Popular EPCOT Tours to Return in October

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks, Epcot

While some backstage tours at Walt Disney World have resumed this year, many have yet to return. Thankfully, Disney has announced the return of some fan-favorite tours at EPCOT.

From a Disney Cast Member;

From immersive attractions, flavorful festivals, and interactive pavilions that spark your curiosity and enable you to experience cultures and cuisine from around the world, EPCOT truly offers something for everyone. And with the park transforming before our eyes – and preparing to celebrate its 40th anniversary on Oct. 1 – it’s an exciting time to experience EPCOT!

And now, there are three more reasons to visit! I’m thrilled to share additional fan-favorite tours from our Enchanting Extras Collection are returning to EPCOT beginning Oct. 2, adding to and completing the previously announced lineup of highly popular tours returning to Walt Disney World Resort.

These personalized experiences offer an exciting look at the magic of possibilities and provide you with the unique ability to experience EPCOT by land and by sea!

Experience The Land:

If you like the Living with the Land attraction at EPCOT or have an interest in gardening and natural sciences, then you’ll love Behind the Seeds!

This one-hour walking tour gives you an up-close and personal view of amazing plants, insects and fish throughout four state-of-the-art greenhouses.

Take in the sights and smells of unusual crops from around the world as you explore the future of agriculture. Your knowledgeable guide will help you discover some of the latest plant-growing techniques in use at The Land, including hydroponics, and provide ideas you can try at home in your own garden!

Experience The Seas:

The Seas with Nemo & Friends is home to more than 2,000 sea creatures representing over 90 aquatic species including sea turtles, angelfish, dolphins, eagle rays and sharks.

With the return of EPCOT Seas Adventures – DiveQuest, guests once again can dive right into this 5.7-million-gallon saltwater environment and immerse themselves into the sea life surrounding the coral reef. This experience offers SCUBA-certified guests guaranteed calm seas, unlimited visibility, no current and incredible marine life.

If you aren’t SCUBA-certified or prefer to stay on your “sea legs,” don’t worry; there is a tour for you, too! With the return of EPCOT Seas Adventures – Dolphins in Depth, guests can meet the bottlenose dolphins at The Seas to learn about their complex undersea behavior and talk with the experts who work with them every day.

These guest-favorite tours return beginning Oct. 2 and are on sale beginning Aug. 22 on DisneyWorld.com or the My Disney Experience app. Due to the popularity of these tours, advance bookings are highly recommended. Please note the Behind the Seeds experience requires a valid theme park admission and reservation. For a complete list of the Enchanting Extras Collection across Walt Disney World Resort, click here.

Disney Announces Return of Behind-the-Scenes Tours at Walt Disney World in 2022

Posted on by Mathew Corn Animal Kingdom, Disney Parks, Disney Resorts, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, Magic Kingdom

Since the Walt Disney World theme parks reopened in July 2020, one of the offerings that have been missing are behind-the-scenes tours. Thankfully, some of the tours in the Enchanting Extras Collection are returning in February 2022.

With The Walt Disney World Resort 50th Anniversary celebration well underway and the holidays just around the corner, it’s an exciting time to visit. For those of you with a love of animals, adventure and the outdoors – and those seeking to discover how Walt Disney’s vision, innovation and creativity brought Magic Kingdom Park to life – things are about to get a lot more exciting with the return of some of our fan-favorite tours from our Enchanting Extras Collection!

Guests who want to get even closer to the magic of nature and Disney now can book a number of tours as we continue our phased approach to bring back these world-class offerings and experiences. Looking for the perfect holiday gift idea you won’t soon lose or forget? Putting together your bucket list for the new year and looking to add some excitement? Making a resolution to spend more time outdoors? Then try one of the following tours available for booking and returning beginning Feb. 6, 2022:

Disney’s Keys to the Kingdom

Unlock the fascinating history of Magic Kingdom Park, where fantasy reigns, and gain backstage access to legendary hidden areas on this five-hour walking tour! Access the underground “Utilidor” service tunnels, learn hidden secrets of classic attractions, enjoy a delicious lunch and so much more on this backstage tour of the most iconic theme park at Walt Disney World Resort.

Caring for Giants

Delve into the wondrous world of the largest inhabitants of Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park during this 60-minute tour for an experience you’ll never forget. Meet with a knowledgeable guide who will provide insight into the inner workings of our African elephant herd and share a glimpse into the day-to-day care for these amazing animals. Learn how Disney’s conservation efforts are dedicated to the preservation of wild elephant populations around the world as you observe these gentle giants from a private, backstage viewing area!

Wild Africa Trek

Perhaps my personal favorite, Wild Africa Trek combines action, adventure and education into a three-hour exhilarating safari adventure at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, where nature is truly alive with magic. Cross a swinging rope bridge near crocodiles and view towering giraffes, powerful rhinos and hippos as you ride across the open savanna in a rugged safari vehicle. Along your journey, a knowledgeable guide will share insights about the majestic animals you’re viewing as well as details about the park’s dedication to animal conservation around the world.

Up Close with Rhinos

Want to get even closer to nature? This 60-minute tour takes you backstage to meet our planet’s second-largest land animal in ways few people can. As your guides introduce you to the white rhinos at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, they’ll offer fascinating insights into the species’ behavior and biology, and discuss the challenges that threaten populations in the wild.

Savor the Savanna

Is all of this excitement making you hungry? Then explore the sights, sounds – and TASTES – of Africa on Disney’s Animal Kingdom’s Savor the Savanna tour available for booking later this month. Indulge in a sampling of African-inspired cuisine, paired with a selection of regional beer and wine offerings, as you gaze out across the Harambe Wildlife Reserve. And listen as a private guide shares tales of the unique residents who inhabit the reserve and the special animal care provided at the park.

Walt Disney World Resort is sure to be even more magical as we welcome back these fan favorites in 2022 and continue The World’s Most Magical Celebration in honor of the Walt Disney World Resort 50th anniversary!

Advance bookings are highly recommended for all tours and can be made on DisneyWorld.com or the My Disney Experience app. Experiences located at Magic Kingdom Park and Disney’s Animal Kingdom require valid theme park admission and reservations.

Disney Shares 360-Degree Virtual Tours of Oga’s Cantina & Dok-Ondar’s at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks, Hollywood Studios

Today, August 29, is Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge one year anniversary! Disney is celebrating with two videos sharing a look inside the popular lounge, Oga’s Cantina, and Dok-Ondar’s Den of Antiquities. Check out the details and video below as shared by DisneyParksBlog:

Rising moons! Today is an exciting day, as it marks the one-year anniversary of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. We’re taking you on a virtual, 360-degree trip inside two of the most popular venues in the land: Oga’s Cantina and Dok-Ondar’s Den of Antiquities!

These two videos capture one of my favorite things about traveling to Black Spire Outpost on Batuu … I literally just love standing still and looking around. There’s so much to see, so much to hear, so many incredible details to soak in – I seem to discover something new every time I visit.

Dok-Ondar’s Den of Antiquities is the perfect place for this type of visual exploration, with its eclectic selection of rare and mysterious items. In this 360-degree video, you can look around the shop and learn more about many of the artifacts that adorn its walls. 

Oga’s Cantina is where people gather in Black Spire Outpost to share their stories with one another. In this 360-degree video, you can look around the vibrant watering hole and listen to the music provided by DJ R-3X (I’m pretty sure you’ll recognize the tune he’s playing). You may want to watch this while using a pair of earphones – it sure sounds like there are some whispers from a galaxy far, far away I’m detecting in there. After all, you never know what you may overhear in Oga’s Cantina …