Would you claim your 3 year old was 2?

[MyZoeJane]

I posted this in the resorts forum, but then I realized I might have better responses from people who actually have small children, so I'm posting it here, too:

Okay, hear me out... I'm not asking for a butt whoopin' here... just some positive feedback (well, even negative feedback is welcome, just no cut downs!)

My daughter turns 3 in December so she will no longer get free admission to the parks. Fair enough. I would never try to cheat Disney out of park admission by sneaking her in as still 2. I'll gladly pay her park admission...

However, I do NOT want her forced onto the dining plan. I will either share with her, or pay OOP for her meals. But I DO want the DDP for my mom and I when we go in May '07. The three of us will be sharing a room. If I am truthful and claim my daughter as 3, I will be forced to buy her tickets and the DDP, neither of which I want to do. I have unused tickets already that I want to upgrade to use for her admission. And my daughter eats like a BIRD.... The DDP would be such a collosal waste it would be insane for me to put her on it.

If I claim my daughter as 2 on the reservation, so she wont be forced into tickets and the DDP, but I still pay for her admission to the parks...

Am I doing something evil that is worth condemning? Does it really matter? Is Disney out any money? It's my understanding that room rates are based on double occupancy, so they wouldn't be out money for hotel if I claim her as 2 as opposed to 3, would they?

I refuse to be forced into putting her on the DDP. And I do not want to forego being on the DDP myself simply because my daughter wont eat the food...

Thoughts?

 

[wrldpossibility]

IMO, no, you shouldn't do that. Simple as that.

Also, if you're getting the DDP for everyone else, I'm assuming you're getting a package, so how are you paying for DD's park tickets? If you claim she's 2 on the package, you won't be paying for her park tickets. How do you explain that you'd LIKE to pay for a 2 yo's tickets? Just doesn't make sense.

I understand you're saying your DD is a light eater, but it's only $10 a day to be on the "up and up" about it. You're really willing to lie for only $10 a day?I'm sure we'd all like to tweak something or another on our packages to still get the things we want but not pay for what we don't. That's why there are so many discussions about whether to get the DDP or not, or get a package or not. You have to weigh the pros and cons and CHOOSE, like everyone else.

Since you asked, that's my opinion. I have a feeling I won't be alone. Sorry.

EDITED TO ADD: I just reread your post again, and understand the part about the park tickets now. That's my bad. It makes more sense. But I still say you need to decide whether to use the unused tickets for her and NOT get the DDP for anyone, or save those tickets and go with the DDP for everyone.

 

[TAKitty]

I wouldn't either. At 11.00 a day for the kid's dining plan, it isn't worth it. You can always use the food for yourself.

 

[beattyfamily]

Sounds like the DDP isn't right for your family situation at this time. It isn't right for everyone, my family included. My DD just turned 10. I don't feel its worth it to pay an adult DDP for my 10 year old so I just don't buy the plan at this time. I don't lie and say she's 9 to avoid this though. That wouldn't be right for so many reasons.

The DDP is not a right, but an option for some people.

IMHO, $11 for a 3 year old a day is a bargain.

If you don't want negative responses, then don't post this kind of etical question as you will get both the negative and positive responses; that's just the way it is on a public board.

 

[Desnik]

I think what the OP is saying is that she already will have park tickets for her 3 year old. How is anyone going to know that she used a ticket to get her DD in and then didn't pay for the DDP for her?
I totally understand what you are saying, OP, but would I do it, no. Then again on our May trip when buying passes, no one believed DS was older than 2! I had to convince the CM he was and was buying him an AP, I'm just honest!LOL Anyway, what would be the big deal to just not get the DDP? On the other hand what is the big deal spending $11 a day for your 3yo. You will probably spend more than that in a day paying out of pocket!

 

[MyZoeJane]

It isn't just the DDP... it's the tickets. I've got hundreds of dollars worth of tickets to use for her. And... if I pay OOP for what food she DOES eat, how exactly does Disney lose out? I've paid for her food. I've paid for her tickets and they aren't losing anything on hotel when I'm already paying full price for that, too.

I still fail to see the ethical wrongdoing here, you know? Help me see as more than just "It's Disney, so you MUST follow Disney rules"... My parents taught me that blindly following the rules is not a reflection of good character or intelligence.

I want a reason OTHER than blindly following the rules... which, in this case, I feel don't make sense at ALL! I'm paying for everything she is doing!

 

[MyZoeJane]

I think what the OP is saying is that she already will have park tickets for her 3 year old. How is anyone going to know that she used a ticket to get her DD in and then didn't pay for the DDP for her?
I totally understand what you are saying, OP, but would I do it, no. Then again on our May trip when buying passes, no one believed DS was older than 2! I had to convince the CM he was and was buying him an AP, I'm just honest!LOL Anyway, what would be the big deal to just not get the DDP? On the other hand what is the big deal spending $11 a day for your 3yo. You will probably spend more than that in a day paying out of pocket!

True, true... the 11 a day is MINOR. If that was the extent of it, then I wouldn't mind. It's the tickets that make this such an appealing option to me. I could not put her on the DDP and NOT buy tickets that I don't need, you know?

 

[Desnik]

It sounds like your mind is made up, so why bother posting this question here? If you see nothing wrong with it, then do it! Who are we to tell you what is right or not? You obviously are justifying it to yourself so go for it!
On a side note, if you have hundreds of dollars worth of tickets, why aren't you using them for you and your mom and just skip doing a package?

 

[wrldpossibility]

"I refuse to be forced into putting her on the DDP. And I do not want to forego being on the DDP myself simply because my daughter wont eat the food..."

This is the part of your original post that bothers me most. I see what you're saying about blindly following rules, but this is more about doing what is morally right. In the above statement, you sound like you think the DDP is your right, and Disney is somehow wronging you by "forcing" your DD on it. Like the previous poster said, it's an OPTION, and it sounds like it's not the option that will work best for you this trip (because of the tickets you already have to use). If you can't see the ethical problem here, that's a little alarming. Does that make sense?

 

[MyZoeJane]

Sounds like the DDP isn't right for your family situation at this time. It isn't right for everyone, my family included. My DD just turned 10. I don't feel its worth it to pay an adult DDP for my 10 year old so I just don't buy the plan at this time. I don't lie and say she's 9 to avoid this though. That wouldn't be right for so many reasons.

The DDP is not a right, but an option for some people.

IMHO, $11 for a 3 year old a day is a bargain.

If you don't want negative responses, then don't post this kind of etical question as you will get both the negative and positive responses; that's just the way it is on a public board.

Okay, I hear what you're saying about your own DD. Good point. And as I have already pointed out, it's not the DDP that makes this such a big deal to me. It's the tickets. Why should I be forced into buying tickets when I have some that I already paid full price for already?

And I did not mean to insuate that I only wanted to hear responses from people that AGREE with me. That's just stupid! What I requested was to not be flamed. I can handle people disagreeing with me!

 

[MyZoeJane]

"I refuse to be forced into putting her on the DDP. And I do not want to forego being on the DDP myself simply because my daughter wont eat the food..."

This is the part of your original post that bothers me most. I see what you're saying about blindly following rules, but this is more about doing what is morally right. In the above statement, you sound like you think the DDP is your right, and Disney is somehow wronging you by "forcing" your DD on it. Like the previous poster said, it's an OPTION, and it sounds like it's not the option that will work best for you this trip (because of the tickets you already have to use). If you can't see the ethical problem here, that's a little alarming. Does that make sense?

Yes, when looking at it from the perspective of it being something that will either work for my family or not, it makes sense.

Help me understand why I should also have to buy tickets that I have already paid for? My mom and I need them. My DD doesn't.

Maybe I'll just go for room only and pay gates prices for our tickets, too? Does anyone know the price differences between a 7 day park hopper as part of a package and the 7 day park hopper at the gate?

 

[java]

Hmm I am confused- I have never done dining plan so I may be wrong- but isn't it possible to do dining plan for only the members of your party that want to do it? In other words- you get the room*(same price with 2 adults alone and 2 adults plus a child ) You add dining plan and passes for you and your mom- and treat dd individually. Not possible?

 

[jjan]

Okay, I hear what you're saying about your own DD. Good point. And as I have already pointed out, it's not the DDP that makes this such a big deal to me. It's the tickets. Why should I be forced into buying tickets when I have some that I already paid full price for already?

And I did not mean to insuate that I only wanted to hear responses from people that AGREE with me. That's just stupid! What I requested was to not be flamed. I can handle people disagreeing with me!

All you have to do is buy everyone a 1 day ticket with your package and upgrade them once you are there. Then you are only "out" a very small amount of money and you can save your daughter's one day ticket for a future trip.

 

[dbmarie]

I wouldn't.

 

[Desnik]

I am really trying to think about a way around this for you and I can't come up with anything!!LOL I really think the biggest problem with the DDP, for some families is that everyone in the room has to be on it if one person is. If you are AP holders, then you don't have to worry about the tickets with the DDP package. Also, I still don't understand why you have to do a package and use the DDP. You could almost always do it cheaper booking everything seperately. You also have old passes you can put towards buying new ones for all of you. The DDP is alot of food. Do you think it may be too much food for you and your mom?
I guess in order to help you I need to try and understand why you have to do the package.

BTW, your DD is beautiful!!!

 

[MyZoeJane]

All you have to do is buy everyone a 1 day ticket with your package and upgrade them once you are there. Then you are only "out" a very small amount of money and you can save your daughter's one day ticket for a future trip.

From a follow the rules by the book standpoint this is really the best option, isn't it? Despite what a previous poster suggested... I have NOT "already made up my mind"... I just like to understand something fully before I commit to it. And I guess I am one of those horrible people who think that following the rules blindly doesn't ALWAYS make sense (or make me a good person).

The downside to this suggestion, though, is the fact that I can only use ONE ticket to upgrade. I can't combine tickets. And if I buy DD even a one day ticket, I wont be able to add the tickets I already have to upgrade it, you know? I am still left with these tickets that will go unused...

But I suppose I could always buy the one day tickets, upgrade mine and my mom's to the full 7 days, and waste the other four one day park hoppers I will be left with by using one each day for my daughter....

I guess the best bet is to just keep saving these one day park hoppers for a time when we wont be using the DDP. I just like the DDP so much... but it's starting to pan out to be not such a good value for people who go to Disney with remaining no exp park hoppers to use. I guess the waste is in buying no exp Park Hoppers when we want to use the DDP every trip...

Ahhhh!!!!

 

[wrldpossibility]

Yes, when looking at it from the perspective of it being something that will either work for my family or not, it makes sense.

Help me understand why I should also have to buy tickets that I have already paid for? My mom and I need them. My DD doesn't.

Maybe I'll just go for room only and pay gates prices for our tickets, too? Does anyone know the price differences between a 7 day park hopper as part of a package and the 7 day park hopper at the gate?

The reason you have to buy tickets that you have already paid for is that you want the DDP. You can't have the best of both worlds (ethically, anyway). Therefore, it doesn't seem to make much sense for you to get the DDP. I'd price out your options like you said. Maybe it will be cheaper to use your tickets and pay OOP for everyone. Maybe the convenience of the DDP is worth it. That's for you to decide.

I think Java's idea will work: can you buy one-day tickets with your package, get the DDP, and use your other tickets for the rest of the time. Then you're only out the $11/day for your DD.

 

[pyrxtc]

your options are to not do the DDp and just buy yourself and mom tickets so you can use your old ones to get DD in or to buy the package and pay for everything. the money you save by not buying the package for your 3 yr old DD will mroe than cover the difference between buying the dining plan and paying out of pocket. It's a simple math problem. Don't get a package and just charge it all to your room and pay at the end of your stay.

Now that's a plain and simple answer to the highly flamable question you asked above. Tose are your only options and you just ahve to pick one! whatever we say her is not goignt o change your mind but remmeber if you have ever been there before with her then they hve her age on file from last time and you will ahve to lie about her age every time you go after that cuz they keep it on file! When I booked my last room and out 4 peope in it, then knew my DD's name s and ages from last tiem we visited.

 

[MyZoeJane]

I am really trying to think about a way around this for you and I can't come up with anything!!LOL I really think the biggest problem with the DDP, for some families is that everyone in the room has to be on it if one person is. If you are AP holders, then you don't have to worry about the tickets with the DDP package. Also, I still don't understand why you have to do a package and use the DDP. You could almost always do it cheaper booking everything seperately. You also have old passes you can put towards buying new ones for all of you. The DDP is alot of food. Do you think it may be too much food for you and your mom?
I guess in order to help you I need to try and understand why you have to do the package.

BTW, your DD is beautiful!!!

Thanks! I guess I've done the DDP ever since I got the Disney "bug" and have started going multiple times per year. My DH and I love the program and although, admittedly, it IS more food than we would normally order... It's an lovely indulgence that is worth every ounce on the pound or two I usally carry home with my on my hips!

This will be my first trip with my mom and my daughter. She wants desperately to see my daughter there and experience it with her. She took me as a child when I was my daughter's age... For me, the DDP is part of the "whole experience" I want for my mom to have with us. It's a lot of food... but the value is what makes it possible for me to go and not worry about how much I'm spending on the extravagant dining experiences that I probably wouldn't otherwise allow myself.

So, if I forego the DDP altogether, in lieu of using tickets I already have and avoiding paying for food that my DD wouldn't eat... well... the whole thing makes it really easy to think about fibbing when it's so easy to justify in my mind that no one is "losing out"... Disney gets my money for the trip, for the dining plan, for the tickets, and for the hotel. My daughter is not eating anything she didn't pay for. She is not enjoying park admission that wasn't paif for. The only thing standing in the way of it being a good deal all around is the rule that requires me to buy things I don't need.

I guess what I need to really understand is WHY Disney would force me to buy tickets and food I don't need? I know the WHY is because it makes them more money...

Tough to digest, but true. I guess if I want the DDP for this trip with my mom, that I'll have to suck up the extra cost of putting my DD on it, buying yet another ticket, and just saving the other tickets for a trip that will have to planned as "room only"...

I'll never buy 10 day no exp park hoppers again!

 

[FayeW]

I don't see it as a moral or ethical dilemma at all, because, as the OP stated, she isn't trying to get something for free, she just doesn't want to pay for something she doesn't want! She has paid for the tickets already, and will pay for the food OOP. The child's credits are useless for her because her child doesn't eat enough to warrant her own meal anyway. The only possible reason this would make sense is if they were doing alot of buffet meals, at which point the child's meal price and snack credit would exceed the cost of the dining plan.

OP, if you are concerned about following Disney rules, even if they don't make sense, you could always plan some character buffets, and/or signature meals or HDDR, to more fully utilize your daughter's credits. In that case, I would just buy everyone a 1 day ticket, and then upgrade yours and your Mom's to whatever you need at Guest Relations.

Disney is not being "cheated" here, they still get their park admission, and paid OOP for any meal your daughter orders. Room prices are based on two adults, and children under 18 stay free, so they aren't losing anything there either.