Why does Backstage Magic have a 12+ age restriction while Keys to the Kingdom has 16+?

[Richard M Nixon]

I thought the idea of having an age limit was to "protect the magic" and so all of the backstage tours were set at 16+. I see Backstage Magic says 12+ and has its interests listed as tween, teen, and adult, while KTTK only lists adults. Did they change the tour content to remove some of the backstage content or what? I thought one of the big parts of the tour was central costuming where you might see headless characters, face characters prepping to go onstage, etc. - stuff that would certainly be far more disruptive to the magic than anything that was in KTTK.

 

[Alesia]

It's not about "protecting the magic," it's about safety. Or, more specifically, liability.

 

[Richard M Nixon]

It's not about "protecting the magic," it's about safety. Or, more specifically, liability.

In what way? KTTK entails walking all around the park, going into the utilidoors, getting on a few rides, and seeing the MSEP floats and the outside of the trash processing building. There's nothing that goes on that is active (besides walking) that would reasonably require an age restriction. The BM tour also goes into the utilidoors, around the parks, and to many more backstage places. There isn't much of a material difference in content and BM goes to more backstage locations and has guests travelling outside of the park. Even the wild Africa trek, which actually has a health warning on the tour page, allows the same age range 12+.

I doubt that safety or liability are the problem here. I've heard many times that the age limit is supposed to maintain the integrity of the park and keep secrets from being spoiled, but that's not lining up with what I'm seeing with this tour.

 

[yulilin3]

I thought the idea of having an age limit was to "protect the magic" and so all of the backstage tours were set at 16+. I see Backstage Magic says 12+ and has its interests listed as tween, teen, and adult, while KTTK only lists adults. Did they change the tour content to remove some of the backstage content or what? I thought one of the big parts of the tour was central costuming where you might see headless characters, face characters prepping to go onstage, etc. - stuff that would certainly be far more disruptive to the magic than anything that was in KTTK.

Central Costuming is not where the "friends of characters" go to change. It's just a big warehouse where they store all the costumes for all CM, not just characters. So you won't see a friend of a character walking around headless or in mid character change.
As to your original question I'm not sure why the difference in age, I've only done KTTK and I did see a character without head walking during the tunnel portion. Maybe the tunnel portion in Backstage Magic is in a different area?

 

[writerguyfl]

When I worked at the Disney Reservations Center, we learned about the tours but didn't directly sell them. It's been a while, so take this with a grain of salt. For the best answer, you could call 407-WDW-TOUR (407-939-8687) and ask a current Cast Member. Although, they may or may not be able to tell you.

Anyway, I believe the age difference is due to Epcot being part of Backstage Magic. At Magic Kingdom, there are portions of the Utilidors (aka tunnels) where characters aren't allowed to be "headless". I'd bet that Keys to the Kingdom sticks to those areas.

In Backstage Magic, the tour visits backstage areas of Epcot. Unless something changed, there are no restrictions there regarding character costumes. Therefore, it's possible that the Backstage Magic guests may happen upon a "headless" character waiting for the internal bus that runs backstage.

 

[AngiTN]

In what way? KTTK entails walking all around the park, going into the utilidoors, getting on a few rides, and seeing the MSEP floats and the outside of the trash processing building. There's nothing that goes on that is active (besides walking) that would reasonably require an age restriction. The BM tour also goes into the utilidoors, around the parks, and to many more backstage places. There isn't much of a material difference in content and BM goes to more backstage locations and has guests travelling outside of the park. Even the wild Africa trek, which actually has a health warning on the tour page, allows the same age range 12+.

I doubt that safety or liability are the problem here. I've heard many times that the age limit is supposed to maintain the integrity of the park and keep secrets from being spoiled, but that's not lining up with what I'm seeing with this tour.

I'm guessing the differences are in the backstage areas they access, or could access and the age the insurance suits have told them are acceptable to be in those areas. Even though both are backstage there could still be different age requirements for different areas.

 

[yulilin3]

When I worked at the Disney Reservations Center, we learned about the tours but didn't directly sell them. It's been a while, so take this with a grain of salt. For the best answer, you could call 407-WDW-TOUR (407-939-8687) and ask a current Cast Member. Although, they may or may not be able to tell you.

Anyway, I believe the age difference is due to Epcot being part of Backstage Magic. At Magic Kingdom, there are portions of the Utilidors (aka tunnels) where characters aren't allowed to be "headless". I'd bet that Keys to the Kingdom sticks to those areas.

In Backstage Magic, the tour visits backstage areas of Epcot. Unless something changed, there are no restrictions there regarding character costumes. Therefore, it's possible that the Backstage Magic guests may happen upon a "headless" character waiting for the internal bus that runs backstage.

maybe the other way around since KTTK age is 16 and up and Backstage Magic is 12 and up

 

[lindsmom]

My guess, based on reviews I have read, is that the KTTK tour has significant (all) walking for 5 hours, whereas the Backstage Magic tour transports you on bus from park to park, thereby providing breaks to the guests.

 

[mrzrich]

Its not about safety. I have taken both tours and Backstage Magic goes to more liability prone areas including special shops where they refurbish ride vehicles. It has nothing to do with "headless characters", because both tours go down into the utilidoors and other backstage areas where "the magic may be ruined".

It may have something to do with the fact that the Backstage Magic Tour is through the Disney Institute vs Disney Guest Services.

or

It might be because they have no trouble filling KTTK Tours at the $80 price tag, but it may be harder to fill the $250 Backstage Magic Tour, so they open it to a wider audience.

 

[writerguyfl]

maybe the other way around since KTTK age is 16 and up and Backstage Magic is 12 and up

So much for my Epcot theory.

It has nothing to do with "headless characters", because both tours go down into the utilidoors and other backstage areas where "the magic may be ruined".

While I can't obviously speak with any certainty regarding age of these tours, I assure you that the age of guests in backstage areas is a factor. I worked for a season as a Magic Music Days host based at Magic Kingdom. (Magic Music Days brings groups to perform across Walt Disney World.)

Any time a group included a child 12 or younger, we were required to notify the adjacent parade staging area to ensure all the characters had "heads", among other things. Additionally, two Magic Kingdom performance venues were only accessible via the Utilidors (Hall of Presidents and Cosmic Ray's Starlight Cafe). We had to take different routes to avoid certain areas if there were children involved.

 

[GotLabradors]

Thoughts on the fact that you spend quite a bit of money to do these tours and having young children (8 or younger) would not be the most enjoyable experience? I have an 8 y.o. and she wouldn't make it without turning into a whiney mess.

 

[AngiTN]

Thoughts on the fact that you spend quite a bit of money to do these tours and having young children (8 or younger) would not be the most enjoyable experience? I have an 8 y.o. and she wouldn't make it without turning into a whiney mess.

Some 8 yo could do one without issue. DGD could. But, we don't mind at all to safe doing them on the trips we take without her. It's nice to have some things that are child-less in a very child centric venue. Children are great but they do tend to make it harder to give a tour your undivided attention.

 

[BudgieMama]

Some 8 yo could do one without issue. DGD could. But, we don't mind at all to safe doing them on the trips we take without her. It's nice to have some things that are child-less in a very child centric venue. Children are great but they do tend to make it harder to give a tour your undivided attention.

If we were in the position to spend the money, this is why a tour would be our idea holiday treatl- we don't have our own kids, and so it'd be nice to have the odd thing that was child-less during our time at WDW.