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.

 

[captainkidd]

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?

I've taken him to do that the past 4 trips. He nearly feel asleep this past summer. It's for really little kids.

Like I said, I know he could handle the horseback riding, but I don't feel comfortable putting him in a situation where he'd have to lie, so he'll wait until next time.

 

[jeffk410]

lma0

don't make your kid suffer because of what people said. let him make the descsion himself =D.
Sheltering a kid can be worse then anything.

 

[CAPTAIN HOOK]

Sheltering a kid can be worse then anything.

And so can encouraging him to lie......................

 

[MichWolv]

I keep going back and forth on whether to substantively respond on this thread. There's a lot of intersting viewpoints being expressed.

The OP's original question has been answered. Little chance of being "caught" for the age issue.

And I'd also say that, in my experience, parents really do know quite well what their kids can and can't handle, so while I'm sure the rule is place for safety reasons, if he thinks his kid can handle the ride, I'm sure he's right.

And there's no issue there of stealing anything -- he plans to pay, and I suspect that the giving a ride to an 8 year old is not more costly or strenuous than a 9 year old ride.

What it comes down to then is whether this is something the OP feels comfortable lying about. I have to admit that I'm conflicted here. I am rarely comfortable lying about anything, even things that seem innocuous and harmless. But then again, I've broken that rule before. ["I spent an hour on my hair, honey. Do you like it?" :lol:] And if there's anybody that I could lie for and feel right about it, it's my son.

But I never feel so confident of the correctness of my decision to lie that I'd feel comfortable asking ahead of time "Do you think I'll get caught?" The deliberateness of that planning makes me uncomfortable whenever I'm in a position like that. So were I in the OP's shoes, I'd probably just skip it.

Perhaps that makes me weak, but I've somehow survived up until now.

 

[EPCOT Explorer]

: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

You have said that she is rotten...!
:lookaroun:lol::kiss:

Meh, I think this thread has had it's run.The OP should and could just be allowed to make his own choice.:wave:

 

[MichWolv]

You have said that she is rotten...!
:lookaroun:lol::kiss:

Meh, I think this thread has had it's run.The OP should and could just be allowed to make his own choice.:wave:

Sure. I say something and Evan decides the thread has now run its course. :lookaroun

Perhaps, however, I can find a way to use these thread-killing powers for good. :king: Somebody direct me to the nearest stroller, 5th park, or monorail extension thread!

 

[Sage of Time]

Sure. I say something and Evan decides the thread has now run its course. :lookaroun

Perhaps, however, I can find a way to use these thread-killing powers for good. :king: Somebody direct me to the nearest stroller, 5th park, or monorail extension thread!

Hagahaha...!:lol:

( He got the job done though)

These things get too blown out of proportion.

 

[Phonedave]

And I'd also say that, in my experience, parents really do know quite well what their kids can and can't handle, so while I'm sure the rule is place for safety reasons, if he thinks his kid can handle the ride, I'm sure he's right.

I am NOT saying the OP does not know what his kids can and cannot handle. What I AM saying is be careful when you assume parents know whats best for their childern

Mom in jail because she bought alcohol for her kids party

http://pantagraph.com/articles/2008/10/15/news/doc48f54dcfa3122905861100.txt

10 Miles from my house, mom in jail for buying alcohol for her kids party where a neighbor kid ends up getting se_ualy assualted.

http://www.northjersey.com/news/Mom_admits_letting_minors_drink_and_smoke_at_her_house.html

Mom in jail because she left her kids home while she went to Africa to marry someone she met on the Interent.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1961520/posts



There are plenty more stories like that out there. Took me about a minute on Google to find those.

-dave

 

[captainkidd]

I am NOT saying the OP does not know what his kids can and cannot handle. What I AM saying is be careful when you assume parents know whats best for their childern

Mom in jail because she bought alcohol for her kids party

http://pantagraph.com/articles/2008/10/15/news/doc48f54dcfa3122905861100.txt

10 Miles from my house, mom in jail for buying alcohol for her kids party where a neighbor kid ends up getting se_ualy assualted.

http://www.northjersey.com/news/Mom_admits_letting_minors_drink_and_smoke_at_her_house.html

Mom in jail because she left her kids home while she went to Africa to marry someone she met on the Interent.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1961520/posts



There are plenty more stories like that out there. Took me about a minute on Google to find those.

-dave

With all due respect, those people are obviously pretty dumb. Buying alchohol for your kids and letting your kid go horseback riding are a bit different.

 

[maggiegrace1]

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.

I just prefer parking at the Poly..after the park we usually ahng out at Poly on the beach and relax..

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.

No..not really...though it makes sense andf I have before...a lot of times we will walk to the Contemorary to look around and then take a boat to the Poly or take a boat regardless..and anyone can use the resort monorails and get ff at th TTC if they choose..they just do not and wait in line with millions of others..:shrug:

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

I said I COULD..not that I did..
Like I said...I just go to the turnstiles and go through..they usually do not ask at all..:shrug:

You have said that she is rotten...!
:lookaroun:lol::kiss:

Meh, I think this thread has had it's run.The OP should and could just be allowed to make his own choice.:wave:

She is...:lol:

The thing is..I will continue to do what I have always done and if they stop me from dioing it then fine...but I am not doing anything illegal and I do not believe that I am ruining someone elses trip or anything by parking at the Poly or by getting in the MK early..:shrug:

 

[maggiegrace1]

With all due respect, those people are obviously pretty dumb. Buying alchohol for your kids and letting your kid go horseback riding are a bit different.

You would think huh?:lol:

Unless they buy him a beer and THEN let them ride a horse...when he is not 9 yet:lookaroun:ROFLOL:

 

[EPCOT Explorer]

I just prefer parking at the Poly..after the park we usually ahng out at Poly on the beach and relax..

No..not really...though it makes sense andf I have before...a lot of times we will walk to the Contemorary to look around and then take a boat to the Poly or take a boat regardless..and anyone can use the resort monorails and get ff at th TTC if they choose..they just do not and wait in line with millions of others..:shrug:

I said I COULD..not that I did..
Like I said...I just go to the turnstiles and go through..they usually do not ask at all..:shrug:

She is...:lol:

The thing is..I will continue to do what I have always done and if they stop me from dioing it then fine...but I am not doing anything illegal and I do not believe that I am ruining someone elses trip or anything by parking at the Poly or by getting in the MK early..:shrug:

We did the same to see Wishes from the Poly and to take the Monorail to EPCOT this year so I reeeeeally don't think that it's such a terrible thing and I'm sure a TON of members on here do it.:lol::lol:

 

[CAPTAIN HOOK]

and I'm sure a TON of members on here do it.:lol::lol:

Don't pitch everyone in the same bucket

 

[EPCOT Explorer]

Don't pitch everyone in the same bucket

I'm not. Don't worry.:wave:

 

[Phonedave]

With all due respect, those people are obviously pretty dumb. Buying alchohol for your kids and letting your kid go horseback riding are a bit different.

Please re-read the post I responded to

And I'd also say that, in my experience, parents really do know quite well what their kids can and can't handle,

Many parents do, but a large number of them don't. Thats why WDW (and other places) have what seem like arbitrary rules such as 9 y/o or over. It's becaue many parents don't have that ability to make intellegent decisions. It may be buying alcohol, it may be letting them go horseback riding, it may renting a SeaRaycer, it may be letting them ride in the back of a pick-up truck. You never can tell just what looney thing a seemingly responsible parent may let their kids do. My example are just there to show, that assuming that parents are responsible and know their kids limitations is not allways a good assumption.

Again, this has no bearing on the OP's ability to make a judgement call. It seem like his child has been horseback riding before and hs done fine with it. However rules are rules. My personal feeling on them, is if they are silly rules, then I will voice my opinion and try to have them changed. I will not just blatantly disregard them - thats just me. My 9 y/o is, in my parental opinion, able to ride as well (she took a year of equestrian riding when she was 7) but she will not be riding at WDW until she is 10.

-dave

 

[fosse76]

And I'd also say that, in my experience, parents really do know quite well what their kids can and can't handle, so while I'm sure the rule is place for safety reasons, if he thinks his kid can handle the ride, I'm sure he's right.

I have a problem with that statement on its face. There was an incident at the Six Flags park I worked at about ten years ago. A rollercoaster dislodged and wedged into its second loop, stranding riders upside down for three hours. One man sued claiming his son was too small and should not have been on the ride. However, the child met the minimum height requirement and his father was sitting next to him on the ride, so when they boarded he didn't seem to have a problem with the ride. I gurantee you if the son had been even a millimeter too short he would not have been allowed to ride, and his father would have made the same argument as above. It happens ALL the time. I don't doubt CM's at Disney encounter the same type of parent ("it's ok, I'll take responsibility").

These policies are generally in place for insurance purposes. It is more than likely that Disney's insurance company does not cover children under the age of 9 for horseback riding. How they arrived at that age is not really relevant. So if something occurs and the child is injured, than Disney would have to pay out-of-pocket for any liabilty as opposed to the insurance.

And there's no issue there of stealing anything -- he plans to pay, and I suspect that the giving a ride to an 8 year old is not more costly or strenuous than a 9 year old ride.

Agree that there is no theft here. However, there is the possibility that because he is riding another child who DOES meet the requirements is losing out. Though I think that's unlikely.

I personally am not conflicted. Unlike re-using the refillable mug on a subsequent visit or passing off a 3-year old as a 2-year old, this policy is in place for safety considerations and getting caught would mean something had happened to cause injury to the child and there was medical treatment and a lawsuit going on. While the odds are small that anything would happen, if something were to happen Disney's liability diminishes, and you could potentially be held liable. Yes, for the kid, it sucks that he can't do something evryone else will get to do. But that's a part of life...he'll get over it.

 

[goofntink]

I personally don't have a problem with the fact the child is 8 or 8.5 instead on 9.If they feel he is mature enough to be on the horse,fine let the child have a good time. My wife and I buy a Florida Resident Annual Pass for our neice every year.Mind you she lives out of state,but during the course of the year she stays with us a total of 4 months and we feel that makes her a resident. She is here 10days during spring break,summer vacation from the day after school is out till the Friday before she goes back,and the 2 weeks during christmas break when everyone comes down. Some would say we are cheating,but we don't feel that way.

 

[kimmychad]

I personally don't have a problem with the fact the child is 8 or 8.5 instead on 9.If they feel he is mature enough to be on the horse,fine let the child have a good time. My wife and I buy a Florida Resident Annual Pass for our neice every year.Mind you she lives out of state,but during the course of the year she stays with us a total of 4 months and we feel that makes her a resident. She is here 10days during spring break,summer vacation from the day after school is out till the Friday before she goes back,and the 2 weeks during christmas break when everyone comes down. Some would say we are cheating,but we don't feel that way.

it doesn't hurt me one way or the other if you buy the florida resident pass for you niece or the not. it doesn't cost me any different, and whether you but it for her or not she's probably going to go, so i don't see the harm.

 

[Phonedave]

I personally don't have a problem with the fact the child is 8 or 8.5 instead on 9.If they feel he is mature enough to be on the horse,fine let the child have a good time. My wife and I buy a Florida Resident Annual Pass for our neice every year.Mind you she lives out of state,but during the course of the year she stays with us a total of 4 months and we feel that makes her a resident. She is here 10days during spring break,summer vacation from the day after school is out till the Friday before she goes back,and the 2 weeks during christmas break when everyone comes down. Some would say we are cheating,but we don't feel that way.

Does she consider herself a resident of the State she lives in the rest of the year?

Do her parents claim her on their tax return in that State ?

-dave

 

[goofntink]

Does she consider herself a resident of the State she lives in the rest of the year?

Do her parents claim her on their tax return in that State ?

-dave

Actually,she tells everyone she lives with her mom during the school year,and with us the rest of the year.


Yes, her mother has always claimed her.And just so you know.Her father[my brother]passed away when she was 9 months old.Before he did,he asked,and I promised to take care of them.Her mom was 2 months into nursing school at the time and was going to quit.I won't discuss why.I offered to take care of my niece so she could finish school and get her degree.I did so happily and with no regrets for the next 3 years.During that time my sister-in-law made me a legal guardian,to which I still am to this day.My niece as far as she is concerned thinks of me not as her uncle,but as her dad,and tells everyone just that.And as far as I am concerned she will always be my daughter.