There’s something about the magic of Disney World that keeps people coming back for more. And for those who simply can’t get enough of the magic, Disney offers a variety of extra separate ticket tours that go beyond the average day in a theme park.

Disney’s Backstage Magic Tour

You don’t have to be a Disney employee to discover some of the secrets behind the magic of Walt Disney World Resort. Disney’s Backstage Magic Tour offers an inside look at some of the creative and technical operations utilized behind the scenes. This is a unique opportunity to see how Disney utilizes innovative special effects to create world-class entertainment while bringing elaborate attractions to life.

At Epcot, the tour reveals some of the details that make The American Adventure such a popular attraction. Tour guests will also get a different view of Main Street, U.S.A. at Magic Kingdom when guided through a hidden world - the park’s legendary underground “Utilidor” tunnel system.

After a family-style lunch at the Whispering Canyon Café at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, guests will visit the Disney World Nursery & Tree Farm to see how horticulture and landscape design are to create an endless variety of uniquely themed environments.  

The tour continues to Disney’s Hollywood Studios where you’ll see how Disney Imagineers combined cutting-edge design with breakthrough technology to create the popular Twilight Zone Tower of Terror.

You’ll also discover how wardrobe plays such an important part of the Disney magic. See how the Creative Costuming team outfits show and parade performers. And then complete your 7-hour long tour with an up-close look Mickey’s Jammin’ Jungle Parade at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

The Backstage Magic Tour is open to guests 16 years and older who carry government-issued photo identification. Lunch is included with the tour. Theme Park admission is not required or included.

Disney’s Family Magic Tour

For a shorter family tour, you might want to try Disney’s Family Magic Tour. Guests are invited on a 1 ½ to 2-hour guided interactive quest to save the Magic Kingdom from the dastardly plans of a Disney Villain.

Although guests of all ages are welcome, this tour is ideally designed for those 4 to 10 years of age. Led by a tour guide, you’ll be asked to search for and follow clues throughout the Magic Kingdom, solve diabolical puzzles and participate in a fun-filled scavenger hunt.

Magic Kingdom theme park admission is required and is not included in the price of this tour.

Keys to the Kingdom Tour

Who wouldn’t want the keys to the Kingdom… the Magic Kingdom! This unique tour highlights the long and fascinating history of Walt Disney World Resort while offering backstage access to secret areas of the theme park.

Guests must be at least 16 years of age to participate in this 4.5-hour walking tour. You’ll explore some of the stories behind the Magic Kingdom while learning how Walt Disney’s innovative ideas, revolutionary visions and creative philosophies made it all possible. The tour includes stops at backstage facilities and a number of favorite attractions.

One special highlight is a trip below Magic Kingdom theme park into the legendary service tunnels referred to as Utilidors, or utility corridors. Guest accessible areas of Magic Kingdom are actually on the “second floor” of a massive structure. The first floor, called the Utilidors, allows Cast Members, deliveries and even trash to be unknowingly transported without disturbing the guests’ experience in the theme park.

Magic Kingdom theme park admission is required and is not included in the price of this tour.

Being a Leap Year, 2012 brings us an extra day on Feb. 29. And to celebrate, Disney will keep two of its parks open for a full 24-hour period from 6 am on Feb. 29 thru 6 am on March 1.

The “One More Disney Day” promotion is the first of its kind for Disney which will keep Orlando’s Magic Kingdom as well as Disneyland Park in California open on Feb. 29.

Disney also announced that its theme parks will extend their “Let the Memories Begin” campaign throughout 2012. By staying open 24 hours on Feb. 29, Disney is aiming to give guests an opportunity to take advantage of every minute of that extra day to make special Disney memories.

Visitors with limited time may try to race through the Disney theme parks in an effort to see and do as much as possible. But in early January, there’s a much better way to race through Disney World.

Runners should mark their calendars for the weekend of Jan. 6-8, 2012 and Disney’s popular Festival of Races - a 3-day event with upwards of 50,000 or more competitors that has grown into the largest combined running event in the country.

The weekend schedule includes a Family 5k Fun Run on Friday, a Half Marathon (13.1 miles) on Saturday, and a Full Marathon (26.2 miles) on Sunday. Runners can also compete in both the half and full marathons in what’s known as Goofy’s Race and a Half Challenge (39.3 total miles). Those runners receive 3 medals for completing the 2 races.

Disney races are open to competitors of all ages and abilities and many walkers also participate given the generous 16:00 minute per mile pace time specified by Disney to complete the race.

All races go through the Disney theme parks and you’ll find a variety of popular Disney characters and entertainers all along the course. Disney also provides bands, high school cheer teams, DJs, dancers and other entertainment along the way.

The Family 5k Fun Run takes place entirely inside the Epcot theme park. The Half Marathon starts outside Epcot, runs up to the Magic Kingdom, then heads back to Epcot through Future World before finishing in the Epcot parking lot.

The full Marathon starts at Epcot, runs up to and through Magic Kingdom, then down to Animal Kingdom and over to Disney’s Hollywood Studios before leading back to the finish at the Epcot parking lot.

The holiday season remains one of the most popular times to visit Orlando’s world famous theme parks. And to help visitors get the most out of their visit, Disney’s Magic Kingdom offers some extended hours and additional Christmas events.

One of the highlights is the “Mickey’s Once Upon A Christmastime Parade.” A staple during the extra ticket event, Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, the parade is currently being run at the 3 pm slot that normally features Disney’s Celebrate a Dream parade. The Christmas parade includes Disney characters in holiday costumes, marching toy soldiers, special floats and prancing reindeer. Visitors can also catch the park’s special Holiday Wishes fireworks show at 10 pm.

Beginning on Christmas Day, the Magic Kingdom will also offer two renditions of the Main Street Electrical Parade.

On Dec. 30 and 31, the park will offer its assortment of parades, plus two sets of fireworks – Holiday Wishes at 10 pm and then “Fantasy in the Sky” fireworks at 11:50 pm.

Of course, Disney’s other Orlando parks also offer holiday events, including theCandlelight Processional at Epcot, Mickey’s Jingle Jungle Parade at Disney’s Animal Kingdom and the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

 For discount theme park tickets and discount Orlando family vacation packages, go to www.westgatereservations.com.

While construction continues on the new Fantasyland at Disney World’s Magic Kingdom,^® the park has announced that the area’s first phase - Storybook Circus - will open in early 2012.

Situated in the area formerly known as Mickey’s Toontown Fair, the new Storybook Circus is based on the popular Disney animated feature, “Dumbo.” It will feature big-top circus tents leading to the relocated Dumbo the Flying Elephant ride. A second Dumbo ride will eventually be added and the two rides will be connected by an interactive queue.

In addition to the dual Dumbo rides, Storybook Circus will offer a new water play area and the Great Goofini mini roller coaster. The coaster is a retooled version of the former Barnstormer at Goofy’s Wiseacre Farm.

The extensive Fantasyland expansion will ultimately include a number of other high profile rides and attractions, including a dark ride called Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid. Another major area will be dedicated to “Beauty and the Beast” and will include the “Be Our Guest” restaurant and Gaston’s Tavern. A new roller coaster is also in the plans, called the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train.

While other theme parks are trying their best to scare the daylights out of guests with their Halloween themed events, Disney’s Magic Kingdom offers up Mickey’s No-So-Scary Halloween Party that’s appropriate for children of all ages.

A separate ticket event, this Halloween bash also encourages guests to dress up in their favorite costume and trick-or-treat around the Magic Kingdom.  Many of Disney’s most popular Characters and Villains will also be decked out in their Halloween costumes as the park is transformed into a kid-friendly “Spooky” Party, thanks to special lighting, music and themed effects.

Guests can enjoy many of the park’s rides and attractions in addition to special entertainment such as Mickey’s “Boo-to-you” Halloween parade, which begins with a ride by the Headless Horseman.

The evening concludes with Happy HalloWishes, a spectacular fireworks show featuring Disney Villains trick-or-treating in the sky.

Trick-or-Treating - Guests receive Trick-or-Treat Bags and candy stations are located throughout the Magic Kingdom. There’s no limit to how many times you can go back to the same location for more!

Alice & Mad Hatter’s Treat Trail, which started in Toontown and ended by Space Mountain in Tomorrowland, has been re-imagined as Br’er Rabbit’s Candy Patch and will be near Splash Mountain in Frontierland.

Mickey’s Boo-to-You Halloween Parade - See your favorite Characters dressed up in their Halloween costumes. Floats feature Disney Villains and Disney friends. Times:  8:15 pm and 10:30 pm.

Happy HalloWishes Fireworks - The Haunted Mansion’s Grim Grinning Ghosts Come Out to Socialize with a party in the sky during this spectacular t fireworks show. Time: 9:30 pm.

Halloween Dance Parties - Dance the night away with Disney Character friends at two park locations: “Rock it Out…Stitch’s Club 626″ takes place at the Rocket Tower Plaza Stage in Tomorrowland, and “Woody’s Happy Harvest Roundup” happens at the Diamond Horseshoe Review in Liberty Square.

Disney Villains Mix & Mingle - Classic Disney villains perform in a special show at the Castle Forecourt Stage. Times:  7:45, 8:50, 10:05, 11:15 pm.

Meet & Greets - Disney characters appear in Halloween costumes. The main site will be in the Town Square Theater where Mickey and Minnie relocated when their houses were removed from Toontown. The Disney Princesses will be in the theater as well, and Duffy the Disney Bear and Winnie the Pooh and friends will be outside by the flagpole. Other Characters can be found throughout the Magic Kingdom, including Snow White and her Seven Dwarfs in Frontierland.

2011 Event Dates / Times:
September: 20, 23, 27, 30
October: 2, 6, 7, 10, 11, 13, 16, 18, 20, 21, 23, 25, 27, 28, 30, 31
November: 1
Hours: 7:00 pm - midnight

Orlando’s theme parks are full of Halloween entertainment. From the very scary at Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights to the kid’s fun at SeaWorld’s Halloween Spooktacular, there’s something for everyone.

At Disney’s Magic Kingdom, you’ll find Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party already in full swing. The annual, separate ticket event allows guests an opportunity to dress up in their costumes and trick-or-treat alongside favorite Disney Characters and Villains.

The Villians Mix and Mingle show has been restyled for this year and now features Dr. Facilier, the voodoo doctor from Disney’s “The Princess and the Frog” movie. The main musical number for this highly choreographed show is “Friends on the Other Side” from the same movie. The song offers up visual highlights like black-light effects and illuminations. As in the past, the show is followed by a fun meet-and-greet with the Disney Villains.

This year’s event at Magic Kingdom also offers a new trick-or-treat zone, Br’er Rabbit’s Laughin’ Place Candy Patch. The new candy patch area is located adjacent to Splash Mountain in Frontierland and replaces the former Alice & Mad Hatter’s Treat Trail that was formerly located in the old Mickey’s Toontown Fair.

For information on discount Disney tickets and discount Orlando family vacation packages, please visit http://www.westgatereservations.com/.

London is preparing for another Royal celebration - this time, Disney style.

The Walt Disney Co. has announced that its popular character Rapunzel will become the 10th official Disney Princess at a high-profile celebration at Kensington Palace in London on October 2, 2011.

Rapunzel will join Disney’s illustrious royal court and stand alongside the other recognized princesses - Ariel, Aurora, Belle, Cinderella, Jasmine, Mulan, Pocahontas, Snow White and Tiana. Celebrities and little princesses from around the world will be invited to participate in a royal celebration that will include a special party and a procession through Hyde Park.

The star of Disney’s animated hit movie, Tangled, Rapunzel will eventually marry her true love Flynn Rider in a short Disney animation special to be broadcast on the Disney Channel in spring 2012. Tangled has already become one of the Top Ten biggest-grossing Disney movies of all time - surpassing Toy Story, Beauty and the Beast, Cars and Toy Story 2.

Once officially recognized as a member of the Disney Princess court, Rapunzel will get her own Disney Princess line of products and she will appear at Disney parks wearing the royal tiara that was stolen by Flynn in the Tangled movie.

For additional information about Disney World parks and discount Orlando vacation packages, visit http://www.orlandothemeparkvacations.com/ or http://www.westgatereservations.com/.

The birds are back. Or at least they will be this summer.

According to Walt Disney World Resort, the Enchanted Tiki Room at Disney’s Magic Kingdom is being revamped and updated since a small fire closed the attraction back in January.

One of the original Magic Kingdom attractions, the revised Enchanted Tiki Room will re-open this summer at the Orlando theme park. The show, featuring dozens of animatronic singing tropical birds, will revert back to a version similar to the original show.

Freshly revamped, the long-awaited re-opening of Disney’s Star Tours attraction is scheduled for Friday, May 20, at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

Guests will enjoy a variety of all new scenes, in a vivid 3-D adventure full of surprises.  And with 54 different combinations of scenes, there will be plenty of reason for Star Wars fans to ride the motion simulated attraction again and again. The film length for each ride is 4 minutes and 20 seconds and range from launch scenes with Darth Vader using the Force to a pod race on Tatooine to high intensity, dramatic endings.

Each ride sequence is filled with Star Wars characters, from the most popular to some of the most obscure. In addition, each ride will have one passenger singled out, on the screen, as a rebel spy. For added fun, in the security area of the refurbished queue, a robot called G290 will scan luggage and interact with guests. Meanwhile, G240 will be scanning humans so guests will see a thermal-scan version of themselves on screen.