What to Expect From Walt Disney World’s ‘Enchanting Extras’ Experiences

Advisors can once again add extra Disney magic to Walt Disney World vacations with tours from the resort’s Enchanting Extras Collection. These experiences give clients unique behind-the-scenes opportunities in the Orlando theme parks, and they’ve slowly been rolled back out since the pandemic. At the time of publication, 73 options were listed online.

"Guided tours from the Enchanting Extras Collection are a great way for travel advisors to tailor elements of a Walt Disney World vacation for clients," said Abner Vega Acosta, senior manager of Disney Signature Services. "There are so many distinctly Disney options to experience, from going 'Behind the Seeds' at Epcot to getting the 'Keys to the Kingdom' at Magic Kingdom. Guided tours provide a unique way to be immersed in the magic of our theme parks, especially for returning clients."

Disney uses "onstage" to refer to guest-facing areas and "backstage" to describe areas reserved for Cast Members (Disney-speak for employees), and Enchanting Extras Collection tours provide rare opportunities for guests to go backstage at Walt Disney World.

“Travel advisors are a valuable resource when it comes to planning behind-the-scenes tours and experiences,” says Kelly Higgins, a senior travel agent with Pixie Dust By Us. “Those coveted experiences often book up quickly, so knowing the ins and outs increases the likelihood of securing popular experiences from the Enchanting Extras Collection [for clients]."

My clients love these tours. It really does add that extra touch of personalization — and they’re the highlight of a true Disney fan’s trip.

Going 'Behind the Seeds'

Clients can learn about the future of agriculture on the “Behind the Seeds” experience, a guided backstage walking tour of The Land pavilion in the World Nature area at Epcot. I recently took the tour, and it included a walk-through of the four fully hydroponic greenhouses and working fish farm located inside the park’s Living With the Land boat ride attraction. 

"Every plant we see is either edible or useful," our guide said. "Any chef in any restaurant on property can ask us for produce, and the animal care team can also request snacks for our friends over at Animal Kingdom, like rhinos, elephants and anteaters."

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One fun fact shared on the tour is that many plants here are pruned into trees to maximize yield, including a tomato tree that produced 32,000 tomatoes.

Because there’s always something new to see in Living with the Land, the tour is never the same experience twice. And it’s a great value, at $35 per person for the one-hour tour.

A Look at The ‘Wild Africa Trek’

The three-hour, privately-guided “Wild Africa Trek” through Animal Kingdom's Safi River Valley includes a rope bridge crossing and a ride in a safari vehicle over an open savanna. The experience gives guests a chance to view African animals “in the wild,” including giraffes, rhinos, hippos and crocodiles. 

“My clients love these tours,” said Meredith Wallace, owner of MM Travel in Bedford, NY. “It really does add that extra touch of personalization – and they’re the highlight of a true Disney fan’s trip."

Wallace has even done the Wild Africa Trek with her own family.

“Our Wild Africa Trek was amazing,” she said. “There’s nothing like being above the hippos and crocodiles — and having lunch on the savanna as you enjoy watching the animals is the icing on the cake. It truly was magical."

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Similarly, Animal Kingdom’s exclusive “Savor the Savanna” tour is a private VIP safari through the park’s Harambe Wildlife Reserve, and the experience includes African-inspired cuisine.

Getting the ‘Keys to the Kingdom’

This five-hour guided tour gives participants an in-depth history lesson about Walt Disney World's most magical park and its attractions, which may be especially interesting for clients who have visited before. Many people don’t know, for example, that Magic Kingdom is actually the second floor of a massive structure. The Keys to the Kingdom tour provides behind-the-scenes access to several secret backstage locations, including the famous “utilidor” tunnels that allow Cast Members to travel beneath the park unseen.

“Travel advisors can personalize a Walt Disney World Vacation for their guests far beyond dining,” says Donna DeGiacomo, a travel consultant with Pixie Vacations. “Tours and experiences in the Enchanting Extras Collection can enhance the entire vacation experience, especially for repeat travelers.”

Sea-Themed Experiences 

Clients who are scuba-certified can participate in “Epcot Sea Adventures – DiveQuest,” a two-hour underwater experience in The Seas with Nemo & Friends pavilion’s 5.7-million-gallon saltwater aquarium.

“One client is an avid diver, and he was so excited to do DiveQuest," Wallace said. “He had his wife film him in the tank and send it to me with a huge thank you for setting up the once-in-a-lifetime experience.”  

For less adventurous clients, “Epcot Sea Adventures – Dolphins in Depth” is a good choice. The two-hour animal encounter is led by experts who care for the park’s bottlenose dolphins, and includes a 30-minute interaction with the animals in waist-deep water.

VIP Tours at Walt Disney World

For clients who really want to make the most of their time at Walt Disney World, commissionable Disney Private VIP Tours provide a customizable experience, allowing clients to check off everything on their Disney wish list. These tours include a dedicated guide, visits to multiple theme parks and expedited entry for most attractions (theme park admission is not included).

“Disney Private VIP Tours offer the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to completely customize your client’s Disney day,” Vega Acosta said. “Imagine your client being able to map out their perfect day with door-to-door private transportation service and a personalized itinerary with efficient attraction access and unrivaled knowledge only a Private VIP Tour Guide can provide.”

Age, height, and weight restrictions may apply, and kids under 18 must be accompanied by a paying adult for all Enchanting Extras Collection tours.