Daughter just turned 3, should I buy her a ticket?

[DizBelle]

Originally posted by WDSearcher
Just as an FYI .... these are apples-to-oranges comparisons. There is a solid, stated, written policy at Disney that children "under 3" get in free and that children "3 to 9" pay for a child's ticket. Ages 10 and up pay for an adult ticket. Stated policy.

People with single day tickets are -- and always have been -- allowed to ride the monorail. There is no written policy regarding bringing food into the park. Snacks and juice for kids (and adults) has always been allowed -- what Disney does not allow is people bringing in coolers of food and setting up picnics in the parks. Call Guest Relations and ask -- they'll tell you bringing in graham crackers and apple juice is just fine. Disney does not prohibit any of these things. Any adult can purchase a child's meal, just as they can at McDonald's. Now, at a sit-down restaurant at Disney, they won't let a 25-year-old get away with a kid's meal, but at the counter restaurants? No problem. None of those things are specific written policies. They all have wiggle room.

Ticketing, however, is a specific written policy with no room for doubt. BIG difference.

I think that at any table or counter service restaurant, anyone should be able purchase anything from the menu regardless of whether it is from the "kids" section or not. You will pay less but you will also get less food. You get the quantity you pay for and that's it. "Kids" menu items really just mean "smaller quantity". Maybe I'm a light eater and just want a small amount of food. I don't think I shold have to pay for an large meal even though I know I'm only going to eat a third of it. That's wasteful. It wastes the food and my money.

Now, buffets are different. You really can't allow an adult to pay the child's price at a buffet. A while back I took my 10 year old niece to a buffet and was charged the child's price for her and the adult price for me and she ate twice as much as I did. That doesn't seem right. Maybe if you got charged for the weight of food you took from the buffet up to a max but there would be a lot of overhead involved in tracking it.

But the rules are the rules and if you don't like them you don't have to visit.

 

[DizBelle]

Originally posted by my3kids
I just looked in my Official Guide book and I stand corrected about the monorail....that is allowed from the TTC to the park you buy the ticket for, as are ferries. Busses are not, however, allowed with a single day ticket, so the official policy states. On food, also in the Official Guide, it says "outside food is not welcome in Disney parks." But, it is allowed in the water parks. Has WDW ever said anything about someone bringing food in? I doubt it, but just as the age is stated, so is the food and transportation issue.

I would be more than happy to purchase my preferred snack inside the parks if they had it to purchase. Until then, I'll be bringing in my Luna bar. I would prefer not to haul around any food but until I can get it in the park, I guess I'll be bringing it in.

 

[Geoff_M]

nomen,

Yes, you should buy your 3 yo a ticket. There aren't many of us that aren't on a budget when it comes to WDW.

As for the for the attempts at drawing parallels with bringing food into the parks and riding the buses, let we add this "take" on the attempt. Though the food and bus policies are "official", they are also opening ignored by the CMs and only seem to be enforced in cases of extreme abuse. The security staff at the gates see the snacks and do nothing (try and bring in a 3 course picnic and it'll probably be a different story). Likewise for a bus driver if asked if you need a multi-day ticket to ride their bus... they'll just wave you on. However, I don't recall CMs telling people, if asked, that they don't need to bother with a ticket for their 3 year-old child.

Yes, their are certain topics that tend to bring out the "passion" in people here. Particularly topics that seem to ask people if it's OK to, or the likelyhood of being able to, skirt WDW policies.

 

[Mainebound]

Originally posted by nomen
what about refillable mugs? I guess I have some reading to catch up before I understand the culture of this board

OMG! No! Do you have a death wish? Just put the thread down and back away very very slowly. Now!

 

[Dawnflower]

Nomen there are a couple of topics that get people whipped up into a frenzy.

A) Refillable mugs. They are $12.00 and refills are free at the resort you bought them for the lenght of your current visit. This is the official policy.

However, in the past you where allowed to bring the cup back for return visits, people still do this. They also bring any cup from any resort from any trip and fill them in any resort!
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B) Pool Hopping. Not allowed from resort to resort, this is the official policy (does not apply to DVC). Some people like to sample other pools. Others like to go to pools that they deem "better" than the one at their resort. Others get hot at MK and hop on the monorail and jump in the nearest pool to cool off.
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C) Buying a newly 3 or newly 10 yr old a hopper pass.
D) Bringing in outside food.

Basically anything that 1 person does, that another person does not think they should do. Everyone has opinions on these things and usually feel strongly one way or another, each feeling justifiable in their own opinion, sometimes regardless of the "official policy".

But I am too because I leave in a week!!!

 

[DutchsMommy]

nomen:

The above mentioned issues around pool-hopping (using a pool at a resort you are not staying) and refillable mugs (re-using ones purchased from previous trips/using mugs purchased at one resort to fill up at another etc) are hit-button topics that usually cause great cafuffuls and commotion among the general population and bring out the angel and devil in many a DISer. And should you ever wonder whether "saving" your super-conveniently-located pool lounger with a towel or bag while you travel the parks all day is an allowable activity, you are guaranteed to get these boards a-hoppin!

Welcome to the DIS

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

Don't worry, there won't be any time for reading about refillable mugs. You'll be too busy trying to figure out how to get your entire, extended family in one hotel room. Just how many blow-up mattresses will fit in one room?

 

[DisneyIsMyShrink]

Originally posted by DiznEeyore
So true, LOL!! Let's hope nomen's next post isn't about refillable mugs!

I have one though! Okay. lol...what if..........................................say you stayed at a resort and a month later you went back to the same resort. The reason you went 2 different times is because one time you had the kids and the next to got rid of them at Grandma's, also you couldn't stay, say a week,( drive 3 hours home, drop of kids and 3 hours back)because DH work wouldn't let you take that much time off at once. Would it be morally wrong to use the same refillable mugs on that second trip? <<opening kitchen cabinet and having an avalanche of POR refillable mugs>> My DH and were having this conversation last night about our upcoming trip, you know how we settled it? We're staying at PC, and we don't have any old mugs from there.

Please be nice, I am only wondering......................

 

[mickeymousefan]

Don't worry, there won't be any time for reading about refillable mugs. You'll be too busy trying to figure out how to get your entire, extended family in one hotel room. Just how many blow-up mattresses will fit in one room?

Oh yeah..... dont forget to bring your microwave, toaster, crock pot, coffee maker and a hot plate!!!!!

 

[DisneyIsMyShrink]

Originally posted by DiznEeyore
So true, LOL!! Let's hope nomen's next post isn't about refillable mugs!

I have one though! Okay. lol...what if..........................................say you stayed at a resort and a month later you went back to the same resort. The reason you went 2 different times is because one time you had the kids and the next to got rid of them at Grandma's, also you couldn't stay, say a week,( drive 3 hours home, drop of kids and 3 hours back)because DH work wouldn't let you take that much time off at once. Would it be morally wrong to use the same refillable mugs on that second trip? <<opening kitchen cabinet and having an avalanche of POR refillable mugs>> My DH and were having this conversation last night about our upcoming trip, you know how we settled it? We're staying at PC, and we don't have any old mugs from there.

Please be nice, I am only wondering......................

 

[Tiggerlover91]

YES

 

[wdwoldtimer]

Originally posted by insidestory
If you think you can get away with it. Do it. "Stick it to the man"

ROFL

What you should do is stop at the main gate and tell the attendant you are picking up your parents at the Contemporary. He'll let you through because they usually don't want to back up the line of cars behind you. When you get to the Contemporary security gate, use the same story - picking up parents. Be sure to have your 3 year old stick his head out the window, smile and say something like "I'm going to grampa!" ...that usually works on any suspicious guards. They're usually retired grandpas themselves with a soft spot for kids.

Now you've got FREE parking for the day!

Just before you get to the MK gate put any kids 5 years old and under in strollers. Have them put their thumbs in their mouths and pretend they are asleep. CM's won't bother to wake them up to ask their age or check their height. Having them curl up in a fetal position also helps.

 

[Shalida]

Just to add an amusing story my mom likes to tell.

When I was a little girl we were going to Disneyland. When we got there my mom told me not to say anything about my age. When we got to the turnstyles she said I scrunched down, held up 3 fingers and mouthed the word 3 to the CM.

This past December the folks and I took my sons to WDW. When my dad asked if we needed to buy DS age 3 a ticket my mom shouted YES!! at the top of her lungs.

Guess mom learned her lesson.

 

[my3kids]

LOL, Shalida. Too cute!

 

[insidestory]

Originally posted by insidestory
If you think you can get away with it. Do it. "Stick it to the man"

I just wanted to let everyone know that I voted for the purchase of the child ticket before I voted against it!

 

[wdwoldtimer]

ROFL...Senator Kerry? Is that you?

 

[wdwoldtimer]

Shalida, you forgot to mention the part about you being 8 when your mom told you to hold up those three fingers.

 

[Took]

ROFL...Senator Kerry? Is that you?

??no, it must be BUsh.

 

[Dawnflower]

This is a bit off topic but ... my son, who is getting ready to turn 4 moved into his own bed this past summer. For awhile he woke up during the night and called out for his dad to snuggle him ( I am a hard***) and was unwilling to get up every night. This went on for several months, most nights my husband ended up falling asleep in bed with him, and then he started sitting on the floor beside the bed so in the mornings I would find husband with a bent neck, asleep sitting up with his head on the bed. Long story short....the family laughed that we could picture my son with a deep voice, living with his wife and kids, calling my house at 2:00 in the morning for his dad to come snuggle him!

BTW He now sleeps all night without a snuggler!! I had to do an intervention because I got woke up every night when he called out to his dad, when his dad came back to bed, when he called out again, on and on till daylight!

 

[sbelyo]

Well.. there is two sides to this one.

1. You could get away with it, if you child doen't talk much and is still riding in a stroller when you get to the gate. However, If you're going multiple days you'll be seeing a different CM each time. Who want's that kind of stress on Vacation?

2. Why chance it? In the grand scheme of things it's not worth it. When my son was three I bought the ticket and felt good about it. I'm not certain how I would feel about scheming the place I loved so much as a kid.


So in a few words my opinion is to buy the ticket and sleep good at night. But it's only that, just an opinion.