Is he still "2" or do you pay the $ for a 3 year old?

[ttm999]

We are going to Disney in November and my son will have turned 3 four days before our trip. What are your thoughts on pretending he's still 2? I was planning on buying my tickets in advance at the Disney Store - and he would be 2 when I purchase the tickets. ?!?!?!

[CarolMN]

Disney requires children 3 and over to have a ticket. Whether or not you decide to purchase a ticket for your 3 year old is a matter for your own conscience.

You may or may not be challenged. If a CM asks your son how old he is, what will he say? Most kids are very proud of knowing how old they are. How will you handle that?

Enjoy your trip!

[Kaa]

I want to take this opportunity to remind everyone of the posting guidelines. I know this particular subject is touchy and I hope we can keep it civil.

[stacie_d]

Personally, I wouldn't do it. I would feel guilty the whole time. I would buy the ticket. And if I tried, my DS would probably rat me out if they asked.

For me, the stress and the possibility that I "might be found out" would not be worth the money saved.

Your son will have a great time. My DS was 2.5 last time we went, and he still talks about it.

[siouxi31]

It all depends on what you can live with (conscience-wise).

[Debbie]

I have taken my "just turned" 3 year old, and not bought him/her a ticket. It was my decision because s/he was the "baby" in the room, we could manage to all stay in one room/cabin.

[Lewisc]

When new board members posts a "loaded" question I often suspect a "troll". You know the rules it's really up to you. A "vote" by people participating in your thread doesn't really change anything. Your son may be proud of his just past birthday and you might be embarrassed by his answer. If you think sneaking him in is like driving 60 in a 55 zone no amount of responses is going to change your opinion. I suspect many people pay the admission price and others chose to lie.

[TINKTWINS]

My twins will be 3 in Jan. Im going in Dec. Im excited to know that I got them in 2 times in one year before they are 3. Im happy with that. I bought APs for the rest of us when we were there in April, so this trip will feel free for all. I had a great year of bargains. Next year will just be a little different. Maybe just one trip. I think the 3 yo cut off is very fair, alot of other cut offs are 2.

[beattyfamily]

This topic can get very heated very quickly with each defending their side strongly.

Hopefully, you are not a troll and just new to the Dis with a valid, yet hot, question. If so, welcome!

I have a similar situation. My DD will be 3 for 19 days when we go this Halloween.

I look at it this way, we've gone 3 times now to WDW with her being free and now I've chosen to go AFTER she turns 3 to enjoy the Halloween festivities so I already made the choice of whether or not to buy her a ticket by choosing to go AFTER she's 3. I have already bought her tickets to the parks, MNSSHP, the LUAU, and also the Universal Studios parks. As far as I'm concerned, it's stealing. Athough it's a tempting, easy way to steal, it's stealing. WDW has to set limits at some point and I don't think it's up to us to change it on them.

I couldn't do it even if I wanted to. My husband would kill me, both my DD's would rat me out once we're at WDW, and I really wouldn't want to set a bad example for my DD's anyway.

To each his own, though. This is IMHO, of course.

[kylara]

He might be two when you purchase your tickets, but Disney goes by the age of the child at the begining of the trip (i.e. first time you enter the park). So by that standard he would be 3. Chances are it would never be challenged if you said he was two, but you would then have the worry he might blurt out his age. Do what you feel you can live.

[ttm999]

Wow - didn't know this was so touchy of a subject. And no - I can assure everyone I am not a "troll" and not just trying to stir up trouble.


We've never been to Disney (well I went once when I was 13!) and we are having to go the week of Thanksgiving because of school and work schedules. I would have LOVED to have planned this trip for the week prior. He would have still been 2 and it wouldn't have been as crowded.


And unfortunately for us we are on a very limited budget with this trip. If I buy him tickets is will be roughly $200.


Anyway - I appreciate your comments and have not been offended by any of them. We still have a while to decide what we are going to do.

Tina

[nicknamy1996]

We just bought an AP for our 2 year old... No we're not nuts, he will be 3 by the time we leave for our trip.

I have no problem at all paying for the childs tickets to the parks, after all chances are the trip is for them (or at least thats what we want people to think).

If anything children could even cost the same or even more. Its for them. There's a local "park" we go to its for the kids, adults get in free, kids have to pay. And the circus 1 price for all ages.

Lastly I feel 3 is the right age to start charging. Our 2 y/o had a blast in Feb (he was 2 1/2) and still talks about it. I'll gladly pay for next year if he has as much fun as he did last year.


HOWEVER... Paying for our 23 pound kid who eats very little to eat at Chef Mickeys and other buffets sometimes hurts. But I suppose I eat my share and then some.

[phamton]

Just my opinion, your mileage may vary.

It reminds me of a movie I saw:

Man: "Would you sleep with me for one million dollars?"
Woman: "Yes"
Man: "Would you sleep with me for $5?"
Woman: "No! Why kind of girl do you think I am?!"
Man: "I think we've already established what kind of woman you are. Now we're just haggling over the price."

What is my integrity worth? Would I sell it for $1 million, $200, or $5? I give back the change when I am undercharged at the store because that quarter can't buy my integrity.

Just a thought.

Bev Hamilton

[A kid at heart]

I personally would take the free time again if possible. If they don't ask the age, I don't offer. (I'm not sneaking her in, she is in her stroller and they just open the gate and keep talking to whomever or doing whatever and don't ask for her ticket or her age so on thru the gate I go!)
If the kid was 3 close to 4 then yes I would say pay, but since he will just be turning 3 I say go for it!

[nuke]

We went to Disneyland when my son was 3 1/2. We bought him a ticket and the ticket takers wouldn't take it from us. They told me to save it. Same thing happened this past January in DW. He is four now and the CM at the gate didn't run his pass thru. My DS is small for his age, but I couldn't believe it!

[AnnK]

No judgements here, just my own choice and something that happened to us at USF....

We have always bought a ticket for our children when they turned three. Our youngest was three years and 4 days and we bought the passes for her. We even bought her an annual pass for USF and IOA. The funny thing was that she was TINY and no one would have ever guessed her age. We were at USF, I went to take her on the "Woody" Coaster. The person at the entrance to the ride said she couldn't ride because she wasn't three. I said she is three, and she asked me for her ticket! I did not have it on me because it was an AP and my Dh had all the passes, he had headed off to another ride with the kids. She made a nasty remark about people sneaking their 3 year old in and then wanting to get them on rides. I did manage to track down my dh and get her pass, I showed the woman that I DID PAY for my 3 year old! I also let Customer service know how I was ACCUSED of sneaking my child in, and that I DID not appreciate the remark. They apologized and certainly tried to make up for it.
I pay because I feel I am setting an example for my children and because I have to live with myself. I feel my child does enjoy the parades, fireworks etc and to me it is worth paying the price of admission:D

[CanBeGrumpy]

First, I think you will feel MUCH better if you pay. HOWEVER, when my son had just turned 3, we went to Disney. I approached the ticket window to ask if a 3 y/o needed a ticket, or if 3 and under were free (I was pretty sure he needed a ticket). SO, what does the CM say? He says, "Well, that is really your call. We don't ask for proof of age, so it is up to you. Now, if he was closer to 4, I would say you really should get a ticket, but if he just turned 3, it is your call." Well, my jaw dropped, and honestly, I *did* hesitate for a split second, because I was buying an annual pass, and I could just imagine what we could do with that money, etc, etc. BUT, I decided that just because this one particular CM was dishonest, it didn't mean *I* had to be dishonest! I coughed up the $$$ and felt very good about my decision! (I tend to be a goody-two-shoes anyway, so I knew what my final decision would be right from the start). I don't know if this story helps you at all, but I will say honestly that the *right* thing to do is to buy the ticket. Good luck with your decision!

[tink2dw]

For 1 moment think of it like this, WDW considers 10 yr olds Adults

If your child had just turned 10 and needed an Adult ticket,What would you do?? Would you say your child was 9?? Or because the child was old enought to reconize a lie,and would Know that you were cheating,Would you buy the Adult ticket or the childs ticket?? What would you do??

This is the same situation you face now?? And will face again at age 10.


Hope this helps!

[Lil'Magic2000]

A few years ago, my family went to Disney with my just turned three year old sister. We, like so many other people, did not purchase a ticket for her. This was a child who was 20 pounds soaking wet and had the appetite of Ghandi. No one questioned her on her age. In fact, our trips to Disney reach the double digits, and no one has ever ever stopped and asked how old any of us were.
IMO, there is nothing wrong with pulling your three year old off as two. Those who have a couple of hundreds of dollars just lying around may choose to buy a ticket so their three year old can ride the seven or eight rides she'll be big enough for or won't scream bloody murder on, and eat the saltine crackers from your salad plate for the whole trip. In a year, when your child is pushing four, then you can look into buying a ticket for him then.

[denisenh]

I was in the same situation a few years ago. My DD had turned 3 about 2 weeks before our trip. We paid for her.
I like Phamptons response. This world would truly be a different place if we all had a high level of integrity. Really, just imagine it.

;)

[zakatak]

The children were measured at the gate and at 40" got a bracelet to wear. You would pay IF your child was 40" or taller. At that rate, they could ride some of the more popular (bigger) rides, and are usually old enough to eat food (more than a baby bird, that is...).

That is my opinion. My 3 year old was 3 1/2 when we went in Feb and she was only 37 inches tall... couldn't ride the big rides, nor did she eat anything more than Mac and Cheese (three bites). We paid all the way around with her, admission and food. Now next July, my 2 year old will be JUST 3, but she is tall. She will most likely be 40 inches so I will have no problem with paying for her (I would regardless but it just didn't make sense in Feb when both dds rode the same rides, ate the same food but one was free and one wasn't).

I think the 40" bracelet would end the discussion. You pay when they hit 40". Period.

Thanks for listening to my opinion.

Karen

[polyfan]

zakatak- that is a good suggestion- my 3 year old can't ride any more rides then he could when he was 2

[GAIL HAYDEN]

(I'm not sneaking her in, she is in her stroller and they just open the gate and keep talking to whomever or doing whatever and don't ask for her ticket or her age so on thru the gate I go!)
Nope not sneaking, but it is still dishonest. It is lying by omission and trying to get something for free. I guess the expectation of being honest is lost on some.

[Mickeycrazy]

IMO, there is nothing wrong with pulling your three year old off as two.

Is there anything wrong if you can come up with a good enough excuse? I'm not trying to disparage anyone here, but this kind of morality is no good for this country. "As long as I have a good enough excuse, any behavior is okay", that's wrong, and its the wrong message to give our children. Its the same type of reasoning that sees under-age drinking so prevelant ("I'm old enough to vote, I'm old enough to drink), or teen pregnancy ("As long as it feels good do it"), would you accept a lie from your kids if they had a good reason (Dad, I cheated on the test cause it gave me a better chance at a scholarship)? We're seeing the results of our loose morality everyday on T.V. as CEO after CEO is caught for mishandling funds.
This is my humble opinion, and not meant to insult anyone.
Todd

[Maleficent2]

I beleive Disney's stand on this if a child is 2 years old when the family arrives at WDW then she/he is a two year old for the duration of the trip.move your trip up a few days.

Karen- I love your idea.It is really alot more fair.Our DS is 5 and he just reached 40 inches and we have been buying him a ticket since he turned three.So this was the first trip we felt like we had gotten his money's worth with his ticket.


If I were a moderator I would close this thread.

"Judge not least you be judged."


JMHO


Mal

[beattyfamily]

I don't think the responses are "judging". They are opinions and answers to the poster's question.

This will always be a heated issue because some think it's stealing and illegal and others think it isn't and "to each his own".

There are varying degrees of stealing; ones that are easier to do without much consequences and some people thinking it's "ok" like the age limits at parks, and 5 people in a hotel room meant for 4 people, and using your soda mug at all resorts or from previous trips etc....and then there's robbers and thieves who we judge and punish accordingly. But IMHO they are BOTH stealing or breaking rules that a company has instituted. Just some are easlier to pull off than others. Some are looked down on more than others.

And it cracks me up when someone suggests "do what you feel comfortable with" in regards to this issue. That's like saying to a robber who's asking your opinion on whether he should rob the convenience store because he's broke, "do what you feel comfortable with". Can you imagine our country if we felt this way about all crimes big or small?

If you can't afford a 3 year old's ticket, then you shouldn't go or you should try to go BEFORE their 3rd birthday.

This is, of course, IMHO. I'm sure this thread will be closed now so I'm glad I got this off my chest.

[polyfan]

It's amazing to see how many people claim to be strictly by the book, so to speak. I find it hard to imagine that everyone here has never done something that they really should not have- ex.- drank before the legal age, smoked, speeding, gotten home from a store and realized the cashier didn't charge them for something-did you run back and tell them to charge you?, go through a red light, I could go on forever. Everyone has done something- it's just part of life.

[Karel]

Yes, most people make mistakes. Accidently taking something from the store -a chain fell in my son's stroller, didn't realize it until we got home, grabbing a ***** from work and taking it home, getting extra change.

Most people try to live honestly and if they can fix the mistake, they do. I try not to judge people but if they ask my opinion, I'll give it. But just because people 'get away with things', it doesn't make it right or the desirable behavior. If you know what the rule is - you have two choices - follow the rule or break the rule.


As for the wrist bands - for a place like Disney that wouldn't work. I would hate having to where that thing for a week or more. Also, we've always felt as if we got our money's worth, no matter the age of our children. It's not like height plays a factor on a major number of the rides. Can you honestly say that there was not enough for your five year old to do??? I don't think that it has anything to do with 'fair'. Is it fair to charge a eighty year old man the same price as a 20 year old? How about pregnant women - maybe there should be a separate price for them?

Lines have to be drawn somewhere and everyone always thinks they're the exception....

[Mickeycrazy]

Everyone has done something- it's just part of life. :rolleyes:

Not to inflame, but is that the lesson you want to have your children learn? "Lie if it gets you something you want, we all do", or "To save $200 its okay to steal, Disney charges too much anyway", after all it's a part of life.

Moderators- Please shut down this thread it's very depressing.
:(

[polyfan]

First, I don't recall saying anything about teaching children to lie.

Secondly, my point is that fact that so many are being self-righteous and I can't believe that they have never lied. A lie is a lie no matter what it is about. Just because one person chooses to lie about something you would not does not mean that they have any less of values than you (generic). If someone here has never lied- more power to you. How about speeding- "officer, I didn't realize it........- come on you(generic) knew you were speeding. I have not said it was right, just that it happens to everyone.

[A kid at heart]

Nope not sneaking, but it is still dishonest. It is lying by omission and trying to get something for free. I guess the expectation of being honest is lost on some.


__________________

Thats one persons thoughts. WE don't all think the sameway, and I find it really hard to believe that so many actually rush to pay for their child who has turned 3. Merely my opinion. I do agree that this thread needs to be locked.

If they were truly that worried about someone taking their 3 yr old in for free, then they would require us to have proof of the childs age. I have a ticket for my child, but when I get up to the gate they just open the gate for the strollerto get thru and I put my ticket in and they say nothing.They don'task, I don'toffer.

Ifnothing is said to the childthat hey I'mgoingto sneak you in for free, then to be quite honest how does the kid know, unless they aretold?

[nuthut]

If you can afford to buy the ticket, then buy it. If you can not afford it, then maybe you should consider staying home. The children learn more from our actions than any other way. Remember Disney is owned by their stockholders, people like you and I.

[Debbie]

Disney is owned by their stockholders, people like you and I.
and me-I own stock, too. I figure that I must own one of the peepholes on the doors at Dixie!

And, yes, I took my 3 year old as 2, so that I did not have to get that extra room~funny it was okay for my family to be in that cabin or room just a short time earlier, but hit that third birthday, and WHAM, another $100 a night for you, lady.

In my opinion, -and that's all it is- loriencke and a kid at heart have it right when they refer to those judging others, and the fact is that no one I know is perfect. When one tells other people that they can't go to Disney, that is rather presumptious on their part, in my opinion, because no one knows the exact circumstances of another. Would I do it again? Luckily, now I have a better idea of how to handle things. Unluckily, my oldest don't come with us any more, so it really is a moot point. Anybody want to pool hop? :smooth:

Debbie
-oh, and yes, I give back the change if I'm given too much, and I give a lot of money to charities, and I try to do good as best I can. BUT I do go over the speed limit sometimes, too! ;)

[robinb]

{{sigh}}

ttm999, I hope that you will weather this little tempest in a teapot and remain here with us at the DIS. Most threads are friendlier :D. This thread always degrades into one with words like "liar", "cheat", "steal", "integrity" and "honesty". Soon, someone will equate passing off a 3 year 3 day old child as a 2 year 255 day old child with lying under oath and capital murder :rolleyes: .

I personally would not pay for your son who is only 3 days over 3 years of age. Keep him in the stroller and push him right through the gate. You may be asked how old he is, so be prepared. More likely than not, you will not be asked.

I was almost in the same boat as you find yourself in. We have plans to go to Disneyland Paris 10 days after my DD's 3rd birthday and I was ready to pass her off as 2. It turned out we used DVC points for our stay which includes park passes for all 3 of us at no additional charge. C'est la vie.

[C.Ann]

Ouch!!

Hope this thread doesn't get any nastier..

[Joyfulsnuff]

The age of 3 seems fair for a child ticket. Whats always painful for me is buying my 10 year old an adult ticket, ouch! I wish the age was a little bit older for the adult charge.

[A kid at heart]

I am a disney stockholder too! I know that I too go over the speedlimit......oops!Basically this is a no win situation, those that do it do it and those that don't don't! To each his own. I don't pretend to be of extremely high morals. I do give in to temptation,not all the time but it does happen, I am a normal red-blooded person. Perfect I will never be, but that is who I am. I will admit it.

[Debbie]

You are right about the 10 year old, joyfulsnuff! Hard to look at and call the kid snuggling for a story an adult. :)