Going with a toddler before he's 3...

[TIFFANY&CO]

Okay, so my child isn't quite 3 yet, as a matter of fact he turned one yesterday. But.... my DH and I are planning our next trip. I want to take DS b/f he turns 3 because he gets in free, so I'm thinking Feburary of 2010. My DH wants to go fall of 2010. DS will be 3 in April of 2010. My question is, how do you have to prove that your child is under 3?

I'm trying to prove to DH that they check to make sure he's really how old we say he is. My main thing is, I don't want to go in the fall of 2010.

Thanks for your help!!!

 

[SavvyMommy]

We are going a month before DD turns three and they never asked for us to bring proof or anything when we got made our reservations. All I have heard or read on here is that no one checks their age, even at gates.
We are bringing her passport, just in case, but it sure sounds like they go by the honor system.

 

[ehrn]

We went for my son's 3rd bday. As long as check-in is before the birthday, he was free the whole trip. The only problem we had was at one meal, they charged us for him and we just had to tell them that we didn't have to pay for him yet and they fixed it w/o problem. Just be aware of that kind of thing. I did have his bc along just in case.
One time I did see a family getting royally hassled at the gate counter of whatever airline we were flying, they being challenged to prove their child was under 2. In case you have any flight planned before then.
Fall is a nice time to visit WDW btw!! My son turned 3 in Jan, that was his fourth trip . Each trip was special, there isn't really one of those times that I had wished we waited until he was older. If anything, go in the fall AND feb!!!

 

[mybabesuz]

We have never been asked about a childs age.
When buying tickets or dining they sometimes will just ask
If they are under 3.
I have never heard of anyone being asked to prove
a childs age at Disney.

 

[DisneyAprilFool]

I wouldn't worry about his age if he's under- there is enough stuff to worry about bringing into the parks GL whatever you decide

 

[mom2girlsn1boy]

well if you dh is trying to take him after he is three and wanting to say he is 2 first off that is wrong, second would you want to make your child lie? If not then I would not do it. We are going at the end of Oct. and celebrating my daughters bd she will be three on the 2nd of Nov. but we wanted to go where she would be free so we are going in Oct and celebrating her birthday then

 

[scrapnmom]

We took DS when he was 22m and DD when she was 26m and DS was 4. We never had to prove their ages, but there were several times when a CM asked them "how old are you?" I think to check.

 

[TDISFAMILY]

When we went last Sept. I was a little worried that they may think my son was 3 b/c his BDAY is Nov 9th. so I asked the CM when we made our reservation if I should bring some form of ID incase it was questioned. He told me that unless my son looked older for his age they shouldn't be any question and that they just use the honor system.

 

[ehrn]

I got confused, yes, fall 2010 is after he's 3, doh! I agree with mom2girlsn1boy, first of all, just try to get a small child to lie about his age, chances are it's not happening, lol. Plus, that's just asking for bad karma to do something blatantly dishonest. OP--def Feb 2010 is the way to go!!! When you add up admission and if you were to get ddp--imho it's such a waste for a 3yo unless it's free!!, that's a big savings to take him while he's free.

 

[SaraMc]

DS is 19 months now and looks like he's 2 or older. We get asked all the time how old he is. We are bringing his BC for custom's etc but Im not about to bring it into the parks ( its a piece of paper that if it got wet would be bad) So Im just going to get a photo copy of it. If we get asked Ive got a copy but not the real one that I dont want anything to happen to.

 

[TIFFANY&CO]

Thank y'all for all the great replies. Hopefully I can push DH for Feb. of 2010.