Question about "faking" age

[GoofyDad869]

My dad used to pass me off as being younger than I was. I was very small for my age, teased at school, etc. Great example to set for a kid who's already self-concious. I have not forgotten...

(Gets out soapbox, dusts it off, stands on it)

I personally would not pass a kid off as younger than they are. They're your kids (or your sister's kids in this case) so that's up to you. What kind of memories of your ethics do you want your kids to have? I'm not being judgemental - just prompting a gut-check...

As for the high prices of food & drinks - you DO realize that you can take in soft coolers/backpacks crammed full of stuff, right? We do it all the time - get a backpack, put in four frozen water bottles (put in the freezer the night before), pack pop-tarts & packs of crackers for snacks, etc. The water will thaw over time - keeping everything else cool (I carry it, so my back is always cool too)... You can do Disney pretty cheaply if you put your mind to it.


I really don't want to be too preachy. I'm just as bad (our worse) in this sort of thing. Here's a recent example for me:
I am a part-owner of a new, relatively successful business. We had a good year in 2005, so we did an owner bonus distribution. After doing some other stuff with it personally (paying off a car, put some back in savings for our NEXT Disney trip, etc.) my wife & I determined that I could have a significant amount of "Mad Money". I have always wanted a certain Star Wars-themed building block set (rhymes with "Smtar Dmestroyer") from a certain toy building block company (rhymes with "LmEGO"), and I also ordered a couple of other relatively pricy sets for my son & myself (that's one of our big, father-son activities). When my ordered packages arrived, I had an EXTRA package. When I opened the package, what to my wondering eyes should appear? They had sent one of the largest, most expensive sets (rhymes with "Dmeath Smtar").

I didn't order it - I wasn't charged for it - and it was sent in a completely separate, very large package from the rest of my order. I put it up, un-opened for a long time. Was it a "gift" from the company to me for placing such a large order? Was it a screw-up in the fulfillment or shipping department? I could have easily resolved the matter with a short telephone call to the company. Have I made that call? Nope. Will I make that call? Probably not. Am I a bad person? You make the call... The way I see it, I'm at-best ethically ambiguous in this instance. I have since opened the kit and built it (after keeping it un-opened for about six weeks).


When I am short changed at McDonalds I make a stand. When I am given a $20 for change when I should have given $10, I give it back to the cashier and get the proper amount. I don't lie about the ages of my kids (I might momentarily 'forget' how old they are right after a birthday though).

We're faced with choices and circumstances like these every day of our lives. Each person must take a stand on where they are with each and every decision. Each person also must realize that their decision will have effects on others.

(Gets off soapbox)

Long, boring post is so OVER...

 

[ujpest_doza]

But how far do you go with this attitude? Lie about your childrens age to save money, what next?

Thats something people have done for as long as i can remember such as on buses where kids have to pay once they are 5.

I don't think its any big deal at all.

 

[Tiger926]

This is why Disney needs to enact a policy that you must show proof of birthdate and if it doesn't match, you are either: 1) asked to leave or 2) must pay adult rate, plain and simple. I am getting so sick and tired of waiting in line behind people who scam Disney - "Oh, I didn't know that was a child's ticket", or "I didn't realize it was expired, are you sure?" Come on! Sorry, if your sister is doing this out of financial necessity, but then she should reschedule her trip until she can afford it. I teach at risk students at an alternative high school who have been raised by parents like this, and I have to tell you that we all need to be scared for the future as the lack of morals and ethics is appalling and very problematic.

Some of your responses really scare me as well - it's ok to steal from Disney because they are a big, bad corporation that makes billions of dollars. Oh my! The lack of ethics and morals in some of the previous posters is sickening. I feel really sorry for your children, friends and family with these attitudes.

As a teacher this whole topic makes me angry, as a parent, even angrier, but as an ethical human being who definitely knows right from wrong, it repulses me.

Tiger

 

[sanctus]

So many people are saying this is a matter of personal choice, and no big deal, I finally couldn't take it anymore.

It is a matter of choice in the same way that the decision to steal an item from a store or pay for it is a matter of choice. If the cost to enter is a certain amount for a child of 11 and you only pay for a child of 9, the difference in price would be the amount you stole.

What you are really saying is that you are comfortable with stealing in some circumstances and not others.

I am not.

 

[Taratink]

Mickeyfan2- I don't have a sister. You must be mixing up my post.
Tara

 

[Taratink]

But how far do you go with this attitude? Lie about your childrens age to save money, what next?

My guess is drug smuggling!
Tara

I am kidding!

 

[ujpest_doza]

My guess is drug smuggling!
Tara

I don't take a lot of whats written on the internet too seriously and like to be a bit mischevious for the sake of getting a good debate going.

I don't see the harm in saving a bit money by telling a little white lie about a kids age and i certainly wouldn't mention it if i was given too much change but come on, serious crimes??? no way.

 

[krismom]

Here we go again....
I had an issue with one particular CM at MK when we approached with our double stroller with our 2 year and 8 month old twins inside. She said, "how old are they?" I told her. Then she said to me, "when is their birthday?" trying to trip me up. I told her. She then said to the CM next to her, "do they look 2 to you?" at this point, I searched through my "mom bag" full of stuff and found their birth certificates that I had brought along for traveling purposes. She then glanced at the papers and waved us through. My point is- I felt violated and embarassed and I was being honest! THis was the first day of our trip and my husband wanted to "file a complaint". I just wanted to get the kids on a ride! My point is- even if you are honest- you sometimes are met with the scepticism and rudeness that is a result of others trying to cheat the system!

 

[mickeyfan2]

Mickeyfan2- I don't have a sister. You must be mixing up my post.
Tara

Oops I was thinking you were the OP. Sorry for the confusion. But heck it did make for a good example.

 

[Tiger926]

I can see how you or other posters may be offended by the drug dealing comment, but I'm not sure why you would be since you just advocated that stealing is ok. It's funny that people pick and choose their levels of morality: stealing is ok, but drug dealing is not. Sorry, but they are both one and the same.

I go through this lack of morality each and everyday with my students, but I don't expect much from them since the apple usually doesn't fall far from the tree (as evidenced by this thread). It's pretty scary how unethical people have become, but when parents are so screwed up about what is right and wrong, surely there is no hope for their children to learn otherwise.

What a social commentary this thread has become, Tiger

 

[MareQ]

I don't see the harm in saving a bit money by telling a little white lie about a kids age and i certainly wouldn't mention it if i was given too much change but come on, serious crimes??? no way.

"Saving money"?? Saving money is bringing in yoru own snacks, staying at a value instead of a mod or deluxe, going for 4 days as opposed to 7, driving instead if flying. I'm appalled that people believe lying and cheating is an acceptable way to "save money".

This is just ONE example of why our society is the way it is today. Parents lie and cheat and honestly believe it's ok and teach their children it's ok too @@

 

[umaangel00]

Again she was not asking for your moral opinion. She was asking if SHE WOULD GET CAUGHT!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[beattyfamily]

Again she was not asking for your moral opinion. She was asking if SHE WOULD GET CAUGHT!!!!!!!!!!!

Doesn't matter. Threads always get side tracked. It's the nature of Discussion boards.

If people don't want all opinions, good and bad, then do not post the question.

These threads always amaze me and sadden me too.

 

[BYC]

Again she was not asking for your moral opinion. She was asking if SHE WOULD GET CAUGHT!!!!!!!!!!!

Well....I guess she got more than she asked for!

 

[mickeyfan2]

My point is- even if you are honest- you sometimes are met with the scepticism and rudeness that is a result of others trying to cheat the system!

This is an excellent point. If others did not lie about their kids ages then honest people like you would not have to prove you were telling the truth. The CM would have believed you. This is a sad statement about society.

 

[Taratink]

I hope that your sister has a great vacation regardless of what happens.
Tara

 

[lsteadman]

Again she was not asking for your moral opinion. She was asking if SHE WOULD GET CAUGHT!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[ujpest_doza]

"Saving money"?? Saving money is bringing in yoru own snacks, staying at a value instead of a mod or deluxe, going for 4 days as opposed to 7, driving instead if flying. I'm appalled that people believe lying and cheating is an acceptable way to "save money".

This is just ONE example of why our society is the way it is today. Parents lie and cheat and honestly believe it's ok and teach their children it's ok too @@

Never bring my own snacks, always eat in the park.
Always rent a house as its cheaper than a hotel and you have more space.
Always go for 14 days as its too far to travel for anything less.
Always fly as there isn't a transatlantic tunnel yet.
(apologies for seeming flippant by the way )

I have never actually lied about my daughters age to get her in for free as i said earlier she was under 3 the last 2 times we went to WDW and she will be almost 4 next time so it wouldn't be feasible as she is currently wearing clothes that shops say are for 4 and in some cases 5 year olds and she is not yet 3. As i also pointed out (which answered the original question of whether she'd get caught and not is it wrong?) a CM did check whether my DD was under 3 at AK when she was 23 months so someone trying to get away with lying about a childs age may indeed get caught.

I just don't think it is particularly big deal for someone to say a child is a little younger than they are if it will save that person $150 to $200 by doing so, if it is feasible, but you may not get away with it.

 

[Grumpy_Disney_Dad]

Remember to tell your sister that if the child is caught lying about her age she will shrunken down and put on display inside IASW

 

[mickeyfan2]

I just don't think it is particularly big deal for someone to say a child is a little younger than they are if it will save that person $150 to $200 by doing so, if it is feasible, but you may not get away with it.

And we wonder why the tickets when up about 5% this year!!!! Maybe if more of the people who lie about their childs ages paid the 150 - 200 they were requred to, it would have been less.

ETA: Why should I have to pay to go to WDW. I am so special I should get in for free!!!