Does Disney "card" children?

[captainkidd]

I wanted to take my oldest son (8 years old) horseback riding next summer at Fort Wilderness. Disney says guests must be 9 years old and at least 48 inches tall. He's over 48 inches, but will be 3 months from his 9th birthday.

Will they ask for his birth certificate?

I know it's against the rules, but he really wants to go and I don't think a couple of months will do any harm. It's horseback riding, not drinking.

 

[J_Krafty24]

I think something that was said in the "Smacking the Possum" thread applies here. Before you do something stop and think . . . What would happen if everyone did this.

This especially applies to the parking at a resort to go to a park or getting into the park early or teaching the next generation that a little lie is OK if it gets you what you want.

If everyone went by this policy just think how much nicer trips to the parks (and even life in general) would be.

 

[maggiegrace1]

I think something that was said in the "Smacking the Possum" thread applies here. Before you do something stop and think . . . What would happen if everyone did this.

This especially applies to the parking at a resort to go to a park or getting into the park early or teaching the next generation that a little lie is OK if it gets you what you want.

If everyone went by this policy just think how much nicer trips to the parks (and even life in general) would be.

See..technically I can make a breakfast reservation and when they ask..IF they ask if I have one I will say yes...Truth and go in..They are not asking if I am having breakfast.

Secondly..almost every time I park at a resort to go to MK..they do not ask why I am there and if they do I will say MK and they say okay..have a great day..so how is that lying?:shrug:

Also..I do not think that the fact that I park at the Poly to go to MK..or get in early by going to the breakfast reservation line is making other guests trip to the park or life in general harder..:shrug:

My thougts though..

 

[CAPTAIN HOOK]

I think something that was said in the "Smacking the Possum" thread applies here. Before you do something stop and think . . . What would happen if everyone did this.

This especially applies to the parking at a resort to go to a park or getting into the park early or teaching the next generation that a little lie is OK if it gets you what you want.

If everyone went by this policy just think how much nicer trips to the parks (and even life in general) would be.

I think on these wise words the thread should be closed

 

[Phonedave]

yeah i can understand what you're saying dave, but in my opinion, setting an age requirement in the first place gives parents the feeling that just because their child is 9 he/she will be just fine riding a horse.
i'm sure there are some 8 year olds that can ride better than some 9 year olds so in my opinion the decision, ultimately, should be left up to the parents. they know their child best, not disney.

Well in a perfect world, I agree 100%. However, parents may know their children best (and even sometimes that is questionable) but you surely cannot think that all parents do what is best for their kids. A daily glance through the news will tell you that.

d-ave

 

[DonChi]

I wanted to take my oldest son (8 years old) horseback riding next summer at Fort Wilderness. Disney says guests must be 9 years old and at least 48 inches tall. He's over 48 inches, but will be 3 months from his 9th birthday.

Will they ask for his birth certificate?

I know it's against the rules, but he really wants to go and I don't think a couple of months will do any harm. It's horseback riding, not drinking.

I once drove a water boat (more like a wave-runner-boat) at the lake (the one front of MK) when I was 11 years old and the drive limit was 12, when they asked my father how old was I he said 12.

So I don't think there is a problem.

Edit.
I have been driving racing cars (karts at that age) since I was 9 years old, so, my father knew that I was aware of all cautions and responsibilities on driving a motor vehicle. Besides my father was on the boat with me. And the top speed was like 5 mph. =S

 

[maggiegrace1]

Umm actually what you are doing IS illegal. By not following Disney's policy's regarding parking, you are technically tresspassing. And you are cheating Disney out of money by not paying for parking, so you are "stealig services." Disney can legally ban you from the property if they find out.

Ummm No it is not..I stay on Disney property so I get free parking regardless..and the security guard if they do ask why I am there.....I say going to Magic Kingdom for the day..lets me in and does not give me a time limit parking pass and says have a nice day...so nothing illegal at all...:wave:

Pretty sure she's staying on site, so no cheating of parking revenue.

Thank you and you are correct!

 

[One Lil Spark]

Ummm No it is not..I stay on Disney property so I get free parking regardless..and the security guard if they do ask why I am there.....I say going to Magic Kingdom for the day..lets me in and does not give me a time limit parking pass and says have a nice day...so nothing illegal at all...:wave:


Thank you and you are correct!

*Wonders how many people will secretly want to try this on their next trip*

 

[pax_65]

I think Kidd made the right decision. Not because it cheats anyone or breaks the rules (oh no!) but because it sends the wrong message to his son.

If I lied on a form to get my son on a horse, and an employee asked him directly his age and he answered honestly, I would be proud of him for being honest. Then he would essentially be punished for his honesty because then he couldn't ride. I wouldn't want to put him in that situation - basically forcing him to lie or suffer the consequences.

Besides, you're on vacation. Who needs the drama? It gives you a good excuse to come back again when he's old enough to ride!


PS. I feel exactly the same way about lying about a child's age to get the child rate on park admission. This is a situation where you really are cheating Disney, which I acknowledge is wrong, but I'd be even more concerned with how my child would feel if he was asked his age and felt obligated to lie. What am I going to do, punish him if he tells the truth?

 

[maggiegrace1]

*Wonders how many people will secretly want to try this on their next trip*

:lol:
Probably not many...as I am one of the few people with no morals and values....:shrug:..

*prays Maggie does not become a criminal like her mama*

:lookaroun

 

[UberPlannerMom]

So am I the only one wondering why we didn't tell the OP to call Disney and just plain ask if it would be ok for his child to ride since he fits the height requirement and is only a few months from the cutoff?

:ROFLOL:

 

[captainkidd]

So am I the only one wondering why we didn't tell the OP to call Disney and just plain ask if it would be ok for his child to ride since he fits the height requirement and is only a few months from the cutoff?

:ROFLOL:

I know what the answer would have been. That wasn't the question.

 

[UberPlannerMom]

I wanted to take my oldest son (8 years old) horseback riding next summer at Fort Wilderness. Disney says guests must be 9 years old and at least 48 inches tall. He's over 48 inches, but will be 3 months from his 9th birthday.

Will they ask for his birth certificate?

I know it's against the rules, but he really wants to go and I don't think a couple of months will do any harm. It's horseback riding, not drinking.

So am I the only one wondering why we didn't tell the OP to call Disney and just plain ask if it would be ok for his child to ride since he fits the height requirement and is only a few months from the cutoff?

:ROFLOL:

I know what the answer would have been. That wasn't the question.

Are you really sure that you know what the answer would have been? We are talking about Disney here and as much as they stick to their guns about some things I have found that they also bend over backwards to bring magic to their guests. When we went we had our then two year old with us and the castmembers left it up to my husband and I as to whether or not he could handle certain things. As long as he met the height requirements and such he was fine with them!

 

[dazzer68]

just 'swooting up' looking through the birnbaums guide and mentions there are pony rides at fort wilderness, for under 9 y.olds is this any good?

 

[kimmychad]

Well in a perfect world, I agree 100%. However, parents may know their children best (and even sometimes that is questionable) but you surely cannot think that all parents do what is best for their kids. A daily glance through the news will tell you that.

d-ave

yeah you're right dave.

 

[fosse76]

Ummm No it is not..I stay on Disney property so I get free parking regardless..and the security guard if they do ask why I am there.....I say going to Magic Kingdom for the day..lets me in and does not give me a time limit parking pass and says have a nice day...so nothing illegal at all...:wave:


Thank you and you are correct!

Oh ok. Didn't see that. But then it begs the question, why don't you just park in the park's parking lot? You probably waste more time by parking at a resort.

 

[yankspy]

Oh ok. Didn't see that. But then it begs the question, why don't you just park in the park's parking lot? You probably waste more time by parking at a resort.

Because at the end of the night there are maybe 200 people going back to the Poly while there are many more trying to get to the TTC. The next time you are there, look at the lines for the two monorails. It will be immediately obvious to you why someone would do so.

 

[Keyda]

As for the breakfast thing...sometimes they ask if we have reservations sometimes they do not......and there have been plenty of times where I had said no and they still let me in...:shrug:

Also..if I wanted I could make a breakfast reservation..go into the park and not go to breakfast..:shrug:..then I would not be "cheating Disney"

This i don't like. Reservation are pretty difficult to come by so why would you deny someone who would actually want to eat breakfast in the highly desired MK so you can walk around and take pictures. This goes the same for all the people out there who make multiple dining reservation in one day so they can decide on what they feel like eating on that day. Tables go unused that families might have filled. Sorry but this takes away from other's experience. This might not be illegal but it is just down right RUDE!

Just my 2 cents

 

[One Lil Spark]

This i don't like. Reservation are pretty difficult to come by so why would you deny someone who would actually want to eat breakfast in the highly desired MK so you can walk around and take pictures. This goes the same for all the people out there who make multiple dining reservation in one day so they can decide on what they feel like eating on that day. Tables go unused that families might have filled. Sorry but this takes away from other's experience. This might not be illegal but it is just down right RUDE!

Just my 2 cents

Whether you think it's rude or not, right or wrong, a table NEVER goes empty at a WDW restaurant, so don't let that bother you. When people make ADR's and opt out of them for whatever reason, the table gets used for another ADR or even for a walk-up guest or family.

:wave:

 

[captainkidd]

The whole ADR thing is really tough. I don't think making 2 ADR's for the same time should be allowed. I've been guilty of making ADR's and not showing up though on many occassions. It's not always intentional. Other times, we just change our mind. Unfortunately, you really have to make ADR's even if you know you won't make all of them, simply because if you don't, you'll be eating burgers and pizza all week.

 

[captainkidd]

This i don't like. Reservation are pretty difficult to come by so why would you deny someone who would actually want to eat breakfast in the highly desired MK so you can walk around and take pictures.

This, I agree with. Character meals are very hard to come by, especially at busy times. It's one thing to have a change of plans last minute. It's another to know full well you won't be eating someplace.