How closely do they check age of kids using kids tickets

[disneymom1]

I will be purchasing the new "buy one adult - get one kid free" ticket offer for my next trip in December. The child tickets are for 3 - 9 year olds. My daughter will just have turned 10 when we go. I am deciding whether to just buy an adult ticket for her or whether I can possibly use one of the free child tickets I will get when I buy the 2 adult tickets. (I will be using one child ticket for my younger child)

My daughter is very big for her age, but when we were at WDW in August when she was still 9, no one ever questioned whether she was too old for a child's ticket.

I know it's not really right, but I know others probably do this, especially when they have a child that is small for their age. Since the child ticket is free, it is a substantial savings over buying her an adult ticket.

What are the chances I will be questioned at Universal? What would you do?

 

[tink too]

I have never seen any park ask for proof of a child's age.

When DD was 13 months old, I called WDW & Universal to check if we needed to bring her passport or birth certificate as proof of age - I knew we didn't have to pay for her, but I didn't know if she would still get a ticket or not! She didn't get a ticket at either location and they both said that they did not ask for proof of age from children.

FYI - my nephew is quite tall for his age and he was never questioned - he was 9 at the time but looked about 11 years old!

 

[momof3disneyholics]

They do it on the honor system, unless you are obviously trying to get away with something they won't ask. When I work as a concierge on the weekends I have people buy child tickets for 10 year old all the time. It's not "right", but they do it. Maybe you can ask if you could pay the difference for an adult ticket? If they say no, I would say just use the child ticket. I know it is not going to be the popular answer, but I would and from selling tickets, I can tell you alot of people would too, even if they wouldn't admit it on here. Why waste the money on a perfectly good ticket?

 

[keishashadow]

Last time I checked, the gang in charge didn't push through the National Identity Card yet. Other than a passport (why would you carry it in an amusement park if you're a U.S. Citizen and risk losing it?), what form of photo id would you have for a child?

Don't get me started on finger bio-scans - DNA sample will be next proof of admission.

 

[IMGONNABE40!]

I know it's not really right, but I know others probably do this

Haven't you answered your own question? Just imagine your daughter coming home with this answer after doing something she knew was wrong, but everyone else was doing. You would not only be modeling this behavior, but asking your daughter to participate in the lie. I don't think the savings would be worth the long term costs.

 

[phamton]

They probably won't ask but, if they do, you will be asked to upgrade the ticket to an adult ticket and pay the difference in price.

 

[AlexandNessa]

When we went over Labor Day Weekend, we were behind two women pushing their "big for their age" kids in through the entrance in strollers. One woman handed the attendant two tickets. The attendant asked who the tickets were for. The one lady said that they were for her and her friend because the children were both under age 3. Now, I may not be a parent, but there was no way on God's green earth that those children were under age 3. I have a 4.5 year old niece who is tall for her age, and those kids were bigger than my niece.

Bottom line: the attendant looked disgusted and shook her head. She let us know of her disappointment in those guests as well, and we played along saying, "did she **really** just try to say those kids were under 3?" But, she let them through and didn't ask for ID.

The moms were oblivious. If you want to be oblivious too, that'll be up to you.

 

[TigerLilly's Mom]

My son is 10 and I would never even consider getting him a ticket for a child. Yes, I know he is a child, but the rules are there for 10 and up, and I am not so special that I am above the rules.



Do what you want, but don't expect your kid(s) to know the difference between lying now when you want them to, and later when you don't.

 

[goldcupmom]

When I picked up my tickets in late June (ordered last time kids were free) my 'kid' tickets that the machine spit out were actually either adult or child. I took them to the window as I needed to know which tickets were which (I had 8 in all) and was told they were identical. When I tried to explain, they said if you get the free ones from the kiosk pick up they are all identical for either adult or child. I don't know if this has changed, but they didn't seem to care that they had given me 4 adult free tickets instead of 4 free child tickets which cost much less.

This may happen with you and then your daughter would be perfectly 'legal'.

 

[Dmarie]

We snagged tickets using this special. I recieved our tickets today. There is no indication of whether it's an adult or child's ticket. My personal opinion is honesty is the best policy.

 

[xmasinorlando]

Child Tickets:

Disney determines child tickets prices according to the age
of your child when you book your package. That means that if
you book your package when your child is 2 - children under
3 are free - you will not have to buy your child a ticket
even if she turns 3 during your vacation. That tip can save
you almost $200.00 per child on a 4-day park hopper!

I was sent this email from money saving disney secrets,I don't know if the same applies to US/IOA or the child/adult transition. However I would go for the 'get one free deal" and if questioned explain that child was a 'child' when tickets purchased and offer to pay. I have done the same with Dixie stampede that is offering free kids under 12. Son is 11 now but turns 12 the week befofe we go.

 

[Ploni]

I asked Universal this same question a couple of days ago, since I have leftover days on the tickets I bought when my son was 9, and he's now 10. They basically said that they'd be shocked if anyone questioned us (but he IS tall), but if they did we could just pay the difference for an adult ticket.