Have you ever lied about your kid's age to get them into Disnelyland either free (2 & younger) or at the children's rate (3-9)???

We have a little joke about this since our youngest turned 3 a few months ago. Whenever someone asks him how old he is he still only holds up 2 fingers to which I reply "No honey, that's only for Disneyland, you're really 3".

Although, last time we were there, my husband inadvertantly purchased a child's ticket for our 11-year-old and they didn't say anything at the turnstiles....

you know this topic came up just recently at a buffet restaurant we frequent... Brandy is 20 but eats like a 4 year old, my niece is 9 and eats like a football linebacker.....someone who was with us
"suggested" we claim Brandy as being 11 (she LOOKS young) to get the discount and I responded by asking her how she feels about her kids lying? yeah we "might" save a few cents or in the case of addmission to Disneyland a few dollars, but at what cost? How do you explain to your child it is ok to lie about their age but not other stuff? I would never call someone else on doing it ....they have to look at the choices they make and live with them, not me.....but the next time someone is tempted to intentionally lie to save that few dollars I would hope that they would consider the example they are setting for their children :(

No, I haven't lied about Matthew's age.

I've thought about it, been tempted to, but I decided that I wanted to teach him to be honest. (This is not a judgement statement against anyone else, this is really my reason.)

The day BEFORE he turned 3, two friends of ours took him to DCA to ride the "fishie" carrousel one last time for free. (I think it's well known that we don't have DCA APs.) Now, Matthew's tall, so even if we wanted to try to pass him off as 2, we'd have a hard time. As he walked in the turnstyle at DCA, the CM asked my friend how old he was. She said, "He's 2. He turns 3 TOMORROW that's why we're here today." And it was the honest truth!

I've been tempted to lie but not enough to actually do it. My problem was that Matthew started to say he was 3 when he was still 2, so I was afraid someone would think we were lying when we were actually being honest!

Adrienne K

Originally posted by Tink


We have a little joke about this since our youngest turned 3 a few months ago. Whenever someone asks him how old he is he still only holds up 2 fingers to which I reply "No honey, that's only for Disneyland, you're really 3".



I just wanted to make something clear because I realize that everyone that reads this will probably interpret it differently.

This was a joke that I may have said twice! I have not taught my son to say he is 2 when we go to Disneyland - he just still holds up 2 fingers when someone asks how old he is.

As young as he is he probably doesn't get the joke anyway, if he's even paying attention...

Besides, do you all really discuss ticket prices with your toddlers??

We have a little joke about this since our youngest turned 3 a few months ago. Whenever someone asks him how old he is he still only holds up 2 fingers to which I reply "No honey, that's only for Disneyland, you're really 3".

I LOL....

that cracked me up. My sparky and I have been getting passes sense she was 4, I never worry about it. Teaching children about honesty is important, and we do need to be the kind of people we hope our children will become... but seriously, if your child can get a cheaper ticket because they look younger... go for it. Why... in this world, sometimes, bending the rules is O.K. that is how we find out weather or not a rule is really needed or just still around because no one has the courage to say "this should be different". It's not like a cheaper ticket is going to break the Disney bank. ...;)

No, I have never lied about it...I could never look someone in the eye and lie and have a clear conscience--not to mention what the kids are learning. I have known parents who try to pass their kids off as younger and really get humiliated (rightly so) when the kids tell the truth. I really feel strongly about this but I know people have differing viewpoints so I will take a chill pill.

However I will shoot myself in the foot by saying that I take snacks into the park for my kids instead of leaving all food in the outside lockers as DL requests in their brochure. So by no means am I trying to come off like Miss Perfect--

Originally posted by adriennek
No, I haven't lied about Matthew's age.

I've thought about it, been tempted to, but I decided that I wanted to teach him to be honest. (This is not a judgement statement against anyone else, this is really my reason.)

Adrienne K

Agreed. On Alice's first trip after turning three, we bought her a pass. Kids remember the things you most want them NOT to, so if I talk the talk with her, I have to walk the walk or she'd have called me on it. Yes, even at that age.

Fab

Lisap.......I take snacks into the park as well as diet pepsi (Brandy flat refuses to drink coke products) .. thank goodness for those insulated bottle holders they sold at DCA last summer, but i think there is a difference between "breaking a rule" such as the 'no outside food' and lying about the kids age to avoid paying the cost of their ticket.... I still spend a ton of money on snacks while we are in the park but the problem is they don't have the things I need readily available WHEN I need them (Brandy is hypoglacemic)....I'm not perfect by any stretch...but I try to be an honest person.... IF I were asked at the gate to toss the food I wouldn't say that I had bought it a DCA to get it into Disneyland or Vice versa....nor do I think it is wrong to order a childs meal for Brandy who is in fact 20 but eats like a much younger child ....I have never had a CM actually ask me the age of the child I was purchasing the meal for....that 'age' on the childs meals is one of those things I wish Disney would just get a clue and just call it a "
mickeymeal" and not put an age on it, there are times when that is "just the right" amount of food as opposed to a big meal....ok I'll get off my soapbox now .....

Oh yes, we have covered the food in the Park thing ad nauseam but my mom is diabetic and so I totally hear you about bringing specific foods into the Park. We also spends tons of money on food and drinks and snacks at the Park but do bring apples and pretzels etc. just to fill their tummies and keep the whine quotient down.

I agree that there IS a difference between lying about ages and bringing food into the Park, but if someone could clarify this rationalization...err...argument for me I would surely appreciate it! :D

Originally posted by lisap


I agree that there IS a difference between lying about ages and bringing food into the Park, but if someone could clarify this rationalization...err...argument for me I would surely appreciate it! :D

If I walk up to the front gate and announce loudly that my daughter is 4 but I would like to get her in for free (like a 2 year old) and the park allows it, I am not lying. If I pretend my child is 2 when they are 4, I am lying.

I have my bag checked everytime I walk into the front gate. Everytime I have water bottles and snacks in plain sight. The Disney employee usually comments by saying "looks like you have some good stuff in there" or "wow, pretzles, my favorite." I'm not lying, I'm not sneaking. If the Disney employees asked me not to bring the food in, I wouldn't. They clearly don't care. No one is lying or deceiving, that's the difference.

Thank you.
:)

Thanks so much EandCDad.....I agree, I don't 'sneak' the food in, it is right there in a small insulated lunch box....they see it everytime we go in.....and I agree I don't think the CM's at the gate really care.

If you are diabetic, hypoglycemic, or have other dietary problems that are difficult or impossible to accommodate in Disneyland, you ARE allowed to bring food in. No gate person in their right mind, and certainly no manager above them, is going to tell a diabetic not to bring snacks in.

I don't think bringing snacks into the park is any kind of deception. I am sure that Disney realizes that guests with children need to have snacks and drinks for their children. I mean, where in the park can you buy a little baggy of Cheerios or Pretzles? Disneyland is a family park...and they want and need to accomidate for that. If they were so strict on the food rule, would they allow you to bring jars of baby food into the park? No. Of course they would, and do allow it.

Now, If you came in with a huge ice chest full for a family picnic for 6 or 7, then they might object.
But snacks for a family with children or people with disabilities. Of course not.

And about the age issue. We are a short family. My children could pass for years younger than they are. But, if I were trying to get my youngest in for a younger age, it would hurt her feelings. She gets teased all the time about her height. I remember when she was in 2nd grade, and she was lined up to go into the classroom. Another mom standing near us commented, look at the kindergartner going into the room...isn't that cute! Dana started to cry. Even now in middle school, the kids are relentless to her. So, I just don't try and do it. Now, on the other hand...disabled discounts at places...
My daughter obviously has Down Syndrome. I will ask for a disabled discount when I go places. I get places that don't want to not give the discount to us! Why? Is it because she can walk and talk? Weird. If Down Syndrome isn't considered a disability, than what is? :confused: