How Long Before Disney Starts Charging Infants?

[ford91exploder]

Right now there is no fee for children under age 3 to enter the parks or eat at the restaurants. Disney gets ancillary business from stroller and crib rentals (to say nothing of what the parents pay), but I have to believe this is another "loophole" they would like to close. Especially as infants make up a larger % of park guests than they use to.

Would a $15 or $20/day flat fee for admission or $5 per character meal really deter people from taking their babies to Disney? How much money would Disney really gain from doing so?

It used to be free to have your mouse ears embroidered at the gift shops. There wasn't a surcharge on one-day tickets for MK compared to other parks. It used to be free to park your car at your resort. The trend is finding new ways to generate revenue, and I have to believe this is one of the bigger "untapped markets".

Only a matter of time

 

[lazyboy97o]

Not long. I’m sure they will lower the age from u3 to u2 soon enough. And why not? Look at the threads here lately. Folks will line up to defend Disney regardless.

They already consider a 10yo an adult. Why not a 2yo a child.

Doesn’t Disney already consider a 3 year old an adult if one is purchasing an annual pass?

 

[John park hopper]

Resort fees and parking fees are an industry standard(Disney justification)-- quick search of the net 12 hotel chains offer continental style breakfast seems Disney is slow to adopt it.

 

[thomas998]

Right now there is no fee for children under age 3 to enter the parks or eat at the restaurants. Disney gets ancillary business from stroller and crib rentals (to say nothing of what the parents pay), but I have to believe this is another "loophole" they would like to close. Especially as infants make up a larger % of park guests than they use to.

Would a $15 or $20/day flat fee for admission or $5 per character meal really deter people from taking their babies to Disney? How much money would Disney really gain from doing so?

It used to be free to have your mouse ears embroidered at the gift shops. There wasn't a surcharge on one-day tickets for MK compared to other parks. It used to be free to park your car at your resort. The trend is finding new ways to generate revenue, and I have to believe this is one of the bigger "untapped markets".

I would hope that they would not start charging for infants, but rather charge a fee for strollers brought in whether used by an infant or a 8 year old. Stroller take up space and is the only real reason infants getting in free are an issue to me. Charge 100 dollars a day to bring in a stroller and see how many parents would bring in infants, probably not many... And I don't think the should give any discount if the stroller is for a 4 year old that has a ticket, hit the parents 100 dollars more for that stroller on top of the 4 year old's ticket.

 

[FettFan]

Hmm....depends.

How long do infants typically hold a charge these days?

 

[UncleMike101]

Hmm....depends.

How long do infants typically hold a charge these days?

Most children don't need to be charged.
They have built in nuclear reactors................

 

[AEfx]

Disney could EASILY add a $10/night resort fee with all the hotel activities they have.

Did we suddenly have a time warp to the 1980's? Because "hotel activities" kind of went the way of roaming characters around that time.

 

[Chef Mickey]

Did we suddenly have a time warp to the 1980's? Because "hotel activities" kind of went the way of roaming characters around that time.

You're overstating. They have some roaming characters now, but times have changed overall. Safety is a bigger priority and employees getting mobbed in random areas isn't a risk Disney wants. It's understandable why it's not as prevalent now. Harder to manage and more risk.

Hotels have a lot of activities.

 

[Me 'Earties]

Do the WDW hotels offer complimentary activities, other than the nighttime movie and marshmallow campfires? For example, while at VGF and BLT, I remember those being the complimentary ones, but can’t remember anything else. However, while at Aulani, I remember they had daily schedules that had basically a number of activities that filled a good portion of the day (and were mostly, if not all, complimentary). TBH, while at WDW, I don’t really take advantage of the activities on the hotel grounds, since we’d be mostly in the parks and pool. Aulani, for obvious reasons, you’d expect to stay mostly on hotel grounds. Anyhow, just curious since we have an upcoming visit at GF and may want to hang back more at the hotel.

 

[MomofPrincessGrace]

Same. My son did every single ride at age 6 at Disney. I don’t know of any other park where he could have done that. He’s 7 now- 53.5”, half an inch till he can ride anything at all amusement parks!

I don’t know about the DDP though.. I have an 11 year old nephew who eats me out of house and home every time he visits. Lol

Isn't it funny how kid's heights can vary so much. When we took my daughter last year in may she was like 43'. She hit a growth spurt and is not 47' at 7. There are some people out there with almost 4 year olds that surpass 42'.

 

[MomofPrincessGrace]

3 tier age grouping 3 to 10 --10 to 18, 18 and above adult

I would think more along the lines of 3-8, 9-14, 15+.

If you are old enough to be unsupervised in the park, you are old enough to pay adult prices.

 

[21stamps]

Isn't it funny how kid's heights can vary so much. When we took my daughter last year in may she was like 43'. She hit a growth spurt and is not 47' at 7. There are some people out there with almost 4 year olds that surpass 42'.

It really is! My son has friends who were a head shorter than him last year, and now almost just as tall. He has another friend who is at least one full head taller than my kiddo.. and that boy has been insanely tall since Kindergarten... he’s been playing 2 grade levels up in sports since K!

 

[Wngo905]

Do the WDW hotels offer complimentary activities, other than the nighttime movie and marshmallow campfires?

The Resorts are charging for marshmallows now. It used to be free but not at least for several months now.

 

[Me 'Earties]

The Resorts are charging for marshmallows now. It used to be free but not at least for several months now.

Facetious or serious?!? Lol sometimes I can’t tell on these boards...

 

[21stamps]

The Resorts are charging for marshmallows now. It used to be free but not at least for several months now.

I don’t know if this has been confirmed.. it sounds like someone may have been confused..

 

[Wngo905]

Facetious or serious?!? Lol sometimes I can’t tell on these boards...

I don’t know if this has been confirmed.. it sounds like someone may have been confused..

I can personally confirm that on my last stay at Kadani Village during Christmas 2017, they were charging for marshmallows at Jambo House. My family and I were surprised as they were free during our July 2017 trip and stays before that.

 

[Me 'Earties]

I can personally confirm that on my last stay at Kadani Village during Christmas 2017, they were charging for marshmallows at Jambo House. My family and I were surprised as they were free during our July 2017 trip and stays before that.

Wow. Thanks for the clarification. So then complimentary activities are limited to the nighttime outdoor movie, or are there others that are available?

 

[Wngo905]

Wow. Thanks for the clarification. So then complimentary activities are limited to the nighttime outdoor movie, or are there others that are available?

I know that there are activities that are both complimentary and a few pay at Deluxe Resorts such as Jambo House. There was some kids decorating masks that I think was free, drum circles, storytelling and nightvision viewing of animals (which are free) and at Christmas they had decorating cookies that was a small fee. I am not sure what GF has for your upcoming stay. Right before you go, you could do a google search for an GF Activity Calendar for that month, it will tell you what is going on, including activities and movies.
Have fun at GF! We will be coming down in late June for a June/July split stay at OKW and WL-BRV

 

[Me 'Earties]

I know that there are activities that are both complimentary and a few pay at Deluxe Resorts such as Jambo House. There was some kids decorating masks that I think was free, drum circles, storytelling and nightvision viewing of animals (which are free) and at Christmas they had decorating cookies that was a small fee. I am not sure what GF has for your upcoming stay. Right before you go, you could do a google search for an GF Activity Calendar for that month, it will tell you what is going on, including activities and movies.
Have fun at GF! We will be coming down in late June for a June/July split stay at OKW and WL-BRV

Thanks for the tip and well wishes! Much appreciated

I hope you enjoy your trip as well! I’m sure you’re counting down!!

 

[21stamps]

I can personally confirm that on my last stay at Kadani Village during Christmas 2017, they were charging for marshmallows at Jambo House. My family and I were surprised as they were free during our July 2017 trip and stays before that.

Wow. That’s disappointing to read. I understand the s’mores kits.. but one or two marshmallows for one child? That’s dumb.