. We were dropped off at the Contemporary and walked over.
There were 10 of us in the tour and Joe was our Engineer. We got our name tags and then took the train to the roundhouse where the other trains and monorails are kept. We got to see the yellow monorail come out and start its day. Joe went over every detail of how the trains operate and we all took turns in in the tinder and saw how the boilers work. Seeing what the engineers do to keep these trains running is amazing. They love what they do and it shows.
At the end of the tour (approx. 10:30am) we were brought back to the station and Joe told us about some of the history behind it. Then he gave each of us a train tour pin and card. Joe is a great Engineer and converted me from a "Tag Along" to a train buff !
Pros:
Dedication of Cast MembersCons:
NoneReviewed by Brygida Review Date: 07/02/2015
Rating: (10) Recommended
I loved this tour and would absolutely do it again. It was, however, nearly unbearable in the summer heat, even starting at 7:15am in the morning. Our tour guide was an engineer himself and obviously LOVES his job. You get to hop on the train right after the morning hello show and go to the roundhouse. The roundhouse is where all the trains and monorails sleep for the night. 🙂 Great history of all the trains and how they got there. Go to a bathroom break BEFORE the tour, because there is no stop for a couple hours as you are backstage. Once you learn about all the safety checks that the trains go through each morning before they are allowed into service, you get back on the train to fill up with water at the Fantasyland Station. Then its back to Main Street Station and the Walt Disney / train history presentation. Did you know that the engineers in the engine car are only allowed to go around the world twice before they have to take a break, because it is 204degreesF in that engine! I thought my 11 year old son would like this better, but I think the summer heat did him in. Probably best not to do this tour in summer.