Disney's mistake...please advise!

[wosmack]

We booked a trip for June 9-16th a while back. I told them that we had 2 kids one that was 6 and one that was 3. So then they quoted me a price for all 4 of us in our family. So we booked it at that price. Since then, we also booked both sets of grandparents. So they are getting quite a bit of $ from all of us. However, I got on disney website and looked up my acct and it had my 3 year old listed as a 2 yr old and thus, he is free....However, he will be 4 y/o when we actually go. I called Disney, and they said to lie and say that he is actually 2 when we go to WDW. I really don't want to do that, but I don't want to pay $300+ for him b/c I disclosed everything to them originally. Has anyone ever had this problem before? Disney said the only thing we could do was to just tell everyone that he is 2y/o and no one at WDW or WDW dining would ask any questions. Does that seem correct, do you have any other suggestions? Thanks

 

[powellrj]

Interesting 2nd, post, but I will bite, I think you should pay the money and keep honest. Do you really want you child to be less than honest if someone questions him at the gate?

 

[katyjeka]

I'll bite a little harder, I can't believe Disney told you to lie!!! Please. Bottom line, he's 4 and no longer free. It's simple, you owe the difference, pay.

 

[dansamy]

When you book your trip, you are asked how old the child will be at the time of travel. Because that's what determines the price you'll pay for them. I have a 9 year old. He will still be 9 for our trip, but if I had planned this trip for after his birthday, I would need to disclose to Disney that he would be a 10 year old for the purposes of our trip and would need to pay for him as an adult. Bottom line: a 4 year old is not free. You owe Disney the cost.

 

[Peanut&Piglet'sMom]

I'm with whoever said that your child might be the one to slip up! My 3 year old is very proud that she will be turning 4! LOL

I'd call Disney again and tell them you have a problem with your account. But definitly pay for him...the guilt might get to you!

 

[RMulieri]

No brainer...Call back. Disney sometimes is less than accurate with info.No way would I lie about it.

 

[LuvOrlando]

-

 

[BuzznBelle'smom]

I don't believe for a second that two Disney employees told you to lie. Sorry, they work for the company, I highly doubt that they would do such a thing.

A 4yo doesn't even remotely look or act like a 2yo. My youngest just turned 3, and he'll proudly tell everyone, and painfully hold up three fingers (it's funny, because he has to think about it). Not to mention the older sibling, who knows the correct age and will see you lying. And don't think for a second that the CMs won't quiz your child--many people have reported this.

You know the right thing to do, so do it.

 

[aubriee]

I have a grandson that just turned 4 y/o. No way does he act or talk like a two year old. I have personally seen CMs at the turnstyle ask kids how old they are. At least once (at DS) the kid said he was three. The parents tried to cover and say he was actually two. The CM laughed, but pointed over toward GS and told the parents to buy the kid a ticket. Sorry, but no way, can you pass a four y/o off as a two y/o.

I've also heard a waiter at CP supposedly just making conversation with a kid at the table right next to us. He asked the kid how old he was and the kid said "eleven', then apparently realized his mistake and said 'no, I'm ten, no I mean I'm nine. Oh, sorry! How old am I supposed to be this trip dad?". It was really sad, but funny at the same time. After the waiter walked off, the dad really tore into the poor kid. We felt so sorry, for him, but felt the family deserved what they got, for trying to lie about the kid's age. This was a really small eleven y/o, by the way. They were charged the adult price for him. We knew because the dad got really angry with the kid when they got their ticket.

 

[AmyBWV99]

I'd be totally honest about it at check in, no need for you to waste your money calling back, sitting on hold, etc to get varied answers the front desk CM is going to issue the room and tickets, etc anyway.

We've always been honest about DS#1's age and he's a tall kid for his age and at nearly 4 even our trip last month most of the time the CMs looked surprised that he had a ticket. He's had an AP since the very first trip after he turned 3 and have NEVER been asked for it. Which surprises us all the time. He's typically sitting in a stroller to get thru the gates since he has walking troubles but I promise he doesn't look 2!

 

[a1tinkfans]

We booked a trip for June 9-16th a while back. I told them that we had 2 kids one that was 6 and one that was 3. So then they quoted me a price for all 4 of us in our family. So we booked it at that price. Since then, we also booked both sets of grandparents. So they are getting quite a bit of $ from all of us. However, I got on disney website and looked up my acct and it had my 3 year old listed as a 2 yr old and thus, he is free....However, he will be 4 y/o when we actually go. I called Disney, and they said to lie and say that he is actually 2 when we go to WDW. I really don't want to do that, but I don't want to pay $300+ for him b/c I disclosed everything to them originally. Has anyone ever had this problem before? Disney said the only thing we could do was to just tell everyone that he is 2y/o and no one at WDW or WDW dining would ask any questions. Does that seem correct, do you have any other suggestions? Thanks

You said you disclosed everything to them and a mistake was made, okay, what is the difference of paying it THEN or paying it NOW, either way it is owed??? Not sure I understand your position actually.

I do not think a 2 year old looks ANYTHING like a 4 year old and personally would be uncomfortable lying about it or expecting my 4 year old to "play dumb" and Act 2, THAT is just too funny to me. I would be mortified if someone even said something or Looked funny at the child. I also think it does not send the right message to the child.
I hope whatever you decide to do it works out for you,
In the meantime, have a great trip!! Pixie dust your way...

*just wanted to let EVERYONE know when I said play dumb, it was not meant to be disparaging in ANY way, I just meant 4 versus 2 is a HUGE difference, enough said, LOL.

 

[Aliceacc]

I'm not sure what you're asking.

You say you don't want to pay, but you don't want to lie. If your child will be 4 when you go, those are the only 2 choices.

 

[scarlet_ibis]

I've been told by a CM to lie about my DD's age!

But it was sort of the opposite. My DD was 2 years 11 mos. when we went on our last trip, and DD1 and cousin's DD were going to the BBB. We simply couldn't leave the little one out, and she was well-behaved enough to handle that, so we booked her in and said she was 3. No problems at all. (And Disney MADE money off of that little lie...)

 

[ryanshana]

I have been told to lie by a CM also.... I booked and months and months later I asked about DS and his dining plan and they said that he's 2 he can't I said no he's going to be 3....They asked when...July....well he'll be ok since he's only 2 months into being 3! I was like that's ok I really wanted him to be on the dining plan and I didn't want to lie...PLUS I probably really could have gotten away with it cause DS has a severe speech delay and if a CM asked him how old he is he's tell him "choo-choo" (his fav word and response for EVERYTHING!) lol

 

[ilandrazdsw]

YES! THis happened to us. We booked when DD was 2...I gave her birthdate and said she would be 3 at time of travel. We were charged for her as 2, but I thought maybe in the system they would update it on the date of her birthday and charge my CC. NOPE! I was told by friends to just say she was 2 cause she could pass...honestly, we did consider it. But in the end we just couldn't do it and didn't want to teach our children that is was ok to lie no matter what the cost. when I called to alert WDW of the mistake the CM corrected it and the balance was charged to my CC. It just wasn't worth it to me. Now if the CM had told me to lie I would ask for her ID number and a note that it was infact ok to lie, just incase we were asked the child's age.

It is more money, but it is also worth the piece of mind. There have been many threads about children being asked their age by CM.

 

[Colleen27]

I'd skip hassling with the CRO CMs altogether in favor of talking to someone at check in and paying the difference then. I've been less than thrilled with CRO CMs regarding such things. They incorrectly had DS11 listed as 9 - his age on our last trip, in Jan 08 - and I was told by two different CMs that there was no need to correct his age. Um, we *want* to pay for him as an adult. We do the deluxe dining plan, he's a little foodie, and he's VERY excited for his first trip ordering off the adult menus! I was absolutely floored, given the huge price difference between child & adult for our package, that the CM would suggest not correcting his age in their system.

 

[2disneyboys]

OP I can see where your coming from... you called them, gave them full disclosure, booked the trip based on the info they quoted to you... I would have just assumed that the quote was based on all of your group with the correct ages referenced. thats no different then a store advertising a product for $xyz and then charging $abc when you go to buy it

however, you also know that the info they have it wrong (even though you did provide the correct info in the 1st place) I would handle it as a previous poster suggested. At check in, I would have them correct it. Make sure you have the money to cover the correcting cost, and maybe they will let it slide or cut you some other deal since it was thier mistake, however, be prepared to Pony up if necessary. Either way, I'd require they correct the childs age in the records as it really does become a moral example to your other child as well.

 

[Liltx]

The same thing happened to us last year. Booked when she was two but gave them her birthday and confirmed she would be three on the trip. It took 3 phone calls to get it straight. They need to fix their software. It could be a very unpleasant surprise at checkin for alot of people who don't know the rules. $300 is a lot of money if you are not expecting it.

However, you do know the rules and you should pay. I have a just turned 4 year old.

Monica

 

[a*lil*bit*goofy]

just like ilandrazdsw. When I booked, I was asked the ages of the kids at time of travel. They knew, and yet they still didn't charge my dd. She turned 3 shortly before our trip.

I had called back and noted the error. I spoke with 3 different CM's. one was a manager/supervisor. They marked my file (?) and that was that. I kept the name of the 3 different people, dates of conversations, etc. DD was not charged. We went prepared to pay any difference, yet nothing came from it.

I do not know if it was because dd was quite tiny, or if it was because she hardly ate anything at buffets or off my plate at other TS.

Anyway bottom line was that Disney made a mistake, and we paid our trip...so they kept it as is, marked the file somehow, and that was that.

Disney does make mistakes sometimes! Heck, my friend got back from Disney 2 weeks ago and said "explain to me how I got FREE DINING with our 4/3 deal?" They checked in, and the CM said ok here you go, room key, here is the info for your dinging plan..." she was shocked, hadn't ordered the dining plan. They checked to see if they were charged for something they weren't buying, and they weren't, yet it was still given!

 

[VMKaddict]

I have a grandson that just turned 4 y/o. No way does he act or talk like a two year old. I have personally seen CMs at the turnstyle ask kids how old they are. At least once (at DS) the kid said he was three. The parents tried to cover and say he was actually two. The CM laughed, but pointed over toward GS and told the parents to buy the kid a ticket. Sorry, but no way, can you pass a four y/o off as a two y/o.

I've also heard a waiter at CP supposedly just making conversation with a kid at the table right next to us. He asked the kid how old he was and the kid said "eleven', then apparently realized his mistake and said 'no, I'm ten, no I mean I'm nine. Oh, sorry! How old am I supposed to be this trip dad?". It was really sad, but funny at the same time. After the waiter walked off, the dad really tore into the poor kid. We felt so sorry, for him, but felt the family deserved what they got, for trying to lie about the kid's age. This was a really small eleven y/o, by the way. They were charged the adult price for him. We knew because the dad got really angry with the kid when they got their ticket.

Thats so sad about the restaurant thing. I can't believe people would do that just to get a better price.


I would be honest and not lie about the age.