Children's age restrictions at Disneyland

[sonnyjane]

Yes, my daughter will turn 7 in first grade this year. She will turn 10 in the middle of 4th grade.

To me that is so young to be told she can't wear a costume in the park.

Yeah, that makes sense. I think when I was in school they were more lax on the birthday cutoffs than they are now. I see what you're saying about wanting to wear a costume in the park. I think maybe 12 would be a better cut-off for that, but I guess they have to draw a line somewhere.

I know I was at the parks a week ago and there was a couple in their late teens/early 20's that was wearing outfits far more distracting than any costume a 10 year old could possibly wear. I was surprised they were allowed into the parks, particularly the girl, who was wearing a cleavage-bearing bustier, a "barely-there" mini skirt, thigh-high fishnet stockings, and platform pumps. I'm all about creative expression, but keep it family friendly at Disneyland...

Sorry for the threadjack

 

[Michaella]

You know you are right.. I shouldnt get him to lie... I know he would love to dress up in a jedi robe etc but I guess he just cant....

As for meals.... I will just ask if we can buy him a child meal instead.

Thanks for your answers...

 

[jtown]

Wow, is that true? I was 10 when I started 6th grade (although not for long, since I have a September birthday).

Same here but with an October birthday. When I tried to register for my first semester of classes in college, they made me get my high school diploma and bring it in because, obviously, I'd dropped out of high school to go to college. I was 17 at the time. Just one of several annoyances for a minor in college.

I think, back then, the rule was you had to be 5 by early December to start kindergarten. Yeah, just checked and, in California, it's "five years of age on or before December 2 of the school year".

...particularly the girl, who was wearing a cleavage-bearing bustier, a "barely-there" mini skirt, thigh-high fishnet stockings, and platform pumps.

You wouldn't happen to have any pics, would you? So I know how outraged to be, of course.

 

[Michaella]

Another question.. if he cant wear a costume can he still wear a personalised cahracter shirt?? ie Mickey dressed up in a jedi robe with his name on it?? (Hope so as I have already bought it!)

 

[sonnyjane]

Another question.. if he cant wear a costume can he still wear a personalised cahracter shirt?? ie Mickey dressed up in a jedi robe with his name on it?? (Hope so as I have already bought it!)

Yes, nothing wrong with Disney apparel! You can wear Disney shirts, hats, shoes, earrings, purses - you name it and I've done it!

 

[fidoprincess]

Thanks pixiewings/kerri! I did not know about the double/double option. We usually do table service meals 2 times a day so it was hard for us because my almost 6" tall ds doesn't like anything except chicken strips-lol. I will try the double double for him. In the past, we've always found ways to work around it but this time, now that dd is an "adult" too, I figured it would be tougher asking for 3 kids (we are bringing one of dd's friends) meals instead of just the one we were technically not allowed to have.

I called to ask about the WOC package for AG or WCT and asked if we could pay the adult price but get the kids meal and was told NO, absolutely not. Then I called back again and was told, "It depends on the server." What?! So some 10 year old might be able to get the buttered noodles and one might not? To make it harder, dd is a vegetarian so that limits her options even more. But...I am reading more reports of kids being able to get what they want and even some kids (I mean "adults") being able to order off of the kids menu and pay the kids price. It is confusing! I did make the reservations anyway and we'll see how it goes.

We also do Goofy's and Minnie's and well, I don't care what I pay there because all of the kids can find something they like to eat. It's just BB, CO and CC that we were worried about. Why wouldn't the server say NO because they would get a bigger tip that way? I don't know but I remember one time at BB, dd was still 9 and she ordered something not even on the menu and they brought it! I don't even know how much it was but oh boy, she was happy and the server never even batted an eye. Very Cool! I guess a lot of it IS luck and how experienced your server is at any given place.

 

[Lissame]

We went to BB a couple of weeks ago and my kids split an adult meal. My daughter is 10 and my son is 11, and they were both allowed to look at the childrens menu to see if there was anything they wanted to order from that, and when there wasn't, they split a meal from the regular menu. They didn't get double the sides, and we just got an extra plate and split it ourselves, so we didn't even have to pay the split plate fee.

 

[DisSarahK]

Another question.. if he cant wear a costume can he still wear a personalised cahracter shirt?? ie Mickey dressed up in a jedi robe with his name on it?? (Hope so as I have already bought it!)

Oh yes, absolutely he can wear a custom shirt! Go for it!!

 

[fidoprincess]

Lissame, Thanks for posting, good to know that is another solution!

 

[disneyfaninaz]

In my opinion a 10 or 11 year old wearing a costume cannot in anyway be confused with a real Disney Character in the parks. The whole reason adults cannot wear costumes during normal park hours, is so that they cannot impersonate or confuse children into thinking they are the real Jack Sparrow, or Cinderella.

 

[bumbershoot]

Same here but with an October birthday. When I tried to register for my first semester of classes in college, they made me get my high school diploma and bring it in because, obviously, I'd dropped out of high school to go to college. I was 17 at the time. Just one of several annoyances for a minor in college.

Seriously? I have an Oct b'day too, and started college at 17, and no one batted an eye at my age. And you guys just forced me to write it all out of how old I was in each grade, and yep, 10 at the beginning of 6th grade.

I guess I don't see 10 as being SO young or small, since, even though I was short at 10, I was in need of supportive undergarments for my chest while I was in 5th.

So if I'd had different school requirements (I also went to school in CA), I'd have been in 3rd grade needing a bra???? Fainting dead away....



Disney has to set the bar somewhere. They've chosen 10. (probably b/c of the girls like me and some others in my class who were even further along, sorry about that) We all know it. Love it, live it, embrace it.

 

[Disney Dreams]

... I don't know but I remember one time at BB, dd was still 9 and she ordered something not even on the menu and they brought it! I don't even know how much it was but oh boy, she was happy and the server never even batted an eye. Very Cool! I guess a lot of it IS luck and how experienced your server is at any given place.

Part of what you experienced there, I believe, is the Blue Bayou. It's the "fancy" restaurant in the park. It's supposed to be a notch above and (in my experience) they DO bend over backwards to accommodate when they can.

- Dreams

 

[pixiewings71]

Thanks pixiewings/kerri! I did not know about the double/double option. We usually do table service meals 2 times a day so it was hard for us because my almost 6" tall ds doesn't like anything except chicken strips-lol. I will try the double double for him. In the past, we've always found ways to work around it but this time, now that dd is an "adult" too, I figured it would be tougher asking for 3 kids (we are bringing one of dd's friends) meals instead of just the one we were technically not allowed to have.

I called to ask about the WOC package for AG or WCT and asked if we could pay the adult price but get the kids meal and was told NO, absolutely not. Then I called back again and was told, "It depends on the server." What?! So some 10 year old might be able to get the buttered noodles and one might not? To make it harder, dd is a vegetarian so that limits her options even more. But...I am reading more reports of kids being able to get what they want and even some kids (I mean "adults") being able to order off of the kids menu and pay the kids price. It is confusing! I did make the reservations anyway and we'll see how it goes.

We also do Goofy's and Minnie's and well, I don't care what I pay there because all of the kids can find something they like to eat. It's just BB, CO and CC that we were worried about. Why wouldn't the server say NO because they would get a bigger tip that way? I don't know but I remember one time at BB, dd was still 9 and she ordered something not even on the menu and they brought it! I don't even know how much it was but oh boy, she was happy and the server never even batted an eye. Very Cool! I guess a lot of it IS luck and how experienced your server is at any given place.

You're very welcome. Just so you know we got that from our server at CO. Last time we went to DL DD14 was 13 and she ordered from the kids menu with no issues, of course we also ordered Pomme Frites, 2 full entrees (I wanted the Ratatouille and man it was goooood!!!) a kids meal for DD10 and begniets so the server got a nice tip just based on that. But no one has ever questioned her age, of course she is very small so that might be why. She's about 5' and wears a size 00 jeans. lol Our server at BB was a little more snarky about it, he said "don't tell me that or I have to force her to order from the adult menu" to which I replied "ok, then she won't be eating anything today" to which he quickly said "well, she can order from the kids menu but if management finds out I let her I'll get in trouble" which may be true but his first reply was very rudely. She did order from the kids menu and I did say "standard child's portion please" and she did get that so it was all good. And yes, the server did get a higher tip because DD should have ordered from the adult menu.

Another question.. if he cant wear a costume can he still wear a personalised cahracter shirt?? ie Mickey dressed up in a jedi robe with his name on it?? (Hope so as I have already bought it!)

Absolutely!! I wear Disney clothes every day that we are in DL/DCA and I'm 39 so it's not a problem at all.

DD10 starts 5th grade this year, her bday is 12-15 so she missed the cutoff.