Have you lied about your child's age to get in free?

[JLa01844]

My DD is 2 right now. She is very verbal. She speaks better than many kindergarten aged children. She is also 41" and 40lbs and wears a 5T. When people ask how old she is they assume 4+ and are shocked that she is only 2. We are traveling in December, she will be 3 then and originally we thought about checking in the week of her birthday so she would be legally free...but I said I didn't want to spend my whole trip bickering over how old she was. So we booked a Christmasy trip, and paid for her, and will not have to worry about people asking how old she is every place we go.

We are going to Canobie Lake Park tomorrow and I'm thinking about bringing her birth certificate because I just don't see anyone believing us anymore that she is 2.

 

[A_Princess'_Daddy]

In you're easy 5% is just a few?
I bet that is even not half of those that cheat.

That is statistically inaccurate, as even if the poll was scientific, it would only apply to those guests who have a three year old or ten year old child with them and are therefore in a position to effect such a lie, with is likely to be somewhere around 10% of the guest population, assuming an age bias towards younger families at WDW but a still somewhat representative of statistical age distributions. So the actual number that would ever be able to lie is well under 1%, and most in theory could only lie once unless they are really committed to their fabrication. Furthermore, given the relatively small delta between kid and adult prices, the effect of lying about a 10 year old's age is much less financially significant than lying about a three year old's age to gain free admission.

To answer the question, no, we never have lied about ours kids' ages and never will. We just don't believe in doing so, and fortunately have the resources to pay full price.

 

[Miksma]

I didn't read this whole thread but I just want to caution y'all about giving parents looks and assuming they are lying. After 10 months of doctors and tests, my DD was diagnosed at age 2 with an endocrine condition that makes her grow very fast. She started on a risky regimen to try to control her growth; it was a difficult decision for this mama to make. We had DL annual passes at the time and it was a stab in my heart every time we would go through the turnstyles and have to answer to CM and other people's questions about how old she was and then to see the looks and rolled eyes that would follow -- ironically, often when we would go as a reward to her after a treatment at children's hospital.

 

[Tropical Wilds]

In you're easy 5% is just a few?
I bet that is even not half of those that cheat.

In the end, what you bet and what the survey says means about as much as the price of rum on the moon. I put down I would lie, but the truth of the matter is that I haven't lied, nor do I expect will the opportunity arise to do so. A also strongly suspect that there are several folks here who'd swear up and down they wouldn't, but in truth would. This is all anecdotal and totally unscientific.

In the end, all themeparks have an age where people are free... And people bend it. The solution is either to accept the small amount who bend it then it is to start charging. Our local kiddie park found out the hard way that the 5% of people who lie about the age of their child who's still accompanied by the full price adults and potential siblings are still paying, but when you charge for even the little kids, it just becomes too expensive and nobody goes. Considering that park already charged people full price for kids over 3 (there was no kids ticket... Everybody was $29... Period).

The solution they reached was that everybody under 40" is free, everybody over pays full price. 40" being the height where a majority of the featured rides and attractions could be enjoyed. Honestly, I wish Disney would do that... And it'd appease those folks scandalized by those who lie about their kids age.

 

[chartle]

That is statistically inaccurate, as even if the poll was scientific, it would only apply to those guests who have a three year old or ten year old child with them and are therefore in a position to effect such a lie, with is likely to be somewhere around 10% of the guest population, assuming an age bias towards younger families at WDW but a still somewhat representative of statistical age distributions. So the actual number that would ever be able to lie is well under 1%, and most in theory could only lie once unless they are really committed to their fabrication. Furthermore, given the relatively small delta between kid and adult prices, the effect of lying about a 10 year old's age is much less financially significant than lying about a three year old's age to gain free admission.

To answer the question, no, we never have lied about ours kids' ages and never will. We just don't believe in doing so, and fortunately have the resources to pay full price.

Darn why didn't I think of that and I have a minor is stats.

 

[Sammie]

Nope, I figure I commit enough wrongs that I am not aware of, I try very hard to avoid those I am aware of.

 

[A_Princess'_Daddy]

I didn't read this whole thread but I just want to caution y'all about giving parents looks and assuming they are lying. After 10 months of doctors and tests, my DD was diagnosed at age 2 with an endocrine condition that makes her grow very fast. She started on a risky regimen to try to control her growth; it was a difficult decision for this mama to make. We had DL annual passes at the time and it was a stab in my heart every time we would go through the turnstyles and have to answer to CM and other people's questions about how old she was and then to see the looks and rolled eyes that would follow -- ironically, often when we would go as a reward to her after a treatment at children's hospital.

I agree with this. My son, who is four, has a rare genetic condition that, among other things, resulted in a duplication of a primary growth gene. As a result, he is shockingly tall (like taller than an average 7 year old boy and much taller than his average height 7 year old sister) and looks like a little man. While we were never challenged, much less questioned, when he was two years old, it did cross our minds. On the other side of the coin, he's apraxic and nearly non-verbal, so he sounds like a young toddler.

How's your daughter doing now? It's scary when stuff like that happens!

 

[Cyrano]

If folks cannot voice differences of opinion without ramming it down people's throats then walk from this threat.
Expect a PM if you flout the guidelines on respecting and not attacking posters

 

[2girls4me]

Not worth the hassle.

Also, I'm not traveling with those documents. Way too many things can go wrong.

 

[kylmac]

Yikes-I think I lied about our 13 year old dd because she had just turned 13 and I still was thinking 12-I think it was on our cruise this summer. Now I feel bad. On another likeness to this, I work with children and saw a very tall kindergartner last year who I could not believe was 5 years old. The teacher assured me he was. I worked with a preschooler who everyone thought was a kindergartner. Some of those kiddos (my ds included) get tall quickly!
Elizabeth

 

[rentayenta]

Sammie, your response is the best!

 

[chartle]

My 13 year old nephew is at least as tall as me and i'm just shy of 6 foot.

The thing is as soon as he opens mouth he sounds 13. I had to keep reminding myself this the last time I saw him.

Most 2 year olds act and sound like two year olds.

 

[disneydivamama]

Our 2 year old is 40" tall and is often mistaken for a 3-4 year old. We're going in December and she doesn't turn 3 until Feb. frankly, we're bringing a copy of her birth certificate with us. I am disgusted that people would lie to get their kids in for free. If you can't afford it, don't go. You aren't owed a free Disney vacation. And seriously, what are folks wanting their kids to learn? To lie? Fantastic

 

[ppony]

Nope, never, even when it could have easily been done.
I liked the PP that said if kids see the parents lying and it's supposed to be OK, then they need to be prepared to have lying to them by their kids be OK too. Excellent point.
A question was asked on a radio show a little while ago, what would you do if you knew you wouldn't ever get caught and there would be no consequences. That really shows you the content of someone's character.

That said though, I do wonder why they don't just go by height? that's how our local amusement park does it. Wouldn't it eliminate a lot of questions? Or would it create more trouble??

 

[disneydivamama]

In the end, what you bet and what the survey says means about as much as the price of rum on the moon. I put down I would lie, but the truth of the matter is that I haven't lied, nor do I expect will the opportunity arise to do so. A also strongly suspect that there are several folks here who'd swear up and down they wouldn't, but in truth would. This is all anecdotal and totally unscientific.

In the end, all themeparks have an age where people are free... And people bend it. The solution is either to accept the small amount who bend it then it is to start charging. Our local kiddie park found out the hard way that the 5% of people who lie about the age of their child who's still accompanied by the full price adults and potential siblings are still paying, but when you charge for even the little kids, it just becomes too expensive and nobody goes. Considering that park already charged people full price for kids over 3 (there was no kids ticket... Everybody was $29... Period).

The solution they reached was that everybody under 40" is free, everybody over pays full price. 40" being the height where a majority of the featured rides and attractions could be enjoyed. Honestly, I wish Disney would do that... And it'd appease those folks scandalized by those who lie about their kids age.

Disagree. You can't penalize someone for being tall. A tall 2 year old may be able physically to ride more rides, but most would not be able to from a developmental or emotional standpoint.

 

[kimber418]

They should scrap the young age limit and go with a height limit. Many amusement parks are set up that way and there is no ambiguity. If you're not a certain height, it's easy to see.

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

Nope, never, even when it could have easily been done.
I liked the PP that said if kids see the parents lying and it's supposed to be OK, then they need to be prepared to have lying to them by their kids be OK too. Excellent point.
A question was asked on a radio show a little while ago, what would you do if you knew you wouldn't ever get caught and there would be no consequences. That really shows you the content of someone's character.

Excellent!..........This........AKK

 

[cm8]

Actually for our Oct trip we are doing the opposite. We are putting my 2 year old down as a 3 year old so he can have the dining plan (QS). My sis is a CM so we don't have to buy him tickets but we don't want to have to worry about feeding him from our plates. I hate it when people try to cheat the system. It makes everyone else pay in the long run.

Are you going during free dining

Although I have never lied about my kids age, I do find it somewhat humorous when ppl go " I would never ever ever ever lie to my kids about anything!", and yet tell them about Santa, and the Easter bunny.

I agree, besides no one gets credit for spending my hard earned cash besides me

Yes, the ticket prices going up have nothing to do with inflation, increased operation costs, the addition of a new land, major ride refurbs and rebuilds, the expansion of a park, the building of new hotels, increased worker wage demands... It's because of the 5% that answered a non-scientific poll on a forum says their 3-year-old is 2. LoL!

I didn't read this whole thread but I just want to caution y'all about giving parents looks and assuming they are lying. After 10 months of doctors and tests, my DD was diagnosed at age 2 with an endocrine condition that makes her grow very fast. She started on a risky regimen to try to control her growth; it was a difficult decision for this mama to make. We had DL annual passes at the time and it was a stab in my heart every time we would go through the turnstyles and have to answer to CM and other people's questions about how old she was and then to see the looks and rolled eyes that would follow -- ironically, often when we would go as a reward to her after a treatment at children's hospital.

I see children like this all the time. My heart goes out to you

I voted no

 

[DM4Life3]

Can't lie about your kid's age when you don't have any children.

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

This really comes down to doing the right and honest thing and thereby teaching your kids to do the honest and right thing!


AKK