How do I prove my child's age?

[Robo]

Mind BLOWN!!!!

Not really such a strange idea.
This is why BCs are not generally used as "legal ID" except in cases where another form of ID is also used to compare the name and current photo.

Using a BC as a legal ID is one of those things that "most people think."

 

[BabiesDaddy]

That's funny, i didn't look at the date of the original post. But either way, sometimes I also dig in old postings for info and just general opinions.

 

[DVC-Don]

So it's an older post.

My daughter worked guest relations at the Magic Kingdom a while back and she often worked out at the turnstiles. She was instructed to always ask the child how old they were if there was a question about age. The trainer told her that the child will more truthful than the parent in most cases.

 

[Robo]

So it's an older post.

My daughter worked guest relations at the Magic Kingdom a while back and she often worked out at the turnstiles. She was instructed to always ask the child how old they were if there was a question about age. The trainer told her that the child will more truthful than the parent in most cases.

Anyone with a young child knows that's not true.

 

[ChloesDaddy]

Anyone with a young child knows that's not true.

Indeed. Some children only tell the truth when they're in pain.

 

[linzbear]

See, and I thought that CMs asked borderline kids their age to see if they say "Mommy, what did you tell me to tell the lady? I can't remember."

Everyone knows a 2 year old will say random stuff, but a small 4 year old will have a perfectly intelligible conversation.

 

[TXAKDisneyFan]

The point is still moot in non-government uses.
If I was trying to "prove" a higher or lower age for anyone, I could manipulate the birth certificate "copy"
electronic or otherwise.
It simply does not matter one way or the other.

WDW CM's don't ask for a birth certificate or other proof of age.

The US Dept of Transportation actually recommends bringing a copy of a child's birth certificate to the airport to prove age for unaccompanied minors ("Proof of age: If your child may appear to be younger (or older) than one of the age cutoffs described above (e.g. if he or she may appear to be under 5, or under 8 for a connecting flight), bring the child’s birth certificate to the airport—the airline may ask to see proof of age. Send a copy of the birth certificate to the person who will be bringing your child to the airport for the return flight.")

We've also used cell phone copies of our children's BCs at US airports to prove they were young enough to be lap infants (done within the last couple years). (Although usually we're not asked to provide any sort of ID for our kids.)

Nefarious individuals could manipulate any ID if they really wanted to.

I agree that I've never seen a CM ask for proof of age. DD is small, and several CMs have asked her age when she rides alone (to make sure she's over 7). She answers and they move on.

 

[mattsdragon]

Don't worry about it.

You should be more concerned how you are going to get that kid past the height requirement on Tower of Terror.

 

[Steffiesunshine]

Anyone with a young child knows that's not true.

So right! My 3 year-old is on an "I'm 5!" kick right now. She also tells me she's a grown up, so I tell her to go pay the cable bill.

 

[bcsurvivorX2]

It would probably help - overall - if they actually did away with the "age" ticket and simply charged for inches (?) like some of the other amusement parks. That makes more sense to me - especially with the "near" 3 or "just" 3 ranges

 

[Magpie]

See, and I thought that CMs asked borderline kids their age to see if they say "Mommy, what did you tell me to tell the lady? I can't remember."

Everyone knows a 2 year old will say random stuff, but a small 4 year old will have a perfectly intelligible conversation.

And then folks end up freaked out by the occasional two year old who can hold a perfectly intelligible conversation.

I had one at two who would say things like, "Mommy and I went to the store today! We got apples!" with perfect diction and a weirdly British accent (we're Canadian). She also started reading at two. Meanwhile my other one at two had just 12 words (I counted!) and the only people who could understand him were us. Both were ridiculously tall for their age, so they got asked how old they were a lot.

The girl always answered honestly, which was a relief, and the boy would just growl at people and start chewing on his own clothing (which usually lent some credibility to me, when I said, "He's only two!"). I tried to train him to hold up two fingers, but it always looked a bit dodgy and a little like he was flipping people off (especially when he was grumpy).

 

[serene56]

So it's an older post.

My daughter worked guest relations at the Magic Kingdom a while back and she often worked out at the turnstiles. She was instructed to always ask the child how old they were if there was a question about age. The trainer told her that the child will more truthful than the parent in most cases.

Our two year old will show her 5 fingers. and you really can tell he is not 5 years old.

 

[W.E.D.]

My folks carried my birth certificate everywhere. I was a very tall child as well.
Bring it. Then you don't have to worry about anything.

 

[smiths02]

I know this is an old thread, but my oldest turned 3 on his first trip (2009), and never questioned.
My kids were 9, 2, and 2 when we went in 2015...we were never questioned.
This year at 10, 3, and 3...I actually had more problems having to tell CMs what to charge us at character meals or telling the CM at the turnstile that the twins did, in fact, need to scan their magic bands). My kids are on the shorter side, though.
ETA: At 1900 PF, the server kept asking everyone's ages. Then she said it couldn't be 3 adults and 2 kids, walked off and we were charged wrong (less than we should have been). We really needed to leave as DH was feeling ill, so I didn't argue the bill. Maybe she was trying to give us pixie dust?

 

[smiths02]

The US Dept of Transportation actually recommends bringing a copy of a child's birth certificate to the airport to prove age for unaccompanied minors ("Proof of age: If your child may appear to be younger (or older) than one of the age cutoffs described above (e.g. if he or she may appear to be under 5, or under 8 for a connecting flight), bring the child’s birth certificate to the airport—the airline may ask to see proof of age. Send a copy of the birth certificate to the person who will be bringing your child to the airport for the return flight.")

We've also used cell phone copies of our children's BCs at US airports to prove they were young enough to be lap infants (done within the last couple years). (Although usually we're not asked to provide any sort of ID for our kids.)

Nefarious individuals could manipulate any ID if they really wanted to.

I agree that I've never seen a CM ask for proof of age. DD is small, and several CMs have asked her age when she rides alone (to make sure she's over 7). She answers and they move on.

I found flight attendants much more questioning about age than CMs at Disney.
I flew with my FOUR year old. Obviously, we bought him a seat, and as I struggled to get him and our stuff on the plane, the flight attendant practically yelled at me that I couldn't let him sit in the car seat (which she already checked to make sure was compliant) if I had not bought him a ticket. So I guess some people try to make lap babies out of 4 year olds. Crazy.

 

[smiths02]

It would probably help - overall - if they actually did away with the "age" ticket and simply charged for inches (?) like some of the other amusement parks. That makes more sense to me - especially with the "near" 3 or "just" 3 ranges

Then parents would have the dilemma of choosing the flattest shoes to get their kids in for free or the tallest so they could ride Space Mountain

 

[mistysue]

oops, didn't notice how old it was.

 

[jessg]

my kid insists he is zero