backstage studio tour disney

Yikes! That’s a long attraction. It’s a good thing there are restrooms at the halfway point.

Disney-MGM Studios—built to be both a theme park and an actual production studio—opened to the public on May 1, 1989. The Backstage Studio Tour was the park’s major attraction.

Here’s how USA Today (“Disney-MGM Studio park makes debut,” by Craig Wilson, May 1, 1989) described the attraction:

The Backstage Studio Tour first segment transports you by tram behind the scenes of a set, where you’ll see The Golden Girls’ house, a New York City street and skyline before you endure an earthquake, fire, explosions, monsoons and other near-disasters. The second segment is on foot, to special-effects areas (complete with a battle at sea), editing rooms and sound stages.

Before the end of 1989, guests were allowed to walk on New York Street. The two-hour tour quickly became shorter.

The 1991 Guide Book listed the Backstage Studio Tour featuring Catastrophe Canyon as a “30-minute shuttle ride.” The walking portion was billed as a separate attraction, Inside the Magic: Special Effects and Production Tour .

The walking tour limped along, with guests often looking down into empty soundstages. The Walt Disney Theatre, which originally showed a preview of the newest Disney movie as the final part of the walking tour, was transformed into a short-lived stage show, Here Come The Muppets , and then into the long-running live show, The Voyage of the Little Mermaid .

Guide Maps in 1994 listed the Backstage Studio Tour as a “25-minute shuttle ride” and Inside the Magic as a “35-minute tour.” The park had grown into a much more complete theme park, especially with the July 1994 opening of Sunset Boulevard and The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror . At the same time, the production facilities failed to take off as a “real movie studio.”

In 1996, the Backstage Studio Tour was renamed the Studio Backlot Tour and its entrance moved to the far end of Mickey Avenue, where the walking tour had previously begun. The water tank special effects stage became the opening act for the tram tour.

The entrance to the walking tour moved next door. Inside the Magic was renamed Backstage Pass (often appended with a movie name, such as Backstage Pass to 101 Dalmatians ). The television series Mortal Kombat: Conquest was filmed at Disney-MGM for its one-season run (1998 - 1999). When the series was canceled, Disney bought the sets so that walking tour guests would have something to look at.

In 2001, the Backstage Pass walking tour closed permanently.

Four photos by Allen Huffman, 1998

The walking tour entrance repurposed as the tram tour entrance

Four photos by Allen Huffman, 1996 and 1997

Water tank special effects stage

Four photos by Allen Huffman, 1998 and 2001

Residential Street

Boneyard vehicles

Two photos by Allen Huffman, 2001

Washington Square Arch and backlot church

The Studio Backlot Tour began with a modified version of the water effects tank from the walking tour. Then, instead of continuing to the special effects workshop and soundstages, guests went through a prop warehouse and onto an abbreviated tram tour.

The residential street was removed in 2003 to make way for the huge Lights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show , so the tram tour only had the costume department, scenic shop, Catastrophe Canyon, and miscellaneous boneyard props along the route.

Photo by Werner Weiss, 2007

Modified water effects tank in 2007

Costuming—for the parks, not for movie production

Catastrophe Canyon, always the big scene of the tram tour

In it final years, the whole tour was just 35 minutes.

Did you ever wonder why there is such an imposing studio gate at the entrance to the Animation Courtyard?

Studio gate with Disney-MGM Studios signage (1989 - 2007)

It’s because it originally served as the entrance into the “movie studio” where the Backstage Studio Tour began. The idea was that you were leaving the public street (Hollywood Boulevard) and entering a movie studio complex. Real movie studios in Hollywood had entrance gates from city streets.

The Magic of Disney Animation tour—featuring the film Back to Neverland (with Robin Williams and Walter Cronkite) and a working animation studio—had a modest entrance to the right of the Backstage Studio Tour . The Soundstage Restaurant contained sets from the 1988 Bette Midler comedy Big Business . On the second level of the Soundstage Restaurant, guests could drink at the Catwalk Bar, a full bar overlooking the sets. Nearby, the studio’s production facilities turned out movies and television shows, including The All New Mickey Mouse Club (or MMC ). Guests on the walking tour might even see filming in progress.

Photo by Werner Weiss, 2009

Studio gate with the Disney’s Hollywood Studios signage (2008 - )

Gradually, the focus of the plaza inside the studio gate changed to animation. The Soundstage Restaurant was rethemed so the guests sat among “sets” from the animated Aladdin instead of the live-action Big Business . (Later, the former Soundstage Restaurant became the home of live shows based on Disney television programs for young children.) The former Catwalk Bar became a character greeting location. The Voyage of the Little Mermaid is based of the movie that launched Disney’s “Second Golden Age of Animation.” What had once been the tram tour entrance became the grand entrance to The Magic of Disney Animation . With the new focus came a new name for the area—Animation Courtyard.

Surprisingly, when the name of the park changed to Disney’s Hollywood Studios at the beginning of 2008, the Imagineers did not use it as an opportunity to retheme the studio gate as an appropriate entrance to the Animation Courtyard. Instead, they simply replaced the old logo with the new logo.

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© 2014-2020 Werner Weiss — Disclaimers, Copyright, and Trademarks

Updated February 28, 2020.

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Backstage Tours and Experiences • Walt Disney World

Want to experience a different side of the Walt Disney World Resort? A variety of unique Backstage Tours and Experiences are available. Reservations are required for most tours. Unless noted otherwise, tours can be reserved 60 days in advance with a credit card. Full payment is due at the time of booking . Cancellation must occur 48 hours in advance so you avoid forfeiting the entire price of your tour. Park admission is also required for most, but not all tours. A photo ID will usually be required when checking in. Many tours have a small number of guests touring each day, so book early to get the date you desire. Photographs are prohibited in backstage areas. Use the Disney World website or My Disney Experience app for reservations, unless otherwise noted.

Magic Kingdom Tours   Epcot Tours   Animal Kingdom Tours Disney Springs   Multi-Park Tours   Resort Tours

Magic Kingdom Backstage Tours and Experiences

Disney’s keys to the kingdom tour.

Highlights the fascinating history of Walt Disney World Resort and also provides backstage access to secret areas of Magic Kingdom theme park. Includes stops at backstage facilities and a variety of favorite attractions, plus a trip below Magic Kingdom theme park into the service tunnels known as the Utilidors. Guests will be provided with Disney-issued listening devices.

Days & Times: 4 tours daily at 8:00 am, 8:30 am, 9:00 am and 9:30 am

Duration: 4.5 – 5 hours

Price Range: $129-$149 per person, plus tax; includes lunch at Pecos Bill.

Park Admission: Required but not included

Restrictions: Ages 16 and up. Photo ID required. Also, cameras, video equipment and cell phones may not be used throughout the duration of this tour. Photography is prohibited during the tour–even in the park.

Starting Location: Report to Town Square Theater 15 minutes prior. Walking tour is primarily outdoors.

Discounts: Disney Visa (15%), DVC (15%), Annual Pass (15%)

To Reserve: Use the My Disney Experience app or Walt Disney World website. Same-day bookings are on a walk-up basis only, based on availability.

EPCOT Backstage Tours and Experiences

Epcot dive quest.

Description: A unique scuba diving experience inside the 5.7-million-gallon saltwater tank at the Seas with Nemo & Friends Pavilion in EPCOT theme park. Scuba-certified Guests can swim with over 2,000 sea creatures, including sea turtles, angelfish, dolphins, eagle rays, and sharks. All diving equipment is provided. Please bring a swimsuit and, if you wish, bring your own dive mask, particularly if you have a prescription mask.

Days & Times: Daily at 2:00 pm and 5:00 pm

Duration: 3 hours, of which 40 minutes are underwater

Price Range: $229-$249 per person, plus tax

Park Admission: Not Required (or included)

Restrictions: All Guests must be SCUBA-certified and 10 years of age or older to participate. However, guests 10 to 16 years of age must be accompanied by a paying adult (18 years of age or older). You will need to provide proof of certification, such as a C-card or verification from a certifying agency.

Starting Location: Report to EPCOT Guest Relations window outside of the park main entrance 15 minutes prior

To Reserve: Use the My Disney Experience app or Walt Disney World website.

Dolphins in Depth

Guests can learn about and get up close with a school of dolphins at The Seas with Nemo & Friend s Pavilion. First, talk to the expert trainers and researchers who work with dolphins every day. The tour concludes with a very special opportunity for an up-close interaction with a dolphin which is also perfect for pictures. Although not required, please bring a bathing suit if you wish to enter the water. You do not need to swim or be scuba certified to enjoy this program. This experience is limited to 8 participants a day.

Days & Times: Tuesday through Saturday at 10:30 am

Duration: 2 hours

Price Range: $209 per person, plus tax

Restrictions: Guests must be 48″ tall, however guests under the age of 18 years must have a parent or guardian along with them on the tour.

Starting Location: Report to EPCOT Guest Relations window outside of the park main entrance at 9:30 am

Behind the Seeds at EPCOT

See the future of agriculture in greenhouses and labs, release ladybugs and also learn the advanced and often experimental techniques used to grow hydroponic crops with little or no soil. You can preview this tour on the Living with the Land attraction. If you like what you see as your boat cruises through the greenhouse, you will love this tour. Due to the backstage locations visited on this tour, videotaping is allowed. Read a first-hand report about this tour on our blog . See a special souvenir you can take home from this tour!

Days & Times: Daily from 10:30 am to 4:30 pm, departing every 60 minutes.

Duration: 1 hour

Price Range: $39-$45 per Guest (ages 3+), plus tax

Restrictions: Ages 3 and up however children must be accompanied by a supervising adult.

Starting Location: Report to the tour desk on the lower level of the Land pavilion (near Soarin’) prior to your tour. Walking tour is indoors.

Animal Kingdom Park Backstage Tours and Experiences

Wild africa trek.

Wild Africa Trek is an immersive experience offering a unique opportunity to enjoy unexplored areas of the Harambe Reserve while experiencing with intriguing African wildlife. Trained guides lead expeditions in the Safi River valley, using harnesses to cross precarious rope bridges. Embark on an exclusive safari, including a stop at a private safari camp while traveling along the edge of an African savannah. Guests use a wireless headset to hear the guide at all times. Cameras and video cameras are permitted when securely fastened to the vest, but backpacks are not allowed. A portion of the Tour price is also donated to the Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund.

Days & Times: Daily at select times during the morning and early afternoon. 12 spaces are available for each tour. Approximate times are 8:45 am, 10:15 am, 11:45 am, and 12:30 pm.

Duration: 3 hours

Price Range: $219-$229 per person, plus tax; includes African-inspired snacks and photographs

Restrictions:

Ages 8 and up (however under 18 must be accompanied by an adult); Weight restrictions between 45 lbs – 300 lbs apply with harness gear on; Minimum Height 48″/122 cm. Guests will be required to step on scale prior to harness issue. Also, certain body shapes may prevent the safety harness from fitting properly. Closed-toe shoes with a back strap or hiking boots required due to the rugged terrain on the tour.

Everyone on the tour must wear the provided safety equipment. The Wild Africa Trek is an outdoor adventure that requires physical endurance, surefootedness, and comfort with heights. Guests must be in good health and free from conditions aggravated by this adventure, such as high blood pressure, heart, back or neck problems, and motion sickness. Waivers must be completed at check-in for all participants.

Guests seeking a less strenuous or wheelchair-accessible trek should contact Wild Africa Trek operations at (407) 938-1373 for alternative programs. The guide will accompany you for the first 90 minutes on the Pangani Trail, providing information, showing photos, and highlighting special events. Guests on the restricted tour then join the regular tour on the safari truck and continue with the remainder of the tour. The price is the same for either version of the tour.

Starting Location: Check in at the Curiosity Animal Tours kiosk, located across from Kilimanjaro Safaris entrance approximately 15 minutes prior to tour start.

Discounts: Disney Visa (15%), DVC (15%), Annual Pass (15%) (all discounts might not be available for all tours)

Caring for Giants Tour

Get a closer look at the majestic African elephants at Disney’s Animal Kingdom—and learn what it takes to care for them.

During this tour, you’ll meet with dedicated animal specialists who provide for the care and wellness of the African elephant herd. They’ll give you a glimpse into their day-to-day responsibilities as they provide fascinating facts about the elephants. In addition, African cultural representatives will share stories of Disney’s conservation efforts dedicated to the preservation of wild populations. During the tour, Guests will be able to observe the elephants from approximately 80 to 100 feet away. You’ll have the opportunity to be closer to the elephants than you would during other in-park experiences.

This is primarily an outdoor tour. Please dress for the weather and wear comfortable shoes.

Days & Times: Daily from 9:00 am, 10:00 am, 1:00 pm, 2:00 pm

Duration:  approximately 1 hour

Price Range: $39 per person plus tax

Park Admission:  Required but not included

Restrictions: Ages 4 and up. Guests under 18 years of age must be accompanied by a participating adult (18 years of age or older).

Starting Location:  Check in at the Curiosity Animal Tours kiosk, located across from Kilimanjaro Safaris entrance approximately 15 minutes prior to tour start.

Up Close with Rhinos Tour

Get ready for your close-up with the white rhinoceros. In this guided adventure, the rhinos’ keepers will take you backstage to meet these massive creatures as few people ever do. As your guides introduce you to the park’s white rhinos, they’ll offer fascinating insights into the species’ behavior and biology and discuss the challenges that threaten populations in the wild.

Days & Times: Daily at 11:00 a.m.

Price Range: $49 per person plus tax

Savor the Savanna

Excite all your senses with a private tour and experience, starting with a secluded overlook of the Harambe Wildlife Reserve, including a sampling of African-inspired cuisine and drink.

Days & Times: Daily at 3:15 pm and 4:30 pm

Duration: approximately 2 hour

Price Range: $189-$199 per person plus tax

Restrictions: Ages 8 and up. Guests under 18 years of age must be accompanied by a participating adult (18 years of age or older).

Disney Springs Tours

Drawn to life page to stage signature experience.

Enjoy even more magic at Drawn to Life with the Page to Stage Signature Experience. Go behind the scenes of this one-of-a-kind collaboration between Cirque du Soleil and Disney Animation. You’ll watch the performance from your premium seat location with a non-alcoholic beverage and a snack of your choice. Afterwards, your host will take you on a guided backstage tour for an up close and personal look at show props, stagecraft, costumes, and more. This experience includes the chance to meet a Drawn to Life performer and capture a photo, and you’ll take home a unique souvenir keepsake. Tickets are subject to taxes and fees. Tickets are non-refundable and non-exchangeable. Subject to availability.

Days & Times: Fridays, Saturdays, and Sunday – Available only on late performances

Price Range: $258 per person plus tax

Park Admission: No park admission is needed. The price includes a ticket to Drawn to Life.

Starting Location: Check in with your host upon arrival.

Discounts: None at this time.

To Reserve: Visit the Cirque du Soleil ticket page .

Multi-Park Backstage Tours and Experiences

Vip guided tour services.

VIP Tour Services offers personalized tours for up to 10 guests looking for the perfect Walt Disney World Resort vacation. During a VIP tour, from the moment you arrive your personal VIP guide is there to take care of everything—from creating your ideal itinerary to getting you the best seats in the house for live shows, parades, and nighttime spectaculars. During your time with your guide, your focus is only on enjoying the experience.

Days & Times: Any time of day, 7 hours prior to park closing.

Duration: Minimum of 7 hours or more

Price Range: $450 to $900 per hour, plus tax (depending upon the time of year and whether the guest is staying at a Disney resort or non-Disney resort hotel). Private transportation is available during the tour at an additional cost. Hefty cancellation fees apply (equivalent to 2 hours at the booked rate).

Location: Available for Magic Kingdom, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom and Epcot

To Reserve: Call (407) 560-4033 up to 60 days in advance. Must be reserved at least 72 hours in advance.

Resort Backstage Tours and Experiences

Wilderness back trail (segway) adventure.

See the stunning surroundings of Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort along backwooded trails on a Segway X2 Personal Transporter. Various terrains are encountered such as sand and wood chip paths as well as various wildlife. Training is provided before the tour and helmets are provided. Mid-tour there is also a stop at the Tri-Circle D Ranch. Also, guests should bring cameras. Class size is limited to 10 guests, so book early to ensure availability.

Days & Times: Tues – Sat at 8:30 am. No Disney transportation is provided for the 8:30 am tour.

Price Range: $90-$99 per person, plus tax; includes bottled water.

Park Admission: Not Required

Restrictions: Ages 16 and up. Photo ID required. Weight must be between 100-250 pounds. The signature of parent/guardian also required for ages 16 and 17. Expectant mothers and also those with special needs should forego this tour or check regarding additional restrictions. Helmets provided and required. Flip-flops, sandals, or rocker/exercise-type shoes (e.g., Skechers Shape-Ups) will not be permitted as these are not compatible with the Segway.

Starting Location: Report to Meadows Bike Barn in Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground 15 minutes prior. The tour is both indoors & outdoors.

Discounts: DVC (15%), Disney Visa, Annual Passholders (15%)

Starlight Safari at Animal Kingdom Lodge

Description: During your safari, join an Animal Programs cast member on an hour-long safari of the Sunset Savanna at Animal Kingdom Lodge and Villas. Through the use of night vision goggles, guests will see the animals while enjoying the resort in a whole new way.

Days & Times: Daily at 8:30 pm and 10:00 pm

Price Range: $75.65-$89 per person.

Park Admission: Not applicable

Restrictions: Ages 8 and up.

Starting Location: Kidani Village

** Walt Disney World Backstage Tours and Experiences are subject to change. **

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Disney World Backstage Tours

Ever wanted to know what exactly goes on behind some of those restricted area gates that are found throughout WDW?  Disney World's Backstage Tours are a great way to find out!  Giving you detailed access behind the scenes in and around the four parks, these tours are a great way to see a part of Disney not readily available to the regular park-going masses.  Being Disney enthusiasts, we've stockpiled our best info on how to get the lesser-known info at your very own tour!

Among the tours Disney offers are the Backstage Magic (7 hours behind the magic at the Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, and Epcot) and Backstage Safari (a three hour tour of the Animal Kingdom) as well as Segway tours of Epcot and Fort Wilderness.  You might choose to get up close and personal with Epcot marine life in three separate tours, or choose to get into a holiday mood with a seasonal tour.

Whatever you'd like to discover, we're here to help.  We hope you find make our insider pages your go-to source for WDW info when planning your next Disney vacation!

Read the Washington Post's reviews of many of the backstage tours.

See Disney World a whole new way through a backstage tour and experience.

See Disney World a whole new way on a backstage tour or special experience!

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5 Unlikely Sights You Might See Backstage at Walt Disney World

Backstage tours are a fun way to see a side of Walt Disney World that most people never get to witness. The sheer volume of people, things and processes required to run an operation of that magnitude is truly mind-boggling, and even the most run-of-the-mill tour is sure to be packed with memories.

If luck is with you, however, you might just see some things that are unique, funny, or even just plain weird…

1. Ben Franklin naked

Image: Disney

The Backstage Studio Tour covers a lot of ground, visiting backstage areas in all four gated theme parks. The tour goes behind the scenes at Epcot’s American Adventure, and it just so happened that technicians were working on the Ben Franklin animatronic during our visit. Our tour guide stopped dead in his tracks as he rounded the corner, causing all eight of us to bump into him and each other. One lady peeked over his shoulder and shouted, “He’s naked!” We all burst into laughter and moved closer for a better look.

While you might not happen to catch Ben Franklin, the number and complexity of audio-animatronics at Walt Disney World give you a reasonably good chance of seeing at least one being repaired or tweaked during your visit. The clear plastic bodies and complicated inner workings look sort of retro-science fiction, a sharp contrast to the highly detailed and period-appropriate parts that you normally see.

2. A Princess smoking

While the parks restrict smoking only to a few designated areas, the truth is that many Cast Members have backgrounds in entertainment, restaurants, or both. A high percentage of people in these fields are smokers, and Walt Disney World provides numerous places backstage for them to indulge.

Although you are not likely to see a fully decked out princess holding a cigarette (Disney Princess, of course, simply do not behave that way!), you just might catch a Cast Member with her makeup and hair fully done, wearing some costume pieces over a pair of shorts, grabbing a quick smoke before heading onstage.

3. Props and sets in transition

As you might imagine, transitioning between rides, shows or parades takes quite a bit of time and effort. Walt Disney World is always changing things around, making minor tweaks to existing attractions, dismantling older rides and building brand-new things to do. Consequently, there are always piles of props and set pieces sitting around backstage. Keep your eyes peeled while on your tour, as you might even catch a glimpse of prototype ride vehicles or parade floats that have not yet been officially announced to the public.

4. Information overload

Walt Disney World is an industry leader at getting information out to their Cast Members. From issues that affect a specific area, such as additions to a restaurant buffet, to global issues such as ride closures that affect an entire park, Disney wants to make sure its cast members are equipped to give accurate information to guests.

With so many cast members constantly coming and going for various shifts, Disney presents this information in an eye-popping variety of ways. While strolling through the backstage areas, look for scrolling information screens, paper flyers, bulletin boards, manuals and any other forms of communication you can find. With so many channels to choose from, Cast Members really have no excuse to ever tell a guest, “I don’t know.”

5. Tunnel deliveries

The tunnels under the Magic Kingdom are legendary, though they really aren’t much to look at. Very utilitarian in style and design, they serve one purpose—to prevent all the real-world aspects of running a theme park from intruding on the guest experience. While they might not be aesthetically pretty, the simple fact that they basically function as a small city is highly impressive.

Whether Cast Members need a haircut, a convenience store, a restaurant or a locker, they can find whatever they are looking for somewhere in the “utilidors”. The complex is so confusing that maps are posted every few feet, and each door that leads on-stage is color-coordinated to ensure that cast members do not accidentally enter the wrong land.

What we found most impressive of all was the network of deliveries being coordinated through the tunnels. Massive quantities of food found its way to the proper restaurants. Merchandise ended up in just the right shops. Repair parts were delivered to the attractions that needed them. The wave of pedestrian traffic was dizzying on its own, but adding motorized vehicles to the mix created a complicated choreography that was truly stunning to behold.

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Introduction | Attraction | Touring Tips | Kids and Characters Dining | Shopping | Interesting Facts

INTRODUCTION

If you walk to the right of the Chinese Theater , then hang a left on to Mickey Avenue , you'll stumble across the Soundstages that house the Backstage Pass, a 25-minute walking tour through actual soundstages that gives guests a first-hand look at real movie and TV production. In addition to touring actual sets, tour guides clue you in on a few behind-the-scenes secrets.

Backstage Pass – The movie featured in this tour changes periodically, but it is currently featuring Disney's live-action version of 101 Dalmatians. After a short video about casting puppies for the film, you find yourself in the dimly lit Henson Creature Shop , overlooking hundreds of puppets and props used in a variety of films and television shows. The guide explains how some of these creatures are developed and gives a demonstration of a mechanical puppy.

The second stop on the tour is a re-creation of the set of ABC-TV's long-running sitcom Home Improvement , which starred comedian Tim Allen . In addition to getting a bird's-eye view of the furnishings from a catwalk above, one member of the tour group is selected to participate in a demonstration of "blue-screen" technology – the guest is virtually "inserted" into a scene from the show, and broadcast on monitors giving the appearance that he/she is acting opposite Tim Allen.

The final segment of the tour allows guests to wander past sets from the live-action film 101 Dalmatians , which starred actress Glenn Close as the evil Cruella de Vil . Also on display are costumes from the film, including several of Cruella 's exotic outfits.

Mini-Review : As of August 2000, the script for this tour was very weak, as was the delivery of the Cast Member tour guide. There are several aspects of interest along this tour, but all in all, I'd save it for a day when you either want to get out of the heat, or have nothing better to do.

TOURING TIPS

There may be actual filming going on during your visit – ask a Cast Member!

This is a 25-minute walking tour – there are no places to sit along the way, only lean rails in several locations.

This attraction is wheelchair/ECV accessible . Restrooms and telephones are located to the right of the entrance to this building.

KIDS AND CHARACTERS

There are no characters associated with this attraction. There are, however, several character greeting stations further along Mickey Avenue . Check your daily Guide Map for times and locations.

There is no place to eat in the immediate vicinity of the Backstage Pass . Studio Catering Co. , a counter service restaurant featuring sandwiches and snacks, is located a short walk down Mickey Avenue , past the Backlot Tour .

Believe it or not, there is no shopping area located in the immediate vicinity of this attraction.

INTERESTING FACTS

The Backstage Pass was originally part of the Backstage Studio Tour , one of the attractions that debuted when the Disney's Hollywood Studios opened in May 1989. That tour was divided into two attractions, the Backstage Pass walking tour and the tram tour called Disney's Hollywood Studios Backlot Tour several years ago.

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Disney World Backstage Tours

Going to Disney World is a magical experience on its own.  And if you’ve read the guide up to this point, you know “Experience” is one of the legs on our Three-Legged Stool for planning your Disney World trip .  One of the great ways to “level up” the experience of your trip to Disney World is taking a backstage tour.  The term Disney World backstage tours may be a little misleading in that some of the tours are very much on the front of the stage.  Ever seen people swimming in the water at Caribbean Coral Reef with 6,000 of their closest friends?  That’s not so backstage.

Disney World backstage tours are truly unique way to see and experience things that not everyone has access to, at least if they don’t want to pay.  Below is a list of all the backstage tours available, along with some relevant information for each of them.  For experiences we’ve had a chance to take ourselves, we’ll also include a link to the review we posted on our blog.

A quick note with some of the fine print before you read the list.

Tours, prices and availability are always subject to change.

Most of them require a park admission, in addition to the cost of the tour.

The experiences can change, even though the tour is still going.

Not every tour runs each day.

Most of the tours involve walking throughout the parks.

Before booking any tour, you should check out the official Disney World Special Events & Tours Page  for the most up to date information. For more information or to make a reservation, you can call Disney at (407) WDW-TOUR.

Alright, with the fine print out of the way, lets get to the list!

Magic Kingdom Backstage Tours

DisneyTips.com Your Guide To A Great Disney Vacation

Backstage tours returning to walt disney world.

Posted by: Stacy Milford January 19, 2022

If you’re a repeat Guest at Walt Disney World, you’re probably always on the lookout for fresh and exciting ways to experience more magic at your home-away-from-home. 

Did you know that there are dozens of new adventures to discover as part of Disney’s Enchanting Extras Collection?

Perfect for Guests who already know a lot about Disney’s theme parks and hunger to learn about how the magic at Walt Disney World works, these unique tours take you behind the scenes to experience areas of WDW most Guests don’t have access to.  

You might swim with your favorite sea creatures at The Seas with Nemo and Friends at Disney’s EPCOT Theme Park , get up close and personal with a rhino at Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park , or even get a backstage tour of your favorite Magic Kingdom theme park attraction.

The Enchanting Extras Collection has been largely unavailable since WDW reopened, but select experiences are returning starting February 6. Here are some backstage tours you’ll soon be able to enjoy at Walt Disney World!

Credit: Disney

Disney’s Keys to the Kingdom

This was the first backstage tour we did, and it was one of the most memorable WDW experiences we’ve ever had. Disney’s Keys to the Kingdom takes you behind the scenes of Disney’s Magic Kingdom for a 5-hour walking tour that explores areas that are normally hidden and inaccessible to Guests.

You’ll venture below Magic Kingdom to explore the famous Utilidors that run beneath the Park, allowing Cast Members (and food, and garbage, and supplies…) to travel wherever they need to go without being seen and ruining the magic.  

You’ll leave the show areas of the Park and gain VIP access backstage at iconic attractions and key staging areas that I REALLY want to talk about, but I’ve been sworn to secrecy as a former Keys to the Kingdom participant!

Credit: Disney Tips

Lunch is included, as are the fascinating nuggets of little-known information about the Park, Walt Disney himself, and the creation of Walt Disney World in Florida.

Savor the Savanna

If you’ve ever ridden Animal Kingdom’s Kilimanjaro Safaris and didn’t want to leave your vehicle at the end of the attraction, then Savor the Savanna might be for you.  

This two-hour tour takes you on a private, guided tour of Harambe Wildlife Reserve that goes far beyond the show areas you see as a Guest on Kilimanjaro Safaris.

Your guide will take you off the beaten safari path to private viewing areas to experience the savannah’s teeming wildlife while sharing animal facts and information about the care these amazing creatures receive at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.  

When you’re hungry, there’s a variety of (African, of course!) tapas, beer, and wine to enjoy.  After all, you’ll want to savor the savannah with ALL of your senses, including taste! 

Wild Africa Trek

If a two-hour private tour of the savannah isn’t enough, hold onto your safari hat – the Wild Africa Trek has you covered. Guests will embark on a three-hour safari on this backstage tour at Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park.  

You’ll learn about the magnificent animals that call the Harambe Reserve home, and you’ll also be able to leave the safari vehicle to take a stroll through the grasslands and over a rope bridge (we dare you to look down at the hungry crocs below!).

African-style snacks await once you’ve worked up an appetite, and complimentary photo services are included, so you’ll be able to download all the images taken of you by the trained photographer during your tour.

Credit: Disney Dining

Up Close with Rhinos

Rhinoceroses can be elusive, and if you didn’t see as much of them when riding Kilimanjaro Safaris as you’d like, this backstage tour will remedy that – and maybe just tug on your heartstrings too.

Up Close with Rhinos takes you behind the scenes at Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park to meet our planet’s second-biggest land dweller: the white rhinoceros. You’ll listen to the rhino keepers talk about these gentle giants, and you’ll be able to see them up close.  

On our (pre-COVID) tour, we were able to pet a baby rhino, but this was not guaranteed even before the pandemic, since you never know what mood an animal might be in on any given day.  

Caring for Giants

Fans of Disney’s classic animated or more recent live-action Dumbo films can enjoy an up-close encounter with the world’s largest land animal at Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park.

Caring for Giants takes Guests backstage to meet the Park’s African elephant herd while learning about their daily care, and conservation efforts to protect their wild counterparts around the globe. You’ll get within 80-100 feet of the elephants, making this the closest possible elephant encounter within Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park.

At one hour in duration and $35 per person, Caring for Giants is one of the shortest and least expensive backstage tours at Walt Disney World, and a great introduction to the Enchanting Extras Collection.

Bottom Line

With four theme parks, Disney Springs , and Disney Resort Hotel activities to explore, there’s more than enough to keep Guests hopping on a vacation to Walt Disney World, even if it’s a repeat visit. I’ve been to WDW more times than I can count, and there are still so many things that I haven’t seen, eaten, or experienced.

Guests looking for an adventure that’s a little out-of-the-ordinary will be doing themselves a favor by checking out the thrilling backstage tours that will soon be available through Disney’s Enchanting Extras Collection.  

There’s nothing like a glimpse of behind-the-scenes magic to make an unforgettable Walt Disney World vacation!

About Stacy Milford

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All 17 Disney live-action remakes ranked from tolerable to downright unwatchable

Posted: June 27, 2024 | Last updated: June 27, 2024

• In 2010, Disney began releasing live-action remakes of some of its classic animated films in earnest.
• While most were successful at the box office, their artistic value has been questioned.
• In almost every case, the original animated film is superior to its live-action remake.

Remaking animated films or TV shows in live-action is only becoming more frequent in Hollywood — just look at shows like "Avatar: The Last Airbender," " One Piece ," and "Cowboy Bebop."

But the studio that has done this most successfully — and most frequently — is Disney. There have been 17 live-action remakes or reimaginings of its classic animated films, give or take a few additional sequels.

While not all of them have been well-reviewed — and, arguably, they're mediocre at best — most of these movies made a lot of money at the box office. For example, "Beauty and the Beast," "Alice in Wonderland," "Aladdin," and "The Lion King" all crossed the $1 billion mark , according to Box Office Mojo.

We decided to rank these movies based on their quality, the changes made from source material , casting, and more.

Here are all 17 live-action remakes, ranked from worst to best — in our opinion.

"Alice in Wonderland" has aged poorly, from its star to its aesthetic.

It's been 14 years since "Alice in Wonderland" was released in 2010. Since then, director Tim Burton has only become less beloved by audiences ("Wednesday" on Netflix aside). His whimsical goth vision ages this movie — everything sort of looks like it came straight out of Hot Topic .

Additionally, Johnny Depp's performance as the Mad Hatter, which was grating at the time, now feels harder to watch after his myriad controversies .

This movie did make over $1 billion worldwide (enough to justify an even worse sequel in 2016, "Alice Through the Looking Glass"), but we venture to say if you turned this on now, you'd barely make it to Alice falling down the rabbit hole.

Point-blank, "Pinocchio" is scary to look at.

The less we say about this 2022 movie, the better. Pinocchio, the character, has veered so far into the uncanny valley that it's hard to look at him. Add in a new (and unnecessary) seagull, aggressively voiced by Lorraine Bracco, the sanitation of the original movie's intentionally horrific Pleasure Island sequence, and some bad CGI … and this movie is just a dud .

It went straight to Disney+, so we'll never know how successful it actually was with audiences.

It doesn't help that a superior adaptation of the fairytale this is based on was released the same year: " Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio ." If you want to watch a talking puppet, we'd recommend you stick to that version.

You might not even remember that the 2010 film "The Sorcerer’s Apprentice" exists.

This is a loose adaptation, but we're counting it. It's based on a segment from the 1940 anthology film "Fantasia" and its 1999 sequel, "Fantasia 2000." In the original short, Mickey Mouse plays an impatient apprentice who is sick of doing chores and decides to steal his master's magic hat, to disastrous effect.

The 2010 live-action version stars Nicolas Cage as the wizened sorcerer, while Jay Baruchel takes on the role of the apprentice.

This movie's main issue is that it's forgettable. It suffers from being, above all else, boring. It has very 2010 action and special effects, and as a result, made $215 million against a $150 million budget, the Los Angeles Times reported.

This movie is also part of why director Jon Turteltaub and Cage never made "National Treasure 3" — at least according to Cage's 2022 interview with GQ — and we'll never be over it.

There's no reason for a "Dumbo" remake.

Was anyone desperate for a remake of the 1941 original "Dumbo," which has very questionable racial politics, a harrowing scene in which Dumbo, a baby elephant, gets drunk and hallucinates, and not much else? We think not.

The 2019 remake, once again directed by Tim Burton, pretty much does away with all of that. There are no crows, no Timothy Q. Mouse, or any talking animals at all — Dumbo is silent. Instead, the action is moved to entirely new human characters, who are all forgettable.

That's this movie's biggest sin — it doesn't justify its existence at all. And judging by its poor box-office numbers , audiences weren't sure what to think of it, either.

"Lady and the Tramp" is just fine.

The original "Lady and the Tramp" from 1955 is another example of Disney's problematic past coming back to bite it. "The Siamese Cat Song," sung by cats Si and Am, is so racist that Disney added a disclaimer to the beginning of the film on Disney+.

So, the 2019 remake, which went straight to the streaming service, gets points for fixing that by adding two new cats, Devon and Rex.

Besides that, there's not much else to say about this live-action/CGI hybrid. Unlike "The Lion King" remake, Lady, Tramp, Jock, Trusty, Peg, etc., are played by real dogs and aren't just photorealistic creations. But we'd argue it's just not as fun to see two real dogs doing the famous spaghetti kiss.

"101 Dalmatian’s" saving grace is Glenn Close as Cruella de Vil.

This 1996 remake was the first true live-action adaptation of a Disney movie. We're not exactly sure why this remake of the 1961 animated film was Disney's first attempt, but we like it: It updates the setting to modern-day London, switching Roger from a composer to a video game designer.

Glenn Close 's deliciously unhinged performance as Cruella is what elevates this movie — it's probably why we got a Cruella prequel 25 years later.

This was a box-office success — grossing $320 million worldwide, according to Box Office Mojo — and spawned a 2000 sequel, "102 Dalmatians." Only Close returned from the main cast.

"Maleficent" stars Angelina Jolie as the evil witch from "Sleeping Beauty."

Instead of making a straight-up remake of 1959's "Sleeping Beauty," Disney took a different approach with 2014's "Maleficent."

Rather than centering on Aurora, aka Sleeping Beauty, this film is the story of Maleficent, who is only seen as an evil sorceress in the original. This movie gives her a backstory and a relationship with Aurora's father, Stefan.

While this sounds good in theory, "Maleficent" is perfectly average. Angelina Jolie gives it her all as Maleficent, but the special effects are dated, and the story isn't memorable.

It took five years for a sequel to come out (" Maleficent: Mistress of Evil "), and by then, the momentum from the financial success of "Maleficent" had apparently slowed.

"Peter Pan & Wendy" proves that we should probably cool it on "Peter Pan" for a while.

Did you even know a live-action remake of "Peter Pan" starring Jude Law as Captain Hook, Yara Shahidi as Tinker Bell, and Jim Gaffigan as Mr. Smee was released on Disney+ in 2023?

It's a pity, because this movie is relatively OK. Law is locked in as Captain Hook , and director David Lowery showcases his talent for sweeping landscapes (as seen in "The Green Knight") in his version of Never Land.

Unfortunately, though, this movie just … isn't that interesting.

"Peter Pan" as a story might be cursed — "Hook" is only good if you have nostalgia goggles on; 2003's "Peter Pan" was a flop ; "Pan" stars a white woman, Rooney Mara , as the Native American character Tiger Lily; and this adaptation is barely remembered.

Give these characters a break, Hollywood.

Making the characters in "The Lion King" photorealistic takes all the joy out of the film.

If this was a silent film, 2019's "The Lion King" would be an unparalleled achievement in special effects . But, unfortunately, it's not.

Instead, we were forced to sit through some of the most iconic musical sequences in Disney history, like "I Just Can't Wait to Be King," "Hakuna Matata," "Can You Feel the Love Tonight," and "Be Prepared," being sung by photorealistic animals who can't emote, in a relatively colorless virtual desert.

Part of the magic of animation is that you can make the animals do anything you want — that's why we love the 1994 original so much.

We'll always be thankful that we got Beyoncé's "The Lion King: The Gift" companion album out of this movie, but that's it.

"Beauty and the Beast" has one major flaw.

"Beauty and the Beast," released in 2017, was the first of Disney's new wave of live-action remakes. As a result, it was graded on a curve at the time and made $1.2 billion, per Box Office Mojo.

But if you go back and watch this movie seven years later, you might notice something: Emma Watson , for all her charm, is simply not a great singer. And Paige O'Hara, who voiced Belle in the 1991 original, has one of the clearest voices in all of Disney's history.

There are a few other issues with this movie — it's so long, adds unneeded backstory, switches the amazing Beast song from the Broadway adaptation ("I Can't Love Her") in favor of the boring "Evermore," the underwhelming " exclusively gay moment " — but our biggest problem is Belle.

"Aladdin" is slightly better, but still nowhere near the original.

"Aladdin," released in 2019, also made $1 billion around the world. In this case, we have no qualms with Mena Massoud or Naomi Scott , who play Aladdin and Jasmine wonderfully.

Who we can't whole-heartedly support is Will Smith, who plays the Genie. Simply put, no one is competing with Robin Williams' iconic performance in the 1992 original. It's a tour-de-force, one of the best voiceover performances ever.

Smith was never going to be able to compete, and the off-putting design of his character and his rap-singing did him no favors.

Also, this movie was, for some reason, directed by Guy Ritchie. Ritchie is known for his action films, and he tried to inject as much action as he could into "Aladdin." But we'd argue this movie doesn't need it! It's a fairy tale about a street urchin falling in love with a princess!

"The Little Mermaid" is good, but not great.

Halle Bailey was a perfect choice for Ariel . She has an amazing voice, plays the physical comedy of voiceless Ariel well, and has solid chemistry with Jonah Hauer-King, who plays Prince Eric. Melissa McCarthy also turns in a solid performance as Ursula.

What prevents this movie from being truly fun to watch is all the underwater stuff. Everything looks so fake and lifeless. The colors aren't bright enough, and we've once again run into the "Lion King"/"Lady and the Tramp" problem: Flounder, Sebastian, and Scuttle can't show any emotions on their faces. That's a shame when compared with the 1989 original where Sebastian, especially, is hilarious in his exasperation and anxiety.

Plus, the new songs are so obviously written by Lin-Manuel Miranda (see " The Scuttlebutt ") that they don't mesh well with Howard Ashman's originals.

"Mulan" removed the musical numbers and is better for it.

"Mulan" is the live-action remake that was released during the pandemic, so we'll never know how it would have fared at the box office.

But we're betting it would have done well. " Mulan " is a true action movie, which fits well with the subject matter, as Mulan secretly takes her father's place in the Chinese army.

The 1998 original film has some of the best Disney songs ("Reflection," "I'll Make a Man Out of You," "Honor to Us All"), but the remake wisely removes them , as the tonal shift from hilarious songs to gritty action would be too jarring. Instead, the songs are subtly worked into the score.

We also like the addition of Xianniang, a witch who identifies with Mulan's feelings that she doesn't belong. Mulan has no female friends at all in the original, and while these two aren't friends, there's a kinship and respect between the two.

"Cruella" is bolstered by the lead performances of Emma Stone and Emma Thompson.

While a prequel establishing why Cruella de Vil hates Dalmatians so much doesn't sound fun, we'd recommend watching "Cruella."

First of all, she actually doesn't hate Dalmatians — she kind of likes them. Does that make sense with the character's future? Not really, but it is fun to watch Stone commit so deeply to the 1970s English punk scene.

Her on-screen nemesis, Baroness von Hellman, as played by Emma Thompson, is a campy delight.

Stone's performance earned her a Golden Globe nomination and a sequel is in the works . We're excited.

"The Jungle Book" benefits from having a human character amidst all the animals.

Jon Favreau directed both 2016's " The Jungle Book " and 2019's "The Lion King," but seemingly learned the wrong lessons from "The Jungle Book."

Mowgli, the lone human character in the film, gives viewers a face to center them as he explores a jungle filled with familiar voices like Bill Murray as Baloo, Ben Kingsley as Bagheera, Lupita Nyong'o as Raksha, Scarlett Johansson as Kaa, Christopher Walken as King Louie and Idris Elba as Shere Khan.

The remake added beautiful effects and exciting action. And — spoiler alert — it also changed the ending so Mowgli could remain in the jungle with his friends.

"Christopher Robin" is a sweet movie that can be enjoyed by anyone.

Maybe we're cheating a little bit since 2018's " Christopher Robin " isn't a specific remake of any " Winnie the Pooh " film but instead, a semi-sequel that brings Pooh and friends out of the Hundred Acre Wood into the real world, but this movie is too good to leave out.

In it, Ewan McGregor plays a grown-up Christopher Robin who has left his friends Pooh, Tigger, Eeyore, Piglet, Rabbit, Kanga, Roo, and Owl behind. By chance, he reunites with them and is reminded of the important things in life.

It is always a joy to hang out with Winnie the Pooh, and a disillusioned adult returning to their fun-loving ways is a story Disney does so well, like in "Mary Poppins."

Additionally, the score for this movie rocks. It's so perfectly paired with the film.

The best Disney live-action remake is "Cinderella."

Maybe this is because we just don't think the original " Cinderella " from 1950 is that good. Yes, "Bibbidi-Bobbidi Boo" is a banger, and the animation of Cinderella's dress turning from a ripped-up rag to a shimmering princess-worthy ball gown is beautiful, but that's really it.

The prince is barely a character, the other songs aren't that memorable, and Cinderella herself has little personality besides being sweet.

The 2015 "Cinderella" rectifies all that. Ella, as played by Lily James, is kind, funny, and has a very strong sense of right and wrong, while Prince Kit, played by a very blue-eyed Richard Madden, gets an arc and a loving relationship with his dad.

The famous blue ball gown is also one of the rare pieces of Disney iconography that looks just as beautiful in real life. We must also mention Cate Blanchett as a fully committed Lady Tremaine and Helena Bonham Carter as the dotty Fairy Godmother.

We'd go as far as to say that "Cinderella," at least for now, is the only true Disney remake worth your time.

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Disney’s Moscow Offices by UNK project

10 years ago

Russian interior design firm UNK Project has designed an office space for Disney in Moscow, Russia.

Creating the concept of new office of the “Disney” company architects wanted each employee and the guest of the company to return to the childhood, to dip into the fantastic world with incredibly bright travelling and openings. The objective is to create an ideal office for people who live within their work, to create the world Disney within one office. The main subject is Alice’s travel in a fairy forest and wanderings in a labyrinth. Having visually confused the room architects achieved comfortable isolation within single open-space of different departments of the company”, says UNK project

Location:  Moscow, Russia Size:  1,235 square meters Design and photos: UNK project

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'Newsies' stars share 30 things fans probably never knew about the iconic Disney movie

• The stars of Disney's "Newsies" shared some behind-the-scenes secrets about the 1992 movie.
• Songs like "A Day at the Beach" and "The Point of No Return" were cut from the film.
• Ele Keats' real singing voice isn't in the movie, and there are some continuity errors throughout.

David Moscow said he didn't know "Newsies" was going to be a musical when he first auditioned.

David Moscow, who plays Davey in the film, didn't know " Newsies " was going to be a musical during his first audition.

When he was called back for a second audition, he had to sing a capella (he chose Ben E. King's "Stand By Me") and dance (which he did to a song by C+C Music Factory).

He's not a trained dancer, but he said the casting directors "may have thought they were getting somebody better than they were" because he'd just recently wrapped an off-Broadway show about kids learning to dance.

His "Newsies" audition featured the minute or so of dancing he'd been practicing in the show. 

Moscow had a good feeling about the role — partially because of the similarities he shares with the character.

Despite not having much of a musical background, Moscow had a good feeling about landing the role and thought it was "kismet."

"I thought that it was very symbolic that my character's name was David. I was like, 'Oh, I'm gonna get this,'" he told Insider.

He also said his dad is an "erratic lefty and community organizer in New York," which fit the vibe of the movie. 

"Also, my little brother in the movie was called Les, and my little brother in real life was Lev," he said.

Moscow said director Kenny Ortega promised him and Christian Bale they would never look bad.

Moscow told Insider that he was "terrified about the singing and the dancing" once he was cast in " Newsies ."

"I feel bad for the people who had to teach me," Moscow said, referring to the choreographers and vocal coaches. 

He told Insider that director Kenny Ortega promised him and Christian Bale , who starred as Jack Kelly, that they were "not gonna make a bad movie."

"They promised us that we were never gonna look bad," he said. "I think both Christian and I were pretty freaked out."

He added that they worked with him, in part, by cutting the camera away from him or zooming close to his face during big dance scenes.

For Moscow, the hardest thing to learn was a barrel roll.

Moscow told Insider that Bale had to do a lot of practice for the lasso dance in "Santa Fe." And the choreographers made Moscow learn how to do a "sort of" barrel roll. 

"I don't know if it made the show, but when I accomplished the barrel roll, that was like, that was it. I had reached the pinnacle," he said.

Moscow and Bale shared a trailer wall — and sometimes sang to each other.

Moscow said he and Bale shared a "double banger," which is a large trailer with an accordion divider in the middle.

He told Insider you "could literally hear everything" on either side of the divider and the two would mess around.  

"I would start singing like the 'National Anthem' and he would start singing 'God Save the Queen' and we would try and out-sing each other as loud as we could," he said. "And it would happen at any moment."

Marty Belafsky auditioned for multiple roles.

Belafsky told Insider he auditioned for " Newsies " after working with Ortega on the NBC musical series "Hull High." 

He said he auditioned for the roles of Davey and Racetrack Higgins in addition to Crutchy, which he got.

Some of the cast had to do martial-arts training, but it was more complicated for Belafsky.

Belafsky told Insider the cast did tumbling and martial-arts training to prepare for some of the fight scenes.

But because his character has a crutch, learning choreography and moves was a bit more complicated.

"I actually had training on like how to use my crutch as a weapon," he recalled, adding that he would spin it and use it "like a staff."

"I learned all these cool martial-arts techniques with my crutch and I was like, 'Oh, I can't wait to kick some ass with my crutch,'" he said. 

He added that he was "bummed" because the scene in "Carrying the Banner" where Crutchy got to "show off his fighting skills" got cut. 

The "Newsies" cast had water-gun fights on set.

Moscow said Super Soakers, a type of recreational water gun, were popular during filming.

"If you got Kenny Ortega with your water gun that'd be amazing," he said, adding that it was also a bonus if you hit the choreographers or Disney executives.

Belafsky said he remembered having water-gun fights on a " Back to the Future " set that was next to " Newsies " on the Universal lot and added that people taking studio tours would sometimes see them playing with Super Soakers in their period costumes. 

Max Casella found out about "Newsies" from Neil Patrick Harris.

Max Casella originally auditioned to play Jack Kelly, but he was cast as the newsie Racetracks Higgins. 

"The first time I heard about Newsies was from Neil Patrick Harris ," he said, adding that Harris was also planning to audition for the movie.

Casella and the " How I Met Your Mother " actor were costars on the ABC sitcom "Doogie Howser, M.D." at the time. 

Casella said a lot of his character's dialogue was improvised.

Casella said he " improvised most of my dialogue" because his character didn't have much in the script.

To research and immerse himself in the late 19th century, he said he "spent a lot of time looking at old microfilm of newspapers from the period 1899" at the LA public library.

Casella "almost threw up" while filming with his character's iconic cigar.

Racetrack spends a lot of the film with a cigar near his mouth. And it wasn't just a prop — Casella said it was real.

"Actually, I inhaled by accident. I almost threw up, it was disgusting. It was a bad choice. I wouldn't do it again. It was really gross," he said. 

Arvie Lowe Jr said they sometimes had to do "a lot of takes" for the cast members going through puberty.

Arvie Lowe Jr, who played the newsies Boots, said he was around 12 years old when the movie was filmed.

"Puberty happened to me on the set. So the voice was changing, you know, during that time," he said.

He added that he and costar Luke Edwards, who was around the same age, ended up having to do "a lot of takes" because of their vocal changes. 

Casella taught other kids on set how to do a New York accent.

Although he grew up in Massachusetts, Casella's parents were from New York.

Since a lot of his costars were from California, he said they "had to sort of learn" how to have a more East Coast accent . 

"They would actually ask me with all the kids to go and coach them in sounding like a New Yorker," he said

"Max Casella was the Renaissance guy on set for the New York accent," Lowe told Insider.

Belafsky said the original script was much different from what was filmed.

Belafsky recalled the original audition script being "a little darker," with different characters and scenes.

He said he remembered the newsie Boots having a father or uncle who ran a Harlem nightclub where all of the newsboys would hang out. 

"There was a whole sequence that took place in like this underground, like jazz club or something in Harlem that obviously wasn't in the movie," he told Insider.

Some "edgier" scenes were cut from the film as well, according to Casella.

Casella told Insider some "edgier" scenes from the movie didn't make the final cut.

For example, he said there was a scene after Jack became a scab where Racetrack told him off. 

He also said an entire verse about shooting craps and gambling got cut from the opening song, "Carrying the Banner." 

Lowe's modern-day watch is visible in a crucial scene.

In one scene, the camera zooms in on Boots ringing a bell, and Lowe's modern-day watch is visible on his wrist.

"The wardrobe guy always came and took my watch because I'm a kid, I'm 12. I was like, 'Wait, this is one of the coolest watches I own, like, I'm not taking it off.' It just so happens that one day he forgot to collect my stuff and put it in the bag," Lowe told Insider.

He added, "All of a sudden the sleeve comes down — now there's the watch. And then it ended up in the final cut."

Lowe also recalled Ortega seeing it in the cut and telling him, "So you know that watch? Just couldn't take it off for one day, could you?'"

The Brooklyn Bridge scene was filmed in a studio in California.

Lowe said the Brooklyn Bridge scene was filmed on the first day of shooting. And they never left California to do it.

"They had a section of a bridge on the Universal lot that we were going to walk across and then when they pan out, it's gonna be a huge, older version of the Brooklyn Bridge," he said.

He said Ortega kept yelling to them that it was "gonna be really cool" and they had to use their "imagination" while filming it. 

Moscow had to drop his natural New York accent, but you can still hear it in one scene.

Moscow was one of the only native New Yorkers cast in " Newsies ."

He said he "had a heavy New York accent," but on day two or three of filming, the creators decided to "get rid of" it.

"They were basically like, 'David is going to be the educated kid. And he has this seem different than the rest of the kids. So let's lose that,'" he said.

But if you pay close attention to the scene where Davey, Jack, and Boots meet Spot Conlan in Brooklyn, Moscow's accent randomly appears.

"You can hear what my accent would've been like for the rest of the movie," he told Insider.

Jack's hair and wardrobe shift halfway through the movie.

Jack's look — particularly his hair and wardrobe — also randomly changes during the Brooklyn scene. 

Lowe said Jack's hair is different and his clothes look "spiffy" and "really brand new because they didn't know that it was gonna get weathered."

"Once we started to get into the crux of shooting 'Newsies,' it was more like, 'OK, Jack has to dirty his stuff up a little bit.' But if you see him in Brooklyn, he looks clean," he told Insider. "Like everything's ironed and, you know, his hair is even done differently that day."

A number of songs didn't make it into the final film.

Alan Menken, who cocreated the music for " Newsies ," shared a number of the tracks that didn't make the final cut with Insider. 

For example, he said "A Day at the Beach" was about the newsies trying to "rev up their courage." 

"Don't Come A'Knocking" was also cut, and the composer said it was likely meant to be for Medda, played by Ann-Margret. A version of the song was later featured in the "Newsies" Broadway musical.

One of the songs that got cut from the film featured Sarah.

Ele Keats, who played Sarah Jacobs, said she was originally supposed to sing in "The Point of No Return," another song that got cut from the film.

Menken played the song for Insider, and it features a lot of shushing and lyrics tied to Les, Davey, Jack, Denton, and Sarah sneaking into Pulitzer's basement to print their own newspaper. 

Keats is a trained singer, but they didn't even use her voice for Sarah's one solo line.

Keats told Insider that the one "quick" line Sarah sings in "Once and for All" isn't even her voice.

"It was actually my voice coach," she said. "And I think it was kind of a situation where they were in the studio and pressed for time and they just had her just like sing it real quick."

Keats said she's actually a trained singer with a musical background and was disappointed she didn't get to sing. 

"King of New York" was a last-minute addition.

Bill Pullman, who plays the reporter Denton, has one song with the newsboys. But it wasn't always in the script. 

"They needed a song for Bill Pullman to pull together the connection with the newsboys cause it felt very disconnected, so they threw that song together," Keats told Insider.

She said it was "literally thrown together at the last possible second."

"The Truth About the Moon" was never supposed to be in the "Newsies" movie.

Fans have long speculated that the unreleased ballad "The Truth About the Moon" was written for Sarah and Jack in the 1992 film.

But Menken debunked the rumor, telling Insider it was written for (and cut from) the "Newsies" musical that debuted 20 years later.

It was supposed to be a duet between Katherine Plumber — a character from the musical who's a combination of Denton and Sarah from the movie — and Jack Kelly. 

Keats said she and Bale dated during filming but broke up right before shooting their big scene.

Keats said she and Bale were dating while they filmed the scene where Jack and Sarah talk on the fire escape. But by the time they filmed the big rooftop scene months later, they'd broken up .

"The first part of that roof scene, we had just started dating and we were like goo-goo gaga. The top of the roof scene, we had broken up, and I was not feeling good towards him that day. And I was really upset about something," she told Insider. 

She said she wasn't even speaking to Bale at the time, and Ortega had to give her a pep talk before filming the scene. 

The movie was originally going to have a much more dramatic ending.

Menken said some scenes were adjusted because Disney gave "Newsies" a "very limited" budget.

"So, for instance, you have that moment where Teddy Roosevelt is taking Jack to go the train to Santa Fe," Menken told Insider. "Well, he was supposed to go there, but they didn't wanna spend the money for the train."

Instead of building a train set or renting out Grand Central Station, the carriage with Roosevelt and Jack travels in an unceremonious circle, and Jack decides to stay in New York.

Menken won a Razzie for "Newsies" at the same time he won Oscars for another Disney film.

The same year he won an Oscar, Menken won a Razzie for worst song of the year for "High Times, Hard Times."

"I found out that won the Razzie award for worst song of the year literally backstage when I was in the press room for having received the two Oscars for 'Beauty and the Beast," he said. 

The 1990s were a "renaissance" period of his career, when he worked on several classic Disney films, like "Aladdin" and "The Little Mermaid."

But he said "Newsies" was the "poor, underprivileged child of the bunch."

"Santa Fe" came together really quickly.

Jack Feldman, who wrote the lyrics for "Newsies," said Jack Kelly's ballad came together pretty easily.

"Some of the Disney executives were talking about how the lead character has this dream of living in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and getting away from the really tough life of New York City," Feldman said. "And Alan, who was sitting right across the table from me, started to sing a tune using the words 'Santa Fe' and those notes never changed."

The musicians tweaked the song going forward, but the main tune remained intact. 

Feldman was "psyched" to rewrite some of the songs for Broadway.

Feldman said he couldn't wait to rewrite songs for the "Newsies" Broadway musical .

Some of the song changes were necessary because the musical introduced different characters and plot points. But other parts he "had just never been satisfied with," so he was "psyched" to be able to tweak some lyrics. 

He said fans of the original movie often came up to him and were sad about all the alterations.

"I felt badly, but not badly enough that it stopped me from doing it," he said, adding he was "thrilled" to have the chance to make some of the songs "better."

Keats thought fans disliked her character because they were jealous of her — she didn't know about the Jack/Davey shippers.

Keats said that she thought "Newsies" fans didn't like the character of Sarah because they were jealous of her relationship with dreamy Jack Kelly. 

But before speaking with Insider, the actress wasn't aware of the subsection of "Newsies" fans who "ship" Jack and Davey.

"That's fucking hilarious 'cause David and Christian are the most heterosexual males, you know, it's funny," she said.

She added that the gay relationship would probably be more accepted today than in the early 1990s, but either way, it's just a "fan fantasy."

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