The best $120 I've spent at Disney this year granted me access to the hidden tunnels of Magic Kingdom.

What would you think if I said I spent $120 (in addition to my park ticket) to wander around Disney World for five hours and only managed to ride two attractions? You might suggest I should have just bought 15 Dole Whips or crafted a realistic lightsaber at Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge.

But what if I also mentioned that in those five hours, I had some of the most enjoyable experiences at Disney all year, learned enough park history to fill a book, saw the magic behind the scenes, and explored areas usually off-limits to guests — including the secret underground tunnels where Disney cast members, characters, supplies, and yes, even trash, travel unseen beneath the park.

And those two rides I experienced? I was directed straight to the front of the line.

I got to do all of this (and more) on Disney's Keys to the Kingdom Tour. While I've become a guardian of many Disney secrets, I'm not going to reveal everything here. Where's the fun in that? However, I will share some insights about my experience so you can decide if this should be on your list for your next Disney World vacation.

Keys to the Kingdom: Essential Tour Information

If you've ever spotted a cast member in a sharp plaid outfit guiding a small group through Magic Kingdom, you might have seen a Keys to the Kingdom Tour. (These should not be confused with private VIP tours that come with a hefty price tag.)

Disney's Keys to the Kingdom Tour takes place every morning at Magic Kingdom, with four staggered start times ranging from 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. The tour costs $114 per person plus tax ($121.41 total), accommodating around 20 guests per tour.

Due to the limited group size, advance reservations are highly recommended, though they will accept walk-ups if space allows. You can book the tour directly through Disney's website.

The tour is fully accessible for those using scooters or wheelchairs, and ASL interpreters are available. While the tours are conducted solely in English, non-English speaking groups may bring their own interpreters to assist alongside the guide.

Remember that theme park admission and a Magic Kingdom Park Pass reservation are also necessary.

It's important to note that participants must be 16 years or older (with valid ID) to join. While I found the tour captivating, my 3-, 5-, and 9-year-old sons might have disagreed about standing in the heat for five hours discussing forced perspective and the water depth on the Jungle Cruise, so these age restrictions are likely beneficial.

Creating magic: Key Highlights and Insights

My tour commenced at Town Square Theater, located just inside the entrance of Magic Kingdom.

At Tony's Town Square Restaurant, there's a small check-in desk where a cast member provided me with a name tag and headset for the tour, and also took my lunch order to have it ready for our break.

After everyone checked in, our guide Lynn explained what to expect — a lot of walking and standing, ample water and bathroom breaks, and a no-photo rule during the tour (I captured my own photos afterward). She also assisted us in setting up our headsets.

She teased us with a hint of magic that would be unveiled at the tour's conclusion, claiming that her "onstage" explanation for Tinkerbell's flight during the nightly fireworks was pixie dust, promising to reveal the "backstage" answer at the end.

We did plenty of "walking and talking," but also paused at various spots for our guide to explore certain topics in more detail. Our first stop was Main Street, U.S.A., where we discovered the intricate construction of the Magic Kingdom, even down to the color of the bricks. I had never really noticed, but the bricks leading into the park are red. This was Disney's way of "rolling out the red carpet" for every visitor.

As we strolled along Main Street, U.S.A., our guide highlighted the names displayed on the windows above the shops. Being a self-proclaimed Disney enthusiast, I knew these windows honored individuals who contributed to the park's legacy, but there were some names I had never observed before.

Walt Disney's name is featured above the Plaza Ice Cream Parlor at the end of Main Street, U.S.A. This is not only because he is the "director" of the show, as the director's name traditionally appears last in film credits, but also due to his fondness for vanilla ice cream.

We ventured through Adventureland to the Jungle Cruise, where our guide shared fascinating facts about the ride, including Walt's initial desire to use real animals, which he was fortunately advised against.

Naturally, we all eagerly responded "yes" when our guide asked if we wanted to go on a ride. Instead of the usual Jungle Cruise narration (which always makes me laugh), our guide grabbed the microphone and used the ride to explain how the mechanics of the boats and animals function, along with some Easter eggs to spot along the way.

As we passed by Pirates of the Caribbean and Splash Mountain, the ride revelations kept coming — and things got really exciting.

Our guide led us through a door marked "Cast Members Only," and we found ourselves in a backstage area behind Splash Mountain. It felt like we were sneaking behind the curtain of the Wizard of Oz, which would have been thrilling enough for me. Then our guide announced she had a surprise for us.

We strolled right by the massive warehouse that houses the Festival of Fantasy parade floats, catching them just as they were prepping for the noon parade. Given what I learned and my own driving skills, I know I could never handle one of those parade floats.

Before long, it was lunchtime at Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Cafe in Frontierland. We had about 30 minutes to eat, and our meals were ready for us when we arrived. Inside each name placard at our seats was a delightful surprise — a golden keepsake pin to remember our tour.

After lunch, we ventured into Liberty Square, where I discovered one of the last replicas of the Liberty Bell made from the same mold as the original in Philadelphia (Disney added the unique crack themselves).

As we discussed other aspects of Liberty Square, the Haunted Mansion loomed just behind us. Our guide seized the moment to share insights about its design and the special effects that bring the happy haunts to life. She then led us directly onto the ride, and I viewed it with a fresh perspective after learning how it all operates.

I believe the tour guides are aware that witnessing the secret tunnel system — known as the "Utilidor" by Disney — is a major draw for participants. The Utilidor has become something of an urban legend among Disney enthusiasts and is a part of the park that most visitors never encounter or even realize exists.

Calling the Utilidor a tunnel is somewhat misleading. The area of the Magic Kingdom that most guests see is actually on the second level of the park, while the first level is dedicated to the Utilidor.

We observed the tubes that transport 83,000 pounds of trash daily away from the park, walked by costumed cast members heading to guest meet-and-greets, and admired walls adorned with photos and memorabilia that connected back to everything we learned about the park's history and creation during our tour. Since photography was not permitted, you'll need to take the tour yourself for a glimpse.

The final stop on our tour was where our guide unveiled the Tinkerbell tidbit she had promised us at the start of the adventure.

If you can read this, you likely already know that Tinkerbell doesn’t rely on just pixie dust to fly. Our guide shared exactly where she lands after her 30-second flight from the top of the impressive 189-foot Cinderella Castle. A young child passed by during her explanation, prompting the guide to pause so as not to "ruin the magic."

Was it worth it?

You might assume that uncovering how the magic is created would diminish some of the enchantment of Disney World, but it actually deepened my appreciation for it more than ever — which is saying something given how much time and money I invest there. I discovered a wealth of knowledge about the meticulous care and attention to detail that went into building the Magic Kingdom and continues to enhance the park's operations today.

Disney thrives on details. Spending five hours exploring the park with a focus on these intricacies only amplified the magic.

One of the things I adore about Disney World is the constant opportunity for new discoveries — whether it’s a name on a window, a "hidden Mickey", or learning something fresh about the "man behind the mouse," Walt Disney.

Whether you’re a Disney history enthusiast or simply curious about what lies behind the scenes at Disney World, this tour will undoubtedly reveal things you’ve never noticed before. You should be prepared to spend the morning and early afternoon exploring more than riding attractions, but once the tour concludes, you'll approach those cherished rides with a renewed admiration for the effort that has kept the magic alive all these years.

For those groups passionate about all things Disney, this tour was certainly worth both the time and expense. Plus, you’ll get to brag to your friends about having explored Disney World's "secret" Utilidors.