How closely do they check kids' ages?

[Sooze]

My sister will be heading to WDW this fall. Her DD will have JUST turned 3. How closely does WDW monitor this age? Technically, she should be paying a 3-9 year old ticket. But her DD will still eat, ride, and enjoy WDW like a 2 year old.

Anyone have any thoughts or experiences with this?

Not that we want to buck the Disney system.. but, then again, we kinda do!

 

[treehugnmama]

I went with my son last year we got to wdw 2 days after he turned 3.....I bought him a ticket. I just automatically handed it to them so I don't know if they would have asked or not. I don't like to ask my kids to lie about thier age so I just buy the ticket.....I don't want to send the wrong msg to my kids but that is me. I don't think they would ask for id but you never know

 

[mickeymaker2003]

Can you change the trip so he is 2 when he arrives? As long as he is 2 on the first day, he counts and 2 for the whole trip.

If not, he's 3 and you should be paying for him accordingly.

 

[gabriellyn]

I sure hope you brought your flame-proof suit. This is a touchy subject and there are lots of strong feelings about these types of questions.

To answer your question - it varies. I have read that for the most part they don't bother to ask, but they do occasionally. When we took our DS2 in June (his b-day is in Sept, so he was still a few months shy of 3) they did not look twice at us. He is a normal sized boy and looks his age.

Don't forget your fire extinguisher!

 

[handinpocket]

Well, ofcourse they don't ask how old your kid is. If you have them in the stroller and just push him through with no ticket, they won't say anything.

 

[shelly3girls]

Well, ofcourse they don't ask how old your kid is. If you have them in the stroller and just push him through with no ticket, they won't say anything.

This was not our experience. We traveled with friends who passed their DD off as 2 even though she had just turned 3. Once at the gate and several times in restaurants she (not the parents) was asked how old she was. They never told her that she had turned 3 so she told people 2. The first time she was asked, my niece said, "No silly, you just turned 3!" The waitress just rolled her eyes and walked away. I had a very difficult time explaining to my DD why she wasn't telling the truth. I am sure you will get away with it but please realize the child may have to lie.

 

[muscarello4]

My now almost five year old could pass for under three. (Truly the kid is a peanut.) We DO purchase him a ticket, but no one would know or care if we didn't. Conversely, my oldest looked 5 when she was not quite 3. She talked like a 5 year old and was really tall.

It is so hard to correctly gauge age. Disney employees will not question a guest's age unless it is entirely unreasonable.

I agree. Go when he is under three and enjoy the free admission. You'll feel better not having to fudge about his age.

 

[Native NYer]

I'm not sure how closely the CMs monitor if children are 2 or not, but I would either go before the child turns 3 or buy the ticket.

 

[syudelson]

To answer your question, I don't think anyone is going to make you prove a child's age. To play devil's advocate, it is theft by deception and if disney, wanted to, they could prosecute. Would they ever? -- I highly doubt it. But I'm guessing you wouldn't go to the gift shop and steal several hundred dollars worth of merchandise, which is what a child's week of tickets cost. I actually think Disney is pretty generous letting children in free up to age 3, considering that infants and toddlers can go on the majority of rides.

 

[tomthebarncat]

Is it ever OK to lie to get what we want because we are too cheap to pay for it? Only you can answer that question. Would I do it, no, but then again my parents raised me to be an honorable person. Thanks Mom and Dad!

 

[Sooze]

Thanks for all the replies, everyone! We really wanted to hear both sides of the coin... I don't feel flamed at all.. Thanks!!

I'm not my sister, but we were both raised by the same parents. I know she will never want to have her daughter lie, or have her step-children hear lies either. That's why I'm wondering if the CMs even ASK. If she knows they are going to approach her about it.. I'm sure she'll just buy the ticket, so she won't have to lie. But if they don't even approach her... well, you know.

Thanks again!

 

[frtchr]

 

[karliebug]

My 2 year old was very tall and also very verbal so sometimes they would ask her how old she was. She would truthfully answer 2, but there was some eye rolling on the part of CM's. One day thought, when asked by a CM about her age she answered "16". LOL

 

[MSSANDRA]

They VERY well may ask. DS was right before the child/adult cut off one trip and was very normal size. HE ,not me ,was asked at least three or four times how old he was. Once at the gate and other times at character meals. He WAS 9 and we had a copy of his BC to prove it though we were never asked to.

I have seen them aske parents at the gate if they had a ticket for a child in a stroller (looked older than three) but when the parent said they were under three they just waved them in.

 

[crashbb]

Thanks for all the replies, everyone! We really wanted to hear both sides of the coin... I don't feel flamed at all.. Thanks!!

I'm not my sister, but we were both raised by the same parents. I know she will never want to have her daughter lie, or have her step-children hear lies either. That's why I'm wondering if the CMs even ASK. If she knows they are going to approach her about it.. I'm sure she'll just buy the ticket, so she won't have to lie. But if they don't even approach her... well, you know.

Thanks again!

Sorry, but I had to laugh at this.

She is lying whether they question her or not. By not buying her three year old a ticket, is she saying that the child is a two year old - that would be a lie.

If she wants to lie, fine. Just had to laugh at the idea that it is only a lie if she is questioned.

 

[karemore]

We took DD a week before her third Bday. She's super tall for her age and speaks like a much older child. We only had one incident where a CM's expression indicated she didn't believe DD was under 3, but she didn't say anything. I had a copy of her birth certificate along just in case.

I'd change the date of the trip or buy a ticket if I were your sister.

 

[sk!mom]

I actually think Disney is pretty generous letting children in free up to age 3, considering that infants and toddlers can go on the majority of rides.

Very good point. Anytime someone starts a thread about whether or not they should take a toddler (there was one just this week), many people will comment on how much their toddler enjoyed the rides, shows, and characters. Disney is giving you a break by letting those under 3 enjoy the fun at no charge.

I would not lie as this is not the message that I want to send my children.

 

[taximomfor4]

My dd was a teeny 2 1/2 at WDW, and in a stroller. CM's chatted with her (and slipped in the age question) 3 out of 7 park days AND at both buffet meals. Believe it or not, they ALSO chatted with my other kids (5,6,11 at the time) and slipped in "Awww, how old IS your little sister?"

She looked YOUNGER than her 2 1/2 yrs, so if they questioned about HER, they could question about anyone!

 

[DISNEYFOS]

I've been asked a few times. so yes..they do ask. and they will ask the child as well. They set the age at three for a ticket..so they aren't going to say "oh well she's only just turned..go ahead in..

I've always bought a ticket when my children turned 3.

 

[Arabella1978]

I was wondering about this issue...except in regards to a nine year old. We are going to be in WDW March 17th-24th. My son turns ten on March 23rd, so we of course only had to pay for a child's admission ticket. We also purchased the dining plan, and I'm worried that we are going to be constantly questioned about how old he is. He is very tall for his age. I am truly hoping this isn't going to be an issue during our whole trip. I understand that the CM's are trying to protect Disney's interests, but I am really hoping that we don't feel constantly like everyone thinks we are lying about his age. I also know he will be HUGELY embarrassed if CM's are constantly quizzing him about his age and giving him the impression that they think he is lying. How should we handle that??