3 and Under and it's free rule?

[a_sailor's_wife]

We're planning a trip for March '09. It will be DS's first time to WDW. He will be almost 4 when we go. I'm confused about the 3 and Under rule for the getting in free. Does that include 3 year olds? Thanks!

 

[Tink561]

Children *under* 3 are free. You start paying for tickets, food, etc. when they turn 3.

 

[Kimmumum]

Children's tickets are for the ages of 3-9.

 

[a_sailor's_wife]

oh that stinks! Thanks for the help!

 

[hoosiergirl7]

Once your child turns 3 you start paying

That's part of the reason the first time we took DS he was about 3 months from his 3rd birthday. I do wish that they wouldn't start charging until the child is 4 though.

 

[tadamom]

Yep, children's tickets are for ages 3-9. That's one of the reasons we have taken both of our kids before they turned 3.

 

[a_sailor's_wife]

oh well! It can't be helped and our trip can't be moved up. It's the mommy who's in school not the children. At least we get a military discount and I'm happy with that. Thank you for the responses.

 

[Harlie]

It does suck, 3 year olds do not eat 20.00 worth of food

 

[brergnat]

I agree it sucks for the food, although I think it's fair to charge park admission for 3 year olds, since they can and DO ride a LOT more stuff once they hit about 35-40 inches, which is around the 3 year mark for kids.

However, the kids meals being for kids 3-9 is ridiculous. NO three year old can eat a standard kid's meal at Disney. I like that Disneyland has "toddler meals", which are the perfect size for my 3 year old, but technically, they are for kids "2 and under". We buy them anyway for my 3 year old.

 

[all4fun]

I agree it sucks for the food, although I think it's fair to charge park admission for 3 year olds, since they can and DO ride a LOT more stuff once they hit about 35-40 inches, which is around the 3 year mark for kids.

However, the kids meals being for kids 3-9 is ridiculous. NO three year old can eat a standard kid's meal at Disney. I like that Disneyland has "toddler meals", which are the perfect size for my 3 year old, but technically, they are for kids "2 and under". We buy them anyway for my 3 year old.

When did DL start offering Toddler meals? We went to DL 3x between the time ds was 2-3yrs old and the only thing we ever saw offered were kids meals, and those were more expensive at DL than at WDW (about $6). Absolutely insane considering my ds wouldn't even eat a quarter of it (but he had oral aversion issues too, so more picky than the typical toddler).

I don't know if people staying at Shades of Green qualify for the dining plan, but that's about $10 a day for kids? Not too bad considering you get two meals and a snack, especially if you want to eat at a few character meals.

I agree I never felt ripped off buying him a tkt after three though since he could enjoy most of the attractions by that point. He is tall for his age though. I might feel a little differently if he was on the shorter side. But it is what it is, and WDW had to draw a line somewhere. Look at it this way, some amusement parks start charging at age two!

 

[jessica52877]

I am actually surprised that disney hasn't started charging at the age of 2, like so many other places and most of the "shows" too. We have taken my son to disney several times before turning 3 and I must say he enjoyed it so much every time. It was nice to not have to buy him a ticket since it made it a bit more affordable for us.

 

[bumbershoot]

When did DL start offering Toddler meals? We went to DL 3x between the time ds was 2-3yrs old and the only thing we ever saw offered were kids meals, and those were more expensive at DL than at WDW (about $6). Absolutely insane considering my ds wouldn't even eat a quarter of it (but he had oral aversion issues too, so more picky than the typical toddler).

I noticed them last September. Things like creamy mac and cheese at a variety of places (which depending on what oral aversions your guy has, it might be good or it might be bad) and at Rancho del Zocalo, there's chicken and rice for the toddlers.

I don't know about at WDW, but at DLR it's no problem for an adult to buy a kid's meal...that's what I did this weekend, and I was sure to bring the Mickey plastic plate and the "fun straw" home for DS, who was left behind with DH.

 

[a_sailor's_wife]

I agree it sucks for the food, although I think it's fair to charge park admission for 3 year olds, since they can and DO ride a LOT more stuff once they hit about 35-40 inches, which is around the 3 year mark for kids.

However, the kids meals being for kids 3-9 is ridiculous. NO three year old can eat a standard kid's meal at Disney. I like that Disneyland has "toddler meals", which are the perfect size for my 3 year old, but technically, they are for kids "2 and under". We buy them anyway for my 3 year old.

DS has been measured for his height in some time. I think the doctors have stopped doing that a certain age. I've never really thought that DS would be able to really ride any of the rides. I seriously doubt he'll be brave enough to ride some of them. Sometimes mommy isn't brave enough to. However, he might surprise me. I don't mind paying by any means for either food or tickets. I just thought the the rule include 3 year olds. It doesn't that's fine.

 

[DannysMom]

. I've never really thought that DS would be able to really ride any of the rides. I seriously doubt he'll be brave enough to ride some of them. Sometimes mommy isn't brave enough to. However, he might surprise me. I don't mind paying by any means for either food or tickets. I just thought the the rule include 3 year olds. It doesn't that's fine.

If he makes the height requirement and wants to give some of the rides a go, give it a shot! Our last trip my son was a few months short of his 4th b-day, we started w/ Goofy's Barnstormer... actual conversation DS (not yet 4) and DH

DH: "Did you like it?"
DS: "Daddy, this coaster was too short, we need a longer coaster!"
DH: "We can do that!"

So off we went to ride BTMRR and it was by far, his favorite ride of the trip, rode it 3 or 4 times. I've got a jr. coaster fanatic. He's now hoping to make the height requirement for EE for our next trip, 'course he tends to mix up the abominable snowman and call him the adorable snowman!

 

[TJA]

When my twins were 3 yrs old + 2 months, we ate in Chef Mickeys and my girls barely touched their food, not even ice cream. We gave them a few bites of food from our plates, but that was about it. Our server took note of that and commented she also had a 3 year old and felt Disney's policy to charge full kid's price is ridiculous, so she actually gave us a break on our bill. However, all other character meals charged us, rightfully so, but I do tend to agree it's a rip off between age 3 and 4. Last trip our twins were 4-1/2 and they ate well so we felt better about paying for character meals. I agree with others that it's too bad there isn't a different price scale for age 3.

 

[a_sailor's_wife]

If he makes the height requirement and wants to give some of the rides a go, give it a shot! Our last trip my son was a few months short of his 4th b-day, we started w/ Goofy's Barnstormer... actual conversation DS (not yet 4) and DH

DH: "Did you like it?"
DS: "Daddy, this coaster was too short, we need a longer coaster!"
DH: "We can do that!"

So off we went to ride BTMRR and it was by far, his favorite ride of the trip, rode it 3 or 4 times. I've got a jr. coaster fanatic. He's now hoping to make the height requirement for EE for our next trip, 'course he tends to mix up the abominable snowman and call him the adorable snowman!

DS would probably like it all except I think the abominable snowman would scare him to death. He loves snowmen he fact we still have the out because he likes them so much he calls them "noman". I could ruin that by taking him on EE. I could take on other ones. WE shall see!