Keys to the Kingdom Tour - age limit

[sdlovesdisney]

Please help. We are planning a trip to WDW in June 05. This year my DD's fiance and other DD's best friend are going with us. It will be a very special trip. We have wanted to take the Keys... tour for a long time and this trip would be great. My youngest daughter doesn't turn 16 until July 21. My question is.....Will they really not let her go on the tour with only a month and a half until her 16th birthday? Do they ask for an ID? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Safari Steve]

Yes, if you look close to 15/16/17, they do ask for ID. If you can't produce it or your ID shows that you are under 16, you will be turned away. This is not something that is done arbitrarily or to be mean, it is one of the guidelines that WDW Security has given Magic Kingdom Tours in order for tour groups to be allowed in backstage areas. If MK tours does not abide by the guidelines, they will not be allowed to continue taking guests into backstage areas. An alternative might be "The Magic Behind our Steam Trains" and/or "Mickey's Magical Milestones", which do not have the backstage elements associated with Keys to the Kingdom and therefore have an age limit of 10 and up.

 

[dizcrazy]

Our friends went on the Keys tour with their 15 DD and there was no problem.

I'm not an advocate of breaking rules, but . . .how would MK know that DD was 15 and 11 months old? She wouldn't have an ID at that age (no drivers license yet) and who brings a birth certificate to an amusement park? (unless you are traveling with a child under three and expect free admission)

 

[WDSearcher]

Our friends went on the Keys tour with their 15 DD and there was no problem.

I'm not an advocate of breaking rules, but . . .how would MK know that DD was 15 and 11 months old? She wouldn't have an ID at that age (no drivers license yet) and who brings a birth certificate to an amusement park? (unless you are traveling with a child under three and expect free admission)

Your friends were DEFINITELY the exception and not the rule. I've seen kids turned away because they did not have proper ID to determine age. Most kids nowdays have school IDs or something similar with birthdates on them, and most 16 year olds will have a learner's permit. I've also seen CMs simply ask a child what year they were born. Since most kids are thinking "How old are you?" and not "When were you born?", this can trip them up. Disney usually is very strict about not letting anyone under 16 take a backstage tour, for the above-mentioned reason. When you sign up for the tour there are several times when you're reminded that children under 16 are not allowed and that you will need proper proof of age. There are, of course, times when someone is able to fool the system, but you shouldn't count on that as you plan.

 

[Leota]

When I made our reservations, I was told ID would be required.

 

[2Xited4Disney]

I was 14 when I went on the Keys to the kingdom tour 5 years ago....They didn't check my idea....My mother just said I hadn't gotten my permit yet....It deffinately ruined some of the magic then...and I was pretty boarded at the time...but now I know SOOOO much about The Magic Kingdom

 

[Penny12]

They are a LOT stricter about ID than they were 5 years ago - 9/11 changed all that. When booking this tour you are informed that ID is <b>mandatory</b> for ALL attendee's, so in answer to the comment about 'who brings a birth certificate to an amusement park'...well in short, anyone who has booked the tour and doesn't have ID should!

I've done two backstage tours, the 1st I was asked for ID and the 2nd time I wasn't...however for the 2nd one we were the last to arrive in our group, I walked up and said "where do I check-in for the tour?" she said, "who are you?" I gave her names and she specifically said "well, as you're the last and as you obviously know your names I don't think I need to check your ID". So, it's not that she forgot, she just decided not to bother!

Now, if you want to take your chance that you'll get a CM from the 2nd scenario then by all means go ahead, but be aware that if you get CM from number 1 then you'll get caught out...and needless to say you'd then be treated as a no-show and you'll have just dropped around $50. And in case you think that wouldn't happen I <b>have</b> heard of someone reporting from these boards who left their ID in their room and was sent back from the MK to get it.

WDW has SO many different options on offer that can make a vacation that little bit extra special - personally I would just find an alternative to the KTTK tour...because if that messes up the memory would then prove to be a sour one rather than a nice one.

 

[DisneyMim]

We were there this past August. My son was turning 16 the DAY WE WERE LEAVING DISNEY and they wouldn't let him go on the tour. It just proves the point of what so many people say, that different CMS give VERY different answers. I have been on this tour, as well as the backstage magic tour and yes they are very strict about IDS. We just figured that we would go as a family the next time we're at Disney.