This may be an unpopular question

[kdtwiss]

but, I need to ask anyway. I was wondering if you are required to show a birth certificate when purchasing park tickets?
I only ask because I have a son who is 11 and is autistic. We are planning a trip - thougfh we may not bother if they no longer offer special passes so autistic children do not have to wait- anyway - the difference betwwen a child ticket and an adult is substantial - and to be honest IF we go - my son may very well have a shut down type day and not even GO on ANY rides - we just never know. Also - the magic plus dining option is alot more expensive for adults also - and my son #1 - would not eat anything not on the kid menu - and in fact eats like a bird. All my kids do actually - I can buy one Happy Meal for three of them to split. So I guess my question is - would I likely be able to get away with buying a child park ticket and meal plan?
And - please understand I am not trying to rip anyone off _ I just literally will have no idea if he will even go on any rides untill we actually get there. AND don't feel bad for Dis that I am ripping them off - I will be purchasing a ticket for myself (and I HATE rides - scared to death) so IF I go on any rides at all it will be just to accompany my children on a kiddie ride - and we will also be purchasing a ticket for my mother - who will literally be going on "It's A Small World" and probably nothing else. I don't mind doing this at all - but I really need to be able to buy a child's ticket for my son to make this affordable/justifiable. BTW when asked how old are you my son will usually reply - 7, 8, 9, 14. Or something like that. I really hate the idea of lying - but I really feel like they should offer a discounted ticket for cases like this when there is clearly a need. i am sorry for rambling - I just don't want all of you to think I am awful -I just really want to take my son- but I don't think I could bring myself to pay so much for an adult ticket when y son may very well decide he wants to stay at the hotel pool/KWIM?

 

[ptrbryant]

Yes, you do have to pay the adult ticket price for your son. I'm one who hardly ever goes on rides, either...actually, my DH and DS8 probably just like about 5 rides in all of WDW. To be honest, I just love being in WDW---there's so much to see and do even if you don't like rides. It is NOT like your basic theme park where the rides are what it's all about. There's alot of info about taking your autistic child to WDW--check out the DISabilities forum further down on these boards. I know many families with autistic children have done so successfully with careful planning.
In terms of the meal plan, if one person is on it, then everyone in the party has to be on it. You might want to check out the menus at www.wdwig.com. Deb's got the menus (and prices) to all the WDW restaurants listed. I actually figured out where we'd normally eat, how much it would cost and it was LESS than the Dining Option would cost us. If you don't eat BIG meals, you may want to eliminate the dining option.
Hope this helps!

Karla B.

 

[sue1013]

This will be an unpopular answer since you said: I don't mind doing this at all - but I really need to be able to buy a child's ticket for my son to make this affordable/justifiable.

If the difference between a child ticket and adult ticket will make it unaffordable you should stay home. If you cannot justify the expense don't go. Don't you think the majority of people would like to have cheaper ticket prices???? But they are what they are. Its your choice whether to cheat or not. If you can justify cheating then why are you here asking the question?

 

[Selket]

No tips on the ticket but I'm thinking that you may wish to post this as well at the disAbilities board here as there seem to be many folks with autistic children who post there and routinely offer help - maybe they will have some ideas to make your trip more enjoyable.

 

[cleo]

The simple answer is No, you will not have to show a birth certificate when purchasing passes. The other answer you are likely to get is, the cut-off age for a Child's ticket is age 9 and is not based on the number of attractions guests will enjoy. This is a dilemma many people face (when pregnant, ill, injured, etc), but ultimately most decide it is the Disney experience in total that makes it worth being honest when purchasing tickets.

The dining option is not mandatory, and you may find you will save by dining at counter service. There are many excellent counter service restaurants throughout Walt Disney World, which will help avoid having to be dishonest about your son's age when considering meals. You may find this option will offset the additional cost for the correct ticket for you son, which will help make the trip feasable and enjoyable for your whole family.

 

[DisneyMomx7]

No you don't have to show a birth certificate. People might flame you but maybe they don't understand autism. My son has Asperger's syndrom (not nearly as severe) but I can understand your apprehension. Do whatever you feel comfortable with.

 

[MEM]

As the mother of a 10 year old autistic son who ADORES Walt Disney World, please let me tell you that in our experience, admission to the parks is worth ANY price! There is something about the Happiest Place on Earth that enhances the development of children with PDD-Autism. Other SpEd parents will tell you the same thing. We take an annual trip to WDW and consider it a priority in our budget. My son's condition improves markedly with each visit and his teachers notice it right away. There is something about all that positive visual and aural stimulation that works wonders. Just because you do not know what your son is thinking, or feeling, does not mean he is not getting anything out of the experience!! I do not mean to sound like I am preaching (well, maybe a little), I want you to learn from my son's very positive experience. Rather than worry about paying for his admission, you might consider how lucky you are that such a place exists. Also, Disney very generously offers guests with disabilities, including autism, a Guest Assistance Card (GAC) which allows for a reduced wait time at attractions; it is NOT a head of the line pass but it helps. Check out the disABILITIES forum for more details. There are also threads about how to visit WDW with an autistic child.

 

[kdtwiss]

As far as making it affordable/justifiable - my point was that I may enter the park with my son at 9:00 and he may want to leave at 9:02. Now I understand you pay for the experience etc. - but how would you all be able to justify spending several hunderd dollars extra when you do not even know if your child will ENTER the park. The price of the child's ticket is so much less expensive - if I have to leave and eat the ticket - so be it - but an adult ticket is just too much money to have just go to waste. Please be clear I am not saying I hould not have to pay for an adult ticket - or anything like that - just that there is a very real possibility that if we go - myself or my dh may have to leave the park with our son. Again- I don't mind eating my ticket and a child's price ticket - but no I could not afford to just completely waste 2 adult tickets.
I guess I should have posted in Disabilities and I will do so - I can not really expect anyone w/o a child with a disability to understand our situation.
thank you for the replies though I do appreciate it!

 

[Amy&Dan]

I am continually amazed sometimes by how hard nosed and harsh some people's answers are! She isn't trying to "cheat" Disneyworld! For heaven's sake she asked a logical question that mirrors a dilemma thousands of people with kids ask and think each day.

 

[MEM]

As far as making it affordable/justifiable - my point was that I may enter the park with my son at 9:00 and he may want to leave at 9:02. Now I understand you pay for the experience etc. - but how would you all be able to justify spending several hunderd dollars extra when you do not even know if your child will ENTER the park. The price of the child's ticket is so much less expensive - if I have to leave and eat the ticket - so be it - but an adult ticket is just too much money to have just go to waste. Please be clear I am not saying I hould not have to pay for an adult ticket - or anything like that - just that there is a very real possibility that if we go - myself or my dh may have to leave the park with our son. Again- I don't mind eating my ticket and a child's price ticket - but no I could not afford to just completely waste 2 adult tickets.
I guess I should have posted in Disabilities and I will do so - I can not really expect anyone w/o a child with a disability to understand our situation.
thank you for the replies though I do appreciate it!

kdtwiss, I DO understand your situation (see post above) feel free to PM me if you would like to discuss further and more privately. I understand the melt-down issue, but there are places within the park to compose your son without the need to leave at 9:02.

 

[MsLefty]

While I don't have a child with a disablilty, I can understand your concern. I think you're trying to feel justified in purchasing a child ticket for an adult (in Disney's eyes anyway). If your reasoning is that he may have to leave the parks without getting your money's worth, I guess the answer lies here: If he does stay and enjoy the park, are you going to feel like you should go back and pay the difference?

 

[kirbsam]

I didn't find any hard nosed or harsh answers. Being direct is not being harsh. Why beat around the bush? People look for justification on these boards all of the time. They need to do whatever they are comfortable doing. Her question about checking birth certificates was answered. They do not check. It sounds like others in her predicament buy the adult ticket, and probably some don't. The simple answer is to do whatever you are comfortable doing.

 

[cleo]

kdtwiss, you don't say which tickets you are purchasing, but it sounds as if you may be considering a package (with dining), or perhaps more ticket than you may actually need. Perhaps the Basic Ticket is more in line with your family's needs? The difference between an Adult 7 Day Basic Ticket and a Child's 7 Day Basic ticket is $41.45 with the advanced purchase discount.

Here is a terrific link with more information on ticket pricing and the various options with the Magic Your Way passes: http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/tickets.htm By eliminating Park Hopping (which it sounds as if you are not likely to do, as it adds a great deal more time and complexity to your day), avoiding water parks in favor of the quieter (and free!) resort pool, and choosing the 14 day expiration rather than no expiration, you should save a huge amount of money over the Magic Your Way Package with Dining.

 

[3Mousketeers]

I agree that the Disabilities forum should provide alot of helpful advice but you should also feel free to post here. I don't have a child with autism but I would certainly hope as parents we should be able offer each other advice without being rude and disrespectful. As far as your question - we went to WDW when my DS was almost 3 (2 weeks short of his birthday). I did bring his birth cert b/c I was afraid people wouldn't believe me that he was not 3 yet and obviously didn't want to pay for a ticket if I didn't have to. Granted, my son looked at least four and no one asked me for a birth certificate.
I hope you have a magical trip & please post if you need further advice.

 

[civileng68]

This will be an unpopular answer since you said: I don't mind doing this at all - but I really need to be able to buy a child's ticket for my son to make this affordable/justifiable.

If the difference between a child ticket and adult ticket will make it unaffordable you should stay home. If you cannot justify the expense don't go. Don't you think the majority of people would like to have cheaper ticket prices???? But they are what they are. Its your choice whether to cheat or not. If you can justify cheating then why are you here asking the question?

Unreal. I cannot believe you would respond like this. Some of you on these boards need to take a check before posting and think about how you sound. One day you may be in the same situation with a loved one or yourself. I have a sick wife and a response in this manner would be offensive.
Why do so many on here have to accuse everyone of "cheating" or being "inconsiderate" when simply asking a question that could be answered politely.
just as you responded with this answer. I will say "if you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all".
A response such as this would have been better off kept to yourself. It's just rude!

 

[goofy4tink]

I heartily agree with Cleo. Don't get a meal plan. My dd, 11, is a very small eater...would probably starve in WDW if it weren't for the mac and cheese!!! Use counter service more often than sit-down type meals. And buy a pass that gets you exactly what you need. If you don't need to park hop and it sounds like you don't, don't pay for it!!! Or the water parks.

Having said all this...no, I don't think anyone is trying to cheat WDW. After working with several autistic kids in the school library, I can understand your concerns. However, what happens to the poor people that buy passes, that expire and then 1/2 the family gets sick at WDW?? Just a chance you take I guess. There are so many wonderful things to see/hear at WDW that we just love to walk around and take it all in. The free shows are terrific, the street performers wonderful.

I'm sorry you have to deal with this. There but for the grace of God go I, so to speak. Try juggling things around again and see what you can come up with. Maybe the good folks on the disabilities board will have some insights for you. Best of luck.

 

[5dizneynutz]

Boy, some people think they're holier than thou don't they. I can see your point and no, they don't ask for a birth certificate and if you son looks younger than he is, go for it. About the dining, my children are very picky eaters and some buffet meals I knew they would only eat in the kids section. The last time we went in 2003, my oldest was 13 and we asked our server at the Crystal Palace (lunch) and 1900 Park Fare (dinner) if we could pay the childs price for her since there was no way she would eat anything in the regular section. They had no problem with this and were very accomodating. We did not do this for any character breakfasts since it is basically the same menu. So just ask, I'm sure they'll say yes. Have a great time!

 

[SandrainNC]

I had a similar situation when we planned this past trip. My son has Down syndrome and he was 3 when we visited. I knew he would not be able to enjoy WDW the same as a "normal" 3 year old. And he was a premie and very small for his age so I knew he would pass for younger. But I wasn't going to lie, so we bought him a 3-9 year old ticket because he was 3. I checked with WDW to see if there were discounts and there were none so I really just had to decide whether I was going to be honest or not. The same with restaurants. I paid for his buffets. I did, however, skip any dinner shows because I wasn't paying $25 for him to eat a couple of french fries.

Sandra

 

[kdtwiss]

Hi thanks - yes the extra $40 is not much more. We were actually planning on the 4 day Magic plus ticket (my ds loves water so we think the water parks will be a hit with him at least. The extra $25 a day more for the dining option adds another $100. I know to most of you an extra $150 is nothing - but to our family it is. As far as dropping the dining option - I don't think it would be a good idea - I really need that stuff to be accounted and budgeted for - don't want to run out of money on the third day! I understand some of you may be offended at what I am asking - but I do appreciate the answers. I would not even ask this question about a child without a disability - but my ds does have a disability and that changes everything we do and how we approach everything. I can not tell you how many times I have paid lots of $ for an outing only to have it fall apart. There is no difference experience wise between what a 9 year old will/can experience as opposed to a 10 year old -but there is a difference if your child is 11, but really only about 5 developmentally. KWIM?


As far as the meal plan goes - maybe the cs rep I spoke with gave me incorrect info. I was told the magic plus dining option would be $35 a day per adult and $10 a day per child and that it would include - 1 sit down rest or counter serv rest. one breakfast and one snack. If that is the case it seems to be well worth it for the children - I would imagine I would be paying $10 per meal per child at least. i am really hoping the info they gave me was correct! Anyone know?

 

[JJsmama]

I don't know any answers, but I understand your dilemma. I was wondering, if your son does go in and want to leave immediately, is there any chance WDW would give a refund with a receipt? Especially if you had just bought the ticket that morning?

Also, perhaps you should not buy his ticket in advance as a multiday but buy him a one day and see how he does the first time?

Hearing the other parents of autistics say it was a wonderful experience for their kids, plan for the best. Perhaps prepare him by letting him watch the planning DVD. It's great. That's how I prepare my 4 yr old for new experiences.