? about a 3 year old and a park ticket

[Karebear]

Here is the situation. My cousin just called me and they are taking their daughter to WDW this Sept. for her 3rd birthday. They get there on a Sunday, will do the parks from Mon to Friday and then leave on Sat. She will turn 3 the Thur. that they are there. Does her daughter need a park ticket for Thur. and Friday? My cousin was going to buy park hopper passes for herself and her husband, but was not sure about her daugher--does anyone know how this works? Thanks for any input!

 

[marcyinPA]

I'm sure you'll get varying opinions on this, but I would not buy her a ticket if she is turning 3 that late in the stay. I'm not sure of the "actual rules" in buying a ticket. I guess if you followed them to the "t", then yes, I guess she should have tickets for two days. But I don't think you can buy a "2 day hopper" and it would be quite expensive to buy the tickets separately. Of course, this is only my opinion!

I'm sure I'm risking a beating here, but we brought my son 2 weeks after his third birthday and did not purchase him a park hopper. No one asked for one and I had no problems with pushing him through the gate in a stroller.

 

[tw1nsmom]

I haven't looked this up, but I'm sure that I've read several times that if the child turns three during the trip you don't have to buy a ticket. I'm positive this is true if you stay onsite.

 

[skiwee1]

You do not need a ticket for a child that is turning 3 during the trip. Your child could be turning 3 the second day of a 10 day trip and they still don't need a ticket for the 7 days left.. This isn't an opinion. It is Disney's rule. They say the do not punish kids for turning 3. So go and enjoy the kid's last free trip!

 

[skiwee1]

You do not need a ticket for a child that is turning 3 during the trip. Your child could be turning 3 the second day of a 10 day trip and they still don't need a ticket for the 7 days left.. This isn't an opinion. It is Disney's rule. They say the do not punish kids for turning 3. So go and enjoy the kid's last free trip!

 

[Karebear]

Thanks for your replies--I will let my cousin know. Now she just has to decide where to stay. She can't decide between AKL and WL......I know that they will have fun!

 

[Suzanne74]

How can Disney verify this? I am staying at OKW as a guest of a DVC member for 8 days - so this counts as in the park - right??

Our dd turns 3 the 3rd day we are there but looks AND acts so much older. Should I bring a birth certificate? Do I tell OKW checking in?

I just don't want to be stopped everyday or questioned at every character breakfast or planned event (the Fantasmic Dinner) - whether she should really be free or not. Even if I show the birth certificate, how does the "man" at the gate know on my 7th day in that it may be 1st and DD shouldn't be free at that point?

Am I paranoid or what - hehe! I guess I just don't want it lingering all week.

Thanks!

 

[BevS97]

disney won't question you - they may ask your child how old she is but thats all.

 

[seashoreCM]

Opinions only

If Disney did not punish kids at all for growing up, every one of us who visited at least once before the age of three would be admitted free until death. The only time that non-punish policy applies is, when a child multi-day pass is purchased, it, like an adult pass for an adult, is good for any (three or however many) days of the person's remaining lifetime.

The only argument for not purchasing a pass for a child who turned three in the middle of your vacation is, if you are staying on site and the advertised room rate changes for seasonal reasons in the middle of your stay, you keep the same nightly rate for the whole stay.

By the way, if a child pass runs out in the middle of your vacation and the child has turned ten, s/he technically has to use adult passes for the rest of the vacation.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

Disney may have a policy contradicting some of what I said above.

 

[Suzanne74]

See - that is what I am afraid of.

dd will say she is 3 because she just turned 3. Do I just tell the gate people that she turned 3 but AFTER we started our trip here. Do they go for that? Is this actually a rule - I just want to make sure - because I rather buy a discount ticket for a 3-9 yr old in advance then pay at the gate. I guess I should just call the Disney main line to find out.

Thanks

 

[beattyfamily]

Originally posted by Suzanne74
See - that is what I am afraid of.

dd will say she is 3 because she just turned 3. Do I just tell the gate people that she turned 3 but AFTER we started our trip here. Do they go for that? Is this actually a rule - I just want to make sure - because I rather buy a discount ticket for a 3-9 yr old in advance then pay at the gate. I guess I should just call the Disney main line to find out.

Thanks

Maybe you can get a birthday button or pin and have her wear it and just keep saying how your DD is celebrating her 3rd birthday at Disney! You will not be doing anything wrong. If you start your vacation with a 2 year old then NO ticket is needed.

Enjoy!

 

[skiwee1]

Originally posted by seashoreCM
Opinions only

If Disney did not punish kids at all for growing up, every one of us who visited at least once before the age of three would be admitted free until death. The only time that non-punish policy applies is, when a child multi-day pass is purchased, it, like an adult pass for an adult, is good for any (three or however many) days of the person's remaining lifetime.

The only argument for not purchasing a pass for a child who turned three in the middle of your vacation is, if you are staying on site and the advertised room rate changes for seasonal reasons in the middle of your stay, you keep the same nightly rate for the whole stay.

By the way, if a child pass runs out in the middle of your vacation and the child has turned ten, s/he technically has to use adult passes for the rest of the vacation.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

Disney may have a policy contradicting some of what I said above.

Disney does have a policy that contradicts what you say. As long as a child is not 3 on the start of your trip then you do not need a ticket for the child for the rest of that trip. I don't know where you get that the child will NEVER need a ticket for the rest of their lives. They just won't need one for THAT particular trip. Now if a child turns 10 during a trip and runs out of a ticket half way through and has to purchase a new one than you would have to get an adult ticket. If the child has a ticket that lasts through the trip then it can be exchanged for an adult ticket at no charge.

 

[BevS97]

I have to say I have read that policy on here loads of times, but I've never seen it on a disney website. It does kind of follow if you have UMP as they are on your room key, and so they would probably just issue you all with keys at the start of the trip and you wouldn't be expected to change it half way through - but for hoppers - who knows?

 

[Suzanne74]

BevS97,

I know what you mean about never seeing a rule from Disney - just posted here. I can understand if I am staing at a resort with the ultimate park pass on my key but I will be staying at Old Key West as a DVC guest and using separate hopper passes. This is what concerns me. I am going to get a child ticket just in care. If I don't use it this time - I will still have it for our next visit when she won't be free.

I like the idea of the birthday button though!

 

[bethbuchall]

I know that CM's always have different answers and that it depends on who you talk to, but...

We took my ds down for his third birthday 2 years ago. His birthday was on the 16th, and our last day in the parks was the 17th. I asked when purchasing our Park Hoppers, and I was told that if he started the trip as a two year old, that he could finish the trip with free admission. We were never asked how old he was when entering the parks.

The same policy doesn't seem to apply to meals, however. We went to Chef Mickey's for his third birthday dinner, and he was charged for that meal. I'm pretty sure that we paid for him at the Crystal Palace the following day, too.

Beth

 

[Disney Princess 6]

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[grammagail]

I don't quite understand the age thing either - I've wondered why Disney hasn't adopted the "height" admission pricing like other places. That seems to be the most "fair". The taller you are, the more rides you can ride, the more the ticket?

Just seems like a big gap beween what a 3 year old and a 9 year old can do/see/enjoy - all for the same price.

Guess they will never be able to price the tix to please everyone - but seems like height is the most fair - since there are several height restrictions (?)