Has anyone ever lied about a kid's age & got away w/it?

[traycie2201]

hi dvc mary , there really is no need to lie in this situation, i had the same query ,here is a copy of my email to dcl and their reply, i'm sure you will be fine.


Message:
HI , i will be taking my son who will have just turned 13 on our october western cruise, he wants to be able join friends who are 11 and 12 in the oceaneers lab, will he be able to move down a group to be with them , i understand that they wouldn't be able to move up, he is very sensible and would not be disruptive in a younger age group, he prefers the activities listed for the 10 - 12 group. thanks in advance. Traycie

6/8/04

Thank you for your e-mail.

We encourage guests to have their children try out the activities in their own age group. The programming has been designed for children to participate in age appropriate groups, which allows
them to interact both socially and comfortably with peers of their own age and size.

If your son wants to participate in the Oceaneer Lab's activities, please meet with the programming counselors once onboard the ship and they will make the necessary arrangements. However, once the older child changes age groups, he would need to stay with that age group for the entire cruise. The child is not able to go between the Oceaneer Lab and The Stack.

We look forward to the chance to sail with you.

Sincerely,

Jennifer
Disney Cruise Line Guest Communications

 

[lkohawaii]

Wow Robyn!!! I thought for a minute you were home since you were posting. Thanks for posting and making DVC Mary feel better (and confirming what I posted). I know how much better I felt getting info straight from a CM who worked in the clubs. We're still hoping you'll be on the Magic next summer. We have 3 families going so far. Maybe if we pray hard we'll actually get to met the face behind the posts.

 

[LakeAriel]

Meeting new friends is a very positive experence! If he is mature for his age he'll be fine. Won't he have plenty of time to play with the other children when you are all together?
With all the stresses I'm sure they are thrilled to be cruising. I'm taking my first next Spring and I'm over 50! My daughter will be 21 and it's her first. Thank God for all our blessings.
That said, tell the tuth and good luck making the arrangments.

 

[JonJehrio]

Just a little advise, I would not lie. I would ask the DCL to accomodate your wishes. Kids learn so much from their parents, good and bad. If parents lie, no matter how petty, the kids will pick up on it, and may than think that it is O.K. to lie. My parents always told us to tell the truth no matter what. My parents set a very good example for us, and now that I am grown up, I still respect, honor, and appreciate that lesson. I believe it has made me a better person. I try to go through life treating others the way I want to be treated. Many will lie to get what they want, but than have a hard time when they get lied to. If you are wondering if it is a good idea to lie about your kids age so they can play together, I would think you would want to look at the bigger picture and ask how will it benefit me and my child in the long run. What lesson are you teaching your child by doing that?

 

[DVC Mary]

When you beat somebody up this bad you push them off the boards or at least to change names. I got message. I had the wrong impression that these boards were a place where you could be honest about your deepest concerns, fears, worries, ideas, etc. re: Disney & where you could bounce ideas off people. This is normally a wonderful place. Thank you to those people who strive to help others on these boards.

Thank you to ALL the rest who posted you confirmed what I wanted to do--tell the truth but was being tempted to do otherwise.

Some missed the point about how these 2 boys are the oldest amongst a group of friends who have a lot of littler kids. These boys relish in getting their time apart from the little ones & being together. Their time in the OL could've given them this time alone. When it's family time the rest of the day meals, pool, etc. there will be always be the little kids. The OL could be their place to be big boys together.

I am officially beaten up by the last post, please stop. I am one of those people who beats herself up all day long, I don't need someone who wants to lecture others about how to raise their children.

 

[hydster]

Mary--DONT beat yourself up about it! NONE of us as parents are perfect and NONE of us should profess to be! You asked a question up front and honestly and I for one am impressed you had the fortitude to ask beforehand and be willing to get the "advice" posted on here to you!

Don't let a few people make you feel badly for your question! Obviously it is MUCH easier to berate someone in an annonymous space than it is face to face....take it for what it was and move on! I'm sure you arent the first one to be tempted to do this or even try it but you cared enough to ask which means that you ARE a caring parent trying to do the best you can for your child!

Go have a great time and don't let an internet message board get you down!

Heidi

 

[mickeyboat]

DVC Mary - Ditto what Heidi said.



Denae

 

[herrbeeb]

i have never replied to a post in this way before but i couldn't resist. DVC Mary are you seriously feeling beat up? you asked for opinions and you got them. out of all of them only one was mildly judgemental. you didn't seem to have any trouble insulting catholics but when posters suggested that lying is inapproporiate and potentially counter productive you feel abused. if you weren't having doubts why did you ask?

 

[invaderzim]

Hi -- hope you are still reading this thread!

Hope this is helpful -- when my DD took her first cruise in November 2000, she was 13. However, when she went to the teen club, she felt VERY out of place and uncomfortable. The next morning I took her to the Oceaneer's Lab and explained the situation and they welcomed her with open arms (even though the age limit is supposed to be 12). They understood completely and made an exception. She had a great time and I was very grateful to them for helping out.

I really believe that if you tell them the situation, they are not going to deny him entry over a couple of months difference. They really do strive to please and help out, especially where the children are concerned. Good luck!

 

[trishy]

you didn't seem to have any trouble insulting catholics

HOLY COW! Where'd that come from?


DVC Mary - unfortunately, sometimes it takes really thick skin to post a question on the Dis. Take it with a grain of salt. Take the advice that sounds rational and throw out the rest. I'll confess about a previous sin - I've stuffed socks in my dd's shoes before to get her tall enough to go on a ride. As far as the situation you asked about, the counselors are very sweet, understandable people who are there to make your child feel special - and they really succeed. I've found the entire staff from dining, guest services, to the children's programs to be very accomodating. I'm sure they'll be able to work it out with you to keep the kids together. Keep posting.

 

[mmouse37]

I was actually surprised the replys were so non-judgemental. The OP was honest in asking the question but can't possibly think that it would not cause some controversy. People are just stating their opinions as the OP stated hers....I did not see any thread that 'BEAT HER UP"...they were all pretty positive.

DVC Mary.....these boards are a place to ask your honest questions and get answers.....but the reasons you gave for the boys wanting to be together are reasons that many people have...not just your boys. The point is if everyone bent the rules for reasons that were important to them...what would be the sense of rules.... My very mature 16 year old DD would LOVE to hang out at the adult pool with the rest of our family but can't...should I bend the rules just because she really wants to and we really want to? Nobody beat you up on this thread.

MJ

 

[lkohawaii]

DVC Mary- I'm one of the posters and I'm sorry if I made you feel beat up. Just a confession. I asked my TA if I could do the same thing only difference was I wanted to "lie" on the booking and was willing to pay a higher price to get my son to go to the club instead of Flounders. I was told not to because I had to produce a BC. That's when I found Robyn CM-Mom's DD. She PM'd me and I feel much better. Again, I'm sorry if you felt beat up by my post I didn't mean it. I was just trying to bring a little humor to "our profession" where we have to be role models everyday and share some valuable insight I got from Robyn.

 

[tinkertraci]

I noticed this post last night because of the original subject line.

I thought that it might get a little touchy (Has anyone just given Disney a different date and claimed a typo?) and I've been impressed with everyone's careful and considerate opinions.

I believe that everyone has given their own thoughtful answer.

If you notice JonJehrio only has 12 posts and starts everything off by saying "I wouldn't lie"...and then proceeded to state why they wouldn't lie etc., etc.

Trishy- the insulting Catholics thing was from the OP last line ...."I offer no absolution though -- sorry Catholic DISers." I'm sure that it was meant to be funny re: confessions but I can understand how a devout Catholic would take offense to it.

I certainly enjoy the Dis boards and hope that NO ONE would stop posting.

 

[tinkertraci]

 

[herrbeeb]

tinkertraci, that was a generous and thoughtful reply. i was not going to post to this thread again but i wanted the thank you for your calming reply. perhaps i should have had a better sense of humor about the catholic remark but i don't believe you should use groups of people to make jokes.

thank you again.

leslie

 

[long4disney]

We went on a Disney Magic 4 day cruise in Dec. of 1999 and my niece was going to be 3 in 3 weeks. They let her in the club and she had no problems. There really is no need to lie about their age.