maelstrom
Well-Known Member
New York City, for one.
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Why the Age Limit
- Thread starter Disneyfan2000
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New York City, for one.
JikoMarie
New Member
Yes, 16 or 17 year olds aren't allowed to drive in the city. However, they would still have a permit from New York state and therefore have valid ID.
maelstrom
Well-Known Member
If you live in NYC and you can't drive there until you're 18, why would you have a permit at 16 or 17?
darthjohnny
Active Member
As said before, New York City has a legal age of 18. Maybe you can get a permit, but you can't drive on your own unless you're 18. Maybe some kids aren't ready, or their parents aren't willing to let them drive at all, until they reach 18. There could be a number of reasons why one might not have a license/permit.
And a school ID is perfectly fine. As I said, I used it.
Some schools might not have a date of birth printed on it, but it most likely might have the year you graduate, which is good enough.
Plus it serves the purpose of identifying who you are. Besides, they don't even look at the school ID that closely anyway.
CleveRocks
Active Member
Limits have to be set somewhere. You can't leave it in the hands of each employee to try to decide who's okay and who's not.
Let's take driving.
We all know 15 year olds who are plenty mature enough to drive, and we all know 22 year olds who aren't mature enough to ride shotgun on a moped. But if a state sets the driving age at 16, then it's 16. They don't make exceptions. They don't look you over and say, "So, you're 15 and 10 months, but you look like a mature enough person to me ... go ahead and get your license!" Doesn't happen.
Drinking age ... there's another one. There are 16 year olds who can handle a drink or 2, and there are 66 year olds who were never mature enough to handle their alcohol.
Casino gambling ... there's another one. There are 20 year olds who would handle their money just fine, and there are immature 40 year olds who lose their houses at the roulette wheel.
Regardless of whether they make sense for any single individual, the rules are the rules, and sticking to them (or not sticking to them) is what makes society what it is, for better or worse.
Let's take driving.
We all know 15 year olds who are plenty mature enough to drive, and we all know 22 year olds who aren't mature enough to ride shotgun on a moped. But if a state sets the driving age at 16, then it's 16. They don't make exceptions. They don't look you over and say, "So, you're 15 and 10 months, but you look like a mature enough person to me ... go ahead and get your license!" Doesn't happen.
Drinking age ... there's another one. There are 16 year olds who can handle a drink or 2, and there are 66 year olds who were never mature enough to handle their alcohol.
Casino gambling ... there's another one. There are 20 year olds who would handle their money just fine, and there are immature 40 year olds who lose their houses at the roulette wheel.
Regardless of whether they make sense for any single individual, the rules are the rules, and sticking to them (or not sticking to them) is what makes society what it is, for better or worse.
robynchic
New Member
Why is it 16 years old? Who knows. The only reason I could truly think of is that they permit people 16+ to work with them (unless there's a relative that works for the company and is willing to hold responsibility for the kid, in which case the age limit is 14 or 15).
Yes, they do check ID. And they want an ID that has your birthdate on it.
Now, the next thing I saw asked- You can use your school ID for certain things. However, if you use it for something that requires federal proof of age, you can use a state ID and an alternative ID (for example, a school ID and your driver's license, or DL and your social security card). Alternatively, you can use one federal ID and be okay (I always use my passport as proof of ID. It minimizes on extra stuff).
Liability, I would think, is absolutely a plausible reason. I mean, you have to think of all the various things that could happen on the tour. And, if I remember right, you have to have someone with you that's over 21 to go with you if you're under 18, right?
Yes, they do check ID. And they want an ID that has your birthdate on it.
Now, the next thing I saw asked- You can use your school ID for certain things. However, if you use it for something that requires federal proof of age, you can use a state ID and an alternative ID (for example, a school ID and your driver's license, or DL and your social security card). Alternatively, you can use one federal ID and be okay (I always use my passport as proof of ID. It minimizes on extra stuff).
Liability, I would think, is absolutely a plausible reason. I mean, you have to think of all the various things that could happen on the tour. And, if I remember right, you have to have someone with you that's over 21 to go with you if you're under 18, right?
badrew
Active Member
I just booked the "Keys to the Kingdom" tour, and they now require everyone to have a photo ID that shows DOB. My son is 17 and I have to bring his Birth Certificate, b/c school ID's don't have their DOB on them. If they do not have ID, they cannot go behind the scenes anymore from what I was told. This is my third time taking the tour and we were never asked for an ID as of last September.
ChipmunkStar
Member
Different operation, different rules. I'm sure backstage at the Magic Kngdom has different mechanical components than the tanks at EPCOT do. For example, there are probably carts and larger, heavier vehicles zipping around backstage at the Magic Kingdom. With the Seas, it seems that you mostly stick within one building with more set walkways.
My vote still goes toward legal matters that we are all unaware of. (Also, I'd liek to add that I don't work at any WDW parks [though I have visited], so my guesses are all speculation and assumption... mostly based on that one Boy Meets World episode...)
cmatt
Active Member
17 in the uk (although due to how strict the examiners on it can be another 1 1/2 years before your legally allowed to drive
- and there is a lobby to put the ages up *apparentlly* :veryconfu anyway - as for the rest of the topic. I'm not getting involved (there have been other topics where there has been unfair judgement by some that feel they are better then other posters because they never 'lie')....
Suffice to say that i would lie about my age to get on that tour tbh - you will lie in the future to get into bars, movies (well in the uk anyway) etc...
Then when you get to 18 you then start watching the films that you werent allowed to watch but still did, and then you realise in most cases - they suck :lol: and the bars are full of annoying under 18's that cant handle their drink
... i digress of course.... *ignore - looks like they are asking for id*
Get your mum to call them up and get you on that tour.... if they ask of id - well *neurgh* it was worth a try. When i did the segway tour (agreed this might be different) i didnt have any id - and they didnt ask for any. Although this is just bombing around on a segway for an hour and not a backstage tour :drevil:
/*ignore*
- im also pretty sure it is for legal issues also...
disnyfan89
Well-Known Member
DisneyFan2000 I just sent you a PM with information that you will find helpfull.
darthjohnny
Active Member
But in the Seas tour, you can still drown. So there is that danger factor lurking, whether you are near mechanical components or not.
disnyfan89
Well-Known Member
Yes but anyone of any age can die from drowning.
I also think (although I may be wrong) that an 8 year old has to be SCUBA certified to go on the tour, ie, someone other than WDW has made the determination that he/she is qualified, and it is "safe."
It's akin to a car rental agency accepting a valid driver's license; someone else has made the determination that you are capable of driving, so they don't have to do it. As long as you meet their own age criteria, they don't have to make a compentency determination.
It's akin to a car rental agency accepting a valid driver's license; someone else has made the determination that you are capable of driving, so they don't have to do it. As long as you meet their own age criteria, they don't have to make a compentency determination.
For the record - I don't lie. Not even to my kids.
As far as the tour goes, you have to make a personal decision. There have been a lot of good possibilities posted here for why they may have that rule. You may want to get the facts straight (i.e. - do they require id, and what types are accepted) before making definite plans.
Either way, hope you have the trip of a lifetime! :wave:
As far as the tour goes, you have to make a personal decision. There have been a lot of good possibilities posted here for why they may have that rule. You may want to get the facts straight (i.e. - do they require id, and what types are accepted) before making definite plans.
Either way, hope you have the trip of a lifetime! :wave:
KYfriedPanda
New Member
So, um, just to recap... Santa isn't real? Here I thought he was just ignoring me all these years because I'm Jewish. This explains EVERYTHING.
Oh, and I'd have to agree with those that say not to do it... Why risk losing money? Maybe the next time around they'll have cool new things you would've missed the first time around! There's plenty of other things to do in Disney for now
Oh, and I'd have to agree with those that say not to do it... Why risk losing money? Maybe the next time around they'll have cool new things you would've missed the first time around! There's plenty of other things to do in Disney for now
wdwishes2005
New Member
Thank you for making a constructive post unlike alot of others in this thread. People, he did NOT ask for a huge discussion over whether it is moral or not to fudge 2 weeks on a tour rule. He asked a simple question, Why? So if you are feeling self-righteous and like to point out that YOU never lie, go do it somewhere else, same with those arguing against it. This is something neither of you will ever win, and it shows in all the refillable mug threads, or pool-hopping threads.
ChipmunkStar
Member
I was actually gonna say that, but after checking on Deb Wills' site, there isn't ny certification required. But I did think the same thing at first too.
maelstrom
Well-Known Member
So your kids never knew about Santa, the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy, etc. That's sad. :shrug:
Talk about INVITING a lawsuit! Even the guys working out of the back of their boats down in the Bahamas, etc require proof of certification.ChipmunkStar
Member
Well, here are the required EPCOT regulations concering the Seas pavilion related tours (according to the same site):
1. Epcot Seas Aqua tour- Ages 8 and older, anyone under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
2. Divequest- 10 and up, proof of Scuba certification required
3. Dolphins in Depth- 13 and up, anyone under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
Reading a few of the reviews, the Seas Aqua tour seems to keep "divers" at the surface of the water with actual scuba gear, while the Divequest tour actually lets the guests 'really' Scuba dive.
1. Epcot Seas Aqua tour- Ages 8 and older, anyone under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
2. Divequest- 10 and up, proof of Scuba certification required
3. Dolphins in Depth- 13 and up, anyone under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
Reading a few of the reviews, the Seas Aqua tour seems to keep "divers" at the surface of the water with actual scuba gear, while the Divequest tour actually lets the guests 'really' Scuba dive.
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