In January, I took the
Backstage Magic tour behind the scenes at three of the theme parks. I have to say that this was any Disney Fan's dream. I got to see incredible off-limits-to-guests areas and meet some of the brilliant cast members who make the magic happen. There are other similar, but shorter, tours (Keys to the Kingdom, Backstage at the Animal Kingdom) where you get smaller, but still amazing, pieces of the backstage picture. This should be a wonderful experience for your husband and son to share together.
As for your daughter ... she would certainly be allowed to have a Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique makeover. There are teens, and even grandmas, that get the royal treatment there every day. But honestly, yes, the vast majority of the customers at the BBB are preschool and elementary age princesses. I took my daughter to the BBB when she was 10 and she did feel somewhat out of place there. I will say that she was not in a particularly princessy phase at the time of our visit, she was mostly there because her younger sisters were getting princess makeovers. If your daughter is a princess fan or loves to dress-up, then I say go for it with the BBB.
If your daughter is not quite in the BBB zone I do have an alternative ... How about a trip to a REAL spa? The
Grand Floridian and
Saratoga Springs resorts both have mother/daughter mani/pedi packages. You could get blow-outs and nail treatments or even facials and then do a little shopping. I just posed the question to my now-almost-12-year-old daughter, "Which would be better? BBB or Saratoga Springs Spa?" The spa option was the clear winner from her perspective.
I hope you ALL have a fabulous trip!