Do I need to prove my son is under 3?

[jennbug]

When we go in September my son will be 2 months from his third birthday. He is kind of big for his age. Do I need to bring a birth certificate or something to prove he is under 3?

 

[anewvance]

Most of the time they will take your word for it. But if you have his birth certificate handy, why not just pack it and bring it with you? It's a piece of paper, won't take up much room.

 

[Hadley's Mom]

I would bring a copy of his birth certificate in case. My DD is very tall for her age(she turned 3 in December). We went in October and late November before she turned 3 and both times I was asked once how old she was. I said 2, neither asked for proof but one CM gave me a look. I had a copy of her BC with me because if someone didn't believe me I would then have proof. I have heard of people having to purchase a ticket since they didn't have proof. One more folded up piece of paper in my backpack didn't make a difference!

Shannon

 

[cleo]

My son was big for his age too, and while we were never questioned (back then, it wasn't such a big 'issue' as it is now) we kept his birth certificate with us because we knew they COULD ask. He looked like a 4 year old at age 2.

I'd take a copy of it. It is likely they won't ask, but if they do, you have it.

 

[Lillypug]

When we went in May my youngest was 2 (3 in July) and we never had to provide proof of his age. I inteneded on packing a copy of his birth cert but forgot it at home.

 

[kirbsam]

in my opinion, it is a waste of time to pack and just one more thing to try to remember every time you go somewhere. it is a nonissue. if you say his age, then there will be no hassle. dirty looks or not. dont even waste your time trying to prove you are telling the truth. just tell his age and move on and enjoy yourselves.

 

[silmarg]

I've never heard of anyone ever have to produce ID.

I say put the kid in a stroller and walk on in!

 

[anewvance]

LoL, my poor nephew is very small... although he's turning 4 next month, he could easily pass for 2. In the past few trips, my sister actually had to insist he needed to use his ticket to get in. I believe the CM's thought my sister gave him a fake ticket to keep him happy or maybe they didn't see the ticket and thought he just wanted to go through the turn style and would tell him he didn't need a ticket yet and could go through with his stroller. Seriously, it happned like 3 times in the past 2 trips!

 

[disneydancer1969]

we had to do the same thing for my nephew when he was 2. he was big for his age. we brought the birth certificate just incase and we didn't have too use once. so i think you should still bring it. but you probably won't need but you never know.

 

[Cool-Beans]

No. Proof of age/ID is not required for two year olds. Nobody is going to ask you for it. You don't need it.

 

[mattsdragon]

No. Proof of age/ID is not required for two year olds. Nobody is going to ask you for it. You don't need it.

Actually, you may want to disregard this, I've heard plenty of times where people needed to prove a child's age.

Honesty and integrity are appreciated, but too many people don't know what these words are. Like they say, "locks keep honest people honest". People try to pull fast ones, so they are occasionally vigilant at WDW.

Better safe than sorry. A copy of the birth certificate should suffice, just stuff it in the bag with snacks/drinks/ponchos/handguns, or whatever else you carry in your stroller besides your kid.

 

[supersuperwendy]

in my opinion, it is a waste of time to pack and just one more thing to try to remember every time you go somewhere. it is a nonissue. if you say his age, then there will be no hassle. dirty looks or not. dont even waste your time trying to prove you are telling the truth. just tell his age and move on and enjoy yourselves.

You just never know though.....

quick story...

When I was 12 my grandparents took my cousin and I to Bush Gardens (virginia). At that time the child's ticket was ages 12 and under. Grandmom wasn't paying for our tickets..we were buying them ourselves. My cousin is only 2 weeks older than me...so we were both freshly 12. The woman selling the tickets didn't believe me that I was 12. She believed my cousin, but not me. I tried and tried to convince her...I even started crying because I had only enough money for the child's ticket, but to no avail. She charged me full adult price. For that reason I am bringing a copy of my 9 year old's birth certificate...I seem to have bad luck in that department!

 

[Cool-Beans]

Actually, you may want to disregard this, I've heard plenty of times where people needed to prove a child's age.

Honesty and integrity are appreciated, but too many people don't know what these words are. Like they say, "locks keep honest people honest". People try to pull fast ones, so they are occasionally vigilant at WDW.

Better safe than sorry. A copy of the birth certificate should suffice, just stuff it in the bag with snacks/drinks/ponchos/handguns, or whatever else you carry in your stroller besides your kid.

If you don't believe me, call Disney and ask them if ID is required for two year olds. They'll tell you that it isn't.

 

[cleo]

ID isn't required for 2 year olds, but the question has been posed because the child does not LOOK LIKE a 2 year old. When a 2 year old looks like a 3 or 4 year old, it IS possible Disney will ask for proof of age. We have the hundreds of people who try to sneak their 3 year olds in as 2 year olds to thank for this policy getting tighter and tigher.

It's a tough call, because if you do get stopped you want to be able to prove the child's age but many CM's will take your word for it. So what's a parent to do?

I think that's why most people (myself included) suggest bringing the birth certificate. If you get a real 'stickler' of a CM, who just doesn't believe you, better to be able to prove it than to have to shell out the cash for a child who SHOULD get in free.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Since this thread seems to come up from time to time, I thought I would finally respond & say maybe WDW should think about raising to kids get in free age to under 4 or 5 years old. This way it would be easier for parents to prove their child is under the right age because like some people have said before, thier kids look older then 3. To me raising the age limit would be easier, although WDW must have it at under 3 years for a reason.

 

[WantToGoNow]

My dd will turn 3 the first week of December -- we will be going to WDW the first week of November -- 4 weeks before her birthday. She is tall -- 39" and talks like an adult. My dh and I discussed whether we might have a problem with CM's assuming she's already 3 -- based on her size and speech. I have a copy of her birth certificate already copied and in my wallet. I don't want to have to pay for a ticket for her when it is not required and I also don't want to have to pay for meals for her at buffets/family style dinners since I didn't have the option to add her to the dining plan. We most like will buy her meals at the other TS and CS locations because she eats better than my ds5.

 

[Not so Dumbo]

When we went in '05 my DS was 3days shy of being 3yrsold. I never thought of bring his birth cert. and I was never questioned. DS is a big kid too. He was 39 3/4" tall. I know because he wasn't allowed on any of the 40" rides by just a fuzz. Anyway, the DISboards are the 1st I ever heard of this issue. I personally would be afraid of idenity theft if I lost even a copy of it while we were down there.

 

[Ilovemyprincesses]

Thanks, My DD will be 2.5 when we go and she is big so I was wondering. I will bring her birth certificate just in case.

 

[jennbug]

Thanks! I think I'll bring it just in case!!

 

[stm61]

When we went in May my youngest was 2 (3 in July) and we never had to provide proof of his age. I inteneded on packing a copy of his birth cert but forgot it at home.

Same thing happened to us! Youngest turned 3 the last day of our trip in Sept. She's very tall for her age and we meant to bring a copy just in case. It got left at home on the counter where we were sure we wouldn't forget it. We were asked once at a park gate how old she was, they never asked for proof or acted like they didn't believe us. We were asked several times at restaurants, there seemed to be a lot of confusion over a reservation for 7, but only 6 on the dining plan.