Changed original travel dates and now DD is 10yrs

[IDoDis]

How do you change a child's ticket to an adult ticket? We originally scheduled our vacation for spring break in mid-March and then had to change it to May. My DD turned 10 three weeks ago and I totally spaced out the age difference when we changed our vacation dates. We leave in a few days. How can I upgrade her when we get there? Can I do this at the hotel? We have the free parkhopper w/water park upgrades. Will I miss out on that freebie or will we have to pay the going rate for her ticket?

How much of a difference is it going to cost for a 7 day pass w/ dining?

 

[Diva of Dragons]

I'm bracing myself for flames, but I wouldn't worry about it. It's not like they will be checking her ID.

 

[IDoDis]

She is tall for her age. What if they ask her how old she is? I don't want to tell her it's okay to lie. I mentioned my error to her and she she wants me to change it so that it's correct. I would feel better about it, too.

 

[lark]

These threads never get me too bent out of shape -- the morality of pool hopping or refillable mugs and so forth I think should be left to everyone's good conscience.

This one, though, seems a little different -- I mean, if she's no longer 9, it's just plain stealing. At least it seems that way way to me -- a no brainer. They should be able to do this easily at Guest Services. If you want to avoid the hassle, I'd call CRO now and tell them what happened, and I bet they can reprice the package and still give you the freebies. Should be about a $40 difference. If you have dining on the package, it will be a much bigger difference -- closer to $250.

 

[Tidus]

I have read several times that if your child turns 10 and you have tickets saying they are under 10, the CM's will tell you not to worry about it. If you are worried, call and ask someone, but I know that they will often tell you not to bother changing it (seeing that it is not a full year or two later).

 

[cvjw]

I went to Guest Services at MGM to upgrade my 10 year old's child ticket to an adult ticket. They looked at me like I was crazy and told me not to worry about it. Their exact words "It's not your fault your kid is getting older, keep the ticket, don't worry about it, and have a great day at the park" I haven't thought twice about it since.

 

[maxiesmom]

You do have a ticket for your child, so I don't think they will quesion her. The children they question are the ones without any ticket and look like they need one.

 

[3princesses+aprince]

Don't worry about it , you bought them when she was 9.

 

[bicker]

Leave it up to Disney to decide. Just bring the tickets to Guest Services on your first day and explain the situation.

 

[PolyPal]

I think you'll find the cast members to be very accomodating. Years ago when we were checking in at the Polynesian and buying park passes to go on our room keys, the CM asked how old our youngest was. I told her that he just turned 3 and she said something to the effect of "he still looks 2 to me so I'm not selling a pass for him." We were ready and willing to pay, but the CM refused. Awfully nice of them.

 

[Schmeck]

I don't think management would think the CM was doing a good job, though What would happen if you were stopped at the gates and asked your child's age? Hopefully, everyone would be polite, but you might have been asked to purchase a ticket for your 3 yr old. I could see the mess that would evolve, since you were refused a ticket for your child, even though one was required.

To the OP, I also agree with bicker, let Guest Relations at your first park decide what needs to be done.

 

[babiesX2]

I'm bracing myself for flames, but I wouldn't worry about it. It's not like they will be checking her ID.

Um, she is asking how to pay once they actually get to Disney.

I would think once you get to the point where your park passes are given to you, you could state the situation and upgrade her ticket to an age appropriate fee then.

 

[babiesX2]

She is tall for her age. What if they ask her how old she is? I don't want to tell her it's okay to lie. I mentioned my error to her and she she wants me to change it so that it's correct. I would feel better about it, too.

I completely got a different question from your first post. I comprehended it that you were asking how to pay for her ticket since she has had a birthday.

 

[PolyPal]

I don't think management would think the CM was doing a good job, though What would happen if you were stopped at the gates and asked your child's age? Hopefully, everyone would be polite, but you might have been asked to purchase a ticket for your 3 yr old. I could see the mess that would evolve, since you were refused a ticket for your child, even though one was required.

We were never asked our son's age at the gate. We would have purchased a ticket if required. For whatever reason, we got "special treatment" at the Polynesian on that trip which included a view upgrade, some balloons and other small gifts for our children in the room and a note from the manager thanking us for returning to the Polynesian. So maybe something appeared on our reservation that caused the CM to go above and beyond??

 

[Soupermom]

I was in the same situation when we went two years ago. I called and explained to the CM and they thanks, but not to even worry about it. More trouble than it's worth.

 

[lark]

I went to Guest Services at MGM to upgrade my 10 year old's child ticket to an adult ticket. They looked at me like I was crazy and told me not to worry about it. Their exact words "It's not your fault your kid is getting older, keep the ticket, don't worry about it, and have a great day at the park" I haven't thought twice about it since.

The official policy is, I believe, that so long as a child's ticket was used for at least one day while a child was under 10, it stays good for that same person forever. Disney will upgrade it for free.

But that's different from canceling a reservation and making a new one and leaving the impression that the child will still be 9 not 10. Many are posting that "if you already have the ticket" it should be fine. I think that's possibly true -- there is a good chance a CM will say "don't worry about it." But it sounds to me as though the OP does not have the ticket. I sounds as though the OP booked a package (hence the free hoppers and pluses), then changed it without noting that the change would be after the child's 10th birthday. Again, if I have the facts right, it's a no brainer. Call CRO and tell them you just realized it. They should be able to reprice the package no problem.

 

[lark]

You do have a ticket for your child, so I don't think they will quesion her. The children they question are the ones without any ticket and look like they need one.

Some on this board have reported the CMs at the gates, after swiping the tickets, pointedly asking, "how old are you" to children on a child's ticket who appear close or older.

In fact, this is one of the reasons that if you have a never expire ticket that your child used when he or she was under 10, and they are now over 10, you should have it upgraded at GS to an adult ticket rather than continuing to try to use it as a child's ticket, to avoid the explaning at the gate.

 

[LeslieG]

I thought I read somwhere too that if you have a child's ticket and they turn 10 before all the days are used that it will be upgraded to an adult ticket for free.

Now, if the OP doesn't have the tickets yet, that may be a different story.

 

[kaytieeldr]

She is tall for her age. What if they ask her how old she is? I don't want to tell her it's okay to lie. I mentioned my error to her and she she wants me to change it so that it's correct. I would feel better about it, too.

To answer your original question first - yes, you can upgrade her ticket when you check in, although it might be a tad less confusing (and a bit more time-consuming since it involves two separate lines) to do it at the Lobby Concierge desk.
In your position, I would tell my daughter after seeking advice from the wise DIS posters, we'll explain tell the truth to Disney when we arrive and let them decide what needs to be done about her ticket.

 

[IDoDis]

Wow, that would be very generous. I will certainly tell them about the age change when we check in. If they tell us not to worry then I won't. If we have to buy a whole new ticket, then so be it. I just hope there's a way to add the free waterpark upgrade like we already have.

Thanks for all of the responses! I'm glad to know I'm not the only dope who didn't think of this!