Question about being charged for a 2 year old...

[Tiger Fan]

Just wanted to get everyones thoughts on this. I called my sister last week to tell her about the new free dining deal since I knew they were planning a September trip for my niece's 3rd birthday. The days they have planned are based on my BIL's time off from work and my older niece's school schedule. It just so happens that they will be there for 6 nights and 7 days and the last day my niece turns 3. My sister fully expected to pay for a one day ticket and knew that on that day she would have the meal credits, but other days would have to either pay at counter or eat off the buffet or their plates if they were doing a character meal. Well, the first problem happened when my sister gave the code and was told that special code is only available to Florida residents. She called me back disappointed and said they couldn't use the deal. I insisted that she call back and sure enough this CM said the code was fine and valid for their dates and then proceeded to take the info. Well, I'm sure you see what happened here they charged my sister for tickets for the entire 7 days, not just the one that she would actually be 3. I just don't think that seems fair. I've read tons of post here about people not paying for their 3 (or even 4 year old) and that is certainly not what they were attempting to do, but I just don't see how Disney could charge for her when she was only 2. The CM explained that the computer would not allow them to break it up and then my sister suggested just not to put her on the ressie and they would just buy a one day pass on the last day. The CM explained that she HAD to be listed, therefore since she couldn't break out the day she turned 3, she would have to pay for the entire week. The difference is $195.00 (that is after she has deducted the fee for the one day park hopper). Any thoughts on this? Not trying to start a debate or find a way to "cheat" Disney, just wondering if this is normal and we are just not in the know.
Lisa
Tiger Fan

 

[Traveliz]

I would call back and say the daughter isn't coming and not worry about it at all - she shouldn't have to pay period as she is starting the trip at the age of 3.,,, sometimes the computers don't allow for common sense. When they arrive they can tell them she is there but they really don't have to since typically two year olds aren't listed on reservations anyway.

Liz

 

[Miss Kelly]

I would call back and have them remove her from the reservation. A 2 year old should not be charged for admission(even if she turns 3 on the trip).

 

[zurgswife]

I would call back and say the daughter isn't coming and not worry about it at all - she shouldn't have to pay period as she is starting the trip at the age of 3.,,, sometimes the computers don't allow for common sense. When they arrive they can tell them she is there but they really don't have to since typically two year olds aren't listed on reservations anyway.

Liz

Just say the child is 2....What I've heard over the years is that if your child is 2 at the start of the trip that is the age the entire trip...When she gets the confirmation tell her to call back and explain that the CM got the age of her daughter wrong.

 

[GinaGrumpyDwarf]

this has happened to us too...Mikayla turns 3 right before the trip...we first didnt want to put her on...but it's only an extra 50$ for the 1 day pass and her dining is free...we thought that was a great deal...now i dont have to worry about her food!

the disney rule is what age the child is at the date of arrival....if you can book through AAA...do it...much less hassle
plus the "special" diamond club parking is TOTALLY worth it!

 

[Matt'sMom]

The problem here is that, in order to book a 'package' (and be eligible for the free dining plan add on), ALL members of the party must book with the same number of ticket days. That is why the cm said that they could not book the package with the younger daughter only getting a one day ticket. I am assuming the OP's sister wanted seven day tickets for the adults and older sib, and that in turn meant they had to get seven day tickets for everyone in their party. The cm was correct--it is not possible to book a package which includes a variety of different length pre-purchased tickets.

The solution would be to book the package with each person getting only a one day base ticket. Then upgrade everyone else's ticket (aside from the 2/3 year old's) individually once you arrive at WDW and have checked into the resort. This way they can still get free dining credits for the child who will be turning three, but without having to pay for a seven day ticket for that child (since she really does not need to have one).

 

[HaleyB]

Sorry, double post.

 

[HaleyB]

Here is what I would do. I would keep everything as it is, buy the 7 day pass in order to get all 7 nights dining credits. Then I would save that 7 day pass for another trip! Buy a one day ticket on her birthday to get into the parks that day (it is cheaper than adding no expire and using 1 day off the 7 day pass).

However if I was doing this I would be very careful to use her 7 day pass by mistake. Just don't carry it, lock it up as soon as they give it to you.

 

[HaleyB]

Hey, Mattsmom's idea is even better than mine

 

[indigoxtreme]

Go with Matt's Mom's post, this is the way to do it. You will get the free dining credits for each day you stay. It is not based on the ticket. You only need a 1 day pass to get the meal plan for each night you are staying.

 

[julia & nicks mom]

we took my DD for her 3rd birthday last year and this is what Disney told me - the age a child is at the beginning of the trip is the official age for the whole trip - she turned 3 - 4 days into our 10 day trip and they treated her as a 2 yo the whole trip - tell her to call back and if they try to charge - have her say that it had been explained to her that this is the case and that she would like them to clarify with a supervisor -

 

[Karel]

There is no need to change things if a child's birthday occurs during the trip. The age the child starts is what she is charged for the entire stay. For instance, on one trip my oldest turned 10, which in Disney eyes made him an adult. We did not have to upgrade him to adult statis that trip though.

There is no need for your sister to have to pay anything for her two year old.

 

[HeatherinVT]

My travel agent at small world travel said if you start as 2 you are 2 for the entire trip because i was thinking of going over the week of my daughters birthday and she said if we arrive before she turns 3 then she will be free for the entire trip.
its unfortunate that the Cm didnt explain that to her....
she should call back and she should be all set

 

[4theloveofdisney]

I would call back and have them remove her from the reservation. A 2 year old should not be charged for admission(even if she turns 3 on the trip).

I agree. And to back up that thought - if you book a room in value season but it happens to turn into another more expensive season which = more money, Disney honors the value season rate. Just like with the free meal plan - you only have to book your ressie by the 4th of October. I would call back, and not include her in the reservation. That's not fair at all!

 

[Tiger Fan]

Thank you for all these great responses. These are the exact same things I'd heard as well, but this CM was pretty adamant that this is what it is (of course the previous one said the code was only FL residents so we all know how which CM we get can make or break things). My sister tried to nicely object and state that she had heard the age they started was the age they were for the entire trip and the CM told her that not having a ticket when the child is actually 3 was "cheating". Lori argued that then Disney would be cheating for the other 6 days since she was only 2 on those , but nadda - the lady stood firm. I told her to just call back and say that Ella was not coming now, but she really wants it noted on the ressie that it's her birthday (they've celebrated old sibs birthday twice already at Disney and feel it's little sis's turn). I feel like because she was trying to play fair, that now she's getting screwed. I'm the Disney nut in our family and always promoting these great deals and now when it doesn't turn out right I always feel responsible, I know that's my own problem, but still I like to help out. Thanks again for these great ideas, I'm gonna run them by her tomorrow.
Lisa
Tiger Fan

 

[zurgswife]

Cancel the entire ressie. Then call back and rebook. That way you don't have any missunderstandings. Leave the childs age at 2. Add a note that it is the childs birthday when you get closer.

Sometimes starting from scratch is the easiest thing to do.

 

[IwasatWDWforamonth]

You know what, back in November while at guest relations in the mk, we overheard a family complaining that they had to pay for the 2 year old and did not know that they didnt have to until they arrived at wdw.
although not related the current offer I wonder if they were told by someone that they had to pay for the 2 year old,
they wanted thier money back but were only given free passes for a future trip.