How do they check the age?
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How do they check the age?
| Tue, 05-02-2006 - 8:07pm |
At both Disney and Sea World, the ticket prices are age 10 and up for adult pricing. I don't like to lie, but how do they check? DS will be 10 in July and we are going in August. He is small and weighs less than 55 lbs. He could pass for eight.
Again, I hate to be dishonest, but I can't believe my little guy will be charged full price!
Thanks, all.
Mary

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If the person at the gate isn't sure about the age, they ask.
Why shouldn't he be charged full price? If he is 10 years old, then he's 10 years old. I'm 29 years old, and I don't ride roller coasters even though I'm tall enough, but I still have to pay the same price as those who do ride.
Yes they take your word, but you're lying, and if they ask him how old he is, are you going to tell him to lie? If you can't afford to pay the price for his age, then wait until you can. If you can afford it but don't want to pay it, then don't take him.
I'm sorry to be rude, but right is right and wrong is wrong, and people who cheat the system this way irritate the life out of me. It's just like saying I think gas is too high, so I'll drive off without paying. Stealing is stealing.
***Edited to add*** I don't think 10 should be considered an adult, I think there should be some kind of 'junior' category or something, but that's not my decision.
Edited 5/2/2006 8:59 pm ET by bigbabyblues
Shay wrote: "she'll be 3 in just a few weeks. I figured since she was 3, and still would be 3 in a few weeks, I wasn't exactly lying."
I'll give you points for creative thinking!
I have always fudged the system to some extent with the ages of my kids. I never explained how we purchased the tickets to them or how the price changed with each age. If you really think about it, how many four year olds ride the same rides as an adult???? I've always said they should have another price category for the in between age!
When checking into OKW a year ago, the cast member actually suggested to me that I pass him off as a younger child because he looked younger than his age. Go figure......
It's not honest, but.....
~Laura
While I agree it's hard when your child turns the ages they start charging, it's a sticky situation to lie about it. #1 - because it's just not right... #2 - possibly having them ask your child his age... and #3 - having to explain to your child why it's ok to lie this time, but not other times. This is obviously a very personal decision and i know it stinks.
It is a shame there's not some middle ground, because i'm sure tons of people lie and the parks would probably make more money if they had a slight price increase for a 'junior age' that more people can live with, rather than the big 'adult' price jump and lots of people fudging the ages of their kids because they just don't feel it's justified. anyway, not my decision. just remember that they might ask your ds his age, since he's obviously old enough to answer (they probably wouldn't ask a 3yo). so just have that in mind.
in line with this... they charge the same for a 4yo as a 9yo, and a lot of 4yo's can't because of height restrictions or they simply don't want to ride the bigger rides, but most 9yo's can and do ride those rides, but the 4yo's are charged the same price. Same thing... not fair, but we pay it. I guess the parks can't have too many price breaks (but then again, why not?)... just some rambling thoughts...
anyway... enjoy your trip whatevery you decide to do! Liz :)
Laura, we had the same thing happen at the Contemporary when my twins were 3 1/2. We went to buy them passes, she looked at them, looked at us, and then said there's no way she'd buy tickets for them. Just carry them into the parks. We were dumbfounded for a moment, but we certainly weren't going to argue with her.
This year, my twins will be 10, my older son 11. We will feel the hurt of the increased ticket prices, no doubt. I was worried with my twins last year as 9 year olds because they are very tall....and I am very short! Besides that, they've always looked a few years older than their age. We were never stopped and questioned, although I half expected it. I had the kids' photo ID cards from school that included their birthdate.
Where we're having trouble now is eating out. My kids are not good eaters and do not enjoy anything from an adult menu. If the kid menu is 10 and under, we always ask if it's OK for my son to order anyway, since that is the only food he likes. He gets really embarrassed, but I'm not sure what else to do right now!
Laurie, mom to
Alex, 11 years old
Julianne and Leah, almost 10 years old
Audrey, 2 years old
Disney trips in 1973, 1986, 1987, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005!
Planning for December 2006!
LAURIE IN OH, Mom to:
Alex, 1
My twins turned 10 in Dec. and we went in February.
I bought them the adult tickets...one day going through the turnstiles their tix didn't work (I was behind them with my other 2 DDs and the stroller) the CM pointed to them and said who is with these two girls...I told her I was and she said "why do they have adult tickets??" and I said "because they're 10" she said "are you sure they are their tickets because the finger scan doesn't work" I said "check the back, it's their signatures.." She let them through but said in an almost accusing way "I still don't understand why those two have ADULT tickets" (in a way that implied I was trying to get away with something) I said pretty loudly "I don't understand why 10 year olds are considered adults either, but it's your rule - not mine!"
It just goes to show - sometimes you can't win!! I will admit though that at Hollywood and Vine at check in I said they were under 10 because I just couldn't bear to spend $25 for them to eat macaroni & cheese! At the full service places I would be honest, so they were given adult menus (man no coloring for 10 year olds either!!) but the servers would usually let them order off the children's menus. For many places it wasn't even a matter of money, it was more that they couldn't find anything to eat on the regular menu.
I agree that 10 is a ridiculous cut-off for adult, but when you look at the prices, the children's tickets are not that much less than the adult tix. anyway.
My dd is 13 and she still orders off the childrens menu. She has anosmia (unable to smell) and has issues with eating. I've always just told the host or hostess that we need two childrens menus. We all place our orders and my dd places hers. Never has a question been asked about her age or a comment that she can't order off the childrens menu.
~~Laura
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