Child ticket question

[syudelson]

I was hoping someone might know the answer to this: We were supposed to go to Disneyland in June, but 2 days before the trip I had to be hospitalized. We had bought all out tickets beforehand. Now we are going in January (yay!) But now my oldest daughter is 10 instead of 9. We have a child ticket (6 day hopper) for her, can I apply that toward an adult ticket? I obviously want to do the right thing and buy her an adult ticket, but not if that means I completely lose the $ we spent on the child ticket. Thanks.

 

[Malcon10t]

I was hoping someone might know the answer to this: We were supposed to go to Disneyland in June, but 2 days before the trip I had to be hospitalized. We had bought all out tickets beforehand. Now we are going in January (yay!) But now my oldest daughter is 10 instead of 9. We have a child ticket (6 day hopper) for her, can I apply that toward an adult ticket? I obviously want to do the right thing and buy her an adult ticket, but not if that means I completely lose the $ we spent on the child ticket. Thanks.

Do the tickets have expiration dates on them? If so, you will need to go to Guest Services to get all of them redone.

As far as the child's ticket, you should be able to get it redone at Guest Service.

 

[syudelson]

Thanks, they do have expiration dates, but they don't expire until mid Jan and we are going the first week.

 

[Sparkleshine]

They'll give you the purchase credit of what you paid for the child ticket and you will pay the difference between what an adult ticket costs now. So you shouldn't have to pay too much more for the upgrade to adult ticket.

 

[Malcon10t]

Thanks, they do have expiration dates, but they don't expire until mid Jan and we are going the first week.

If the tickets have "WDTC" on the back, your easiest solution will be to take them to the WDTC back by Compass Books (around the corner) and do the trade there. At the ticket booth, they usually have to do a gate price, and that is considerably more.

 

[feb30th]

I'm sorry to hear that your trip was delayed due to your medical problems. I hope you have a great time in January, at least it won't be too hot and it will be a little less crowded.

 

[TigerlilyAJ]

I admire your scruples, OP, but am I the only one who thinks it's not a big deal if you just go ahead and use the original ticket that you bought in good faith for a 9yo's trip and she's so barely over the age of 10?
I hope you guys have a great time.

AJ

 

[GrandBob]

I admire your scruples, OP, but am I the only one who thinks it's not a big deal if you just go ahead and use the original ticket that you bought in good faith for a 9yo's trip and she's so barely over the age of 10?
I hope you guys have a great time.

AJ

No, you're not the only one that thinks that, TigerLilyAJ. I would feel differently if the OP had intentionally bought a child's ticket for a 10 yo. But as you point out, she bought the ticket in good faith, assuming they'd go when the child was 9. I'd say use the ticket with a clear conscience.

-Bob

 

[SlpgBty]

No, you're not the only one that thinks that, TigerLilyAJ. I would feel differently if the OP had intentionally bought a child's ticket for a 10 yo. But as you point out, she bought the ticket in good faith, assuming they'd go when the child was 9. I'd say use the ticket with a clear conscience.

-Bob

I agree.

 

[StyledSugar]

No, you're not the only one that thinks that, TigerLilyAJ. I would feel differently if the OP had intentionally bought a child's ticket for a 10 yo. But as you point out, she bought the ticket in good faith, assuming they'd go when the child was 9. I'd say use the ticket with a clear conscience.

-Bob

I agree!

 

[GenGen22]

No, you're not the only one that thinks that, TigerLilyAJ. I would feel differently if the OP had intentionally bought a child's ticket for a 10 yo. But as you point out, she bought the ticket in good faith, assuming they'd go when the child was 9. I'd say use the ticket with a clear conscience.

-Bob

I also agree. I mean you can't foresee medical problems.

 

[candygirlIRE]

I agree too... I mean it's not like you're trying to swindle Disney (although I am sure plenty of people do), who could have "planned" for a medical problem. I would say use it...

It's kind of like if the child turns 10 in the middle of your trip, which happened to us last year...my daughter turned 10 for the final day, we actually asked at the start of our trip what to do (asked at city hall) and they looked at us dumbfounded - I think they were shocked we actually asked - they CM happily handed us a birthday badge and said it was our little gift from Disneyland (with a wink) So funny!

This year we did buy her an adult ticket - even though frankly she could pass for 8... oh well

 

[Mama Who]

I agree too... I mean it's not like you're trying to swindle Disney (although I am sure plenty of people do), who could have "planned" for a medical problem. I would say use it...

It's kind of like if the child turns 10 in the middle of your trip, which happened to us last year...my daughter turned 10 for the final day, we actually asked at the start of our trip what to do (asked at city hall) and they looked at us dumbfounded - I think they were shocked we actually asked - they CM happily handed us a birthday badge and said it was our little gift from Disneyland (with a wink) So funny!

This year we did buy her an adult ticket - even though frankly she could pass for 8... oh well

That's because Disney's policy is based on the age you are the first day of your visit. The rule is that if you are 9 and 364 days the first day you are 9 for the whole trip. If you start the trip on your 10th birthday, you're 10. Despite other people thinking it is "no big deal" to lie about her age, it's a violation of Disney's rules and it's a violation of DIS rules to suggest it. It can get the thread shut down. Ticket ages are based on when you walk through the turnstile, not when you purchase. Unfortunate for the OP, but she's attending with a "Disney adult" and standard policy is that she'll need to upgrade to an age-appropriate ticket.

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

That's because Disney's policy is based on the age you are the first day of your visit. The rule is that if you are 9 and 364 days the first day you are 9 for the whole trip. If you start the trip on your 10th birthday, you're 10. Despite other people thinking it is "no big deal" to lie about her age, it's a violation of Disney's rules and it's a violation of DIS rules to suggest it. It can get the thread shut down. Ticket ages are based on when you walk through the turnstile, not when you purchase. Unfortunate for the OP, but she's attending with a "Disney adult" and standard policy is that she'll need to upgrade to an age-appropriate ticket.

I agree. I will suggest though that when the OP goes to the ticket booth for the upgrade, there's nothing wrong with explaining the situation to the CM. The CM may feel like sprinkling a little pixie dust and simply comping the upgrade. You never know. If the CM doesn't, it shouldn't be a big surprise or disappointment since the OP is prepared to follow the Disney rules and pay the price difference and enjoy the trip guilt-free.

 

[syudelson]

Thanks for all your responses and well wishes. My initial thought also when I realized the ticket issue, was "oh well, no big deal." But then I wondered what if someone asks her how old she was - I would never tell her to lie and therefore I would look dishonest both to disney and in front of my children. I realized then that anything invoking that much though clearly had a "right" answer and that was to take the hit and upgrade the ticket. Thanks again to everyone.

 

[snikelfrizt]

I bet if you explain to them they will let your daughter use the child ticket.... then it is all ligit!!! :0) Have a great time!!!!!

 

[Malcon10t]

Thanks for all your responses and well wishes. My initial thought also when I realized the ticket issue, was "oh well, no big deal." But then I wondered what if someone asks her how old she was - I would never tell her to lie and therefore I would look dishonest both to disney and in front of my children. I realized then that anything invoking that much though clearly had a "right" answer and that was to take the hit and upgrade the ticket. Thanks again to everyone.

This is it for me. I think it is up to each person's ethics to decide. But for me, the issue isn't even Disney, it would be my daughter seeing the ticket say "9 and under" and look at me and say "But I am 10".

My brother did this when his son was 6. They went somewhere adn my brother said he was 5 to get him in for free. My poor nephew was so scared the entire time. Add to it, after they entered a security guard was talking with them and ASKED my nephew how old he was. He couldn't answer. My niece, who was 4, said "He's 6, but they told him to say he was 5 so he'd get in free." They let it slide, but it really upset my nephew. All that to save $4.

 

[Mama Who]

My brother did this when his son was 6. They went somewhere adn my brother said he was 5 to get him in for free. My poor nephew was so scared the entire time. Add to it, after they entered a security guard was talking with them and ASKED my nephew how old he was. He couldn't answer. My niece, who was 4, said "He's 6, but they told him to say he was 5 so he'd get in free." They let it slide, but it really upset my nephew. All that to save $4.

My son had a similar experience out with his biological father. He corrected the man about how old he was and went from being upset that his father didn't know his age to being MORE upset that his father wanted him to go along with a lie. His take was that he'd rather have skipped the stupid movie entirely.