Extremely TALL 9 Yr old....Question...

[Lollipop's Mom]

I am asking this on behalf of a friend who was wondering...
She has a 9 yr old daughter who is extrodinarly tall for her age - she is 5'2" and growing. (Dad is 6'9"!). She is also 'devloping'. Basically she looks 11/12 yrs.
She is thinking of actually paying for an adult pass for her and adult meal plan because she is afraid everyone will keep asking for proof of her birthday when entering the park and dining.
I told her its silly to do that - she IS 9 and just to carry her birth certificate for proof if they get funny looks.
She said she doesn't want to carry that around, because if it gets lost or stolen or something, its a hard thing to get replaced easily. I agree with her there.

So....anyone ever run into this? Advice? Thanks.

 

[WildGrits]

The only person who might ask is the person you by the tickets from. Why would anyone else ask? If she wanted, she could bring a photocopy of the birth cert.

Will eating off the child section keep her full? If she is, sadly, my height then kids portion might not be enough.

 

[teresajoy]

I am asking this on behalf of a friend who was wondering...
She has a 9 yr old daughter who is extrodinarly tall for her age - she is 5'2" and growing. (Dad is 6'9"!). She is also 'devloping'. Basically she looks 11/12 yrs.
She is thinking of actually paying for an adult pass for her and adult meal plan because she is afraid everyone will keep asking for proof of her birthday when entering the park and dining.
I told her its silly to do that - she IS 9 and just to carry her birth certificate for proof if they get funny looks.
She said she doesn't want to carry that around, because if it gets lost or stolen or something, its a hard thing to get replaced easily. I agree with her there.

So....anyone ever run into this? Advice? Thanks.

I have never run into anything like this, but I sure can't imagine paying adult prices for my child! Could she just make a copy of the birth certificate? I wonder how picky Disney would be about actually seeing the real one?

The last time I got an extra birth certificate, it was really simple and fast. I just went to the courthouse and got one. That's been a few years though, so have they changed it?

 

[Hannathy]

She only needs a photocopy of the birth certificate, not a "real" one. I second the she may want to pay for the adult meal plan if she is that big. I know my DD wouldn't have been happy with the kids food at that age and I doubt it will fill her up if she is 5' 2" and growing, it isn't very much food. Now my 9 yr old that is 42 lbs is fine with it!.

 

[Lollipop's Mom]

Thanks I will pass this one. DUH we never thought of a photocopy. hahaha.
I wonder how often they might be asked to produce it?
Actually her daughter is not a big eater and eats kids meals all the time, so she would be fine on that meal plan. Thanks.

 

[MSSANDRA]

We took a copy of DS birth cetificate when he was 9 and a little tall for his age. DH reduced the size and carried it in his wallet. He was asked quite a few time how old he was but the answer was never questioned.

On the dinning plan, there will be enough food for everyone. We shared counter service most the time to have enough credits to cover all three meals.

I would encourage her to change to child.

 

[Alesia]

This question gets asked on here at least once a week and I have never heard of anyone who was required to show a birth certificate. They can take a copy if it makes them feel more comfortable, but I really doubt that they will ever have to show it.

 

[Stephres]

When my daughter was two she looked like a five year old. When we wheeled her through the lines, occasionally a cast member would ask how old she was and when I said two, they let us right through. No one every asked for proof.

 

[ILoveDisney&Cruising]

just to carry her birth certificate for proof if they get funny looks.
She said she doesn't want to carry that around, because if it gets lost or stolen or something, its a hard thing to get replaced easily. I agree with her there.

In our state, the Division of Motor Vehicles will issue a child ID for $5 ... might be easier to carry around than a birth certificate.

 

[Lollipop's Mom]

Thanks. I passed this along to her and she feels much much better! I think she was so afraid someone was going to point and laugh and think 'scammer trying to get her 12 yr old in as a 9 yr old...' (as we all know this DOES happen).

 

[tkhkroberts]

Just to make your friend feel better after all of the other good answers above. I too have a 9 y/o who is 5'2 and is starting to develop. Her father is tall, but I am short at 5'4 so it is not uncommon for us to stand together and I will rest my head on hers if we are close together. We just returned in the middle of August and no one even asked at all about her age or looked twice. The only problem that we ran into was that she did not have enough food on the kids menu at all of the CS places. Usually I would eat the adults meal at TS and she would eat the kids, sharing mine, and then at the CS I would eat the childrens meal and she would have the adults. Tell her to not worry about this issue at all.

 

[pednurse]

My DS (9) is tall for his age as well (although being a boy, we don't have to worry about the "developing" issue making him look even older). He's always looked much older than his age and been tall for his age (he's currently 5 feet tall and wears a men's size 9 shoe!). At WDW in June not a single person questioned his age. We didn't bother taking any ID because the overwhelming majority here on the DIS have stated that no one has questioned them in similar situations. If she feels better about it though, your friend can take along a COPY of her DD's birth certificate or like another poster said, a state-issued ID. We recently got one of those for my DS for another event where he needed a photo ID....same size and similar looking to a driver's license and was $13 here in Indiana.

 

[Keara'sMom]

Friends of ours have the same problem! Their dd is 13 now and is 6'1" ! Here in NY you can go to the dmv and pay for an id card--it looks like a driver's license but simply is an id card (nice and compact). This has been helpful for them not only for Disney but also for kids' meals at restaurants, child prices at movie theatres, etc.

 

[MinMouse]

Our youngest is tall and the only one who questioned her age was the person we bought the AP from. He simply asked to speak with her and asked her how old she was. She said "9" and he said ok. We talked about how many people lie about their kids ages and went on our way! No one else ever mentioned it! Of course, she'll be 10 next week so this issue will be moot for us on our next AP purchase!

 

[ksumn1]

I have a DD who is exactly the same. Almost 9, 5"2 and we had to go bra shopping this weekend! I saw a couple of people being asked when we were at WDW with our just turned 3 year old, and noone was ever "interrogated" about it. Occasionaly, a CM would aske the child and that was it. We're hoping to go to WDW next year before she turns 10. I'm sure we'll be asked a few times too. I plan on taking a copy of their birth certificate just to be on the safe side, but don't really expect to need it.

 

[daisyduck123]

No one will ask about her age.

When my DD was 9yo, she was mistaken for being a teenager on many occasions (very tall, maturing, etc.). We were in WDW when she was that age & no one asked her a thing...

except the lifeguard at the iceburg area at BB...that area is for 12 & under...well the lifeguard asked her how old she was, & then he DIDN'T believe her! I had to step in.