Which ticket for a 9 yr old (turning 10 before we get there)?

[pumpkinboy]

Not sure if this is a "Strategies" board or a "Budget Board" question, so dear moderator, please transfer if you deem it appropriate.

We are pondering taking my niece to WDW with us in April '05. Now she is 9 right now, and we were going to give her a 5 day PH for her birthday, which is coming up 12/31/04. Now, I want to play by the rules. She will be 9 when we buy her the pass, but 10 by the time we activate it (giving Disney the money to hold on to for 4 months). Can I legitimately buy her a "child's" ticket? Or should I just suck it up and pay full freight?

Any ideas?

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

Sorry...I think you already know the answer to this one as far as what the "right" thing to do is. Warning: there was a pretty recent thread on this concerning whether or not to buy a ticket for a child that was turning three right before the family trip. Things got pretty ugly both in favor and against sneaking the kid in without a ticket. Get out the flame retardant.

 

[FINFAN]

Well, I guess another option is to buy the age 9 ticket now, and then be honest at the time of the trip, tell guest relations and pay the increase then, that way you still have the $ until the trip, not WDW. I would do that, my kids are old enough to know the age cuts and I would sleep at night. Enjoy your trip, what a lucky girl to have an Aunt do this for her!

Pam

 

[tjmw2727]

If the child were 9 and the beginning of the trip and turned 10 during the trip then you could use the child PHP and have it upgraded after the birthday. If a child uses 1/2 of the pass this year and returns next year having turned 10 they will again upgrade the pass at no additional cost.

Since the child will be 10 at the start of the vacation and the admission price is clearly for 3-9 or 10 and over you need the adult pass. Disney will check the dates and you will have to pay the difference since the PHP will not have been used.

If its a matter of giving the gift at Christmas and not wanting to let Disney "earn the interest" perhaps you can make a gift card for her. I imagine lots of the clipart or or cardmaker programs would have some cute stuff! A 9/10 yo can certainly understand that your (generous) gift is the Disney pass without actually having the card in hand.

HTH
TJ

 

[pumpkinboy]

Originally posted by calypso*a*go-go
Sorry...I think you already know the answer to this one as far as what the "right" thing to do is. ...

Thx for the input folks. My old pal and fellow DVCer in Washington State confirmed my suspicions (you're right, calypso, I kinda already knew, but wanted outside confirmation).

tjmw2727: just before your post I had been on the Disney site, and you are right, it's pretty clear.

Finfan: Great idea! I was thinking about how to present it, pehaps to pick up some maps of the parks and brochures for AKL and BWV, where we will be staying, and simply remarking "oh yeah, Juliette, those will come in handy when we take you with us in April. Perhaps we should pick her up a tee shirt when we're down in November, too.

The background here is that my DS and BIL like to take strenuous vacations, and to stay in fairly primitive hotels. Plus they tend to hop about at breakneck pace. This girl and her sister have now been to Portugal, France, Switzerland, Germany, Dominican Republic, Panama, St. Lucia, Costa Rica and of course Mexico (but down in Oaxaca, where the Grandparents like to go). While Julie's older sister like all this strenuous travel, miss Juliette has proclaimed that she would rather take vacations like her redheaded cousins: going to WDW (or VB), staying in really nice hotels, swimming in the pool, having nice dinners and going to theme parks. In our family, redheaded DS (now aged 6) is wheelchair bound, meaning that strenuous travel is not realistic, even if we wanted to; and since WDW was the first vacation he didn't hate (in fact he was all smiles all the time) we bought DVC and will be coming back every year, 4 times in 2005. Our younger child, redheaded and 4 yr old DD adores her big girl cousin. Since my niece has been dropping hints for several months now, we thought this would be a really great surprise at her New Year's Eve birthday.

(BTW, DS is the real Pumpkinboy: he is redheaded, born in late October and because of low tone he was always a very round little boy when he was a baby. Since he has started to lose his baby teeth, he is looking more pumpkin-like when he smiles - and he does that a lot when we plan WDW trips)

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

DS sounds like a real cutie and we have something in common as I smile a lot when I've got a trip to WDW in the works as well.

It's wonderful that your niece has had the opportunity to see so many countries but I bet they will pale in comparison to the "World" you're going to show her (afterall, she's just a kid!).

 

[WDSearcher]

Originally posted by pumpkinboy
Can I legitimately buy her a "child's" ticket? Or should I just suck it up and pay full freight?

No, you cannot legitimately buy her a child's ticket. If she is ten years old the day she first walks through the gates and the pass is activated, then she needs a full-freight pass. Sorry!

 

[pumpkinboy]

Originally posted by calypso*a*go-go
It's wonderful that your niece has had the opportunity to see so many countries but I bet they will pale in comparison to the "World" you're going to show her (afterall, she's just a kid!).

Yeah, I had to convince DW that we should take my niece this year, before she starts getting jaded like her big sister. (well, actually I was sneaky, and made DW think it was her idea ) It looks like I left out a couple of countries in my litany of places BIL takes their family (but never actually sees anything bcs they are always moving), last year they went to Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia, bcs they were cheap after the SARS scare - my niece liked the nicer hotels, mainly the pools and not much else. So WDW is a natural for her right now, I expect. DSis is excited and needs to convince her rather difficult hubby (and you wonder why the older one is jaded) to take care of the niece Juliette's plane fare and spending money. We and my parents are covering room, food and passes. I am really hoping this works as we expect this will be a really memorable special time for my niece, and our DD would be thrilled!

I wonder what if she were to activate a child's PH for one day this fall when DSis & family will be in the area (the rest of the family could get one-day one-park passes). Since the PH would have been activated by my niece prior to her 10th birthday, she would be good to go with her child's pass when she came back in April. I doubt if I can convince DSis to "subect her family" to a WDW visit tho, so probably a moot point.

 

[WDSearcher]

Originally posted by pumpkinboy
I wonder what if she were to activate a child's PH for one day this fall when DSis & family will be in the area (the rest of the family could get one-day one-park passes). Since the PH would have been activated by my niece prior to her 10th birthday, she would be good to go with her child's pass when she came back in April.

Yes, that would "technically" be fine, although you'd have your sister, BIL, and the other daughter shelling out $174 ($58 a piece for one-day/one-park tickets), so that you can save $50 on a child's 5-day PH pass, and that hardly seems fair. Not to mention that your niece will have to use up a day on her pass to do that. And if you're going to advocate that, why not just buy her an adult 4-day PH pass for Christmas instead? You'll save nearly the same amount, and you won't have to talk your sis's family into a trip to WDW they apparently won't want to take.

 

[laceemouse]

Pumpkinboy, we would love to see a picture of your redheaded cuties and sweet neice enjoying themselves at WDW sometime! We have 4 kids and 2 of them, 13 and 11, already require the adult tickets so I know how pricey it is! Our son is a big 9 year old and will turn 10 next spring before we finish our current 7 day PHP tickets so we will have to do the upgrade for free thing (we have already used 3 days and will use 1 more and a plus in October!) We, all 6 of us, got the 7 day PHPs in our stockings from Santa last year!!! Have fun planning all you trips, we love our DVC too......Lacee

 

[pumpkinboy]

Originally posted by WDSearcher
Yes, that would "technically" be fine, although you'd have your sister, BIL, and the other daughter shelling out $174 ($58 a piece for one-day/one-park tickets), so that you can save $50 on a child's 5-day PH pass, and that hardly seems fair. Not to mention that your niece will have to use up a day on her pass to do that. And if you're going to advocate that, why not just buy her an adult 4-day PH pass for Christmas instead? You'll save nearly the same amount, and you won't have to talk your sis's family into a trip to WDW they apparently won't want to take.

WDSearcher, you are exactly right there; I was thinking she might go with her other Grandma (who is chipping in on the ticket). I think we are gonna need a 6 day pass anyways, unless she uses up the remains of other family members' old PHs.

Originally posted by WDSearcher
Pumpkinboy, we would love to see a picture of your redheaded cuties and sweet neice enjoying themselves at WDW sometime! We have 4 kids and 2 of them, 13 and 11, already require the adult tickets so I know how pricey it is! Our son is a big 9 year old and will turn 10 next spring before we finish our current 7 day PHP tickets so we will have to do the upgrade for free thing (we have already used 3 days and will use 1 more and a plus in October!) We, all 6 of us, got the 7 day PHPs in our stockings from Santa last year!!! Have fun planning all you trips, we love our DVC too......Lacee

Laceemouse: I'll see about getting a kid pic up in my signature line some time. They are both very cute. And when we take the non-redheaded niece along, I expect my folks (the Grandparents) are going to be shutterbugs, so perhaps I can post one of the three of them.

As for your now 9 yr old having to upgrade passes, I was making ressies today for the AKL weekend of our April trip, and asked about this.
The CM on the phone informed me that as long as the pass (in your case the 7 day PHP) is activated (first used) prior to the child's tenth birthday, the child may continue to use it - even if (heaven forbid) you don't go back until he is 11 or 12. How about them apples? So, yeah, buy him a new one for Xmas, but use the current one up by all means, as it is within both the letter and spirit of Disney's ticket regulations, at least according to this CM. Won't work for my niece tho unless she goes this fall with her other Grnadma.

 

[JESW]

pumpkinboy....I have no input for your post but just wanted to say that it was cool to see someone from Newton, MA! I was born in the Waltham hospital and lived a bit of my life in W.Newton near the Waltham line - near Moody Street. Small world...

Jill

P.S. If you are going during April vacation we will be there that time too - on a land/sea package. Our spring break time isn't too bad down in Florida as we went this year and the crowds were very manageable.

 

[pumpkinboy]

Jill; Yeah, we're just over a mile from your former abode. We are over by N-W Hospital and the Woodland T stop. And have you been on Moody Street recently? Wow! When we can get a babysitter, we most often head one of the great restaurants in Waltham (a big change from when my little brother was at Brandeis back in the 80s).
As for April, we are really looking forward to it. Fortunately for us New Englanders with kids in the public schools, April break is a couple of weeks removed from Easter, so the crowds might be expected to be lower (even lower than last year, with any luck). Looks like you fly down on the Sunday of that week, while we're playing hooky one day and heading on Friday morning (shhhh, don't tell). So on the land portion (where are you staying for that part, BTW?), look for a family with two redheaded kids and a redheaded daddy (your's truly) where the 7 yr old is wheelchair-bound - we're hard to miss.

 

[JESW]

Ahhh..the T! I used to go into Boston from Riverside all the time! Now we take the train out of Franklin.

I remember Moody Street...but not fondly. When I was young my Mom & I would take the bus there and I HATED Grover Cronin's and waiting for Mom to finish shopping. If I was good I got an ice cream cone (25 cents) at Liggetts. Also got to walk around Mr. Big Toy Store...but that was a loooong time ago! We still used to go to Ritcey's to eat up until a few years ago. Also used to love Jack's little store - which was across the street from the playground next to Burger King.

As for Disney...the first night in April (sat) we will be at the Polynesian...then the 4 night cruise...then 3 nights at the Yacht Club (which may change to the Boardwalk since we are doing the YC in November)

Looks like we are there the same time in November, too. We leave on the 13th and go back the 21st. Taking the two kids (5 and then 10) out of school for the week (sshhh!). They have two half-days that week so we have done this since 2000. GREAT time to go!! Very manageable...lines are short..but the weather can be cool. We fly Delta SONG and really like it - the screen on the back of the seat in front of you is great for the kids - and Mom!

We'll look for the redheads! How old is your other child? DS will be 10 in November (the 11th) and DD is 5..

Jill

 

[pumpkinboy]

An update: Here is what the Grandparents and DW & I decided on here. We're gonna take FINFAN's suggestion and get a child's 5 day PH to present to her on her birthday, and then tell the CMs about the age discrepancy when she first uses it, and upgrade it to an Adult ticket. (and as a Disney stockholder, I encourage everyone else to do this too )

JESW: our DD will be turning 5 two days before we head out, but we're flying home on 11/15. We'll have more overlap on the April break, I imagine. We own DVC at BWV, and will be getting APs in November; so we have roughly 20 park days planned on these APs, including the 6 with my niece (I really hope her parents don't choke on the cost of airfare during April vacation, bcs it would be so special for my niece and my DD). So we will be right across the lake from you.

 

[GoodFairies]

Why wouldn't you just get the correct ticket now? Why would you want to waste time standing in a line when you don't have to? You are giving yourself extra work to do.

 

[Disney1fan2002]

If the child were 9 and the beginning of the trip and turned 10 during the trip then you could use the child PHP and have it upgraded after the birthday.

I don't believe this is true. I know that a child who is two on the first day of a WDW vacation, but turns 3 somewhere during the vacation, does not need a pass. Those parents do not have to go and buy a pass for the now 3yr old mid-vacation. Tickets are issued based on the age you are the first day. That is the age they will consider you for the rest of your stay. So if the 3years olds are not running to buy tickets, why would a 9 year old have to change passes? The OP has a child who will be 10 the 1st day of the vacation, thus they should get the 10 yr old an adult pass. Now, if the girl was turning 10 on day 3 of the vacation, her child pass should be good for the whole trip.

 

[Disney1fan2002]

Originally posted by GoodFairies
Why wouldn't you just get the correct ticket now? Why would you want to waste line standing in a line when you don't have to? You are giving yourself extra work to do.

I agree! We had passes left over from our Disney trip a couple of years ago, but my youngest at the time was under 3, so I had to stand in line to buy him a pass, because he is now 4. Grrrrrrr, I was cursing myself the whole time for not getting it before we left home. It is so frustrating to be standing in that line, while you are watching everyone else head into the park.

I vote for just buying her the adult pass, you know she is going to need it, why bother with a child pass at all?

 

[WDSearcher]

I vote for just buying her the adult pass, you know she is going to need it, why bother with a child pass at all?

I totally agree with this!

Unless the OP is hoping that they will go to the Guest Services window and explain the situation, only to have the CM say, "Oh ... never mind ... she can use the child's pass. Have fun!"

I can pretty much guarantee you that it won't happen. You'll be standing in line, after which you'll be forking over the $$ to upgrade the pass.

If it's a matter of cash flow and not having the money right now to purchase the five-day adult pass, and you just want to have the actual pass to present to the "birthday girl," that's understandable, I suppose, but that's the only reason I can see for buying a kids pass for a 10-year-old.

 

[tjmw2727]

Originally posted by Disney1fan2002
I don't believe this is true. I know that a child who is two on the first day of a WDW vacation, but turns 3 somewhere during the vacation, does not need a pass. Those parents do not have to go and buy a pass for the now 3yr old mid-vacation. Tickets are issued based on the age you are the first day. That is the age they will consider you for the rest of your stay. So if the 3years olds are not running to buy tickets, why would a 9 year old have to change passes? The OP has a child who will be 10 the 1st day of the vacation, thus they should get the 10 yr old an adult pass. Now, if the girl was turning 10 on day 3 of the vacation, her child pass should be good for the whole trip.

I think you misunderstood and misquoted me - my entire paragraph is as follows:
"If the child were 9 and the beginning of the trip and turned 10 during the trip then you could use the child PHP and have it upgraded after the birthday. If a child uses 1/2 of the pass this year and returns next year having turned 10 they will again upgrade the pass at no additional cost."

I know they will in fact upgrade a childs PH, PHP or AP for no additional charge why not take 5 minutes and do it? If they were 9 at first use and turn 10 prior to the last use even if its during the same trip its still no additional cost.

The reason I did it was because a 10yo can obviously read the pass and knows they are 10 and should have a 10+ pass. The part that was you omitted is that Disney does not charge to upgrade the pass from the child to adult pass. They simply take the child pass and re-issue it as an adult pass with the same number of admissions days and or plus options as the child pass had.

fwiw I agree that if the child is 10 at the start of the vacation an adult pass is in order. However I do think that even though you would probably never be questioned if a 9yo turns 10 - why not take a minute and upgrade it.

It literally took us 5 mintues to do this at Guest Relations outside of Epcot in April. The child must be with you and the dates must make sense.

Hope this clarifies my post.
TJ