This review is for the VIP Tour only. I did not do the other activities sold by the Amish Experience, which seems to be a non-Amish company selling Amish tours.
I was not really interested in films or tours of a mock schoolhouse, but the VIP (Visit In Person) tour seemed quite interesting, so I laid down the money for this most expensive option.
I must say that it was money well spent, and this is a situation where you should "do it right" and select this best option if you're looking to "experience" Amish life.
The VIP tour takes you to three Amish homes. First, you visit an Amish dairy. Second, you visit an Amish home where they make hand-crafted goods (might be wood, leather, or something else like that). The third stop involves a sit-down at an Amish home, where you get to ask candid questions about their lifestyle.
You get a real look at Amish life. It's not as simple and backward as you probably imagine, but you learn about their society and what trappings of modern life they have allowed in their culture. You also get to see that no two Amish families are alike, and all seemingly live by different rules.
What I liked about this tour is the fact that it's authentic. You're meeting real families in real homes. Nobody is putting on a show for you. You get to ask questions and get honest answers.
There is a $5 discount code you can use (for each ticket) if you book online. Or at least it's there right now. My family of 2 adults and 2 children did this tour for $190 after taxes, which I felt was a fair price for what we got. The tour has no more than 14 people, so it's a small-group experience.
A few tips: Don't do it on Sunday. Go to the bathroom in the restaurant/shop beforehand, because otherwise you're going to have to ask one of the Amish families to use the bathroom in their home. Feel free to bring a backpack or bag along, because that IS allowed. You CAN take pictures, but you are requested not to take pictures of the Amish people. Bring along some cash, as each family will have some goods for sale. If coming from Philadelphia or New Jersey, beware of possible traffic which can slow down your journey to the Lancaster area. I came within 9 minutes of missing the tour, and another family of 4 told me that they also came within a few minutes of missing it for the same reason. In addition, yet another family of 4 didn't make it (also presumably due to traffic). Allow extra time to get there if coming from out of the area!
Finally, while the minimum age of this tour is 6, be aware that children under 13 may find the final hour (the Q&A session) to be boring. Adults (myself included) tended to find that to be the most interesting part, though.
Réponse de l'hôte
Apr 2017
Thank you very much for your detailed review! Very glad to hear that you enjoyed the Visit-In-Person Tour, and the interaction with the Amish families. And thanks for mentioning things that people might be wondering about, like picture taking etiquette and warning people about the traffic. We tell people to definitely plan to arrive at least 15-20 minutes before the start of the tour so you don't miss it.
Thanks again for visiting! We hope to see you the next time you are in Lancaster.