Asked Twice about Ticket for Two Year Old

[Belle & Ariel]

We were at Disney last week and twice-both at AK-I was asked if my two year old grandson had a ticket. The first time I was shocked and said he's two .Then I thought they hear that all day about kids who are much older. The next time they asked I said he wouldn't be three till summer which is true. He is about 36" and was in a stroller both times .
I follow rules yet felt embarrassed and guilty like I was doing something wrong even though I wasn't.
I hope they crack down on the people who bring older kids in free but I don't like the way I felt when asked. Surely there is a better way.
What are your experiences and thoughts?

 

[mom2rtk]

You weren't breaking any rules. No need to be embarrassed or guilty. Answer honestly and move on.

 

[Sharka8]

We didn't bring our son to WDW until he was 3, but we did go to DLR twice. Once when he was 1 and once when 2. Both times I had a copy of his birth certificate with me. I was asked for it about 50% of the time. It never bothered me to be asked. There isn't really another way for them to "crackdown" on people trying to pass off older kids as under 3. It's also difficult to guess kids ages. My best friend's son is 2 months older than mine but if you see them together, my son is 6 inches taller.

 

[tlmadden73]

I am sure there are a TON of people who cheat the system and claim their 3 year old and even 4 year old is 2. It saves HUNDREDS of dollars (I mean, the difference between a child and adult ticket is laughable (I'm not even sure why they even have a different price)).

I have gone to WDW a lot with young toddlers because of the "free before 3" policy. I plan on going this November when my daughter is 2 and then turn around and go 11 months later right before her 3rd birthday to take advantage of being free again.

I wouldn't feel guilty or shocked, they have to do their due diligence to ensure those who should have tickets purchased them.

Though I checked into WDW the day before my son turned 3 ("you don't grow old at Disney World") and we were never questioned about his ticket, though one restaurant just assumed he was 3 or older (which he was (by a day) and wanted to charge him for a kid's buffet. Since their policy is your child must be 2 at check-in day, it was no issues removing that charge. I guess it all depends on the cast member.

36" seems pretty tall for a 2 1/2 year old, so that is probably why they asked...

 

[Hannahinwonderland]

The people asking are just trying to do their job, it's not a judgement upon you in particular. Don't worry about it, just answer truthfully and go on with your day!

 

[Allison]

My thoughts are there is nothing wrong with being asked about a ticket. It's just a question. No reason to be shocked or embarrassed or read into it that they are trying to crack down on something.

Hope you had a great time.

 

[disneydreamer1980]

That’s weird, I’ve taken every one of my kids to Disney when they were two and never had one CM question me ever. But if they had questioned me, I would’ve just told them that the kid was two and went on my way. They can’t demand to see a birth certificate or anything, as long as you’re telling the truth, nothing to feel guilty about.

 

[amcnj]

As someone who was always tall for their age, and got the third degree at movie theaters when asking to buy a child's ticket, you just have to accept that they are doing their job, and as long as you are really under the age restrictions, you are OK!

 

[bumbershoot]

Surely there is a better way.

Other than having them ask? I’m not sure what other way there is. Do you have ideas?

He is about 36" and was in a stroller both times .

https://www.cdc.gov/growthcharts/data/set1clinical/cj41c017.pdf

That’s around 90th percentile for a 2 year old. My guy was around there, and I *expected* the questions at Disneyland. I knew how tall he was.

He fooled even other kids. 4 year olds would come up to talk to him and get very confused when he talked like a toddler.

So of course my guy, and your grandson, confused the adults.


(My guy is approaching 14 years old now, is at least 5’10” though probably more, and is filling out and his voice is nearly done changing, and he still fools adults and peers. He’s confusing older teen girls (and a boy or two) regularly now.

If your grandson continues on the tall path, this will hit again when he looks older but is still “Disney child” age for food...settle in for a bumpy ride!)

 

[MaryLovesPoohBear]

We were at Disney last week and twice-both at AK-I was asked if my two year old grandson had a ticket. The first time I was shocked and said he's two .Then I thought they hear that all day about kids who are much older. The next time they asked I said he wouldn't be three till summer which is true. He is about 36" and was in a stroller both times .
I follow rules yet felt embarrassed and guilty like I was doing something wrong even though I wasn't.
I hope they crack down on the people who bring older kids in free but I don't like the way I felt when asked. Surely there is a better way.
What are your experiences and thoughts?

Other than asking, how can they find out if your grandchild has a ticket or needs a ticket?

I'm just not seeing another way.

 

[mom2rtk]

Other than asking, how can they find out if your grandchild has a ticket or needs a ticket?

I'm just not seeing another way.

They could ask for a driver's license and anyone who shows one is immediately disqualified.

Sort of like the "under 15" soccer league our son played and the opposing goalie drove up in his own car.

 

[Magpie]

As long as they accepted your answer and weren't rude or accusatory, I don't think you need to give it a second thought.

You say you want Disney to "crack down" on cheaters... do you have any suggestions on how they should do that?

FWIW, My children were always assumed to be older than they were. Sometimes it was a pain, such as when a librarian berated my 2 year old for not "acting his age". Sometimes it was an advantage, such as when I was able to purchase a "age six and up" ticket for a ride in a simulator, when he was only four. We just rolled with it.

 

[mshanson3121]

We have the opposite problem. Our daughter is tiny for her age, so when we go places, people have a hard time believing she's old enough for the activity, lol. She'll be 8 in June, but is still only 45" tall and 42 lbs, so about the size of an average 5 year old. Honestly, it doesn't bother me (though it does her, for obvious reasons). They have a job to do, and they're doing it. It's nothing personal.

 

[bumbershoot]

Sort of like the "under 15" soccer league our son played and the opposing goalie drove up in his own car.

Wow. I hope attention was paid to that!!

 

[sponica]

36" seems pretty tall for a 2 1/2 year old, so that is probably why they asked...

Sorry I'm LOLing over here as my 18 month old is 35 inches. Which is off the charts for her age....I have to tell the nurse whenever we go in for a well visit, yes the computer will spit an error code, no you didn't measure wrong...

I'm waiting for everyone to ask about a ticket for her...

 

[mom2rtk]

Wow. I hope attention was paid to that!!

Nope. It was ridiculous though. Just confirmation of what we already suspected.

 

[KristinU]

They could ask for a driver's license and anyone who shows one is immediately disqualified.

Sort of like the "under 15" soccer league our son played and the opposing goalie drove up in his own car.

LOL, yup, my DS played on an under 15 football team and we saw at least one opposing player with tattoos during the season...yeah, 15, riiiight.

Anyway, back to the topic, I don't see any way around a simple ask. And I don' think it is something to worry about unless it gets escalated.
I would treat it like getting carded for buying alcohol when you're in your 30's or 40's - take it as a compliment and move on

 

[Princess_Lisa]

I am sure there are a TON of people who cheat the system and claim their 3 year old and even 4 year old is 2. It saves HUNDREDS of dollars (I mean, the difference between a child and adult ticket is laughable (I'm not even sure why they even have a different price)).

I have gone to WDW a lot with young toddlers because of the "free before 3" policy. I plan on going this November when my daughter is 2 and then turn around and go 11 months later right before her 3rd birthday to take advantage of being free again.

I wouldn't feel guilty or shocked, they have to do their due diligence to ensure those who should have tickets purchased them.

Though I checked into WDW the day before my son turned 3 ("you don't grow old at Disney World") and we were never questioned about his ticket, though one restaurant just assumed he was 3 or older (which he was (by a day) and wanted to charge him for a kid's buffet. Since their policy is your child must be 2 at check-in day, it was no issues removing that charge. I guess it all depends on the cast member.

36" seems pretty tall for a 2 1/2 year old, so that is probably why they asked...

Other than having them ask? I’m not sure what other way there is. Do you have ideas?

I'm thinking, it might make sense to go by height since that determines what rides you can or can't do. Perhaps --

Under 36" -- Free
36-40" -- 50% Off
40-48" -- 25% Off
Over 48" -- Full Price

 

[MainMom]

We took DD to MVMCP when she was 3. When we went up to a CM to get and arm band we said DD needed one because she was 3 and had a ticket. He thanked us profusely for being honest. I’m sure they see it all. I wouldn’t give it a second thought.

 

[Gentry2004]

Although are the people who are cheating (and know they are cheating) really going to answer the CM "Oh, she's 3. She DOES need a ticket? My bad, I'll just buy her one now"? Of course not, they are going to say "she's 2" with a straight face and carry on.