Tours Return to Disney World in 2022
Walt Disney World has announced the return of select guided tours at Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom in 2022. This post will offer a rundown of the returning options from the Enchanting Extras Collection, plus behind the scenes tours at Epcot, Hollywood Studios, and beyond that we’re hoping also make a comeback.
Visitors to Walt Disney World who want to get even closer to nature and the inner-workings of the parks now can book a number of tours. This comes as Walt Disney World continues year two of its phased reopening following the ~3 month closure of the parks.
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 February 6, 2022…
Up Close with Rhinos – In this 60-minute guided adventure, the rhinos’ keepers will take you backstage to meet Earth’s second-largest creatures in ways that few people ever do.
Guides introduce you to the white rhinos at Animal Kingdom, offering fascinating insights into the species’ behavior and biology, and discuss the challenges that threaten populations in the wild.
Wild Africa Trek – A true guest favorite that has received rave reviews from readers, Wild Africa Trek combines action, adventure and education into a three-hour adventure at Animal Kingdom. 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 Wild Africa Trek, a knowledgeable guide will share insights about the majestic animals you’re viewing as well as details about Animal Kingdom’s dedication to wildlife conservation around the world.
Caring for Giants – Delve into the wondrous world of the largest inhabitants of Animal Kingdom 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!
Savor the Savanna – Explore the sights, sounds, and tastes of Africa on Disney’s Animal Kingdom’s Savor the Savanna tour available for booking later in December 2021.
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.
Disney’s Keys to the Kingdom – Unlock the fascinating history of Magic Kingdom, 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.
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 and Animal Kingdom require valid theme park admission and reservations. Stay tuned for more updates on future tour offerings from the Enchanting Extras Collection, including the Starlight Safari at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge.
While this is a welcome update, it really only addresses two popular tours about which readers have been asking most regularly–Wild Africa Trek and Keys to the Kingdom. Other popular tours and add-ons from the Enchanting Extras collection include Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, Marceline to Magic Kingdom, Behind the Seeds at Epcot, DiveQuest, Dolphins in Depth, and more. (Disney’s Hollywood Studios also never got any new Star Wars tours for Galaxy’s Edge, and those seem like an inevitability at some point.)
Some of the tours and upcharges that remain suspended are a bit more “up close and personal” than others, so it’s understandable why Walt Disney World wouldn’t be comfortable bringing them back just yet. Others are likely a matter of staffing, and could see their returns announced sooner rather than later. With a couple of the Epcot tours, the overhaul is a complicating factor.
Honestly, I’ve come to realize I’m not a “tour person” so this news isn’t huge for me. Sarah has done many more guided tours and enjoys them a lot more than I do–she’s the one to ask about those, because our reviews of the exact same experience have often differed dramatically!
In any case, I view any incremental step towards normalcy as progress–moving in the right direction. While I think the whole “phased reopening process” has taken way too long, I’m also cognizant of the many externalities that have impeded Walt Disney World. I’m also aware of several specific situations where Disney dynamically made things happen quickly–much faster than would’ve occurred in normal years. (This year’s Christmas entertainment and offerings are big specific examples.)
In any case, we expect Walt Disney World to make more announcements in early 2022 about special events and tours returning to the parks in the new year. The month or so right after Christmas is an incredibly popular time for new bookings and it seems likely Disney will want to capitalize on this.
Perhaps this is nothing more than wishful thinking on my part, but it would be savvy for Walt Disney World to come out swinging, announcing as much as possible–perhaps even the return of Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party and Christmas Party–early in 2022. It won’t undo all of the damage, but aggressively making a good faith attempt to restore more of the normal guest experience could ease some (not all) of the recent guest frustrations.
Planning a Walt Disney World trip? Learn about hotels on our Walt Disney World Hotels Reviews page. For where to eat, read our Walt Disney World Restaurant Reviews. To save money on tickets or determine which type to buy, read our Tips for Saving Money on Walt Disney World Tickets post. Our What to Pack for Disney Trips post takes a unique look at clever items to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Ride Guides will help. For comprehensive advice, the best place to start is our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide for everything you need to know!
Your Thoughts
What do you think of this news about guided tours returning to Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom? Planning on booking any of this? Hoping more gets announced soon? Awaiting the return of tours to Epcot or elsewhere? Do you agree or disagree with our advice? Any questions we can help you answer? Hearing your feedback–even when you disagree with us–is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!
Help!! I’m doing a Keys to the Kingdom tour when I go in February. Park open is 9 and my tour time is 8 so i’m supposed to be in MK by 7:45 for it. Will the monorail and ferry be running early enough to get there in time?
I’m really looking forward to DiveQuest opening up! I’ve heard it’s amazing.
This is great news! I’m hoping the tours at Animal Kingdom Lodge will return before our trip in May 2022. I’m bringing my child and her best friend to AKL for my daughter’s high school graduation & would love either the Sense of Arica tour or the Starlight Safari tour for them. Fingers crossed!
I went on the Keys to the Kingdom tour back in Dec 2019. Loved it. We had a great tour guide that had been at Disney for many years so he was very knowledgable. We went on two rides and got history of the rides (we did Jungle Cruise and Haunted Mansion). We had lunch. The best part was the behind the scenes (where the floats are kept) and under Disney in the Utilidor. Learned a lot about Disney. .. We also got a key to the kindom pin. I would recommend it. (we did the tour that was for adults only).
If you’re reading websites like this almost every day, you would enjoy Keys to the Kingdom, even if everything isn’t new to you. For Letty and others wondering, it was definitely wheelchair accessible for the most part; if the guest is able to transfer from a wheelchair to a ride vehicle, there should be no problems whatsoever. (My parents have done Wild Africa Trek; it sounded like there are parts that are less accessible than others.)
I’m assuming I’ll have to wait longer for The Magic Behind Our Steam Trains tour to come back.
Are there any tours available to disabled guests on scooters or wheelchairs? Thanks in advance.
We did the Keys to the Kingdom tour several years ago, and it was FANTASTIC. Highly recommend it. Our guide was awesome, and she had the Disney Magic to the max. Her personal story as a long time Disney Cast Member literally brought us to tears. We did go to a back area of the Haunted Mansion, as well as see the Utilidoors, the area where cast members are working and preparing, and the area that parade floats etc are stored. We learned so much, and seeing the “behind the scenes” magic made it even more magical for us, as we were big fans, and enjoyed seeing some of the “moving parts” that you really can’t see when watching the magic as a guest.
My wife and I love the tours. Without knowing you ClarkeW I feel safe in saying you’ll enjoy the Keys to the Kingdom tour. We’ve done quite a few and I don’t remember if this one took us into a rare area in the haunted Mansion but they all are wonderful and the utilidors alone are worth seeing. A lot depends on your guide. We always had excellent guides but I’ve no idea if that is still the case with turnover since covid. My guess is that they wouldn’t let anyone give a tour that didn’t measure up to the highest of standards. Be sure to ask questions.
Has anyone been on the Keys to the Kingdom tour before? I’m doing a Disney World trip in April and have a spare day I wasn’t sure what to do with, but I think I’d be super interested in this. Did those of you who that have done this before enjoy it? Was it worth the price?
Thanks for the heads up Tom. We have been waiting for tours to return, especially the ones at Animal Kingdom. We did Caring For Giants a few years back and absolutely loved it. There is so much more to learn from these tours than what you can get from the regular safari.