How do we prove that my nephew is 2?

[zandjmom]

We're taking my neice and nephew for 4 days, the last being his 3rd birthday. My mom is worried that they won't believe he is 2 and should we bring his birth certificate so we won't have to buy a ticket for him. We're leaving the day of his birthday so we may not even be in the parks that day. Anyone have experience with getting a big 2 year old in???

 

[autumnbaby9]

You probably won't have to prove it. I didn't when my DD was 2. However it might be a good idea ro bring a photocopy of his birth certificate just in case.

 

[Hollyster2]

My friend and I actually got stopped at both entrances to both parks. We both had 2 yr olds in strollers, and hers would turn 3 in about 3 weeks time, and mine in 3 months. Her daughter was taller than my daughter and she got stopped and treated rather rudely by an accusing cast member. They kept asking questions and actually tried to ask her toddler how old she was. Her daughter was shy and didn't answer. My friend got very upset at not being believed by the ticket taking CM, and it bothered her all day. We went over to CA Adventure and they questioned her again and asked her if we were "sure" her daughter was only two. She went to guest services at the Disneyland Hotel where we were staying and had a copy of her daughter's birth certificate faxed to the hotel. Unfortunately they told us that they were sorry we were questioned, but they have more people than we can even imagine try to pass of much older children for under 3.

 

[zandjmom]

Wow...I think we will bring his bc just in case. The only hitch will be if we decide to go to the park the morning of his birthday. We would only stay a couple of hours because we'll have to leave for the airport but it would be a bummer to pay for a ticket for just a few hours. I would love to get him a birthday button at City Hall. Could I get one the day before?

 

[Pea-n-Me]

My children's health insurance cards have their birthdates on them and I keep them in my wallet anyway. If yours do too, then you won't need to bother carrying around a birth certificate.

 

[spazzyjazzy]

Flame Away but, we got my best friends set of twins in and they were almost 4. The only comment we got was "let me guess they are almost 3, right?" and that is about all. They didn't ask for proof. We did it for 2 days.

 

[Hollyster2]

You absolutely can get him the birthday button the day before or even the day you arrive!!! You do not need any proof of when your birthday is to get one. Disney celebrates when you celebrate!

 

[drag n' fly]

After I saw this I swore I would never would travel without it again... now I have a passport for my youngest ds and it does not matter but before I got it I watched Airline on the TLC channel and this woman was tring to catch a flight with her child on her lap and the child was 23 months and they would not let her on the plane until she could prove her child was 23 months. She had no birth certificate and they were going to make her pay for a seat for her child because they did not believe her. She did not have enough money to pay for a seat for her child. To make a long story short... she missed her flight and she had to get her Mom a few states away go to her house find the birth certificate and fax it to SW at the airport. After I watched this story unfold I never travelled anywhere without my youngest DS birth certificate ever again. Even to this day I still carry a copy of my three kids certificates in my purse even though they all have a passport. This poor woman was screaming and sobbing and it was awful.

 

[MateasMom]

My girls both got passes for their 3rd Bdays but every once in a while I would....just for fun ....go through without offering their passes. Older DD was probably 5 before anyone asked for her ticket I guess with both of them in a stroller they just assumed they were younger and probably twins? The game was less fun with younger DD, but I can't remember a single time anyone so much as asked about her age after 3YO.

At WDW though I did get a comment about my niece. I had her and my nephew in the stroller, and my DD walking beside me. They're all around the same age (2-3 at the time), my DD being the oldest and neice being the youngest. I handed over my tickets and said 'these are for her and him and she's free'. The 'free' was my HUGE neice (at 2.5YO was bigger then my 5YO DD). They looked at me and said 'your paying for them (point at my 3YODD and nephew) and not her! LOL. That was the only comment we got (though her parents were paranoid and did bring her birth certificate just incase).

 

[CaptainJacksWench]

I can't imagine they'd not take your word for it. It is hard for me to imagine them taking you to task for it. ha! Have fun, I am sure it will be a non-issue!!!

 

[little pixie]

When my son was 2, almost 3, I didn't want to be asked how old he was, and try to prove it, he was shy at the time, and would not have told anyone, let alone a stranger.

I took a copy of his birth certificate, just in case, but never had to use it.

 

[Mom2micayla]

Wow, interesting. I've never once been questioned on the age of my children. My oldest daughter (who's almost 5) has always been big for her age and they've never questioned me getting her in without a ticket, even right up until her 3rd birthday. Customer Service CMs would not be happy to see me if they tried to call me a liar on my child's age.

 

[disneydreamerbelle]

Hi,

Just got back from DL last night. My son is 2 and wears a size 4T so he doesn't look 2. We brought his birth certificate but we never needed it. We got a couple of looks from the people at the gates, but they still let him in. I don't think they can dispute you!

Don't worry!

 

[minnietoo]

Flame Away but, we got my best friends set of twins in and they were almost 4. The only comment we got was "let me guess they are almost 3, right?" and that is about all. They didn't ask for proof. We did it for 2 days.

And maybe that's why some CMs are getting more strict.

 

[dreamcometrue]

when my niece was 2, she was huge! Seriously, almost as tall as my 5 year old DS and he/was not a tiny kid. We used to go to DL with them a lot since they used to have AP too. They never ONCE questioned her age, and implied that they didn't believe my SIL/BIL when they told them she was only 2. Now, this was 6 years ago, and the CM might question you more now but this is Disney...would they really risk questioning someone and imply they are lying about the age of their child? I don't think so! Unless of course it is very obvious your child is over 2!

 

[Mtnman44]

They should just charge tickets based on height instead of age.

 

[minnietoo]

They should just charge tickets based on height instead of age.

Actually that's a great idea - especially since ride accessability is determined by height.

 

[thunderbird1]

Wow...I think we will bring his bc just in case. The only hitch will be if we decide to go to the park the morning of his birthday. We would only stay a couple of hours because we'll have to leave for the airport but it would be a bummer to pay for a ticket for just a few hours. I would love to get him a birthday button at City Hall. Could I get one the day before?

I don't know if they have the same rules at DL, but at WDW, for ticketing purposes, your child is considered the age they are at check-in for the entire length of your stay. This means you can get him a button and celebrate his 3d birthday on his birthday without having to purchase him a ticket and still be within the rules.

The same is true for annual passes--if you purchase an annual pass for your 9 yo the day before his 10th birthday, he can go to WDW for the next year at the child's price. They ask that you go to guest services so they can swap the child ap for the adult, but you don't have to pay the difference in price.

 

[eargal]

They should just charge tickets based on height instead of age.

This made me lol!
We are not small people....my DS just turned 5 this week and is 51 inches tall...if Disney set the limit by height I can't even imagine how upset that would make me.

I think he was born three feet tall!

 

[minnietoo]

This made me lol!
We are not small people....my DS just turned 5 this week and is 51 inches tall...if Disney set the limit by height I can't even imagine how upset that would make me.

I think he was born three feet tall!

As a parent I hear your pain. As a business person (I'm actually pretending here) - this makes perfect sense as taller kids will utilize the bigger rides and thus consume product like an older child (in many cases) - so it makes sense to charge them accordingly.