How Long Before Disney Starts Charging Infants?

[21stamps]

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

They also have pool games all day long for the kids. GF has one of those big chess boards by the courtyard pool, as well as ping pong and foosball as well.., and the parasol parade..

 

[Me 'Earties]

They also have pool games all day long for the kids. GF has one of those big chess boards by the courtyard pool, as well as ping pong and foosball as well.., and the parasol parade..

Ah good point. Parasol parade you say? I’ll have to check that out.

 

[tampabrad]

They won't charge for the infant. They will up the charge for stroller rental and charge families a fee for bringing in their own stroller.

 

[xdan0920]

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.

Do you get a cut off these tickets? Why would you want a 15 year old you don't know charged as an adult? Bizarre take.

 

[jakeman]

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.

As a counter, I can also confirm that as of one month ago at Saratoga Springs, marshmallows were free and a s'more kit was available for purchase.

Not doubting or refuting your claim, just providing contrary anecdotal evidence.

 

[Wngo905]

As a counter, I can also confirm that as of one month ago at Saratoga Springs, marshmallows were free and a s'more kit was available for purchase.

Not doubting or refuting your claim, just providing contrary anecdotal evidence.

Great to hear! TOTALLY my mistake and misunderstanding:-?
Even just called the wife about it. We just remember the sign saying there was a charge. It was not clear that marshmallows were no charge, but we did not read it in detail and we did not ask.
Sorry Everyone for the misinformation, it was not my intent. I need a better brain.

 

[larryz]

They also have pool games all day long for the kids. GF has one of those big chess boards by the courtyard pool, as well as ping pong and foosball as well.., and the parasol parade..

WL offers free tours of the lobby once or twice a day...

 

[mitros]

This is like reminding the teacher who forgot to assign homework for the weekend.


Shhhhh! Don't. Give. Them. Any. More. Ideas.

EXACTLY! ol' Bobby Iger is just waiting for the right moment!

 

[mitros]

Future check ins at a Moderate Resort might go something like this;
CM. Good morning sir. And what can we do for you this Magical day?
Guest. Good morning. I have reservations. The name is Smedley. Jebedia Smedley.
CM. Yes Mr Smedley. We have your reservation right here. And is your significant other here with you.
Guest. Why yes. My Wife’s browsing in the gift shop while I check in.
CM. Alright Mr Smedley I have you all set. You have a Preferred room with a lovely view of the Lagoon.
Guest. Thanks. That’s exactly what My Wife was hoping for. She says looking out on the water is romantic.
CM. Romantic? Ummm…… Of course. Uh Mr. Smedley. Are you aware of the Romance Fee that we charge our guests? It was mentioned on page 35 of our "Terms of Usage" agreement that you approved when you made your reservations.
Guest. Romance Fee???
CM. Yes Sir. We at WDW believe that guests should pay an upcharge for engaging in romantic activity while on our property. After all we are providing the opportunity for people to become intimate in our lovely setting.
Guest. But we’re not here to-------
CM. Sir would you like the single time package or will you be getting intimate more than once during your stay? If so we have a multiple experience package.
Guest. What if we don't get intimate while we're here?
CM. That's up to you Sir but we levy the charges to everyone whether they become intimate or not. And you should be glad that you're not staying at a Deluxe Resort. The fee there is twice what it is here.
Guest. This sounds like a money grabbing scheme to me.
CM. We’re just bringing our facilities up to industry standards Sir.
Guest. Who’s industry standards.
CM. Why, whatever industry standards our Management decides they can charge for of course.

GREAT!

 

[21stamps]

WL offers free tours of the lobby once or twice a day...

They also have the Hidden Mickey hunt at WL! We failed miserably at it..but it was fun trying to find them.

 

[CraigOtten]

I'm sort of with Disney on this idea to a small degree.

My vote is that the newborn should be no charge to enter the park HOWEVER there should be a small charge for any private stroller brought into the park that the infant will inevitably use. Obviously, there should be no private stroller charge if an accompany child using it has an admission ticket.

Strollers and scooters are becoming much harder to navigate around and most people don't seem to be cognizant of where they are or who is trying to get around. Strollers do cause the same amount of traffic problems in the parks (if not more) in my opinion. It's one of the main reasons why my friends and I pretend to play stroller/scooter tipping when we visit the parks because they aggravate us so much when trying to navigate around them.

My friends and I visit Disney purposefully bringing as little as possible with the exception of 1 small backpack on occasion because it just makes the experience much better. The less we carry, the less we have to deal with and the more we can focus on having fun. We also try to be very aware of our walking patterns and other trying to get around us because that is just common courtesy.

We deploy "special" treatment against people that are oblivious to others around them. For example, the parties that turn around quickly in the middle of traffic (or "Crazy Ivan" us), stop in the middle of traffic, walk in random walking patterns, or the phone/map readers. We totally understand that the patrons visiting the parks are looking to have fun as well but that is no excuse to being a nuisance to others trying to do the same thing.

Just my thoughts on this conversation...

 

[Jim Chandler]

You folks do realize that Disney is a business with a bottom line to meet and keep investors happy. Despite our belief we visitors come first we are actually only in the top 5.
When anything they pay for goes up such as minimum gas, wages, maintenance cost or insurance rates the money needs to come from some where. Be happy parking at Disney Springs is free. For now

 

[gsansone]

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".

This would be the most disgusting thing they could do, to charge a BABY. For what? They're on the lap of their parents for anything they do. They don't eat park food...what kind of message would WDW be sending to parents and kids: We're going to bang you over the head from the day you're born. Please. A gross suggestion.

 

[MomofPrincessGrace]

Do you get a cut off these tickets? Why would you want a 15 year old you don't know charged as an adult? Bizarre take.

Not sure how to respond.. My reply was to a suggested pricing tier, so I gave my own suggestion. What does that have to do with knowing the people being charged those prices?

 

[xdan0920]

Not sure how to respond.. My reply was to a suggested pricing tier, so I gave my own suggestion. What does that have to do with knowing the people being charged those prices?

I just don’t understand your suggestion. It only benefits TWDC, not guests. Are you a guest or a board member?

 

[SoupBone]

I can't see them charging for infants (considering they sleep most of the time and aren't really consuming the food at any restaurant or going on many rides). I could see them lowering the age to 2. They could easily Fall back on the "industry standard" baloney because the airlines' magic number is 2 before they start charging.

The bigger question, and I'm sure it's been said already in this thread, is how would they enforce it? They aren't going to be asking for birth certificates. There are a lot of kids that are big for their age, some that are small for their age. Even with adding guests to your Disney Experience, there are ways around that too. It's still going to be based on the honor code for the foreseeable future, even if they lower the age.

 

[21stamps]

The bigger question, and I'm sure it's been said already in this thread, is how would they enforce it? They aren't going to be asking for birth certificates. There are a lot of kids that are big for their age, some that are small for their age. Even with adding guests to your Disney Experience, there are ways around that too. It's still going to be based on the honor code for the foreseeable future, even if they lower the age.

I have a cousin who’s son is extremely tall.. she actually brought a copy of his birth certificate on their last visit, when he was 2. She was worried that they would believe his age. No one asked for it though, but she had it just in case.

 

[SoupBone]

I have a cousin who’s son is extremely tall.. she actually brought a copy of his birth certificate on their last visit, when he was 2. She was worried that they would believe his age. No one asked for it though, but she had it just in case.

It would be a completely unreasonable request, and would only add both time to getting in the parks, and frustration for guests. My best guess is that they will never ask for something like that.

 

[DryerLintFan]

I'm still annoyed that a 3 y/o is effectively an adult (okay, $6 less than a 10+ y/o for a day ticket). They can't even go on half the rides. I guess Disney has to make up for their lack of individual purchasing power (see also: parents).

My daughter just turned 3 a month ago and the only five rides she cannot go on in all four parks are Space Mountain, Mission: Space, RocknRoller Coaster, Expedition Everest, and Primeval Whirl.

We will still be doing almost nothing but meeting princesses, LOL, but if she wanted to, she could go on almost all the rides.

 

[JulieC]

Seeing as pretty much every infant (hey, I have twins) brings in a paying adult that is restricted from doing much except taking care of said infant and spending more money, they are already charging. Yes, said paid adult can swap out with another paid adult, but let's face it, they aren't taking up space in ride queues.