Question about young child in room/etc...

[The Sybah Shelstah]

Just curious.
What if you had a child that you might (or might not- have not made up our minds about who all is going on our next trip -or not) take with you on your trip RIGHT after they turn 3yrs old. Now let's say this child is very small for her age and most likely still won't even meet the 36in minimum requirement for even most of the "baby" rides- and definitely would NOT even come close to the higher requirements. Thus meaning she won't ride anymore rides than she did 6mo before.

Would it be horrible to not say she's just turned 3 so you don't have to pay for her ticket just for her to basically spend her time in the stroller or being passed off from parent to parent in the "parent swap" thing?

I know this might be a hard thing for some of you to fathom, especially if you don't have children or are die-hard "never fib" kind of people. But honestly... she's tiny and I doubt very seriously she's going to grow over 4 inches in a few months time to even meet that lowest requirement of 36in. So it will be EXACTLY like it was last time- with her only able to ride the rides that have no height requirements at all (which isn't many-atleast not that we noticed, perhaps we missed some rides she could have ridden) and it seems ridiculous to pay the same for her that we pay for our 9yr old and 5yr old that can just about ride everything there.

Oh and she's also small enough that when we travel the 3 kids sleep together with plenty of room in one queen size bed. The girls are used to sleeping together and my son was used to sleeping with them for quite some time until just recently finally sleeping in his own room/bed. Or she cosleeps with us sometimes too. (she's only recently been weaned from nursing and co-sleeping with us) So I really don't see the need for reserving a connecting room- for it to not be slept in. I certainly wouldn't have any of my children sleeping in there alone and then what? I'm supposed to sleep in one room with some kids and my husband in the other room with some of the kids? We're married- we have kinda gotten used to sleeping together- yanno? And I'd be too scared to have my kids -any of them- sleeping in another room even with the connecting door open when they have a door to the OUTSIDE also from that room. They aren't old enough to be trusted not to sleep walk/etc just yet.

What do you think? Would it be horrible to fib by a few months when she's smaller than most 2yr olds anyway and couldn't do anymore than a 2yr old could do as far as rides etc? Or should we just not bring her and leave her with her aunt? I'm NOT going to pay those park hopper prices for her everyday of our trip just so she can have the privilege of sitting in the stroller most of the time like our last trip.

 

[inaminute]

Horrible? Not really.

Would I do it? No. But then again, I'm one of those die-hard honest people. I don't believe in lying--much less teaching children that it's o.k.

Do what you think is best. If you decide to take her, you'll want to make sure you teach your little one her "pretend" age so she can lie to any cast member who might ask.

 

[CamColt]

Im not going to judge or say whether its right or wrong because I think you know that, but I have to say, there are plenty rides for young ones. We have made 4 trips over the past 5 years with our kids, currently 3 & 6. the only ride they go on with a height requirement is Goofys Barnstormer, and yet they are always busy and go on tons of rides. Just my .02!

 

[The Sybah Shelstah]

Inaminute- that wouldn't be a problem since it's not a 9yr old pretending to be an 8yr old or a 5yr old pretending to be a 4yr old. We're talking about a three year old... she's most likely going to tell anyone that asks her that she's "this much" and show 5 fingers.
So puhlease give me a break. If I said she was two when she just turned three I would NOT have to teach her to lie or be showing her how to lie- she wouldn't have a CLUE that is what was going on. Not at that age.

I'm not big on lying either- much less teaching my children to lie (and I wouldn't have them lying either- it would be something they wouldn't know about) but I'm also not real good at throwing money away when I don't understand the age thing anyway. I think it should be by height. WHY is it we're being charged more if they turn 3 when they are still able to only do the same things they were able to do when they were 2? If they are small- where's the difference? Trust me, she still won't enjoy the characters (scared) and she still won't enjoy the shows (refusing to wear 3-d glasses and for the most part making us miss all or some of the shows out of boredom/etc) and she still won't be able to ride anymore rides than she did 6mo prior. So why is it all the sudden worth paying hundreds of dollars for her to do the SAME thing... ride a few baby rides and spend the rest of her time in our arms or in a stroller? I don't get it.

But I do appreciate your candor in your post. I expected as much/that type of a response. But I really wish someone would explain to me why "turning 3" makes a difference between free and paying hundreds of dollars when there is no difference. Granted I know some 2yr olds that are teensy and some that are huge and some 3yr olds that are tiny and some that are tall enough to ride rides that my 5yr old can ride- as well as some very mature 3yr olds. But why is the age 3 the "turning point" for charging if they are still under the minimum 36in requirement and aren't doing ANYTHING more than they did 6mo prior when they were under 3? I don't get it. Must be why I prefer places to charge by height instead of age (ie: if you are big enough to ride rides with their height restrictions- then you pay more). It just bugs me to pay hundreds more when she's not going to do anything different than she did before she turned the "special" age of 3. That birthday means nothing in regards to how much she'll use their "services"- so I don't get paying hundreds just because she's had a birthday.
KWIM?

Plenty of rides for young ones? Please list out the "plenty" of rides because I sure must have missed them. We spent the entire time doing parent swap with atleast the youngest one- sometimes (quite often) even our 5yr old (who isn't very tall either). We must have missed most of them somehow. Perhaps because they were rides that had huge lines, no fast passes (we did go with her at the busiest week of the year at Christmas time and practically did nothing but fast pass rides because the lines were so long), and were rides that didn't interest our 5yr old and almost 9yr old in the least. (in other words- who wanted to stand in line for an hour for a ride that lasted 30seconds when no one was interested in it- JUST because it was a ride the youngest could ride? Without even knowing if she would enjoy it herself... most likely freaking out and expressing in her own way that she didn't want to ride it once we got to the point of riding the ride)
??
Age 3 and 6 is quite different than a 2yr old (who turns 3 before our next trip) who is the size of an 18mo old. But if there are lots of rides I didn't know about that she could ride- please let me know. And btw- Snow White's scary adventure is off the list please- scared all my children and we won't be riding that one again. LOL

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

My 3 year old son rides the following rides at MK, (I'll * the ones he really loves):

Aladdin*
Jungle Cruise*
Pirates of the Caribbean (a little afraid but he still likes it)
Peter Pan*
Country Bear Jamboree*
It's a Small World*
Snow White*
Haunted Mansion (a little afraid but he still likes it)
Dumbo*
Carousel*
Big boat ride
Pooh ride*
Indy speedway*
TTA*
Buzz Lightyear*
Train*
Mad Tea Party*


The only rides he doesn't ride at MK are:

Splash Mountain
Space Mountain
Thunder Mountain
Barnstormer
Alien Encounter



At Epcot he likes:

The Living Seas*
The Land*
Journey into Imagination*
Spaceship Earth*
Universe of Energy*
Mexico ride*

He doesn't ride:

Test Track
Mailstrom
Body Wars



At MGM he likes:

Playhouse Disney*
Beauty and the Beast*
Little Mermaid*
Muppet 3-D
Great Movie Ride*
Backlot Tour
Al's Toy Barn meet and greet*

He doesn't do:

Star Tours
R n R Coaster
Tower of Terror
Millionaire



At AK he does:

Safari*
Kali River Rapids*
Triceratops Spin*
Bug's Life*
Festival of the Lion King*
Tarzan*

He doesn't do:

Dinosaur
Primevil Whirl


So as you can see there are lots of rides/shows for 3 year olds. Even if your 3 year old is super short for his/her age there are still tons of things to do in the parks. Sometimes I think they should charge for kids and not for adults. LOL

 

[CarolMN]

It really doesn't matter why the cutoff is 3 or whether or not we agree with how Disney decided to charge for their product. The fact is, Disney gets to set the prices, not us.

Many people choose to ignore paying for young children if they think the chances of getting caught are small. Disney pretty much operates on the honor system in this area, so it's easy to cheat. The fact that others do it doesn't make it right.

Bottom line: Ask yourself this question:

Are I the kind of person who is honest only if I think I will get caught?

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

My 18 month old son also rides all those rides I listed above. He loves them!

 

[The Sybah Shelstah]

From your list:


Aladdin (this one had a huge line and no fastpass- but might be able to ride it if we went in Sept with less people/not as busy?)

Jungle Cruise
Pirates of the Caribbean (uh yeah right, she'd be a LOT afraid- even my 5yr old was afraid of this one)
Peter Pan -she rode this one
Country Bear Jamboree- this is not a ride- it's a show. One she wouldn't "enjoy" or use anymore than she did when she was not past that "special" 3yr old birthday

It's a Small World- this is one of the ones she rode
Snow White- rode this one also but NONE of my children want to ride that one again

Haunted Mansion -puhlease. A just turned 3yr old in a haunted house that even my 9yr old wouldn't step into?
Dumbo- this one we missed because of super long lines
Carousel- also missed because of super long lines
Big boat ride- what ride is this?
Pooh ride- we did this one
Indy speedway- wrongo. Even my 5yr old didn't meet the height requirements for this one. How is your 3yr old riding this one? He must be very tall for his age.

TTA- do you really consider that a ride for kids to enjoy? I enjoyed it, but only because my feet were sore. This would rate a high 10 on the boredom factor for anyof my children. LOL

Buzz Lightyear- we did this one
Train- again, you consider this a ride?
Mad Tea Party- no way. Even though they might allow her to- riding it myself showed me how dangerous it would be for my very small just turned 3yr old to ride this and slip all over the place.


The Living Seas- this isn't a ride either... it's like an indoor water zoo. Still not going to enjoy it anymore or less than when she hadn't passed the 3rd year birthday mark.
The Land- did this one.
Journey into Imagination- is this a ride? If so, I missed it on both trips! Wugh! How'd I miss a ride.....
Spaceship Earth-this one we did miss on our trip together. I had no idea there was a ride inside there. Stupid of me huH? LOL

Universe of Energy- this one would scare the bejesus out of her. It would also scare my 5yr old and PROBABLY my 9yr old also. How you figure her turning 3 means all the sudden she would enjoy riding this?

Mexico ride- might or might not scare her. Certainly wouldn't be on anyone's list of "must ride" though.


Playhouse Disney- not a ride
Beauty and the Beast- also not a ride
Little Mermaid- also not a ride
Muppet 3-D- a show that scared all but the 9yr old even without the glass on.
Great Movie Ride- this one would surely scare her and some of the others... you're like taken hostage and shooting/etc.!
Backlot Tour -another train ride looking at stuff that wouldn't interest a just turned 3yr old, no?
Al's Toy Barn meet and greet- is that a ride?

Safari- we did do this one
Kali River Rapids -no way I'd do that with a just turned 3yr old that is small for her age and doesn't even like getting her hair washed. LOL
Triceratops Spin- she did this one
Bug's Life- this is a show- not a ride. And it scared both her and my 5yr old. MOST 3yr olds do not "get" nor enjoy 3-d or 4-d shows.

Festival of the Lion King-show also, not a ride.
Tarzan- show also, not a ride. I asked for a list of RIDES, not a bunch of shows that wouldn't interest her or outright would scare her!

So as you can see there are lots of rides/shows for 3 year olds. Even if your 3 year old is super short for his/her age there are still tons of things to do in the parks. Sometimes I think they should charge for kids and not for adults. LOL [/B]

I'll agree with you on the charging thing. But I think you missed my point.
My point was NOT that there isn't anything for a 3yr old to do. My point is WHAT is there for her to be able to do and/or enjoy more/etc than she did 6mo prior being a 2yr old? NOTHING- not unless she's at the top of the size chart... which she is not! When she is 3- there WILL be 2yr olds right there in the parks bigger than she is. Period. No question about it. THere might even be 2yr olds more mature than she is and able to ride some of the scarier (with no height restrictions) rides and/or enjoy more of the shows that I wouldn't dare try taking her in again.
My point is WHY is her having a birthday making a difference if it's the SAME as when she was younger? She can't ride anything different, she can't make use of any more services than she did before. If anything, it will be making use of LESS services because now that we've been there with her once we know which shows/rides to avoid because they scared her.

Are I the kind of person who is honest only if I think I will get caught?

Touche`.
I'm not usually one that is dishonest even if I know I would never get caught. It just irks me to pay hundreds, not a little- HUNDREDS, for my child to receive no more benefits than any other 2yr old coming in free. I'm a cheapskate that way I guess. And I know, because I know myself, that it will ruin the trip to constantly realize that she's sitting in a stroller or in our arms being passed from one to the other while we do the parent swap to ride rides with our older children... and that I'm paying hundreds for the honor of doing so. *sigh*

 

[inaminute]

"But I really wish someone would explain to me why "turning 3" makes a difference between free and paying hundreds of dollars when there is no difference."

Write to Disney and ask them. It's their company. They set the prices and make the rules.

I read your post to mean "is it o.k. to cheat by telling Disney my daughter is 2 not 3." I'm sorry if I misunderstood. However, I stand by my opinon that it is NOT o.k. to lie or cheat for any reason--much less to save a few bucks.

 

[skiwee1]

There really are no baby rides at WDW. Your 3 y/o will be able to ride most rides with no problems. I have been taking my littlest one since she was 1 1/2 y/o and she wasn't scared of any of the rides that she was allowed to go on. She goes to the Haunted Mansion all the time and loves it! The Jungle Cruise is a piece of cake. It's like visiting Animal Kingdom, only better. At least you get to SEE animals on the Jungle Cruise. I wouldn't lie and tell them she is under 3 whether the child knows your are lying or not. It may seem like a lot of money but it is a bargain for the entertainment your receive. By the sound of your last post it sounds like you have a problem with most of the rides anyway. It doesn't sound like you are in for an enjoyable trip and perhaps it should be postponed until you feel that all of you will get your moneys worth.

 

[The Sybah Shelstah]

Oy... that's not how I meant it at all. I can sure see that it came across that way though.
I was really trying to figure out WHY the difference in cost especially if a child is not able to ride anymore rides and certainly not able to use anymore services (such as enjoy/watch more shows/etc) at that age. You know... more of a "talk me into taking my youngest AND being honest about her age even though it will cost hundreds more instead of leaving her at home with her Aunt" kind of thing.

I guess I didn't really post it as I meant it. Rereading my original post I can see I most certainly did not.

But you're right, I should take any questions like that up with Disney instead of this board. You really can't answer that question since you aren't Disney.

I still think it "bites" to pay more for a child simply because they have had a "birthday" even if they are still as small as most 2yr olds. But such is life.

 

[Deb & Bill]

We took my 84 yr old mother on most of the rides/shows in the list above and that was all. Did we get to sneak her in without a ticket? Heck no. We bought her an UMP so she could do what we do. When my son turns 10 next summer, do I still buy him a kid's PAP? Nope. He will get the adult PAP.

Lots of people in wheelchairs who can't transfer are limited to about the same rides/shows in the list or fewer. Do they get to get in for free? Nope, they have to purchase an age appropriate ticket.

The child is 3. Get a ticket. Disney's rules, not yours.

We rode Aladdin's ride at Christmas time with little or no line. You just have to time it right.

It almost sounds like your kids don't have a good time. Why do you want to go?

 

[The Sybah Shelstah]

By the sound of your last post it sounds like you have a problem with most of the rides anyway. It doesn't sound like you are in for an enjoyable trip and perhaps it should be postponed until you feel that all of you will get your moneys worth.

That is not the case at all. It's not that *I* have a problem with most of the rides- it's that my child is still practically a baby and DOES have a problem with them.. and I guess I have a problem with paying a couple hundred dollars just to allow her in the door and then her not ride hardly anything or enjoy any of the shows/etc. Us passing her from one to the other doing the parent swap thing. It didn't bother me in the least last time- because we weren't paying for her anyway (at age 2) but paying that much... I think it would bother me. That's probably why I won't end up taking her.
I doubt it would be an enjoyable trip if I'm paying hundreds for her to go and then she doesn't want to ride anything out of the limited amount of rides she could anyway (being under 36in). The whole time I'd be thinking of what a waste that couple hundred dollars was.

It almost sounds like your kids don't have a good time. Why do you want to go?

My "kids" don't like scary rides- and I found out from finally going to WDW that quite a few of the rides are "scary". They might not be to you or I or some children that aren't easily scared-but my children find villians, darkness, shooting/hostage, etc. type rides scary. They avoid all together anything to do with "haunted" also. I don't think that's all THAT unusual for the ages of my children, is it? But when it comes to the 2yr old (still not 3 yet, after all) sure there are a LOT of things she doesn't consider a "good time". She's still at the age that things scare her yet she's not old enough to understand it's not "real". When she's 'free' and it doesn't matter if she doesn't ride anything and spends her day in the stroller or in our arms doing the parent swap it's no biggie. But paying hundreds for that would be a bummer.

Why do I want to go if the kids don't enjoy every single ride?Good question... which is why I still haven't decided if we'll go as a family or if it will be another solo trip for me. LOL

 

[lizzie64]

I also have 2 children that are small for their ages.

I can honestly say that the thought of not buying them their own tickets never occurred to me.

I'm surprised at how many times this comes up on these boards.

You are the child's parent and you will decide what you have to do. Children do learn by example.

Whether we like Disney's rules or not, we teach our children that rules are to be followed.

By the way, my 3 month old rode every ride (except height restricted rides) with us.

Even if your daughter doesn't like the rides, the characters are another feature of Disney. My guys loved them. I would pay the $300 just for the sheer enjoyment that it gave me to see them with the characters

 

[ducklite]

Two points and a tip:

First, Admission is for rides AND shows. I find it hard to imagine a toddler wouldn't LOVE Playhouse Disney, The Festival of the Lion King, and Beauty and the Beast, jsut to name a few.

Second: If you are going in September, everything will be a "walk-on", and you'll ride and see everything, and then do it all again.

For the "dark" rides, get them each a small penlight to carry. THe ability to have a little light in their "world" will make all the difference in the world.

Anne

 

[The Sybah Shelstah]

I would pay that amount and happily if she enjoyed the characters also.
Who are you people that have children that aren't afraid of rides and characters don't scare them!? I wanna be you. wahhhhhhhh

Truth be told, I probably just won't bring her.
I was already thinking how much easier and more enjoyable it would be for all of us if she wasn't with us (or just waiting until she was older and could enjoy the rides/etc more) but then when I made this bounce-back reservations for Sept I started thinking oh man... just before that she'll turn 3 and we'll have to pay a couple hundred dollars for her park admissions for all the days we'd go! *sigh*
So I'm thinking I need to have a talk with Auntie about keeping her that week. I really hate the idea of a 'family' trip to WDW and not bringing her- but honestly she's not going to enjoy it and I'M not going to enjoy paying so much for her not to. Yanno?

 

[Eeyore2U]

The Sybah Shelstah,

You will justify this any way you want to. I hope you didn't think you would approval here. The money you pay is for park admisison. You are not paying for rides per se. You are paying for an experience, the rides are a part of it. As are the characters and the shows.

When the big man looks in his book and see who is good and who is bad, how will he look at it? The same as the other posters. It's wrong!

 

[kidzmom3]

I feel that is in not right to lie. I also feel that the age of 3 is appropriate. Many places, begin to charge at age 2. At 3 and under everything is free, the atmosphere, rides, characters and even food at buffets. disney must begin to charge at some age, and they have chosen 3. The height is not really the issue. I believe, and I could be wrong, that they feel that at 3 years of age, a child has left their babyhood behind and begun to experience life as a child/toddler. This means that most often (not in every case) that the child will enjoy the shows, parades, fireworks, characters and rides in fuller manner. They will cognitivly be able to enjoy many more of the features that WDW provides. Even those beyond rides. I can understand your frustation, I have 1 wimpy child, so its very frustrating sometimes. It also seems unfair to wait for a child swap (sometimes). I have often planned to ride test track (using baby swap) and decided against it due to the wait my two younger ones had already endured. Good luck, try to to the right thing, and maybe you will reap a greater reward. ps try a mini flashlight on some of the rides. My wimpier child loved being able to light a small pen light when she felt apprehensive, and it really worked out great!

 

[Eeyore2U]

Originally posted by The Sybah Shelstah
I was already thinking how much easier and more enjoyable it would be for all of us if she wasn't with us (or just waiting until she was older and could enjoy the rides/etc more) but then when I made this bounce-back reservations for Sept I started thinking oh man... just before that she'll turn 3 and we'll have to pay a couple hundred dollars for her park admissions for all the days we'd go! *sigh*
So I'm thinking I need to have a talk with Auntie about keeping her that week. I really hate the idea of a 'family' trip to WDW and not bringing her- but honestly she's not going to enjoy it and I'M not going to enjoy paying so much for her not to. Yanno?

Sounds more like what's easy for you then what's right for your DD. i'm sure there will no scars but I'm sure she'll be upset when she sees the pictures of the rest family!

 

[SueM in MN]

My DD is 17 and uses a wheelchair. She can't stand or walk by herself, so any of the rides/shows where she can't go on in her wheelchair, she either can't go on or we have to lift her on and off (try lifting a 5 foot tall, 85 pound, squirmy, excited teenager a few times and you will discover muscles you didn't know existed). When she was 3, we paid for her ticket because the people who own the park had to decide an age and they decided 3 was the age where a child needs a ticket. At 3, she could go on a lot more things that she can go on now, because she was smaller and more portable and it was much easier for us to lift her on. Our future includes rides every year that are our "last ride" with her because it has become too hard to get her on. Each time they change something,(like replacing "Horizons" with "Space"), it's likely to be something she can't ride on.
So, even though we pay the full age appropriate price for her, we get to go on less and less things each year. Is that fair? No, not really, but that's how it is and we have the choice to go or not go. We think it's worth the price because we enjoy doing the things we are able to go on. If you feel like you won't get your money's worth, maybe you should wait to take your kids until they are older and you will feel like you are getting what you paid for.