Child turning 3 during trip??

[nrod]

Does anyone know if you need to buy tickets for a child who is turning 3 during your vacation at WDW? My son will have his birthday when we are planning our trip or shortly thereafter (we haven't finalized our plans yet). Do they ask for proof of age when entering the park?

Thanks for the help!!

 

[LISAVWL]

Our DS turned 3 during one of our vacations -- the CM told me at check in that you are the age you check in at for the length of your stay. So, no we did not have to buy a ticket for him (as long as they're still 2 at check in). Remember to pick up a Happy Birthday pin at guest services at the park entrance for the birthday boy. My son loved all the CMs wishing him a Happy Birthday!

 

[Not so Dumbo]

Our son turned 3 at the parks too. He didn't need a ticket after his birthday. Although when we celebrated his birthday at CP they charged us for his meal.

 

[nrod]

Thanks for the responses. Too funny about the dinner!! Did they ask for proof of age at check-in or do they just take your word? Thanks again for the help!!

 

[sl_underwood]

I had a friend that went with a 2 year old, several months away from 3 and she was asked to provide proof. Because she was a foster parent, she didnt have his birth certificate but did have a copy of the letter the jusde signed allowing her to take him out of state. It had his birthday on it so she was allowed to enter the park but she did have to go back to their hotel to retreive the letter. I have heard many others on disboards state they had no issues such as these so the CM might have just been having a crappy day and taken it out on her. She was never asked to show proof any other time but I would keep it with you just in case.

 

[nrod]

Thanks! I'll make sure I take a copy of his birth certificate. Luckily he's on the small side, so maybe they won't question it!

 

[jenseib]

If he is 3 before hand then yes you need a ticket. Disney also keeps you on file after you have gone, and pretty much knows how old your kids are if you stay onsite.
As for the CP dinner, you should not have been charged if you were on the dining plan. Kids under 3 are to shar with adults or pay for their own seperate meal if they get one. but being on the plan he was sharing with you. I would've complained. LOL! If you weren't on the plan, then I guess they can charge. But they should've given you a break sinc it was his birthday!

 

[collcass]

We are going in July. My daughter turns 10 while we are there and my son will turn three. When I booked our trip I was told that I could book her as a child and him as an infant, but on their birthdays they would have to be upgraded to an adult fare and child

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

We are going in July. My daughter turns 10 while we are there and my son will turn three. When I booked our trip I was told that I could book her as a child and him as an infant, but on their birthdays they would have to be upgraded to an adult fare and child

No, this is not true. If you have already used any days on your tickets, your daughter can continue to use her child ticket and your son should be free for the whole trip. The same is true (for your daughter) if you purchase a long ticket with no-expiration and don't go back to WDW for a few years. As long as you start the ticket while she is still 9, she can continue to use it without upgrading it. If you don't go back to WDW a long time and she is obviously not still a child, they will upgrade it to an adult pass for free, as long as you have already used part of the ticket and they can determine that it was used when she was 9 or younger. Disney does not penalize kids for growing!

If you are paying out of pocket for meals, Disney can charge you the adult price for your DD's meals and can charge the kid's price for your DS (instead of child for your DD and free for your DS) as soon as they have their birthdays. If you are doing the dining plan, you pay based on their ages at check-in, so check in before their birthdays!

If you buy tickets separate from your room (i.e. you book room-only and get paper tickets either from Disney or another ticket broker), you must use the first day of the tickets before DD's birthday for your daughter to be able to continue to use them as a child. If you book as part of a package, Disney typically goes by your check-in date even if you don't go to the parks that day.

Does that make any sense?

 

[collcass]

Well, that is good to know. Thank you. her birthday is the 6th and his the 12th. We arrive the 4th so that is perfect!

 

[KariC]

Our son turned 3 at the parks too. He didn't need a ticket after his birthday. Although when we celebrated his birthday at CP they charged us for his meal.

This happened to us also, whrn we celebrated our twins b-day at LTT. We didn't complain, we had been buying them one child's meal OOP to share anyway!

Have fun! Get those buttons at every park!

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

Well, that is good to know. Thank you. her birthday is the 6th and his the 12th. We arrive the 4th so that is perfect!

You're welcome! Have a great trip!

 

[Not so Dumbo]

We didn't complain about charging us either for his meal, but I was a bit upset because, A. It was his birthday(no free birthday meal there) and B. He was so excited with the characters that he hardly ate anything. Maybe just a couple of bites of PB&J. It definetely didn't come close to being $12.00 worth of food.