Is this too dishonest...

[nezy]

I'M thinking Sara, that if you are asking, you have some guilt or feelings that you shouldn't do this. It really is up to you and your gut.

That said, DS will be over 10 next time we go. I have PH passes (No expire) bought last summer. How do I upgrade him to an adult? Do I cash in his ticket and put the price towards a new one or is there an upgrade fee I can pay. Would the update price be for only the days left?

 

[boomhauer]

I wouldn't feel guilty about it. Certainly, you're not going to cause the demise of Disney by not buying your 3 year old a ticket.

However, it's a personal decision, one that I have learned isn't worth lying over. You're setting a bad precedent for your child and basically telling her it's OK for her to lie in order to save a few bucks. Sure, she won't know the difference at 3 years old, but if you start doing it now, you'll always be doing it.

 

[mjgruber]

I do not believe you have to upgrade those tickets....Since they had your $$$$ in advance...

I have tickets from 1996 for a 14 yr old now, I don't expect to pay an upgrade, especially since they have invested ( Lost ) that money for 10 years

 

[Brooknwdw]

No flames here but...


I am in a similar situation with my 9 year old...when we go in December he will have "just turned 10"....we are getting the dining plan so this REALLY is costing us more money....more on the dining plan plus an adult ticket!

But for me its not an option to lie...I just couldn't do that to my kid. He KNOWS how old he is! Plus to me its kind of a right of passage...he is growing up & deserves more respect than that from us.


Here's a heartbreaker....I sub at my kids school & I overheard some third graders talking about Disney. This little boy piped up & said how they were going...SO excited. But then he started talking to his friends (& me, we were sitting at a table in class) about how his parents said they were going to lie & say he was 9 because it is so much cheaper that way!
I wanted to cry right then & there because he had obviously been coached about it, & didn't feel the least bit "bad". I couldn;t hide my disbelief & did say a few things to him about right/wrong. It wasn't my place but I just couldn't help myself.

Talked about a seared conscience...& at such a young age!


I didn't tell you this to make you feel bad, just wanted to give you a glimpse of what it *could* turn into if you start that now. I hope you don't take my post as preachy or holier than thou!

 

[jones8491]

I know what you mean by "not really worth it"! I have teenagers who LOVE everything about all the parks.....they ride every ride (usually several times and even the kiddie rides!), they enjoy every aspect of all of the parks. A 3 year old can only ride so many rides, they do not spend as much time at the parks and do not enjoy everything. I really think there needs to be an even cheaper ticket price for kids under the age of 6 or 7. So I do know what you mean.
When my daughter turned 10, it was right before (2 days) we went to Disney and I bought her a child ticket! I actually purchased it when she was still 9, so.......
I agree with you.........Disney is SO expensive for a young family. sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do to even be able to go~ do what you want!

 

[mjgruber]

Only in Disney's Magical world is a 9 year old an ADULT

( SW and USO followed WDWs policy )....

At least change the name from Adult to a better word

 

[pines506]

My .02 here. So it starts with not buying a ticket for the little one - and depending on her development she may be able to tell the CM that asks her what her true age is...now you have to coach her to lie about her age. Next you are lying when she is 8 or 10 or 12 about movie tickets, children's menus etc. And at the same time presumably telling her to be honest with you, her teachers etc. Ok, so I am projecting a few decades into your future, but I remember being uncomfortable when my parents made me lie about my age to get into something cheaper and I am choosing not to do that to my kids.

If you didn't expect this to be a heated discussion then why did you ask for no flames? What exactly did you expect?

So in answer to your question. No, I haven't lied about my kids ages and I won't lie about their ages in the future. You find that hard to believe?

This in no way helps the OP with her question, but the above made me grin. In planning our August trip we thought about taking a day trip to Universal. They have the special going where you can buy one adult get a child (3-9) free. My son turned 10 a few weeks ago and has known since he was 5 that he is going to be a minister when he grows up. Now I fully intended to buy him a ticket if we did go, but I couldn't help myself and asked him if he would mind saying he was 9 at Universal so he could be free. The look (and lecture) he gave me was priceless. I guess even if I wanted to stray from the path, I wouldn't be allowed.

 

[Carrie772]

I agree with Brooknwdw. Consider it a rite of passage. She will have her first ticket souvenir! Your baby is growing up! How exciting!

 

[lclark0621]

When is "just 3" considered "really 3"? Is it the day they turn 3, the month, at the 3 & 1/2 year point?

To me, 3 is 3. And if you are taking a child who is 3 (whehter it is 3 years & 1 day or 3 years and 2 months), they are 3. And you have to pay.

Yes it is dishonest.
Yes it is cheating.
YES it is lying.

What about a kid who is "almost" 21? Should they be allowed to buy alcohol because they are "almost there"?

Or the kid who "almost passed" their final exam. Do we pass them because the "almost made it"?

If you take a child to Disney after they turn 3, you have to pay for their ticket. Simple as that. Disney gives 3 YEARS that they are free.

I dont want to teach my kid that lying is ok. I dont want him to see his Mommy lie about his age, just to save a couple of bucks.

If the difference in the child's ticket vs not pay is really going to break the trip, maybe you should hold off & put the money away until next year. Because if it is a matter of being THAT close to making the trip, it it time to rethink where the money is going, or scale your trip down some.

My DS will be "just 3" when we go in Sept. His birthday is at the end of July. And you better believe I am buying his ticket.

 

[MareQ]

well, I didn't expect that it would be a heated discussion, but oh well. I guess noone here has ever said that their child is younger just to save a buck. *rolling eyes*

I have NEVER lied to save money - some people REALLY do place values and morals above their wallet.

 

[KJHawley]

I'M thinking Sara, that if you are asking, you have some guilt or feelings that you shouldn't do this. It really is up to you and your gut.

I think you're right about this. Many posts on this board come from people who obviously feel guilty about doing something, so they make posts like this in hopes that they will feel better about what they're doing.

And as to those who say that their children don't get as much out of WDW- that's why a child's ticket costs less, and why children under 3 are free! You may think it's unfair, but it's not up to you to set Disney policy. Would you let your responsible and mature 14 year old drive a car, just because you think the 16 year old limit set by the government just doesn't apply to you & your teenager?

 

[buckler]

I just posed a question to my 5 year old. I asked her if it would be ok to say she was 4 if it meant she could get into Disney for free. She looked at me like I was crazy and shook her head. She told me "that's a lie". I pullled out a bunch of cash from my wallet and told her we could save all this money. She held firm. So there you go. Even a pre schooler knows its wrong! I told her I was proud of her!

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

I wouldn't buy the ticket.

I have done it in the past. Everyone says do whats right and what you can live with. I did it and don't feel a speck of guilt about it. My DS turned 3 in April, we went in September and he was big and talked well for his age. The CM's never gave him a second look.

 

[jekajekalynn]

I think the OP has her answer ppl. Put a fork in it , because this thread is done.

 

[Disneynut25]

I thinks it's a personal decision that needs to be made by you and your DH. Ultimately you will have to live with your decision....Sometimes I have to laugh when I read posts that say "My DH and I never lie" or "I don't want to teach my 2 year old that it's ok to lie" when in the same breath we tell our children that
1) a jolly fat man is going to sneak in our homes at night and bring us presents
2) an easter bunny is going to hop from house to house hiding colored eggs in the bushes
3) A fairy is going to sneak in your childs room at night, take a tooth and leave money in exchange for the tooth
4) The Pilgrims and the Indians sat down together and enjoyed a wonderful feast and gave Thanks (together)
Do I need to go on...I'm sure that most of us have told these "lies" to our children and if we have not then I'm sure that there was something that we didnt give the complete truth to them about....just remember...a lie is a lie is a lie is a lie

 

[MickeyHereWeCome!]

I'll admit to having had that thought for our upcoming trip, but I know I couldn't go through with lying. My ds turns 3 three weeks before we go, and he is a really TINY kid, so I have no doubt I could get away with it, if I wanted to. And boy, wouldn't it make seating on rides much easier if my dd could just say she was 7 instead of 6, so she could ride alone? But the thoughts didn't stay, even more a full minute. I just couldn't do it.

I just know that I don't feel right giving off mixed messages to my kids, even at that very young age. We teach them to be honest and tell the truth, so how right could it be to model such a big lie just to save a little money.

So, to answer your question, yes I think it's dishonest. I can certainly understand where you are coming from, though, so you'll have to make that decision for yourself. I know you wouldn't be the first, and I'm certain not the last.

 

[mjgruber]

I thinks it's a personal decision that needs to me made by you and your DH. Ultimately you will have to live with your decision....Sometimes I have to laugh when I read posts that say "My DH and I never lie" or "I don't want to teach my 2 year old that it's ok to lie" when in the same breath we tell our children that
1) a jolly fat man is going to sneak in our homes at night and bring us presents
2) an easter bunny is going to hope from house to house hinded colored eggs in the bushes
3) A fairy is going to sneak in your childs room at night, take a tooth and leave money in exchange for the tooth
4) The Pilgims and the Indians sat down together and enjoyed a wonderful feast and gave Thanks (together)
Do I need to go on...I'm sure that most of us have told these "lies" to our children and if we have not then I'm sure that there was something that we didnt give the complete truth to them about....just remember...a lie is a lie is a lie is a lie

Are you telling me there is NO SANTA CLAUSE? ...I am crushed !

Signed,
A crushed 40 year Old

 

[nliedel]

I told my kids the truth about Santa because I felt so betrayed. They still pretend he is coming! I will not let them do that about the Easter Bunny. The thought of a twn foot rabbit bringing chocolate is too laughable to me.

OK I am being honest. I did it. One day, on my eldest sons third birthday. We were there for a week and it was his last day. I am ashamed and have felt guilty for it ever since. It ruined my whole day and I still feel guilty when I go back. My in-laws suggested I take my Hernie-Roo to WDW this September and tell them he is not three yet (his birthday is in May but he was a very small preemie and he is still much smaller than your average two year old). My husband looked at my Mother in Law and said, "Nope we will pay the full price for Herne. It's not worth the tears of guilt Nancy sheds to save a few bucks."

I love it when he sticks up for me.

 

[jekajekalynn]

I thinks it's a personal decision that needs to me made by you and your DH. Ultimately you will have to live with your decision....Sometimes I have to laugh when I read posts that say "My DH and I never lie" or "I don't want to teach my 2 year old that it's ok to lie" when in the same breath we tell our children that
1) a jolly fat man is going to sneak in our homes at night and bring us presents
2) an easter bunny is going to hope from house to house hinded colored eggs in the bushes
3) A fairy is going to sneak in your childs room at night, take a tooth and leave money in exchange for the tooth
4) The Pilgrims and the Indians sat down together and enjoyed a wonderful feast and gave Thanks (together)
Do I need to go on...I'm sure that most of us have told these "lies" to our children and if we have not then I'm sure that there was something that we didnt give the complete truth to them about....just remember...a lie is a lie is a lie is a lie

OMG!!! That is the FUNNIEST thing I have read all day. Yes , and at the the end of the Thanksgiving feast , the Indians (who for some reason always looked vagually Itallian in old movies?) said "Thank you for this feast, now be sure to destroy me and all my ppl, and enjoy our land!"

 

[lclark0621]

Are you telling me there is NO SANTA CLAUSE? ...I am crushed !

Signed,
A crushed 40 year Old

And next they are going to tell us Mickey Mouse is just somebody in a costume!

Where do these people come from?

Santa, Easter Bunny, Mickey Mouse, those are all real. Those I see as magic.

But LYING to save a few bucks, is NOT magical...Just stealing.