Does Disney keep track of kids ages?

[hmp2z]

I would guess that with their new software, they do indeed know your child's age. I just called to book 2 rooms, for a trip we're making with my brother, SIL, and niece. The CM who took the reservation knew my DH & I were married at WDW, knew my maiden name, knew my brother had attended the wedding, and was able to pull up his record from there. From my file, she could locate the files of any of my wedding guests. They haven't been able to do that in the past; I was quite impressed with their data.

She also asked for my niece's age, and I'd imagine it was to put it into their database, not just idle curiousity.
Cheers!
Heather W

 

[daisyduck123]

Yes they do. We've been 4 times in the past 2 years & the CM on the phone always knows the ages of my kids before I even mention it.

 

[Mickeymonty]

Thanks to everyone for responding. Honestly I wasn't thinking of cheating Disney. I don't want to worry about anything when it comes to vacationing so I think I will just make a ressie using her real age. I didn't even think about having her lie. Anyway, thanks.

 

[michygoomy]

Thanks to everyone for responding. Honestly I wasn't thinking of cheating Disney. I don't want to worry about anything when it comes to vacationing so I think I will just make a ressie using her real age. I didn't even think about having her lie. Anyway, thanks.

Good for you! Look at it this way (I just came back from a trip with a recently turned 10 y/o)--she can try a variety of things off the menu, and you won't feel bad if she orders it and doesn't finish it, because you're paying the same price either way! My kids got to try a lot of stuff that I wouldn't LET them order if I was paying OOP for everything. Have fun!

 

[TnKrBeLlA012]

My daughter is three and I said she was two. I have no regrets or guilt at all. I think it's a sin the price they make you pay for a three year old to eat. We just came back. I would be lucky if she ate a roll at half the places I went. Then the price they charged for adults is robbery without a gun. I also think that it is wrong to make a 10 year old pay adult prices!!!!!!! Disney better start remembering that families enjoy going there. If they keep the prices so high families will not be able to afford to eat on property.I will honestly say the food is not that great. So to sum it all up they will have people lying about their kids ages because the prices are so high. A child should be charged a childs price from the age of 5 to 12. Then an adult price. Children 1-4 eat almost nothing. They should be free with a paying adult. We went to 1900 Park Fare. For three adults plus tip we spent 115.00. I can tell you I didn't eat 115.00 worth of food. So they can factor in the piece of chicken and hotdog bun my three year old ate for free.

 

[bell.of.the.ball]

My sons are ages 13 and 17- can I tell them they are 3 and 7??

I find that very funny

 

[kaytieeldr]

they did see the previous records saying she was 9 last trip tell them someone must have made a mistake on the records,

Someone...? (where IS that Groucho Marx/wiggling eyebrows smilie? )

So to sum it all up they will have people lying about their kids ages because the prices are so high. A child should be charged a childs price from the age of 5 to 12. Then an adult price. Children 1-4 eat almost nothing. They should be free with a paying adult.

Well, no, really Disney should do what it wants to attract business, earn profits and pay dividends to its stockholders. Much as we'd all like to think the company's goal is to make everything affordable for families, that's BAD business practice. The only way Disney might consider changing its prices and pricing structure is if we ALL stop going.

For three adults plus tip we spent 115.00. I can tell you I didn't eat 115.00 worth of food.

Well, no, you didn't. You ate $38.33 worth of food. Whatever you ate, since you pay a flat price for a buffet, is the "value" of the meal.

 

[TnKrBeLlA012]

Someone...? (where IS that Groucho Marx/wiggling eyebrows smilie? )

Well, no, really Disney should do what it wants to attract business, earn profits and pay dividends to its stockholders. Much as we'd all like to think the company's goal is to make everything affordable for families, that's BAD business practice. The only way Disney might consider changing its prices and pricing structure is if we ALL stop going.

Well, no, you didn't. You ate $38.33 worth of food. Whatever you ate, since you pay a flat price for a buffet, is the "value" of the meal.

Let me stress my point. The money I spent on food was ridiculious! The word value plays no part in my thoughts. For people that want to go to Disney and be able to afford eating on property they need to adjust their prices. I think even more for the kid prices. If kids ate free I would not mind paying a high price for an adult.

 

[pickles]

I think they should have some more tiers..like the under 2 club, the 3-9 club 10-13 club and then maybe adult..or some similar breakdown. I have to agree when my kids will be 10 I won;t pay for the DDP I will get a DDE with my AP, as my kids won;t eat enough adult food to be worth it. Tho , the idea of paying cash for kids meals and using the extra credits for a signature sounds tempting

 

[bicker]

I think it's a sin the price they make you pay for a three year old to eat.

This is really non-sequitur. Individuals can of course decide for themselves whether something is worth it or not, and their leverage in that regard is whether or not to make the purchase. It's not a "sin" -- it's a value proposition.

Disney better start remembering that families enjoy going there.

Disney is the best at remembering things like that. That's really the problem. They are such experts at building an understanding of their guests, as a group, that they hit the mark with regard to how much "we're" willing to pay -- how much things are really worth to "us". Disney offers such a great product, that "we" are indeed willing to pay a great deal.

So to sum it all up they will have people lying about their kids ages because the prices are so high.

That's really a dodge. People lie because they lack integrity. There really is no other explanation. Again: Customers who feel that prices aren't worth it are able to not make the purchase. I'm sure we all would love to make up all the rules, dicate both sides of the transaction, telling suppliers what to offer and at what price. However, that's unreasonable.

Supplier offer their products and services for sale, and the customers have the ultimate power, to accept or decline the offer.

 

[hmp2z]

I think it's a sin the price they make you pay for a three year old to eat. We just came back. I would be lucky if she ate a roll at half the places I went. Then the price they charged for adults is robbery without a gun. I also think that it is wrong to make a 10 year old pay adult prices!!!!!!! Disney better start remembering that families enjoy going there. If they keep the prices so high families will not be able to afford to eat on property.I will honestly say the food is not that great. So to sum it all up they will have people lying about their kids ages because the prices are so high.

Is this post a joke? If it's a "sin," then just don't eat there. Duh... It's "robbery without a gun" because no one is holding a gun to your head. Just don't go, or go and eat counter service. Please don't claim that Disney is forcing you to lie - that's highly insulting to everyone's intelligence.
I don't understand anything about that post.
Heather W

 

[Mouse-n-Mini]

I don't think a 10 year old should be classified as an adult. Even if the girl eats like a horse, chances are Disney still wouldn't lose money on her with the dining plan rates the way they are. I can't believe the prices of the restaurants anymore. A buffet is almost $20 per adult?! Think about it, a person starts off with some salad maybe...what's that cost , about 10 cents? They might have some carved meat and some vegetables...a couple bucks, and then some cake or ice cream...again...just a dollar or so. Disney is making tons on the buffets, and as far as the sit down restaurants, a family of 4 can easily spend $100 for one meal. I say go ahead and tell them she's 9.

 

[Pats Dragon]

Computers are amazing. They always ask why my daughter isn't going with me or stuff like that. You don't want to teach your children to lie so I would probably tell but I have to admit that it means a lot of extra money so it is tempting. A lot of times cm's will give you a break if you tell the truth. Last year they told me that we didn't have to pay for the 2 extra adults in a deluxe hote. I love Disney!

 

[Anjelica]

what are the rules if your child turns 3 while midway through our vacation (which will be the case). Do we pay for the dining plan for the few days they are 3 or do we have to pay for all?

In terms of the original post - listen just do what you feel you must do. Yes, people will disagree with your decision no matter which decision you make and you just have to learn that its your decision. In the end, I'm certainly not going to be the one judging you when all is said and done (and no thats not a threat or anything) and therefore i'm not going to start judging you now.

I truly wish you and your family a good vacation.

 

[Brian Noble]

The ages at check-in time are "in force" for the entire stay. So, no worries for a 2 year old who turns three during the trip---you don't pay anything.

My daughter is three and I said she was two. I have no regrets or guilt at all. I think it's a sin the price they make you pay for a three year old to eat.

That's positively Orwellian! Priceless! You lied, yet charging for meals was the sin.

 

[Williamsfamily7]

It seems as though you are so angry at Disney you couldn't possibly enjoy your vacation!

Really though, why do you feel you are so well suited to decide at what age kids should be charged an adult price, a child's price, or be free? Isn't that just your opinion?

I think from most of the responses here the majority of people don't agree with you about being dishonest. Even if people think the prices are high, they are not willing to lie to get around it.

Considering WDW's attendance is constantly rising, I guess they must be doing something right!

 

[Allison]

My daughter is three and I said she was two. I have no regrets or guilt at all. I think it's a sin the price they make you pay for a three year old to eat. We just came back. I would be lucky if she ate a roll at half the places I went. Then the price they charged for adults is robbery without a gun. I also think that it is wrong to make a 10 year old pay adult prices!!!!!!! Disney better start remembering that families enjoy going there. If they keep the prices so high families will not be able to afford to eat on property.I will honestly say the food is not that great. So to sum it all up they will have people lying about their kids ages because the prices are so high. A child should be charged a childs price from the age of 5 to 12. Then an adult price. Children 1-4 eat almost nothing. They should be free with a paying adult. We went to 1900 Park Fare. For three adults plus tip we spent 115.00. I can tell you I didn't eat 115.00 worth of food. So they can factor in the piece of chicken and hotdog bun my three year old ate for free.

Now, let me get this right. You were stealing from Disney by lieing about your child's age but Disney committed a sin?

There is really something wrong with that reasoning.

 

[bicker]

I don't think a 10 year old should be classified as an adult.

This is a very common misunderstanding. Disney doesn't classify 10 year olds as "adults". Rather, Disney has regular prices and then they offer special discounts for young children, 3-9 years old. 10 year old pay the regular prices, because they're not eligible for the discount.

Regardless of where they draw the line, someone with a child just past the cut-off age will want the line placed one year later (until the next year, when they'll want it placed another year later! )

Even if the girl eats like a horse, chances are Disney still wouldn't lose money on her with the dining plan rates the way they are.

If they collect less money, they collect less money. There's no getting around that fact. If you're supposed to have paid them $38, and instead you pay then $11, then they've lost out on $27 that they should have been given.

I can't believe the prices of the restaurants anymore. A buffet is almost $20 per adult?! Think about it, a person starts off with some salad maybe...what's that cost , about 10 cents? They might have some carved meat and some vegetables...a couple bucks, and then some cake or ice cream...again...just a dollar or so.

It is expensive. However, the cost of food ingredients is one of the smallest parts of the costs for a restaurant. You totally missed the two biggest parts of the costs for a restaurant: The cost of labor and the cost of customer acquisition. The cost of facilities and supplies is also quite substantial.

Furthermore, corporations don't operate to cover their costs. By law, most are required to operate exclusively to serve the best financial interests of their owners.

I say go ahead and tell them she's 9.

Advocating lying is as bad as lying. It's wrong, and part of the problem with today's society, rather than part of the solution.

 

[alicenwonder99]

To the OP:

I think you need to do what you want for your family. I wouldn't really worry about saying your dd is 9 if you really think she only wants to eat the mac n' cheese, chicken nuggets, etc. The children's menu is really limited, so if you think your dd would want to eat something more or have more meal options, then maybe you should just get the adult meal package for her (but it's ALOT of food...too much for most adults).

Don't let the comments from some people on this board make your decision for you.

Mary

 

[hmp2z]

Just another thought - I was discussing this with my husband, who is in the market research field, and telling him how incredible I found this (the "sin" woman, not the OP). He said he wasn't surprised; many people have an unfounded sense of entitlement, and are angry at companies for making them want a product they can't afford, so they decide to cheat.

However...

It comes back to bite them in the end. OF COURSE Disney knows there are tens of thousands of liars out there. Do you really think they don't adjust your meal price accordingly? If everyone were honest, and paid what they should pay, then each individual's price would go lower. Think about that, when your kid is 14 and you can't lie any more, and now everyone is paying the prices for those other deceitful parents of 3 & 4-year old 2-year olds.

I didn't think about this, but, as I said my husband, who is in a position to be knowledgeable about the way this works, has made a valid point.

Sadly, I, too, pay the raised prices caused by those who think they are cheating Disney. The more cheaters, the higher the prices. Disney has a profit margin that they want to make on their restaurant dining, and they will just raise the prices to reach this margin. If you can't pay, don't play.

Cheers!
Heather W