Children under 3?

[summermac]

Are you sure his birthday isn't a week later?

Yeah. My thought exactly.

Granted when my daughter was three, she looked about 1. Even now at almost 7 she is barely 40 inches tall and weighs 38 lbs.

 

[ucfknight]

There are plenty of ways to get around it! You can change his birthday on the reservation or just leave him off entirely.

Some people have higher moral codes than others.

 

[sunkissed4]

I have a 2 1/2 year old and we are APs and are at the park nearly every weekend. We have done character breakfasts, rides, shows, etc and have never one time been asked about her age or to show proof of it. Don't stress about it.

Same here. No need to worry and I wouldn't bother carrying around proof, they'll never ask you for it. My oldest DS was big for his age and we got asked pretty often at the gate how old he was and a quick "He's 2" and we'd be on our way.

Although, I did one time see a child in a rental Disney stroller at AK who to me looked to be at least 4, maybe 5. The CM at the gate asked his mother several times how old he was and after a little huffing and puffing, let her in. He was obviously not under 3, but still no proof was necessary.

 

[janatmovies]

I find lying about age at WDW is hard!

I have been staying onsite with my son since he was 2, and if I tell them he is 2 much longer, I have a feeling they will know? Like the website has had him as 2 for over a year so our next trip I just had to put he was 3! That means he has a magic band, with his age on it, and any tickets or dining we would need.

Disney keeps track of everything!!! I wouldn't want to mess with that..lol

 

[kamik86]

The biggest reason I would lie about age is I think parents need to be careful how much they do it and for how long. My nephew (my sisters step son actually not my sisters kid) is a few months younger then me.

Between lying about his age and birthday for things (saying it was his birthday for free stuff lying about age to get in cheaper, etc) The kid had no idea when his birthday was or how old he was half the time until he was almost 7. My sister and his father would have him over the house and I would talk about my birthday and he would have to ask his dad when his birthday is. I knew it before he did.

 

[wilma-bride]

For me, the big thing with lying about your kid's age is that you are potentiall asking them to lie too. I have had a CM ask my son how old he is (not in an accusatory fashion or anything, just "How old are you buddy?"). I would never expect him to lie and so, unless they are prepared for the question, chances are they would just answer honestly and that would be when you would be expected to have that ticket.

 

[TISHLOVESDISNEY]

My children are always more than happy to announce their ages, so lying has never been an option for us.

 

[Donnainnj]

Glad to see this teacher is not willing to lie. On another note, I had to put down the wrong ages for my two for my next trip as we have AP's they got in August when 16 and 5, when I tried to put their new ages of 17 and 6 in for the next trip it wouldn't let me link the reservation to Magic Bands. Really didn't think it was worth all the time on the phone to get that resolved when it will not matter.
Donna

 

[mickeyluv'r]

One important exception to note is the AIRPORT!!!

IF you are traveling with a 'lap' child on an airplane, the airlines can be very NASTY about requiring some for of ID for the child! It does not have to be a full birth certificate, but they do DEMAND to see Id sometimes. TOehrwise they threaten to charge you FULL FARE at last minute prices!
It is not TSA, but the airline employees themselves when you go to check bags or a baby carseat/stroller!


Castmembers were fine.

 

[LadyRayado]

My 13 month old has a Magic Band for our trip in March. Its cute and all, but completely useless. They just send one for every person on the reservation. He's small for his age and nowhere near three, but I'm taking a copy of his BC just in case.

I second the suggestion to take a copy if you are flying, no matter how old your child looks. I forgot it when we flew in September, he was eight months, and had to wait at the airport while my DH tracked a copy down and e-mailed it to me - Southwest wouldn't let me check-in without it, without paying full-price for a ticket for him, even though he was clearly an infant.

 

[Gillyrose779]

I will admit it- I am torn about saying if my child is 3 or not on our trip in May. He will be 3 and 3 months but is only in the 13% for height right now. Both of my kids are small for their age- my oldest will be 4.5 and we have our fingers crossed he will be 40" for the trip.

The whole point of free under 3 is the fact that they aren't tall enough to ride some of the rides and don't eat a lot at meals.

Oh well- we will probably pay for him- darn morals and guilt!

 

[Chabby]

We said our daughter was under three until she was about 3 1/2...our trip in two weeks is the first trip we are actually paying for her.

I'm not trying to reset anyone's moral compass, just sayin.

I was thinking the exact same thing (not that I'm doing it ). But I have the opposite situation, my son is short for his age and doesn't talk a lot. He is 3 years and 2 months old.

For my family size having to pay for him next time is going to be a huge increase. We go from 4 and a baby to a family of 5, so we will need a suite.

 

[danceintherain]

We took DS last year, when he was about 2 1/2. The only time anyone even mentioned his age was when he was "helping" me scan my ticket. The CM said, "now we need yours." I just said, "He's only 2," and continued walking.

Most of the time when we entered the parks, he was in the stroller, and all our ADRs had him listed as an "infant," so no one else ever said anything.

 

[staceyeileen]

I would not think twice about fudging a birthday by 1 day, in all honesty.

Now, I took my DS when he was 3 and 3 months without a ticket and I was a bit nervous but had no problems. The next time I took him at 3 and 8 months I did have a 1-day ticket for him, but when we were going through the gate I had some problems getting my AP to scan at first so a CM was helping me... well, when we finally got my AP to scan she ended up just ushering both of us through. I didn't realize until later when I tried to get an FP that my DS never actually scanned his ticket. So much for trying to tell the truth!!

 

[maxiesmom]

A lot of these posts are making me wish Disney did ask for a birth certificate or some sort of proof of age. It is a shame Disney can't rely on people being honest..

 

[jimandami]

A lot of these posts are making me wish Disney did ask for a birth certificate or some sort of proof of age. It is a shame Disney can't rely on people being honest..

I agree with this 100%!!! I just can't imagine thinking it is ok to lie about your child's age. Honestly, it's pretty much like stealing!

 

[ucfknight]

A lot of these posts are making me wish Disney did ask for a birth certificate or some sort of proof of age. It is a shame Disney can't rely on people being honest..

It is rather disheartening, especially when you consider these people are making their small children accomplices in their lies/theft.

 

[tsme]

I have trouble lying, so I wouldn't. But as others have posted, when flying I bring a copy of my DD's BC. But not because of her being a lap baby, she's 11 & tall. I bring it because I don't her to go thru the nudie machine at the airport.

 

[Love Tink]

A lot of these posts are making me wish Disney did ask for a birth certificate or some sort of proof of age. It is a shame Disney can't rely on people being honest..

Eh. Give people a break for once. It's a lot of money - for some people, maybe the difference between going on the trip and not going. And it's not as if on a kid's 3rd birthday, they suddenly grow five inches and their brain takes a developmental leap.

I wouldn't bring my 3 1/2 year old or 4 year old and say he/she was 3...but I have a pretty hard time getting on a moral high horse about someone whose child misses it by one day.

 

[WantToGoNow]

I know you said your dates weren't flexible but is it possible for an evening flight that would get you there by midnight. You would have an extra hotel night but it would still save you quite a bit and then your child would be considered 2 for the entire trip.