2-year-old turning 3 the week we are there...

[Kevin1281]

Just being sure...

He does not need park tickets, correct? Not even for the half of week that he is a big 3-year-old?

When the time comes to book our FastPasses, we will not need to book anything for him, correct? I guess there wouldn't even be an option to book them for him, if my assumption above (him not needing tickets) is correct, right?

 

[AngiTN]

Correct. You don't age while at Disney. He's two the entire time as far as they are concerned

 

[RachaelA]

Yep no tickets (or FPs) needed. We have gone the week of both our kids’ third birthdays (checking in before they turn 3) to get in a last trip where they are free!

 

[Kevin1281]

Correct. You don't age while at Disney. He's two the entire time as far as they are concerned

Yep no tickets (or FPs) needed. We have gone the week of both our kids’ third birthdays (checking in before they turn 3) to get in a last trip where they are free!

Awesome. Thanks guys!

 

[MooseBucks]

3rd Birthday visits are the best! Old enough to enjoy so much but still free. Enjoy

 

[kgriffitts]

Can I piggy back on this and ask a question. What have been people’s experiences with character meals on a third birthday trip? I’m taking my twins in two weeks and they turn three on our trip. Will they be free for all the buffetts or just the ones before their birthday? Do I need to say anything to the waiter or will it all be taken care of since they are linked on My Disney Experience? Thanks for your help!

 

[AngiTN]

It's the same for everything. You are considered under 3. Period.

 

[jo-jo]

We have a whole family trip starting on Nov 30. DGD turns 3 on Dec 1. Didn't really plan just to squeak it in, but Nov 30 is a Saturday this year, so it was the normal day to start a trip.

 

[KrazeeK120]

Can I piggy back on this and ask a question. What have been people’s experiences with character meals on a third birthday trip? I’m taking my twins in two weeks and they turn three on our trip. Will they be free for all the buffetts or just the ones before their birthday? Do I need to say anything to the waiter or will it all be taken care of since they are linked on My Disney Experience? Thanks for your help!

My son hadn’t turned 3 yet on our trip (his birthday was 2 days after we got home), but we were never asked about his age, despite the fact that he was wearing a birthday button and is pretty obviously 3 years old. When I checked in for the ADRs, they just confirmed that we had 2 adults and a child under 3. No further questions asked. The waiter at Tusker House even gave him a birthday cupcake.

 

[bimiller0720]

Can I piggy back on this and ask a question. What have been people’s experiences with character meals on a third birthday trip? I’m taking my twins in two weeks and they turn three on our trip. Will they be free for all the buffetts or just the ones before their birthday? Do I need to say anything to the waiter or will it all be taken care of since they are linked on My Disney Experience? Thanks for your help!

The only place we had a problem is Chef Mickey’s on her 3rd birthday. She was wearing a birthday outfit and birthday Mickey hat and they really didn’t want her to eat for free since she was turning 3 that day. They finally did, but it was a hassle. They weren’t buying the whole you don’t age at Disney thing. I wouldn’t have pushed it much if they had been polite, but the waiter and host were both very rude when we asked about it. They treated us like we were trying to cheat the system when everything we had heard and read said she would be considered 2 the whole trip.

 

[Nancyg56]

The only place we had a problem is Chef Mickey’s on her 3rd birthday. She was wearing a birthday outfit and birthday Mickey hat and they really didn’t want her to eat for free since she was turning 3 that day. They finally did, but it was a hassle. They weren’t buying the whole you don’t age at Disney thing. I wouldn’t have pushed it much if they had been polite, but the waiter and host were both very rude when we asked about it. They treated us like we were trying to cheat the system when everything we had heard and read said she would be considered 2 the whole trip.

I seldom complain about anything, but this would have annoyed me greatly. I would have had a conversation with the manager because the two folks who interacted with you needed coaching. No guest should ever be embarrassed or shamed into paying for something they know they are allowed to have. I realize the whole disney verbiage (eat off an adults plate) never specifies a free meal, however it does indicate the child does not get charged. At a buffet that is one and the same.

 

[kgriffitts]

The only place we had a problem is Chef Mickey’s on her 3rd birthday. She was wearing a birthday outfit and birthday Mickey hat and they really didn’t want her to eat for free since she was turning 3 that day. They finally did, but it was a hassle. They weren’t buying the whole you don’t age at Disney thing. I wouldn’t have pushed it much if they had been polite, but the waiter and host were both very rude when we asked about it. They treated us like we were trying to cheat the system when everything we had heard and read said she would be considered 2 the whole trip.

Thank you for the info on your experience. This is what I’m afraid of happening. I’d love to have my girls wear their birthday buttons for their birthday dinner at Tusker House but I’m afraid of this happening and I’m not confrontational. So I guess just be prepared to pay?

Did you do other character meals on that trip? Which ones if you don’t mind me asking?

 

[Nancyg56]

Thank you for the info on your experience. This is what I’m afraid of happening. I’d love to have my girls wear their birthday buttons for their birthday dinner at Tusker House but I’m afraid of this happening and I’m not confrontational. So I guess just be prepared to pay?

Did you do other character meals on that trip? Which ones if you don’t mind me asking?

I am so upset that you are worried about this. No, you should not be prepared to pay. No one ages inDisney adn your little one will not either. No need to be confrontational, but at buffet adn AYCTE meals, your girls are free. Tehre is specific verbiage about welcome to eat off your plates, Blah Blah....but it means free. At TS restaurants that are not AYCTE, it is a different story, but buffet? No. Ask for a manager if it is an issue. I bet it will not be.

 

[AngiTN]

Thank you for the info on your experience. This is what I’m afraid of happening. I’d love to have my girls wear their birthday buttons for their birthday dinner at Tusker House but I’m afraid of this happening and I’m not confrontational. So I guess just be prepared to pay?

Did you do other character meals on that trip? Which ones if you don’t mind me asking?

No you should not be prepared to pay. You should be prepared to stand your ground and get a manager if you get untrained or improperly trained CM. It's not your fault if they don't know their rules. You should not pay for it. It is not being confrontational to be correct.

 

[bimiller0720]

Thank you for the info on your experience. This is what I’m afraid of happening. I’d love to have my girls wear their birthday buttons for their birthday dinner at Tusker House but I’m afraid of this happening and I’m not confrontational. So I guess just be prepared to pay?

Did you do other character meals on that trip? Which ones if you don’t mind me asking?

We were only at Disney for a few days, we just wanted a little trip while we were in Florida for something else. It’s the only time we have been since having kids so I don’t have a ton of experience. We left on my daughters 3rd birthday so we only had one meal to worry about the age being a problem.

Our only other character meal was CRT and that was great! We also had dinner at Ohana and they were wonderful with the kids. They even took an extra kid off the price because none of them ate much so we only ended up paying for 1 of our 3 kids.

Our daughter wore her birthday button the whole time we were there. Ohana gave all 3 of our kids cupcakes and birthday cards so the others wouldn’t be left out. CRT also gave her a cupcake and card.

I had read reviews ahead of time that said Chef Mickey’s sometimes charges on a 3rd birthday so I knew to check the bill and my husband got it fixed.

 

[kgriffitts]

I am so upset that you are worried about this. No, you should not be prepared to pay. No one ages inDisney adn your little one will not either. No need to be confrontational, but at buffet adn AYCTE meals, your girls are free. Tehre is specific verbiage about welcome to eat off your plates, Blah Blah....but it means free. At TS restaurants that are not AYCTE, it is a different story, but buffet? No. Ask for a manager if it is an issue. I bet it will not be.

No you should not be prepared to pay. You should be prepared to stand your ground and get a manager if you get untrained or improperly trained CM. It's not your fault if they don't know their rules. You should not pay for it. It is not being confrontational to be correct.

Thank you both so much for this! You both are totally right. I will just wait and see what happens and stop stressing about this and if they do try and charge me I will just discreetly ask to speak to a manager. Thank you again, I needed to hear this. Time to focus on my twin girls turning 3!

 

[Alice121078]

We are doing the same thing! I’m so excited!

 

[Disneyfan754321]

We were talking to the lady at the front last time, she was telling us they are not allowed to ask. And she has seen people try everything to get in free. One time a family put the 5 year old in the stroller and he did not fit...I cant belive people.
But she said they generally dont care as long as they are very young.

 

[MudQueen22]

I would also get the answer from one of the Disney CMs on chat and screen shot it. Keep it in your phone. If they give you any trouble about it, be prepared to ask for the manager and show the chat message to him/her.

 

[LoriWV]

Correct. You don't age while at Disney. He's two the entire time as far as they are concerned

Another reason to want to live at Disney! <3