A Walk in Walts Footsteps Tour Review (with Lilly Belle Photos)

On July 17th, I took “A Walk in Walts Footsteps” tour at Disneyland.  With my AAA discount, I paid $47.20, which included lunch.   For those of you who have looked into going on the tour, the lunch is no longer at the Disney Gallery (soon to close), and it’s more of a sandwich and fruit lunch – along with 2 cookies.  Still good, but not the same menu as from the past.

I would guess that each tour is a little different (we rode the Lilly Belle, which isn’t normally part of the tour). 

The tour met at the building next to City Hall:

We received a tour tag to affix to ourselves (a shirt with a button is a good thing to have!)

The tour staff also made up Disneyland birthday buttons for us to wear:

We received headsets to wear, so we could hear Krystal better.  She was a great tour guide!  I’d read a few reports of the tour over the last few years, and generally the writers don’t say much (because of spoilers).  I can honestly say, there weren’t too many spoilers on my tour!   Much of what was said, I’d read or heard before.

We walked along Main Street towards the Opera House.  I love that Disneyland still has so much Main Street transportation!

While standing on Main Street, Krystal gave us a run-down on Walt Disney.  (i.e. – the impact of living in Marceline, etc.)  She talked about the forced perspective, the set design of Main Street, and mentioned Walts love of trains.  Inside the Opera House, there is an area dedicated to that (as well as plans for the original Disneyland).

 

We heard about the first day of Disneyland (restrooms or water fountains?)  Again, not a lot new as far as information.

We went into the fire station, below Walts apartment:

We stopped at the Main Street Cinema and discussed animation as it related to Walt.   I do wish that Walt Disney World had never changed it’s cinema and arcade to shops!

Next stop, Frontierland – originally the largest section of Disneyland.   The Golden Horseshoe Revue ran for 30 years, and and is in the Guiness Book of World Records for being the longest running musical of all time!

Fess Parkers window: 

We then headed to New Orleans Square.   This is my personal favorite part of the park for theming!  On the way, she reiterated what I’d already heard about the Disney Gallery closing (July 31st).  I am very disappointed about this, I always have enjoyed visiting when in Disneyland.

There is a stop in the lobby of Club 33 as part of the tour.

Inside the lobby of Club 33: 

We stopped to ride the Jungle Cruise, and then watched the show in the Tiki Room.  The highlight of that was after the show in the Tiki Room, we got to pose with “Ophelia”, an original flower from the show.  Ophelia is no longer in use for the attraction.  Ophelia reminded me of Audrey from Little Shop of Horrors!

We went from the Tiki Room, over to Sleeping Beauty Castle – all 77 feet (tall) of it!   This is less than half the height of Cinderellas Castle at Walt Disney World.  We stood in a little courtyard that isn’t normally open for guests.

Weaving around the castle, we made our way to Snow Whites Grotto.  It is well known that Snow White is as tall as the dwarves – but she looks taller (due to her placement).  The swan is real. 🙂

Peter Pan joined our group for a few minutes, as we learned about the Matterhorn (147 feet tall):

The following is not the usual part of the tour  – but we were in the right place at the right time!  We didn’t have too many tour group members (to ride), the Lilly Belle was on the track, and we made it to the station in time to get on.   I’d missed the tour on Monday and rescheduled to Tuesday – so that worked out perfectly for me (otherwise I’d not have gotten to ride!)  This was Walt Disney’s car that he’d ride in around the park.

After our ride, it was time for lunch.  I ordered a turkey sandwich, which came with fruit and the two cookies and a drink.

We ate at the tables next to the tour booth.   Krystal actually stayed and answered questions for a half hour or more afterwards, and I learned more in that time than on the tour.  Like, about Mary Blairs doll at IASW.  That was new to me.   And a number of other things.   So  – while the tour wasn’t terribly new to me information wise, I did have several unique experiences – as well as learned a few things afterwards.