Unhappy Kids Because of Age Limits :/ Update

[tink'smom2B]

So, my 11 y/o daughter want to go to the My Disney Girl Perfectly Princess Tea party with her cousins, but when I tried to pay for it, she is charged as an adult. Why do they have to have an age limit? After all, if the girl is still a kid at heart, why not? Then, my 14 y/o daughter wants to go on the Pirate Cruise with a bunch of the younger cousins. The age cutoff for that is 12. I should mention this is a grand gathering with lots of kids going. Should I call and try to make the reservations anyway?

I called dining and the ages for My Disney Girl Princess Tea Party is 4-11, so DD and I can go. Unfortunately, DD14 is not allowed on the Pirate Adventure and will be too old to join in any of the cousin activities.

 

[DisneyFansInNYC]

I would call - I can't imagine if you are going to pay for her why they would say no. Especially if there is a lot of family going.

 

[smitch425]

So, my 11 y/o daughter want to go to the My Disney Girl Perfectly Princess Tea party with her cousins, but when I tried to pay for it, she is charged as an adult. Why do they have to have an age limit? After all, if the girl is still a kid at heart, why not? Then, my 14 y/o daughter wants to go on the Pirate Cruise with a bunch of the younger cousins. The age cutoff for that is 12. I should mention this is a grand gathering with lots of kids going. Should I call and try to make the reservations anyway?

They are firm with age limits. Everyone is a kid at heart when it comes to Disney. They had to make a limit somewhere, and no matter what age they choose, it will accommodate or please everyone. Perhaps you could book the pirates and pals cruise for the whole family. It is a great event, and well worth the money. Good luck.

 

[tink'smom2B]

Well, what is magical for a preteen in Disneyworld?

 

[smitch425]

Well, what is magical for a preteen in Disneyworld?

Pirates League is fun, and unlike BBB (only for ages 3-12), everyone age 3 and up can participate. DD (11) did the mermaid look, but lots of girls do the pirate offerings, too.

 

[mrsp1030]

I think the pirates and pals cruise sounds fun also. I will admit that I'm with you on the age limit. I think charging an 11 year old adult prices is ridiculous, can't they at least wait till they are teenagers to raise the price!!!

 

[bumbershoot]

The princess tea thing sounds pretty LITTLE girly from all descriptions I've read.

Why not take her to the tea room when it's "normal"? No dolls given, but it's a lovely time and very grownup and fancy-feeling (even though half the people in the room will be wearing park clothes).

 

[Schmeck]

So, my 11 y/o daughter want to go to the My Disney Girl Perfectly Princess Tea party with her cousins, but when I tried to pay for it, she is charged as an adult. Why do they have to have an age limit? After all, if the girl is still a kid at heart, why not? Then, my 14 y/o daughter wants to go on the Pirate Cruise with a bunch of the younger cousins. The age cutoff for that is 12. I should mention this is a grand gathering with lots of kids going. Should I call and try to make the reservations anyway?

They have an age limit because otherwise it would be full of adults and people would be on here complaining that they couldn't get reservations for their young children.

 

[tink'smom2B]

You are probably right about it filling up with adults I would go! To me Disney is a place to escape the real world. At our house, kids are kids for a long time. We have longevity in our bloodline and really, you are a grownup for a long, long time. So, IMO, an 11 y/o should still be a young age. My daughter has American Girl dolls and she still plays with them. They are all over her room and she loves them. She is still a little princess in her heart. We're DVC members, so have gone since they were babies. In past years I didn't feel like I could pay that price. But, I felt like this was the last year we could do this together, then realized Disney wouldn't allow it. I know our society pushes girls to grow up like Hannah Montana, but at Disney, a young girl should be able to be a little princess at 11 years old!

 

[tink'smom2B]

Maybe I should also mention that even though my kids are 11 and 14, they are very petite. They don't look or act their age. Geez, my grandma lived to be 100 and my mother is 90. Why do they have to grow up at 11?

 

[aaarcher86]

They have an age limit because otherwise it would be full of adults and people would be on here complaining that they couldn't get reservations for their young children.

So much this. I'm still amazed grown women are petitioning for no age limits at BBB.

 

[MatoMany]

Im thinking that with the tea its also to keep a more narrow age participating. Its hard to design an activity that would be suitable from 3 to 13. From what Ive read the tea is pretty much designed for young like 4-6 so limiting the age makes it so people don't complain it was "boring" for their 12 yo. Unfortunately not every activity can be designed for a long range of ages.

BTW, I totally agree that 11 is still a child.. I plan on having my children be children for as long as possible. There is a long time to be an adult, childhood is just a small amount of your total life. Might as well enjoy it.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

I would call - I can't imagine if you are going to pay for her why they would say no. Especially if there is a lot of family going.

This doesn't even make sense. What difference does it make if lots of family members are going or you're willing to pay? Following this logic, if I'm going to WDW with a lot of kids, why shouldn't I be able to chose to pay a child admission fee?

The age limits exist for a reason.

 

[jcano]

Im thinking that with the tea its also to keep a more narrow age participating. Its hard to design an activity that would be suitable from 3 to 13. From what Ive read the tea is pretty much designed for young like 4-6 so limiting the age makes it so people don't complain it was "boring" for their 12 yo. Unfortunately not every activity can be designed for a long range of ages. BTW, I totally agree that 11 is still a child.. I plan on having my children be children for as long as possible. There is a long time to be an adult, childhood is just a small amount of your total life. Might as well enjoy it.

Agreed.
I took our 9 year old, and she rolled her eyes the entire time. And she's not the 9 going on 16 type.

 

[tink'smom2B]

This doesn't even make sense. What difference does it make if lots of family members are going or you're willing to pay? Following this logic, if I'm going to WDW with a lot of kids, why shouldn't I be able to chose to pay a child admission fee?

The age limits exist for a reason.

Well, in this case, the price is what caught my attention in the first place. I can book the reservation, but she is charged the adult price $79.24. The child price is $167.24 because a child gets a doll as part of the tea. Disney has no problem letting me book the reservation for 2 adults. But, she wants a doll and to be treated like a princess. I guess maybe I should book it as two adults and just see how uncomfortable everyone there gets when she wants a doll

 

[tink'smom2B]

Agreed.
I took our 9 year old, and she rolled her eyes the entire time. And she's not the 9 going on 16 type.

If you did the research and showed your daughter what it was all about, and she still wanted to go, why was she rolling her eyes?

 

[smitch425]

If you did the research and showed your daughter what it was all about, and she still wanted to go, why was she rolling her eyes?

Just because it looks like it will be awesome does not mean it will be. You can research everything, hear rave reviews, be so excited to do it, and then it turns out to be a snoozefest.

 

[mm1971]

So, my 11 y/o daughter want to go to the My Disney Girl Perfectly Princess Tea party with her cousins, but when I tried to pay for it, she is charged as an adult. Why do they have to have an age limit? After all, if the girl is still a kid at heart, why not? Then, my 14 y/o daughter wants to go on the Pirate Cruise with a bunch of the younger cousins. The age cutoff for that is 12. I should mention this is a grand gathering with lots of kids going. Should I call and try to make the reservations anyway?

Age 10 makes your child an adult at Disney. The complaints and negative posts regarding this are plenty. It's just the way it is unfortunately. While we all know it makes little sense to treat a 10 year old as an adult, I'm sure it has more to do with what a 10 year old can do vs. a younger child.

As far as the Pirate Cruise, I would call and explain the situation. I'm sure they would be OK with it, especially since all the other children will be going.

 

[ajwolfe]

My boys did the pirate cruise last year (ages 9 and 5 at the time) and when I asked them if they wanted to do it again this year my oldest was quick to say no. At 9, he was the oldest on the boat last year and I think he felt a little out of place with it, so he definitely doesn't want to do it at 10.
If it was me, I wouldn't force the age limits as it sounds like it might be for younger kiddos.

 

[Gracie09]

Age 10 makes your child an adult at Disney. The complaints and negative posts regarding this are plenty. It's just the way it is unfortunately. While we all know it makes little sense to treat a 10 year old as an adult, I'm sure it has more to do with what a 10 year old can do vs. a younger child.

As far as the Pirate Cruise, I would call and explain the situation. I'm sure they would be OK with it, especially since all the other children will be going.

I would not expect them to make an exception even with an explanation. They don't for bbb. There is a huge difference between a 5 year old and a 14 year old. I can't imagine much that would appeal to both.