Little white Lie???

[bankgirl05]

We are planning a trip in October with extended family. My SIL booked saying my neice is 2 when she is really 3, and suggested I do the same. My son will be three just before we go.. I HATE lying, but he will only eat very few things like chicken fingers or fries or fresh fruit, and doesn't care for rides too much yet either, so i kinda feel like paying all that money for him is a waste... do the resorts require proof of age???

 

[emh1129]

We took dd for her 3rd birthday. She didn't turn 3 until half-way through our trip, so she was 2 in Disney's eyes for the whole time. They go by the age of the child at check-in. to answer your question-- no, they didn't ask for any proof of age at any point. There is a pretty big savings if you can go when your child is 2 as opposed to 3.

 

[SnowandMittens]

If you can try to get him to go before his 3rd birthday you could save a lot of money!

 

[gfellenz]

I've never been asked for proof of age. I have lots of friends who took their 3 year olds for free by saying they were two. It's a personal choice.

 

[candielips]

Sometimes a little white lie is just that and as long as you're not hurting anyone I think it would be fine.
However, you need to think about the ramifications if your son is asked how old he is? Or if you are asked. What if he hears you say 2? I personally wouldn't want my DD hearing us lie about her age, but it is a personal decision.
Our DD turns 3 next July, so we are planning our next trip either for before her bday or during FD2010 if they offer it.

 

[Schmeck]

Actually, lying about a child's age to get a service for free when you are supposed to pay is called FRAUD. The CMs will ask the child his/her age, and there have been posts on this forum about people being escorted over to the ticket booth in order to pay for their child's entry to the park.

 

[Deb & Bill]

A lie is a lie, whether it's a little white one or a great big whopper of a lie. CMs often ask small kids how old they are. If your child tells them he is three or your niece says she is three, what will you do then??

From your post, it sounds like you already know the right thing to do.

 

[boltfans]

Do the CMs really take the kid's word for it over the parent's? My son is 2yo and routinely tells people he is 2, 3, 4, or 5, depending on his mood at the time. He is average height for someone his age, and a bit on the thin side, so I doubt anyone believes he is 4 or 5yo, but 3yo would be a definite possibility. He turns 3yo in August, the 2nd day of our trip, so I hadn't planned to get him a ticket or pay for his buffets. I also had no intention of bringing his birth certificate. I do have his nursery portrait in my wallet that has his name, birthdate, etc. on it, but would that count? I really have no desire to carry around his BC or passport so is it really going to be an issue?

BTW, if I say my son is 1 or 3yo he could care less. I've said 3yo a few times cause cause he's nearly 3 and he never looks twice.

 

[Leajess99]

Wow what a great thing to teach kids how to lie. Let's lie about your age so we don't have to pay and then in the future when the child lies to the parent they get into trouble.

 

[vroomagain]

I too thought about lying about my dd age(3) to save some money but my conscience wouldn't be able to handle it.

Looking over all of the attractions etc. that are for children, I don't think you'll have any problem getting your money's worth.

 

[*pixie*dust*]

Based on your user id I would guess you work for a bank. Fraud is fraud. Does your employeer think its ok to steal a small amount of cash, so long as it isn't too much? Same thing. Your life, your call but please remember who is learning from you. How would you explain it to your child?

 

[bumbershoot]

We are planning a trip in October with extended family. My SIL booked saying my neice is 2 when she is really 3, and suggested I do the same. My son will be three just before we go.. I HATE lying, but he will only eat very few things like chicken fingers or fries or fresh fruit, and doesn't care for rides too much yet either, so i kinda feel like paying all that money for him is a waste... do the resorts require proof of age???

About eating...are you doing the dining plan? Even if you are, doesn't the total you'll pay for your family make up for the 9.99 paid for the 3 year old?

And about enjoying rides...Disney isn't just about the rides. It's about just being there (and to get specific, paying for the CMs etc etc etc), seeing characters, etc. Even if he just rides Small World and the railroad, that's something.

Since you know he doesn't like the rides yet, that means you've already been there with him. And he was free then. We went for two one-day visits to DLR when DS was 1 and 2. By the time we took our trip when he was 3, we were happy and proud to pay for him, and even upgraded to APs b/c we enjoyed ourselves so much (and it was amazing how he enjoyed things when he was 3, differently from when he was 2). So since you've been there with him free (since you know he doesn't do the rides yet), just pay for him now.

 

[polkadotsuitcase]

Wow, I'm really surprised CMs would ask a young kid his/her age, too. My guys are older now (9 and 11), but when they were that young, they'd just throw out any old number, too.

Shoot, my MIL gets creative all the time when asked her age...

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

I've lied about my kids age. Told the CM's they were 2 when the child was clearly 3. My DS was always very tall for his age. He was 42" by 3yo. The CM's never blinked just let him on through. Same way with DD though she was always small for her age so it wasn't an issue with her.

When we visited last October, my DS was 10 and we told them he was 9. The CM at the BC even asked my DS at check-in how old he was, he forgot and said 10. Did she blink an eye? Nope. She just looked at him, chuckled and said , you mean 9 , right buddy?

And I agree with the posters who said how is a CM going to take a 3 yo's word? My kids at that age would be 2, 3 , 4. Once my DD told someone she was 16 and could drive when she was really 4.

Do what your conscious tells you OP. I saved alot of money over the years and was able to sleep like a baby at night. When we go this December, DS will be 11 and DD 6, their real ages though.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

You're supposed to pay admission for three year olds. Period. Nothing little or white about that lie.

 

[luvsJack]

Wow, I'm really surprised CMs would ask a young kid his/her age, too. My guys are older now (9 and 11), but when they were that young, they'd just throw out any old number, too.

Shoot, my MIL gets creative all the time when asked her age...

I hope they never ask my husband's grandmother! We have had to remind her that she HAS to be older than her oldest child.

I am surprised that they ask the kids too. Especially since the child can turn 3 the day after check in and still be considered 2 by Disney (going by the age at check in). In that way, the parent can say 2 and the kid say 3 and both be telling the truth!

Can't say what you should do, OP. I guess like Jiminy Cricket says "let your conscience be your guide" We haven't had this problem yet as dd was 4 on our first trip. But we do have a granddaughter coming up and plan to take her right before her 3rd birthday or for her 3rd birthday so this won't be an issue.

 

[Hannathy]

Based on your user id I would guess you work for a bank. Fraud is fraud. Does your employeer think its ok to steal a small amount of cash, so long as it isn't too much? Same thing. Your life, your call but please remember who is learning from you. How would you explain it to your child?

I agree! A lie is a lie, calling it white is just describing the lie. Will you get caught probably not but it is still wrong. by your logic anything goes as long as you don't get caught, remember that when the 3yr old is a teen.

and someone has to pay for that free food you are getting and that is all the honest parents of 3 yr olds, Disney isn't in the charity business.

 

[jboysen]

For those of you that say, your child will turn 3 on your trip, Disney's policy is very clear on that. Your child's trip will be free. The pp that said her child SCREWED UP when the CM asked how old he was, nice to see you are teaching your child about right and wrong, I'm glad you sleep well at night. For the rest who are looking to get a free trip, go with your children before they turn 3. OP unless you are getting the dining plan, buffets are really the only place you will have to pay for your child to eat, and even then, you are mostly paying for the charaters because most of the buffets include them. Disney will still let you share meals with your children unless on the dining plan. The more people try and sneak their 3,4,5 year olds in for free the more Disney will raise prices on everything else.

 

[brekin67]

 

[RDP]

We took our DD 3 weeks after her 3rd birthday. We bought a ticket for her as we were certain she would sell us down the river if asked her age. There are many things to consider when making your decision and only you can decide what's right. Just bear in mind that should you need to claim from Disney for any personal injury, I doubt whether you will have any legal recourse.