Is he still "2" or do you pay the $ for a 3 year old?

[ttm999]

We are going to Disney in November and my son will have turned 3 four days before our trip. What are your thoughts on pretending he's still 2? I was planning on buying my tickets in advance at the Disney Store - and he would be 2 when I purchase the tickets. ?!?!?!

 

[CarolMN]

Disney requires children 3 and over to have a ticket. Whether or not you decide to purchase a ticket for your 3 year old is a matter for your own conscience.

You may or may not be challenged. If a CM asks your son how old he is, what will he say? Most kids are very proud of knowing how old they are. How will you handle that?

Enjoy your trip!

 

[Kaa]

I want to take this opportunity to remind everyone of the posting guidelines. I know this particular subject is touchy and I hope we can keep it civil.

 

[stacie_d]

Personally, I wouldn't do it. I would feel guilty the whole time. I would buy the ticket. And if I tried, my DS would probably rat me out if they asked.

For me, the stress and the possibility that I "might be found out" would not be worth the money saved.

Your son will have a great time. My DS was 2.5 last time we went, and he still talks about it.

 

[siouxi31]

It all depends on what you can live with (conscience-wise).

 

[Debbie]

I have taken my "just turned" 3 year old, and not bought him/her a ticket. It was my decision because s/he was the "baby" in the room, we could manage to all stay in one room/cabin.

 

[Lewisc]

When new board members posts a "loaded" question I often suspect a "troll". You know the rules it's really up to you. A "vote" by people participating in your thread doesn't really change anything. Your son may be proud of his just past birthday and you might be embarrassed by his answer. If you think sneaking him in is like driving 60 in a 55 zone no amount of responses is going to change your opinion. I suspect many people pay the admission price and others chose to lie.

 

[TINKTWINS]

My twins will be 3 in Jan. Im going in Dec. Im excited to know that I got them in 2 times in one year before they are 3. Im happy with that. I bought APs for the rest of us when we were there in April, so this trip will feel free for all. I had a great year of bargains. Next year will just be a little different. Maybe just one trip. I think the 3 yo cut off is very fair, alot of other cut offs are 2.

 

[beattyfamily]

This topic can get very heated very quickly with each defending their side strongly.

Hopefully, you are not a troll and just new to the Dis with a valid, yet hot, question. If so, welcome!

I have a similar situation. My DD will be 3 for 19 days when we go this Halloween.

I look at it this way, we've gone 3 times now to WDW with her being free and now I've chosen to go AFTER she turns 3 to enjoy the Halloween festivities so I already made the choice of whether or not to buy her a ticket by choosing to go AFTER she's 3. I have already bought her tickets to the parks, MNSSHP, the LUAU, and also the Universal Studios parks. As far as I'm concerned, it's stealing. Athough it's a tempting, easy way to steal, it's stealing. WDW has to set limits at some point and I don't think it's up to us to change it on them.

I couldn't do it even if I wanted to. My husband would kill me, both my DD's would rat me out once we're at WDW, and I really wouldn't want to set a bad example for my DD's anyway.

To each his own, though. This is IMHO, of course.

 

[kylara]

He might be two when you purchase your tickets, but Disney goes by the age of the child at the begining of the trip (i.e. first time you enter the park). So by that standard he would be 3. Chances are it would never be challenged if you said he was two, but you would then have the worry he might blurt out his age. Do what you feel you can live.

 

[ttm999]

Wow - didn't know this was so touchy of a subject. And no - I can assure everyone I am not a "troll" and not just trying to stir up trouble.


We've never been to Disney (well I went once when I was 13!) and we are having to go the week of Thanksgiving because of school and work schedules. I would have LOVED to have planned this trip for the week prior. He would have still been 2 and it wouldn't have been as crowded.


And unfortunately for us we are on a very limited budget with this trip. If I buy him tickets is will be roughly $200.


Anyway - I appreciate your comments and have not been offended by any of them. We still have a while to decide what we are going to do.

Tina

 

[nicknamy1996]

We just bought an AP for our 2 year old... No we're not nuts, he will be 3 by the time we leave for our trip.

I have no problem at all paying for the childs tickets to the parks, after all chances are the trip is for them (or at least thats what we want people to think).

If anything children could even cost the same or even more. Its for them. There's a local "park" we go to its for the kids, adults get in free, kids have to pay. And the circus 1 price for all ages.

Lastly I feel 3 is the right age to start charging. Our 2 y/o had a blast in Feb (he was 2 1/2) and still talks about it. I'll gladly pay for next year if he has as much fun as he did last year.


HOWEVER... Paying for our 23 pound kid who eats very little to eat at Chef Mickeys and other buffets sometimes hurts. But I suppose I eat my share and then some.

 

[phamton]

Just my opinion, your mileage may vary.

It reminds me of a movie I saw:

Man: "Would you sleep with me for one million dollars?"
Woman: "Yes"
Man: "Would you sleep with me for $5?"
Woman: "No! Why kind of girl do you think I am?!"
Man: "I think we've already established what kind of woman you are. Now we're just haggling over the price."

What is my integrity worth? Would I sell it for $1 million, $200, or $5? I give back the change when I am undercharged at the store because that quarter can't buy my integrity.

Just a thought.

Bev Hamilton

 

[A kid at heart]

I personally would take the free time again if possible. If they don't ask the age, I don't offer. (I'm not sneaking her in, she is in her stroller and they just open the gate and keep talking to whomever or doing whatever and don't ask for her ticket or her age so on thru the gate I go!)
If the kid was 3 close to 4 then yes I would say pay, but since he will just be turning 3 I say go for it!

 

[nuke]

We went to Disneyland when my son was 3 1/2. We bought him a ticket and the ticket takers wouldn't take it from us. They told me to save it. Same thing happened this past January in DW. He is four now and the CM at the gate didn't run his pass thru. My DS is small for his age, but I couldn't believe it!

 

[AnnK]

No judgements here, just my own choice and something that happened to us at USF....

We have always bought a ticket for our children when they turned three. Our youngest was three years and 4 days and we bought the passes for her. We even bought her an annual pass for USF and IOA. The funny thing was that she was TINY and no one would have ever guessed her age. We were at USF, I went to take her on the "Woody" Coaster. The person at the entrance to the ride said she couldn't ride because she wasn't three. I said she is three, and she asked me for her ticket! I did not have it on me because it was an AP and my Dh had all the passes, he had headed off to another ride with the kids. She made a nasty remark about people sneaking their 3 year old in and then wanting to get them on rides. I did manage to track down my dh and get her pass, I showed the woman that I DID PAY for my 3 year old! I also let Customer service know how I was ACCUSED of sneaking my child in, and that I DID not appreciate the remark. They apologized and certainly tried to make up for it.
I pay because I feel I am setting an example for my children and because I have to live with myself. I feel my child does enjoy the parades, fireworks etc and to me it is worth paying the price of admission

 

[CanBeGrumpy]

First, I think you will feel MUCH better if you pay. HOWEVER, when my son had just turned 3, we went to Disney. I approached the ticket window to ask if a 3 y/o needed a ticket, or if 3 and under were free (I was pretty sure he needed a ticket). SO, what does the CM say? He says, "Well, that is really your call. We don't ask for proof of age, so it is up to you. Now, if he was closer to 4, I would say you really should get a ticket, but if he just turned 3, it is your call." Well, my jaw dropped, and honestly, I *did* hesitate for a split second, because I was buying an annual pass, and I could just imagine what we could do with that money, etc, etc. BUT, I decided that just because this one particular CM was dishonest, it didn't mean *I* had to be dishonest! I coughed up the $$$ and felt very good about my decision! (I tend to be a goody-two-shoes anyway, so I knew what my final decision would be right from the start). I don't know if this story helps you at all, but I will say honestly that the *right* thing to do is to buy the ticket. Good luck with your decision!

 

[tink2dw]

For 1 moment think of it like this, WDW considers 10 yr olds Adults

If your child had just turned 10 and needed an Adult ticket,What would you do?? Would you say your child was 9?? Or because the child was old enought to reconize a lie,and would Know that you were cheating,Would you buy the Adult ticket or the childs ticket?? What would you do??

This is the same situation you face now?? And will face again at age 10.


Hope this helps!

 

[Lil'Magic2000]

A few years ago, my family went to Disney with my just turned three year old sister. We, like so many other people, did not purchase a ticket for her. This was a child who was 20 pounds soaking wet and had the appetite of Ghandi. No one questioned her on her age. In fact, our trips to Disney reach the double digits, and no one has ever ever stopped and asked how old any of us were.
IMO, there is nothing wrong with pulling your three year old off as two. Those who have a couple of hundreds of dollars just lying around may choose to buy a ticket so their three year old can ride the seven or eight rides she'll be big enough for or won't scream bloody murder on, and eat the saltine crackers from your salad plate for the whole trip. In a year, when your child is pushing four, then you can look into buying a ticket for him then.

 

[denisenh]

I was in the same situation a few years ago. My DD had turned 3 about 2 weeks before our trip. We paid for her.
I like Phamptons response. This world would truly be a different place if we all had a high level of integrity. Really, just imagine it.