Making a big deal about turning 3?

[IMGONNABE40!]

..or should we just keep it quiet?

Here is the story. Three family trip. Our desired travel dates are 7/7-7/14. Preference is AKL. When I call, I find out value season starts 7/8 at the deluxes. If we get there on 7/7, we don't get value rate for our stay. So, we book room only at Pop for 7/7 and a room/ticket/dining package for 7/8-7/14.

One of our group turns 3 on 7/8. My understanding from these boards is that as long as he is 2 at the start of the trip, he will not need tickets and dining. Is this compromised by our package starting on 7/8?

Our plan is to go to Chef Mickeys for his birthday. I read on TGM that we can get a cake delivered at CM. I would love to do this. But, I am concerned about that the CM may see the room key with the 7/8 date and we may be in a bit of a spot regarding not having the DP for the little one.

Any advice? Thanks.

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

My DD will turn 3 during our trip. Though 2 days before we return home. I noted it on the reservation at both Breakfast with Stitch and 1900 Park Fare.

I realize we may have to pay for her meal since she will officially be 3, but she knows its her birthday, how could you possibly keep something like that quiet?

 

[CrzyforPiglet]

I have also heard that if a child turns three during your trip that they do not need tickets and dining but in your situation I don't know if that would still apply since you're changing rooms. I think the best thing to do is to call Disney and ask them but be prepared to accept the consequences either way. They'll either say no you don't have to add tickets/DP or yes you do. Even if Chef Mickey's didn't catch on if you ordered a birthday cake, that doesn't mean that someone else wouldn't figure it out. I was just at a baby shower today and people were asking my niece how old she was and she told everyone she was 3 even though her birthday is 3 weeks away! You may find yourself in an uncomfortable situation, especially if the birthday boy is very proud to have turned 3 and tells everyone so. Good luck!

 

[Patsfan7]

If your trip began before the child turned three there is no charge for the meals nor admission. EDITED: Sorry, I didn't read your entire post though carefully enough. I do not think this would be any sort of big deal at all. My daughter turned three a few days after the end of our trip, but the trip was her celebration, and nobody ever said anything when we were celebrating at the restaurants, nor was she ever asked for amdission media.

 

[IMGONNABE40!]

I think the best thing to do is to call Disney and ask them but be prepared to accept the consequences either way. They'll either say no you don't have to add tickets/DP or yes you do.

Actually, when I was talking to a CM about booking this trip, I was did talk to her at length about this and even though we originally booked a trip that began on 7/8, she put the child in as 2--knowing full well that he turns 3 on that date. For a variety of reasons we decided to do the first night at Pop. And, we booked the package--which starts on the birthday through AAA and the agent knows the story and she thought booking as 2 was fine.

Any more with experience with this?

 

[IMGONNABE40!]

Any of the morning crowd with insight on this?

 

[ArielsMommy]

I was under the impression that kids were free through their 3rd year. Last year was the first year that we had to buy a pass for our DD when she turned 4. We were never asked for any ticket media for her until then. Maybe this has changed recently?

 

[Allison]

I was under the impression that kids were free through their 3rd year. Last year was the first year that we had to buy a pass for our DD when she turned 4. We were never asked for any ticket media for her until then. Maybe this has changed recently?

No, it is and has been 3 as far as I know.

 

[tjmw2727]

I was under the impression that kids were free through their 3rd year. Last year was the first year that we had to buy a pass for our DD when she turned 4. We were never asked for any ticket media for her until then. Maybe this has changed recently?

You were lucky - Disney has always required paid admission for children 3 and over!

To the OP - I think your ok on park admission as Disney is pretty consistant about the age of the child at the start of the trip is kept for admission. Even though your switching resorts its the same WDW vacation. We have one dd turning 10 during our next trip and my neice is turning 3 so we are in a similar situation.

On the dining I was told that the age dosen't carry through and my dd would be charged the 10+ prices after her birthday. On a separate call my sil was also told that she would have to pay for my neices meals after she turns three even at the buffets and character meals.

I have since read posts here that children were not charged after the 3rd birthday so we are prepared for for either. I will report back as to how the meals were charged after my dd and neice's birthdays.

TJ

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

We took ds now 9 to WDW about 3 weeks after his 3rd bday. We bought him a park hopper ticket thinking they surely will ask his age and after spending all that time teaching him to hold up 3 fingers and say, "I'm 3," we shouldn't mess with that. Dh put him on his shoulders and walked right thru the gate. no questions asked. In fact our 2nd child is very small for his age,(40 lbs.), they never asked for a ticket for him until he was 5.
This past May, 1 week before his 6th bday, dh gave ds the adult ticket by accident which required the 2 finger scan. The CM asked dh, "Isn't he just going through on your ticket?" Dh said "Oh, ok."
I seriously doubt they will ask the exact date of his bday and keep your room keys in your pocket. If they ask when his bday is, say it's next week. People celebrate bdays in Disney even if it's within a few weeks of the trip.

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

I wouldn't worry about it. How would they know he was 3 unless someone told?

No one knows when his real birthday is and how old he'll be from the room key. If you get a cake at Chef Mickeys and the CM's find out its his 3rd birthday, they might charge you for the buffet that night, but thats the only problem I see.

 

[MrsTomMorrow]

I seriously doubt they will ask the exact date of his bday and keep your room keys in your pocket. If they ask when his bday is, say it's next week. People celebrate bdays in Disney even if it's within a few weeks of the trip.

There is a certainly a difference in what the OP is concerned about and flat-out lying when confronted. I hope that is not being encouraged.

 

[tjmw2727]

I wouldn't worry about it. How would they know he was 3 unless someone told?

No one knows when his real birthday is and how old he'll be from the room key. If you get a cake at Chef Mickeys and the CM's find out its his 3rd birthday, they might charge you for the buffet that night, but thats the only problem I see.

Actually based on recent experience the CM's are regularly engaging children who look to be 3 in a conversation to determine if they need a ticket. I have witnessed this with my neice and nephew. While the CM was polite, respectful and courteous there was no doubt they were trying to make sure that tickets were purchased for children who were not entitled to get in for free. I have recently read reports from Disers who were made to purchase tickets or prove their child was 3. When my dd's were under three the CM's never gave them a second look, this seems to be changing.

I commend the OP and others whow follow the rules Disney has put in place.

TJ

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

Actually based on recent experience the CM's are regularly engaging children who look to be 3 in a conversation to determine if they need a ticket. I have witnessed this with my neice and nephew. While the CM was polite, respectful and courteous there was no doubt they were trying to make sure that tickets were purchased for children who were not entitled to get in for free. I have recently read reports from Disers who were made to purchase tickets or prove their child was 3. When my dd's were under three the CM's never gave them a second look, this seems to be changing.

I commend the OP and others whow follow the rules Disney has put in place.

TJ

I should have known the moral police would be out in full force with this one.

And from my first post , it states my DD will turn 3 during our trip also. I plan to celebrate it and buy her a slipper dessert at 1900 Park Fare.

CM's can't take what little kids say about their age. MY DS is 8, sometimes when my DD is asked her age she'll insist for 5 minutes she's 8 also. They are little kids they can say anything.

 

[tjmw2727]

I should have known the moral police would be out in full force with this one.

And from my first post , it states my DD will turn 3 during our trip also. I plan to celebrate it and buy her a slipper dessert at 1900 Park Fare.

CM's can't take what little kids say about their age. MY DS is 8, sometimes when my DD is asked her age she'll insist for 5 minutes she's 8 also. They are little kids they can say anything.

Wow -
Since you quoted me and started the name calling, what exactly is it about my post that makes you call me the "moral police"?

You asked a question - "how would they know" and I answered it based on my experience. I simply stated that the CM's are enforcing the under three rule and how I have seen them do it.

I won't apologize for commending someone on following the rules, even funnier is that one of them was you

TJ

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

well, I don't really care if people think it's "criminal." My son doesn't even remember that 1st trip he took when he just turned 3. Most 3 y.o.'s are still in diapers for pete's sake. If anything is criminal, it's the ticket prices they charge. A 1 day ticket for a 3 yo is over $59! We didn't go there with the intention of sneaking him in but if they don't ask for a ticket, then I'm not offering it. Yes, I sleep just fine with that and I'm sure the white collars at WDW do too.

 

[Patsfan7]

On the lighter side....what time was your child born? Was it before or after your check in time? My kids were born at night, so technically, if we checked in before the time of their birth they wouldn't be 3 before the beginning of the trip would they?

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

Wow -
Since you quoted me and started the name calling, what exactly is it about my post that makes you call me the "moral police"?

You asked a question - "how would they know" and I answered it based on my experience. I simply stated that the CM's are enforcing the under three rule and how I have seen them do it.

I won't apologize for commending someone on following the rules, even funnier is that one of them was you

TJ

I guess as I re read your post its not that much of a "moral police" post. I apologize.

I just can't undertand how CM's would take the word of a so-called 3 yo as a sign the child is actually 3. I don't carry my childs birth certificate, nor do I plan to.

My DS is 8 now but as a 2 year old was way larger than the size my DD is now. DS was over 40 inches at just 3. DD is barely 36 inches and 25 pounds. No one ever questioned me about my sons age and since DD is so little I don't plan to get questioned about her , but I would have a bad taste in my mouth defending her age based on what she may say. Kids say things all the time.

TJ:>>>Just a side note ,I really don't commend moral that much on this subject, if you look up my past posts on this subject I am far from the moral police.

 

[NJOYURLIFE]

I do know that I read some posts where people were asked for proof of age and since they could not provide it they were charged for the child. They were later able to get a refund once they provided proof.

I think the original poster will be OK.

As far as kids and their ages, this reminded me of my 11 year old son's antics towards his 12 year old sister this past trip. If anyone trades pins, they may be familiar with the special green lanyards that are only for 12 and under to trade with. My son kept making comments that his sister was 13 everytime we were near a green lanyard. It didn't really matter to her because she is not a big pin trader, but it was really ticking me off.

 

[Patsfan7]

I can't believe that this is keeping me tossing and turning at 1:30 in the morning, but it is.... the thought that popped into my head was, what about keeping the POP key with you with the 7th date on it? That would be proof that your trip started before the 8th.