Help: Dilemma w/Child vs Adult tickets

[limace]

So, we leave in two days and I was just checking the getawaytoday website to see about upgrading our 5 day hoppers to 6 days, when I realized that I should have bought an adult ticket for DD, who is 10.

What should I do? Be good and pay it? Take the chance and keep the child ticket? Do they ask for proof of age?

 

[abookworm]

They don't ask for proof of age. I wouldn't worry about it if it were me. But others would change it.
Will you be racked with guilt the whole trip? If yes, then change it. Otherwise have fun!

 

[bumbershoot]

I personally would change it. But we're the types who are ecstatic about paying for DS's ticket this year, as it's his first year that they charge, and we already have two free visits under our belts! It's just exciting that he's growing up and will be able to enjoy (or be afraid of) SO much more this year, and remember it even more!

So that's us...when DS turns 10 I'll be happy then as well, and will be happy to pay for his appropriate ticket.


He was a big 2 year old, and last year we did take his birth certificate in a ziplock bag, just in case they thought we were being sneaky. No one asked for it, but for me it was nice to have. Key point in that for you was...no one asked for it.

 

[SunDevilDaddy]

If you do keep the childs ticket, train your kid to tell anyone at the gate he/she is 9 and not 10...

We went to the local renaissance fair this past spring and kids under 5 were free admission. My friends son had just turned 5 and when they went to the gate he said "I need two adults and a 4 year old's ticket" and his kid belted out "Nuh uh! I'm 5!" He was really embarrassed about being outed by his kid.

 

[blackerbys17]

Sorry, I would never teach my child to lie. That is how it starts, with the small lies leading to big lies. I would probably change it for an adult ticket but if not, I would proceed through the gate with the child ticket. if they ask you how old your child is, be honest. If they then say you need an adult ticket, you could simply say you didn't know a 10 year old was considered an adult. They may let is slide and let you in. However, I doubt they'll ask for your child's age.

 

[kuusimo]

My DH was small for his age and his father would constantly get the child's ticket for him when it should have been an adult ticket. It bothered DH as a child that his dad who kept telling him not to lie was doing the very thing he was told not to. You can guess that things are much different with him as a dad. I know for us we would change it. Our sons are old enough to read that we have a child or adult ticket and would question it.

 

[JenDisneylandlver]

If your child still looks 9, then I'd do it. I doubt they ask. It's not like you did it on purpose. My son always looks older then what he really is. I'm actually surprised they didn't say something to us last month, he is 9 yrs, but probably looks more like 11!

 

[kiwitravel]

You will have to decide whats right.... Kids will be unerringly truthful so might spoil the excitement of going if you are always thinking in the back of your mind what if we are found out....

I remember in 2004 my daughter was an adult ticket for Soak City, I just asked for four tickets (we were as a family) and they charged her as a child, she was very quick to speak up! I was very embarrassed as I hadn't even noticed, but the girl behind the counter just smiled and as it had already been charged to my card just said it was ok it was her mistake and not to worry about paying the difference.

In the end is the difference in amounts worth the possibility of an embarrassing moment, of having to school your child to lie about how old they are. My recommendation is come clean when you redeem the voucher and pay the difference if required.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

What should I do? Be good and pay it? Take the chance and keep the child ticket? Do they ask for proof of age?

Are you genuinely asking what you should do? Or are you planning to do the wrong thing and looking for validation? If the former, read on. If the latter, then just skip the rest of my post. It's not what you want to read and you're going to do what you want to do anyway. I'm not telling you what to do. Just cutting through the B.S. and presenting exactly what the choice is.

Either you choose to do the right thing: change out the ticket for an adult. But at this late date, that might not be logistically possible. So if that is the case, just tell them what happened when you go in. They'll either say don't worry about it or they'll make you pay for an adult ticket and credit you the child ticket back. In either case, you did the right thing.

Or you choose to steal and get a 10 year old in at 3-9 prices by either actively lying or by not disclosing the child's age.

I leave it up to you.

In answer to some other posts, regardless of what you decide, I would never have my kid lie for me. Those that will lie for you will turn around and lie to you when it is profitable for them to do so. And why wouldn't they? By having them lie for you, you've taught them it's ok.

 

[limace]

Wow, thanks for the responses. Don't worry, folks, I wasn't planning on having my child lie for me. I'm the kind of person who takes the role-modeling part of being a parent pretty seriously-I let cashiers know when they don't charge me enough, tip generously, and always return my grocery carts And yes, I was genuinely asking folks what they would do, not just looking for validation (and I feel a little ummm crabby about the implied assumption that that's what I was doing).

This seemed a little less clean cut for me than some of the day to day dilemmas because it was a genuine mistake (she was nine when I bought the passes and I didn't even think about it), and I've realized this so late that I don't think I can upgrade to the discounted adult pass (which would just be $30 more), I'll probably have to upgrade at gate prices, which is $70. And I'll be honest and say I'm crabby that I have to buy an adult ticket for a ten year old-like what kind of definition of adult is that? You don't need to point out that just because something isn't fair doesn't give me an excuse to basically steal-I get that piece, too. I'll have to think about this....

 

[bumbershoot]

I personally don't think that an assumption that you're being sneaky is because of YOU. It's probably more because that's what many, many people do when they are asking such a question.

For some reason my brain likes to think about tickets, admission, and the whys and why nots of it all, and in my brain, it comes down to enjoyment of the park. A 10 year old, in general, is going to get quite a bit more out of the park than a 5 year old. They will be able to do more, go on more rides, and so forth. Making more use of the park. So they charge in that way, as an "adult", rather than as a child.

Why 10? Who knows. They have to change it somewhere.


Sometimes I think they should go back to free admission and paying per ride...Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk still does that and it's certainly popular. But then that's kind of a bummer to leave with tickets still in hand, or to run out of tickets too early. (the boardwalk, I hear, has all day wristbands you can buy if you don't want to buy ride tickets, but that's a choice) Great America in Santa Clara has an age and height combo for their tickets...so if you're older but so small you can't go on much, you're charged more appropriately...

Anyway, i've gotten off the track my mind had set for this post.

If I were in your shoes I'd hope for a happy and contented CM at the gates, plaster a big smile on my face, and ask if they can help with my accidental problem, and hope for good things to happen.

 

[blackerbys17]

And I feel a little ummm crabby about the implied assumption that that's what I was doing.

Limace, please ignore the rude way certain people gave you advice. Some people just come across that way. I think the main idea here is to be honest about it. Please don't feel crabby, you're going to Disney! See ya there, I leave tomorrow morning!

 

[limace]

Limace, please ignore the rude way certain people gave you advice. Some people just come across that way. I think the main idea here is to be honest about it. Please don't feel crabby, you're going to Disney! See ya there, I leave tomorrow morning!

Oh, you're right and I shouldn't be sensitive-I know everyone has good intentions.

We're going tomorrow, too! I'm jumping out of my skin....see you there!

 

[JenDisneylandlver]

In answer to some other posts, regardless of what you decide, I would never have my kid lie for me. Those that will lie for you will turn around and lie to you when it is profitable for them to do so. And why wouldn't they? By having them lie for you, you've taught them it's ok.

I would never have my child lie. I think it's wrong to BUY a ticket full and well knowing it's the wrong one, but in this case it was a mistake.

As far as "stealing" goes. I think it's DL that's doing the ripping off here, by claiming a 10 year old is suddenly an adult! Being 10 is far from it, and it's a crappy way to get more money off of families.

I would actually never be in this position to begin with, as I'm really good at reading the fine print to things. I certainly would never do it on purpose, just to save a buck either. I also wouldn't have my child lie, I'd just pay the difference. But I don't feel sorry for Disney in these cases either, as it's an easy mistake to make! Considering to MOST people a 10 year old is still a child! They should expect that mistake to happen!

 

[SunDevilDaddy]

In answer to some other posts, regardless of what you decide, I would never have my kid lie for me. Those that will lie for you will turn around and lie to you when it is profitable for them to do so. And why wouldn't they? By having them lie for you, you've taught them it's ok.

I think this was in response to my post about my friends experience. As were so many other posts. However, for one - the post was not about me, but a friend of mine. One who is honest, hardworking, and a very moral person. Two - the comment was meant in good nature as an experience my friend had. He did not intentionally try to "rip off" the fair we were at. He forgot his kids age and his boy called called him out on it. It was actually quite funny. He is not a criminal nor is his child and for some to assume as much is as equally great a travesty.

Also, I may be the dissenting opinion here but I really don't think the OP is obligated to pay for the gate price ticket because of an honest mistake. Would I ever suggest someone knowingly manipulate the system? No. But, the OP bought a ticket for her child when her child was 9 not realizing the kid would be 10 when they entered the park. By the time she realized it, it was too late to change and receive the discounted price. It isn't a bank robbery. To me it's no different than going through the drive thru and finding an extra large fries in your bag instead of the medium you ordered. I doubt a whole lot of people drive back to the restaurant to let them know they got too many fries.

The bottom line is the OP can do whatever they think is best. Its not leading their child down a life of crime if they use the ticket they purchased. Besides, whats to say that this person won't turn around and spend the money they "saved" inside the park anyways?

I think the harsh comments towards the OP are uncalled for. She sought some advice and everyone is treating her like she's trying to justify a murder. I guess what I'm saying is if it happened to me this way, I wouldn't be conflicted over it or feel damned. I would just remember the policy and next time I would make sure to purchase the right tickets in advance.

 

[limace]

Aw thanks, SunDevilDaddy and others . I decided to let my decision be made this way: if getawaytoday could upgrade my tickets at their lower price, I'd do the right thing. If not, I'd take my chances at the gate. My vaguely honest plan paid off: they were able to upgrade my tickets (even though we leave tomorrow) and so the total cost (we had 5 day parkhoppers, one adult, one child: upgrading them both to 6 day adult tickets) was $50. Yay!

And can I add that I've been more than impressed by getawaytoday.com? Great prices, fabulous service. They were incredibly nice on the phone today. I highly recommend them.

 

[JenDisneylandlver]

Wonderful, I'm glad you were able to get that all worked out! Have a FABULOUS TIME!