Question about "faking" age

[tweedlewtwinsmama]

I know this will ruffle many a feathers out there but here it goes. My sister and her family (husband, son age 7, daughter age 5, and daughter age 10) are going to WDW in June. When she booked she gave her kids ages as 7, 4, and 9. The youngest will turn 5 at the end of April and it does not make a difference anyway but the oldest girl turns 11 in July. She is quite big for her age (almost as tall as me). They are on the dining plan and staying on property. Will they run into problems with trying to pass an almost 11 year-old as a 9 year old?

 

[vicceja]

Hi!

I'm not sure if the child will get questioned, but personaly I wouldn't risk it. My son is turning 10 in a couple of weeks and we will be updating his Annual Pass.

 

[Cinderumbrella]

That is a tough one. When we went this past Oct DS was not quite 2.5 and we were questioned a couple of times whether or not he was 3 (he too is big for his age with quite a vocabulary!)

 

[aplejax76]

Keeping moving nothing to see here! I hope this does not turn out too ugly!!!!

 

[Got Quattro?]

You could get away with it. Just don't let the rules police her get too you.

That's a choice you have to make on your own.

 

[DisneyGeek2000]

...but the oldest girl turns 11 in July. She is quite big for her age (almost as tall as me). They are on the dining plan and staying on property.

Do they realize that on the dining plan the 11yo will have to eat off of the children's menu? That may or may not be a problem, it was for my 9yo niece last trip - she wanted to order from the adult menu and couldn't.

Michael

 

[amy_jade]

Do we need to prove age? Also, if you are 2 or under they can get in free???

 

[aka-mad4themouse]

Hi tweedlewtwinsmama and welcome to the DIS!

The truth is that by misrepresenting you niece's age, your sister is opening herself up to the possibility that they will be questioned about it, especially if the child looks older than 10. Hopefully she will be prepared to handle the situation, should it arise. To avoid the possibility of it happening at all, your sister can change her ressies to reflect the true ages of all of the children before they take their vacation.

 

[ImarriedGrumpy]

My dad used to do this to me all the time. I was a small kid - when I was 9 I looked like I was 4 or 5, and even at 17 I looked younger than my 15 yr. old brother and sometimes got confused as being a twin with my 11 year old sister! This lasted for years - I was still being charged the "youth" rate at movies into my mid-twenties.

My dad was terrible about taking advantage of my young looks and was always buying kids tickets for me or getting kids rates at hotels, movies, etc. by lying about my age. I hated it. I was always embarassed, and besides, I wanted to be acknowledged as being my real age. (Now I'm quite happy to have someone take 5 - 10 years off my age! )

 

[tweedlewtwinsmama]

I warned my sister but her reply was "If I say she is 9 she is 9 . How are they argue what a mom says?" She will do anything to save a buck and she is very good at it. I would not do it if it were me. I just don't want her to "get in trouble" once she is there.

 

[aka-mad4themouse]

Do we need to prove age? Also, if you are 2 or under they can get in free???

Children under the age of 3 have free admission to the parks. If your child is younger than 36 months but looks or acts more mature, you might want to bring proof of age with you as a precaution. It is not required but it couldn't hurt, KWIM?

 

[RobInBigKC]

I always feel bad about what this is teaching the kids. Give up honesty for the sake of saving money. In a year, the money (spent or saved) will be forgotten but the lesson/example will still be with the kids.

-- Rob

 

[cancilla]

Personally, I wouldn't do this with my kids. But if you are going to, you need to remember to go all the way and remind the girl that she has to lie if anyone asks her how old she is.

Some will object to teaching a child that it's okay to lie to save money, and as I said it's not something I'd do (then again, I don't lie to my son about Santa Claus either). But I think that there are probably plenty of additional opportunities for saving -- or even making! -- money while on vacation if your child is an accomplished liar. I doubt that the moderators would appreciate a list, but I'm sure you can think of plenty on your own.

 

[gingermommy94]

I always feel bad about what this is teaching the kids. Give up honesty for the sake of saving money. In a year, the money (spent or saved) will be forgotten but the lesson/example will still be with the kids.

-- Rob

Very well said. That is exactly how I feel...makes me kinda sad.

 

[tweedlewtwinsmama]

Yes and she will also need to lie about her grade in school. A 9 year old going into the 6th grade just won't sound right. I think it is just too complicated when kids are asked to lie and stick with it for a whole week.

 

[Julylady]

Based on my experience, your niece will be asked "How old are you?" not her Mom. It is done in a chatty, very friendly way. So your niece would need to be "coached" to lie about her age. That may or may not be a problem

 

[Lord Fantasius]

I always think its funny when someone wonders whether they are going to get caught in a lie; makes you wonder what they have tried in the past.

Will they get caught - maybe, maybe not; but as the commercial goes...
Money saved lying about a child's age - $8
Cost of sleep lost worrying about the effects of getting caught - $100
Cost of teaching a child it's right to lie about something just to save a little money - priceless

-R

 

[Raevyn_Wolfe]

My dad used to do this to me all the time. I was a small kid - when I was 9 I looked like I was 4 or 5, and even at 17 I looked younger than my 15 yr. old brother and sometimes got confused as being a twin with my 11 year old sister! This lasted for years - I was still being charged the "youth" rate at movies into my mid-twenties.

My dad was terrible about taking advantage of my young looks and was always buying kids tickets for me or getting kids rates at hotels, movies, etc. by lying about my age. I hated it. I was always embarassed, and besides, I wanted to be acknowledged as being my real age. (Now I'm quite happy to have someone take 5 - 10 years off my age! )

WOW! I felt the same way! My dad did the exact same thing!
And I HATED IT! He paid the under 12, or 10, or whatever the kid age price for buffets, made me order off of the kids menu, etc. It always made me feel, oh, I dunno, "cheap", and yes, embarassing, especially if I had to lie and cover for him. ugh.

Now that I am older and have a kid of my own, well, I can see where he was coming from. But, as soon as my son turned 3 I proudly starting paying for the buffets, the movies and stuff instead of sneaking him in for free. He eats like a bird and the kid prices are a rip off for how little he eats, but, well, I guess I just don't want to start the pattern.



It's a personal choice that the parent needs to make for themselves and with most things parenting there's really no way to convince people differently if they believe a certain way.
But I also agree with another poster, the lessons it teaches kids whether good or bad will be in effect alot longer than the saved money will. And the feelings last a lot longer as well.

On a side note, I get told ALL THE TIME that I will like that I look YEARS younger when I get older, etc etc. Still haven't gotten there yet. But that's mainly because I get odd looks sometimes cause I look like a 16-18 year old and I get asked quite a bit if my 4 year old boy is my brother.

 

[nluvwithmickey]

Based on my experience, your niece will be asked "How old are you?" not her Mom. It is done in a chatty, very friendly way. So your niece would need to be "coached" to lie about her age. That may or may not be a problem

I"ve witnessed this many times last summer, it is done in a really friendly way and asked out of nowhere.....hope the kid is a good actress.

 

[traycie2201]

OP As you said earlier though you have warned your sister, I guess now the onus is on her, if she is comfortable doing this then that is her choice, i'm not condoning or criticizing her choices just saying she's made them so has to deal with the possible consequences of being found out , kids being uncomfortable etc.