Does a 3 year old really need a ticket?

[BlondeAlligator]

To the OP- If you do not purchase a ticket for a three year old and attempt to enter the parks by lying that constitutes fraud against Disney. You can have you entire family's APs revoked,

To the poster asking about a nine year old. Disney does not penalize a child for growing older. If the child is nine or under when a pass is first used, and it still has validity when the child turns ten, Disney will upgrade it to an adult pass with the same entitlements (or expiration date if an AP) at no charge.

Good to know...thanks!!

 

[quinnc19]

I am going in 10 days and my DD won't be three until June - so she doesn't need a ticket. She's average to slightly tall for her age but is not a good talker. Should I bother bringing the birth certificate? I was going to, but reading all of these posts where no one was ever asked for proof is making me rethink. Yeah, and I'm not exactly sure where it is, either.

 

[BlondeAlligator]

My DD is 7 but looks like she's 9 because she's so tall...always has been. I always carried a copy of her birth certificate with us after she was about 2, first for the airline's sake, and then for her WDW tix. It never hurts to be prepared should someone stop you & ask...

 

[fairestoneofall]

we went two months after DD turned three. it never crossed my mind to NOT buy her a ticket. she was three. she needed a ticket.

 

[weHEARTmickey]

Whether you think your 7 yr old will notice or not, he will!! My brothers & I remember my dad & stepmom lying about their ages to get into Disney when we were kids. I guess it's b/c two of them should have paid the higher price, but did not. I remember them lying everytime we went to a buffet so they wouldn't have to pay the higher prices (not at Disney but ANYtime we ate out.) You may think a 7yo won't catch on, but there's a possibility he/she & even the 3yo will. It's not worth your children viewing you as dishonest thieves...just pay the extra!

 

[Chloesmom]

This thread reminds me of a trip we took to the Columbus zoo over spring break. As we were walking in a large family was walking next to us. We could clearly hear the mom complaining about how much it would cost to get everyone in. When we got to the ticket booths she saw the cut off age and told her husband she was saying the 2 youngest were younger than they were ( I want to say it was 3).. one could have passed but the other was 5 easily... she told dad to take the kids away and she went to the window next to us. She preceeded to tell the ticket agen she had 2 under 3 etc etc. My DD heard this and threw her under the bus! She said " You are lying! The zoo needs this money and you are stealing!" The agent asked the mom to see all people who were entering so she was nailed... just goes to show you that you never know who will call you out...

 

[weHEARTmickey]

This thread reminds me of a trip we took to the Columbus zoo over spring break. As we were walking in a large family was walking next to us. We could clearly hear the mom complaining about how much it would cost to get everyone in. When we got to the ticket booths she saw the cut off age and told her husband she was saying the 2 youngest were younger than they were ( I want to say it was 3).. one could have passed but the other was 5 easily... she told dad to take the kids away and she went to the window next to us. She preceeded to tell the ticket agen she had 2 under 3 etc etc. My DD heard this and threw her under the bus! She said " You are lying! The zoo needs this money and you are stealing!" The agent asked the mom to see all people who were entering so she was nailed... just goes to show you that you never know who will call you out...

I bet she never tried that again!

 

[Yoshi]

3 year old needing a ticket goes along the same line as when my daughter was 10 I think she was considered an adult. It might have been 11, but 10 or 11, that's ridiculous.

At least it goes by age and not height, I was at a local amusement park and the group in front of me had a kid who was barely 48", he was 5 years old and anyone over 48" is considered regular admission, the same price adults pay!

 

[anonymousegirl]

Question--I don't have kids, but if I had an under 3 who was tall enough for something like Soarin' could she use the FP line like the rest of the group even though she didn't have a ticket to get a FP?

 

[newdrama12]

Question--I don't have kids, but if I had an under 3 who was tall enough for something like Soarin' could she use the FP line like the rest of the group even though she didn't have a ticket to get a FP?

In that situation, Yes. As long as they meet the height requirement.

 

[ML_LovesDisney]

Kids have a way of opening their mouths at the least opportune times. I wouldn't risked being asked only for the 3 to say "I'm 3 mommie" or the 7 year old to say something in front of the CM. I agree with everyone - buy the ticket; your 3 year old will get plenty of entertainment.

If I say my 4 year old is 4 she says very loudly "No mommy, I am 4.5!!!" So, I wouldn't risk it. I don't know why people need to be so judgemental and critical to the OP, calm down everyone, it's JUST a question!

 

[PaulaSB12]

I've got the popcorn... who has the diet coke?

I only drink coke zero

 

[FigNewton]

No popcorn needed, nothing fishy. Simply trying to find out if I can postpone buying another ticket until December when passes come up for renewal.

Nothing fishy. Except trying to cheat the system.

 

[desert_starr_57]

I would just buy the ticket.
DD won't be 3 when we go this month (not until Sept.) but she is already tall. I am taking a copy of her birth certificate just in case they question it. If she were 3, tall or not, I would buy her the ticket.

 

[mastersd]

Hi,
We had the same situation. We bought into the DVC and upgraded our tickets to annual passes.Our daughter didn't have a ticket since she was 2. This was Aug. Her birthday was Nov. Our son was 9 when we got the tickets, but 10 yrs 3 wks after we got the passes. The cast member we spoke to told us that we didn't need to upgrade our son's child ticket to an adult also our daughter was "OK" because families like to have passes that need to be renewed together. We went twice while our daughter was 3 and our son was 10--we did go to guest relations AGAIN to upgrade our son's ticket to an adult and to discuss our daughter's situation. We were told, "Have a Magical Day!" We did!
Deanna
ps I was worried. I would have been upset if we would have had a problem because I would have had to buy tickets that were much more expensive than the passes we had with the dvc discount.

 

[maxiesmom]

we went two months after DD turned three. it never crossed my mind to NOT buy her a ticket. she was three. she needed a ticket.

I know! It seems pretty simple to me.

 

[mickeysgirl17]

OP...you seem new here. Be prepared that when you start topics such as this you will get flamed by some.

That being said, ticket prices for a 3 year old are ridiculous. Most 3 year olds will not be able to remember everything they did and can't ride many of the rides due to height requirements so I do feel that a child of that age should pay a lot less or get in free.

But, it is Disney's policy that a 3 year old must have a ticket to enter the park.

I'm sure if you lie, you will probly get away with it and you will not need to bring a birth certificate. Some people do bring one, but most don't and if you lie, disney really has no way to prove that you are so most people get away with it.

In defense to the OP, you are just waiting to buy the other ticket so its not like your always trying to get away with free stuff and always trying to sneak your child in for free, but....

it is wrong to lie and cheat disney like that especially if your child is aware of what your doing. As wrong as I think it is, that is Disney's policy and it should be followed. Many people here on the boards have a 3 or 4 year old and they pay the ticket and feel its not fair that some don't, so be prepared for some intresting responses.

 

[IMGONNABE40!]

OP, I think you will be fine, and I don't think Disney will give a Mouse's patootie one way or the other. Disney years, are not like our years. I think mastersd learned the same thing.

I took my nephew for his first trip in Aug. '08. He was 9 at the time. I took him back again in July '09 and he had turned 10 by then. While booking the trip, the CM wanted me to add dining. I told her several times that dining is not worth it with my nephew who eats next to nothing and needing the adult dining plan because he is now 10. I know I told the CM that he is 10 at least 3 times. Still, the CM kept quoting it with my nephew being 9 with the kids DP and ticket. Turns out, that since my nephew's first trip was in August, the Disney system doesn't age him up until August each year.

So, my guess is that in Disney years, your daughter will not be 3 until December and they won't look to sell her a ticket until then. I don't think you will be questioned at the turnstiles, but, if you are, I would explain about the APs and worst case scenario they will ask you to go to GR and buy a ticket. No biggie.

BTW it has been my experience that CMs don't ask age. I was on a trip with a friend and her 3 year old daughter. ALL 3 OF US HAD AP's. After Illuminations one night I planned on heading over to the MK for EMH. To my surprise, the little one wanted to come with me to ride the Merry Go Round . Her mom was fine with that, but didn't want to come with us. I headed off to the monorail, while my friend headed back to the resort. After waiting about 20 minutes in the monorail line, it occurred to me that I didn't have the little girl's AP. No way I was getting out of line!! I called my friend, but she was already on a bus on the way to CSR. I decided to take my chances at the gate. I wheeled the stroller in without question.

Now, you may flame me for doing that, but I flame myself for keeping a 3 year old out until nearly 1 in the morning!!

 

[DbleTheFun]

We are DVC annual pass holders and purchased our renewals in December, when our boys were only 2. As twins they are on the smaller side, and I KNOW that CM's would never question how old they are... BUT

We are going again next weekend, and we purchased them tickets which we will upgrade to annual passes once we arrive. They are 3. I know they are 3, they know they are 3.... and I know the rules say "3 and over" must pay entry. Is it inconvenient to have our children's anniversary date for their passes not match ours? Yes you bet... but doing what's right vs. a minor inconvenience for a year is worth it for us. (We wont renew their passes until December 2011, when we would all match up again).

You do what's right for you and your family... I like to teach my children to respect others and themselves by being truthful, and that's worth more than the $600 it costs to get their passes now that they are 3.

 

[Suellen]

1. I have been questioned at the gate with my older looking well spoken child. Rudely I might add. When I stated she was only two I got an eye rolling and a "that's what they all say"

2. If the kid is three the kid is three. If s/he acts 3 or talks 3 or even looks 3 ~ you may be questioned. Don't embarrass yourself

3. To the PP with twins that will have annual passes that expire at different times. If you RENEW the passes you will all still have your same expiration date. It doesn't matter when you renew. You would need to buy NEW AP's to change the expiration date.