Why do some of the tours have age limits?

[Marseeya]

I was talking to a friend yesterday and explaining to her that some of the tours (like the Segway tour & KTTK tour) have age limits. She wanted to know why, and other than the Segway tour, which was obvious, I didn't know exactly why.

Anybody know why? I have a bunch of suppositions, but I don't know for sure.

 

[plutolovr]

I'm pretty sure most of it is because of insurance liability.

Also, would you really want a younger child on the KTTK tour? I think it would spoil the magic for them. You may see costumed CM's not fully "dressed" if you get my drift, and I know things are discussed about characters, etc.

 

[Marseeya]

I'm pretty sure most of it is because of insurance liability.

Also, would you really want a younger child on the KTTK tour? I think it would spoil the magic for them. You may see costumed CM's not fully "dressed" if you get my drift, and I know things are discussed about characters, etc.

I didn't think about the insurance aspect, but I did guess about the magic for younger kids.

Other reasons I'd though of was that maybe having young kids there would be too distracting, or that maybe they wouldn't be able to keep up.

 

[taximomfor4]

Some tours go into areas that get technical. If children are along, the adults may not be free to ask all the questions they want, even if seeing those areas is avoided. That would be really unfair to the adults on the tour. I really want to take my family and do a tour....but several members are not old enough yet. I guess it gives us something to look forward to in a few years!

 

[Bev J]

It's all about keeping the Magic intact for the little ones and yes even for the adults that don't take any tours..Our guide was very careful about what he talked about or questions he answered while we were 'on stage'. Once we were behind scenes he answered all of our questions and gave us lots of info.

Bev

 

[Hannathy]

I understand not having little kids on the tours but was curious why it is so old, like keys is 16. I have a 14 yr old who would like to take the tour but can't. The only thing I can see as to why a 14 yr old vs a 16 yr old is most 16 yr olds have a license to prove it and a 14 yr old doesn't and since we know how people distort the age of their children this is a safe way to make sure. Any other guesses?

 

[DisneyMim]

I've been on two of the tours and I wouldn't want little kids on them. Before people start complaining I have two children who have not been on them yet. I think children would find them boring and start getting "antsie" . This would be a distraction and for the money that you are paying for these tours you should be able to have "adult" behavior and attention spans. I don't think this is too much to ask. As for the age being 16 yes I think it's because of having a license. We had to show our IDS numerous times during one of the tours. I think people would lie about their child's age if Disney didn't have an age limit. And also there is the magic. Seeing Mickey walking around holding his head was awesome for me,( I LOVED the utilidor) but I can only imagine what a little kid would think. I would never want to ruin the magic for my children. Despite what some people may think, some things are and should be, just for adults.

 

[dkostel]

I don't even want to go on KTTW. I would spend the whole time with my eyes closed and my fingers in my ears screaming "la la la la la, I can't hear you". I fully understand not allowing kids there.

The one I really don't get is dolphin quest has a 13 year age limit while dive quest is 10?

I work on Michigan Ave in Chicago and every year there is a big holiday parade with Mickey & the gang. This year MM & Pluto were doing the morning news right outside my building & when done they came in and rode up on the elevator w/me. They pointed to my Disney world bag and patted my shoulder and waved when I got off. I would have been crushed if they would have spoken or took off their heads. Disney goes to great lengths to protect their image. If you let one kid see mickey w/o his head he'll tell all his friends. Just like most kids find out about santa from their friends.

 

[scrapmoose]

I don't even want to go on KTTW. I would spend the whole time with my eyes closed and my fingers in my ears screaming "la la la la la, I can't hear you". I fully understand not allowing kids there.

That would be me also. DH kept trying to get me to do this tour before we had kids and I refused.

 

[bbangel]

Mickey without his head!!!!! What?!!!! And what do you mean about Santa Clause?

 

[KarenAylwood]

It's all about keeping the Magic intact for the little ones and yes even for the adults that don't take any tours..Our guide was very careful about what he talked about or questions he answered while we were 'on stage'. Once we were behind scenes he answered all of our questions and gave us lots of info.

Bev

That's exactly it. I went on KTTK when I was 16 (the age minimum) and the guide made sure to check that I was really 16 because they "didn't want to ruin the magic" for me. I was the yougest on the tour and absolutely loved it. Well, at the age minimum you'd have to assume I was the youngest... but I meant to say that there weren't any kids close to my age on it (I think the rest were all adults).

It was explained to me by the CM that it was so not to ruin the magic. It probably also has something to do with being on a LONG walking tour and not wanting whiney kids on it. I'd guess that picking the age of 16 was somewhat arbitrary, but from the ages of 13-16 you get kids with all kinds of maturity levels as well.

 

[jennyl772003]

I think another reason is the expectations of the adults.

If you were looking at a WDW tour, and you saw one that said ages 10 and up, you would assume that since it is Disney it would be entertaining for children 10 and up. That is not the case for KTTK I know for sure. It's a great tour, but children would NOT enjoy it.

 

[Wendy1953]

The exact reason for age limitations is the fantasy and magic of Disney! After 16 (except in some circumstances) everyone knows reality from fantasy.....going through the back stage area, no one can be sure of what one might see....I took the KTTK tour in April...didn't see any character's without heads....they only took us into the beginning of the utilidors, but I'm sure there are extreme situations that come up and a headless mickey or minnie or anyone of their friends could pop up, and that would really kill it for a child...16 is a bit above what I think should be allowed, but rules are rules and they've set them for reasons(even if we can't figure out why)!
Insurance costs probably are the other main reason why the age limit is 16...Not a clue...but it's well worth the wait to go on the tours....so once you reach 16 go for it!

 

[nezy]

wHEN WAS MICKEY DECAPITATED?!!!!

Does Minnie know about this? I can't listen to another word of this blasphemy!