Should I prepare for a problem?

[DVCJones]

My DD2 is really tall for her age. She talks really well and appears older than she is.Nobody believes me that she is a young 2. On our next trip in April she will still be 2. We will be checking out the day before her 3rd birthday. I can only imagine that she will be a lot bigger and talking even more clearly by then. She likes to eat. more than her 4 yo sis. Do you think I will catch flack or get the hairy eyeball.

Also, I was hoping to celebrate her birthday on the last day, as we will be on the road for the her entire birthday driving home. Any ideas on how to do that.

I guess I fear having to explain my large child on the whole trip at every meal and park entry.

Has anyone had an experience with this? I hate feeling like I am doing something wrong, even though I know I'm not.

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

Don't worry about it. My son was 2 and well over 40 inches and talking in full sentences. None of the CM's batted an eye. No one will ask you.

 

[Cruz91]

I just posted this on another thread a couple of days ago... We were in a very similar situation. My DS2 was (still is) huge for his age. He's easily 6" taller than the next kid in any of his peer classes (swimming, soccer, preschool, etc). Anyway - I took a copy of his birth cert with me when we went last time and I was never once asked. In fact, when we went to the Crystal Palace for dinner, I told them he was only two but he ate more than his sister (who was 4), and the CM's said the rule's the rule - he doesn't pay regardless of what he eats. Don't worry about it.

To give you some scale, DS was something like 42 - 43" tall at two yrs old.

 

[moosemom]

I 'third' the response - I've been with some big looking two [nearly three] year olds . . . and no one EVER asked me anything

I think that they must figure the bad 'feeling' engendered by grilling parents of taller kids is far more damaging than the cost of letting a few cheats, well, cheat

 

[Mouse House Mama]

Well as the parent of children who are very tall I can tell you that they probably won't bother you. When my oldest DS was 2 CM's did engage him at the gate. They talked etc. Of course my DS at the time insisted that he was 49 and would insist it was true no matter what. The CM's thought it was funny and never gave us a problem. Don't worry about it. They won't even bother you.

 

[Micka Mouse]

I told them he was only two but he ate more than his sister (who was 4), and the CM's said the rule's the rule - he doesn't pay regardless of what he eats.

 

[DVCLiz]

Just prepare something funny to say and use it only when you have to. If a CM asks you, just say, "He'll be three next Thursday, and we're hoping he'll slow down or he'll be Paul Bunyan by the time he goes to first grade." Say it with a smile, and if they challenge you, which they probably won't, just be polite and say again he'll be three next Thursday.

Be aware that they often bypass the parents entirely and ask the kid. Make sure he knows how old he is and can hold up 2 fingers.

Having said all that, I really don't think you'll have a problem. As most other posters have said, no one really asks.

 

[teacherforhi]

My niece is extremely tall for her age. When we took her the first time, she had just turned two, but looked four. My sister got a small copy of her birth certificate to carry with her, so that if anyone asked she could whip it out. No one ever questioned her, though.

 

[Ellester]

My son was 2y10m and 42" when we went last January. We never had any problems. We were asked at buffets how old he was but they didn't blink when we said 2. If you have the truth on your side you'll be fine!

 

[WDWorBUST]

No worries - you might make a small copy of the birth certificate for your comfort - but you shouldn't need it. We took DD just a couple of months shy of 3 and no problems whatsoever....I did have the opposite problem though. I went with a friend who is a store manager so her and her guests get free admission. We were at MGM and getting our tickets so that we could split up later in the day if we wanted to and for fastpass and the CM at the turnstile was trying to tell me that DD didn't need a ticket at age 3 anyway. Talk about frustrating! I had to politely tell him that admission started being charged at age 3 and she did indeed need a ticket because if we were to enter the park later I was not going to lie about her age. Our September trip coming up will be her first trip that I have to actually "pay" for tickets and it hurts a little since we managed to get a number of trips in while she was still free....but the rules are the rules.....now if only the CM at the gate knows them

 

[DawnM]

Man you guys have tall kids!

My kids didn't get to 40" until age 4, almost 5. My 3rd son is 3.5 years old and 38" and he is the tallest yet! And he is my son from China! Go figure!

Dawn

 

[Mouse House Mama]

Man you guys have tall kids!

My kids didn't get to 40" until age 4, almost 5. My 3rd son is 3.5 years old and 38" and he is the tallest yet! And he is my son from China! Go figure!

Dawn

Yes, we grow them pretty big over here!

 

[reginaastralis]

I have the peanut of the group, my daughter looks 18mtns, but is really 2 1/2. The last time we went, a CM asked how old and Julie proudly exclaimed "Free!" (3) ... I felt like a huge cheater ... muttered something along the lines of "No, really she's two" and on we went.

This was 20 years ago, but my parents and their friends all took us to Disney. Heather and I were two, I looked two, she looked 4 ... her parents got questioned at each gate, where they whipped out a small copy of her birth certificate. This people grow GIANTS, so when they took their younger son the next year ... the almost bought the kids tickets to just get them in. It was a hassle. Of course, 20 yrs have passed, and it seems like the CM's are a bit more laxed.

 

[LisaInNc]

If you are flying you will want a copy of her birth certificate. When my DD was 3 weeks shy of her 3rd birthday we went to WDW. Southwest would not let us get on the plane until they verified how old she was. I didn't have any proof so they called the hospital where she was born at 6am! I was shocked anyone answered but the verified that she was born when I said she was.

At WDW no one said anything except in restaurants and they just asked how old she was. Never asked for proof or challenged me in any way.

Now I always have a small copy of her birth certificate with me I got it from my town hall it is a litle laminated certified copy about the size of a credit card.

Lisa

 

[tnkr_bell]

My just turned 4yr old is the same height as the 5 1/2 year next door. The neighbor kid is pretty small for her age, but that just shows you that they come in all different heights.

If you're 2yr old is talking as good as you say then try and have them memorize their name, age and birthdate. All good information for her to know and if anybody asks she can speak for herself.

Have a great trip.

 

[HLAuburn]

If you are flying you will want a copy of her birth certificate. When my DD was 3 weeks shy of her 3rd birthday we went to WDW. Southwest would not let us get on the plane until they verified how old she was. I didn't have any proof so they called the hospital where she was born at 6am! I was shocked anyone answered but the verified that she was born when I said she was.

That is crazy - calling the hospital?! I'm surprised they'd give that info over the phone anyway. Why did they need to verify your DDs age? I thought you had to buy a seat for 2 and over.