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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To lie about his age for free admission?

592 replies

WaitForCake · 16/07/2020 10:29

It's DS's 3rd birthday in a couple of weeks. I'm taking him to an attraction.

It's free for under 3s, but adult price at 3 upwards. Money is tight, but after a tough few months between lockdown and his DF moving out after our split, I want to do something nice for him.
As there is no inherent difference in what he'll get from the experience the day before his birthday and on the day of his birthday, WIBU to just buy him a 2 year old ticket?

I can't take him the day earlier due to work (I did consider this already).

YANBU - get the 2 year old ticket
YABU - pay the adult price for him

OP posts:
Happydinosaur53 · 16/07/2020 13:08

And now we're comparing fibbing about a 3 year old's age to benefit fraud.

Iamthewombat · 16/07/2020 13:08

The difference between paying £30 and £60 over a single day is stupid. Already, I'm paying a full adult price and not using ANY of the adult activities - so my money contributes to running costs of things I'm not using

Logical reasoning isn’t your strong suit, is it? If it’s an attraction aimed at children then of course they don’t expect parents to use the rides etc. The pricing structure means that the same admission cost is spread over more people. Would you be happier if adults went in free and only children paid? Then you could congratulate yourself on stealing £60, not £30.

The operators who run these attraction are proper business people. Do you think that they haven’t realised that adults won’t be using the baby rides and play areas at eg Peppa Pig World? They will have analysed the type of groups visiting and decided on the ticket prices accordingly. If they need X people through the gates at £Y to break even, it’s up to them to decide how the ticket prices work and who pays what. Either go and pay what is being asked, or don’t go. It’s simple.

Haenow · 16/07/2020 13:09

Can’t believe you’re starting your son on a path of crime and deception at such a young age. :( I feel sorry for him. Totally immoral.

(It’s his actual birthday, I’d do it on his birthday but not afterwards. I know it’s not really acceptable but I’m laughing at how outraged some people are! It’s insane to charge an adult price, they’d probably get more funds if they had a child rate.)

womaninatightspot · 16/07/2020 13:09

If it's a theme park type thing isn't there a buy 1 get one free ticket somewhere. I always assume no one pays full price for these things.

Livpool · 16/07/2020 13:10

YANBU

I wouldn't give this a second thought

Original poster
WaitForCake · 16/07/2020 13:10

[quote Usecoooomonsnse]@WaitForCake do you mind my asking which Attraction is this ? I’d just take him[/quote]
It's Chessington. He wants to go to the Sea Life and that's really what we're going for. We might look around the zoo too, but it's really all about the aquatics for him.

Normal SeaLife centres are £15 per adult and £12.50 for children 3 and up so I wouldn't have minded as much.

OP posts:
LittleRa · 16/07/2020 13:10

Is it Flamingoland?

To lie about his age for free admission?
LittleRa · 16/07/2020 13:11

Cross post @WaitForCake

Original poster
WaitForCake · 16/07/2020 13:11

Logical reasoning isn’t your strong suit, is it? If it’s an attraction aimed at children then of course they don’t expect parents to use the rides etc. The pricing structure means that the same admission cost is spread over more people. Would you be happier if adults went in free and only children paid? Then you could congratulate yourself on stealing £60, not £30.

Um, no. It's aimed at families, but it has a lot of adult attractions. Like most theme parks.

OP posts:
Youbigdosser · 16/07/2020 13:11

The people calling this theft make me laugh if it’s theft to pretend is a few days younger then call me a thief because I would quite happily lie

fuckinghellapeacock · 16/07/2020 13:11

And Father Christmas is not a lie, it is a cultural myth - like trolls in Iceland and Duppy in Jamaica. Being a poe faced 'truth seeker' denies cultural traditions and joy!
When DS was 5 his ultra religious GP told him FC was a lie and Jesus the truth. What a twat. We have never seen them at Xmas again.

JinglingHellsBells · 16/07/2020 13:12

I think if it's his birthday the day before, it's okay. BUT what I find more worrying is this...

if I just start talking about somewhere else he might forget but he can be quite one-track minded so I think he'll still keep reminding me about it if I don't take him

That at 2 (nearly 3!) he dictates what you do and he will keep reminding you. It's okay you know to be a mum and ignore his requests.

FedUpofLockdown123 · 16/07/2020 13:14

I'm going to an attraction tomorrow and have booked my 3 year old as an under 3. She's speech delayed so no chance of her telling themBlush.

Iamthewombat · 16/07/2020 13:14

These places are not 'honest' with us particularly and it goes both ways.

If you don’t like paying over the odds for food and drinks when you’re at the theme park, take your own.

If you don’t like sponsored rides, etc., ignore them or don’t go.

Your assertion that it’s ok to be dishonest if you don’t like the way a legitimate business operates is curious to say the least. Is it OK to steal expensive clothes from Harvey Nichols because you think that they charge too much? How about if you’re in a pub and you think that £1.50 is too much for a lime and soda because you could make it yourself for 5p, so you give the pub 10p and expect them to put up with it as a punishment for their perceived dishonesty?

Original poster
WaitForCake · 16/07/2020 13:15

@JinglingHellsBells

I think if it's his birthday the day before, it's okay. BUT what I find more worrying is this...

if I just start talking about somewhere else he might forget but he can be quite one-track minded so I think he'll still keep reminding me about it if I don't take him

That at 2 (nearly 3!) he dictates what you do and he will keep reminding you. It's okay you know to be a mum and ignore his requests.

When he first mentioned it, I stupidly said we can go on his birthday without checking the price (I assumed they would have height restriction prices or 3-12 child prices).

I do ignore his requests for chocolate ice cream. Wink

OP posts:
MasterBruceBalloon · 16/07/2020 13:15

I wouldn't do it. Either take him the day before or pay the proper price on his birthday.

I don't think it's about the attraction saying a 3 year old is an adult, its probably more than from 3+ you get to do all the things in the attraction whereas kids under 3 wouldn't be able to/want to. So instead of thinking it's unfair to pay for two adult tickets it's just two tickets - and the adult costs the same as a child.

Yellowcakestand · 16/07/2020 13:16

I did exactly this last week on a day out.
YANBU

Iamthewombat · 16/07/2020 13:16

Um, no. It's aimed at families, but it has a lot of adult attractions. Like most theme parks.

If it has a load of adult attractions, why are you whining that you’ll have to pay £30 for a load of stuff you won’t use?

Original poster
WaitForCake · 16/07/2020 13:16

I don't think it's about the attraction saying a 3 year old is an adult, its probably more than from 3+ you get to do all the things in the attraction whereas kids under 3 wouldn't be able to/want to. So instead of thinking it's unfair to pay for two adult tickets it's just two tickets - and the adult costs the same as a child.

I'd agree if this was the case. He's a short 3 year old so he can't go on the rides designed for him. And I can't go on the adult rides because I'm with him.

OP posts:
AnnaNimmity · 16/07/2020 13:18

I don't think it's right either OP. Take him when he's 2 if you want to pay 2 year old prices.

You know that's the right thing to do.

Scarby9 · 16/07/2020 13:18

I don't think it is right, but even if you so decide to do this, you may not get away with it.
I took my godson and little friend, both four at the time, to a mini-railway. Free for under 5s.
As I paid I said ' Two adults, please, and these two are free'.
'I'm not!' came an indignant shout from the friend. 'I'M FOUR'.
'I know', I said, 'I was saying you were FREE - we don't have to pay for you.'
'But I'm NOT free (free), I'm four now!'
Cue them both marching around in a circle, chanting. 'I'm not Free, I am four'.
Very relieved that I wasn't trying to slip them in over-the.

Original poster
WaitForCake · 16/07/2020 13:19

If it has a load of adult attractions, why are you whining that you’ll have to pay £30 for a load of stuff you won’t use?

I'm not whining. I'm saying it's ridiculous to pay two adult tickets when neither of us can do the activities designed for adults. I'm happy to pay my adult ticket despite the fact that I can't interact with the activities.
DS cannot go on any of the 1 metre plus rides. I cannot go on any of the 1 metre plus rides. It's a lot of money to pay, for the difference of one day, when nothing has changed about what we can do over the course of 24 hours.

OP posts:
GameSetMatch · 16/07/2020 13:20

Take him the day before his 3rd birthday?

Ohtherewearethen · 16/07/2020 13:22

@dontdisturbmenow

@Ohtherewearethen, nowhere did I say people shouldn't post their views. I just find very sad that parents are advocating lying to gain something for free

You literally did say that though:

All of you advocating a lie for a free ride, don't ever come posting when someone lies to you to suit them

womaninatightspot · 16/07/2020 13:22

Chessington has loads of free ticket offers look on cereal boxes at the supermarket. Problem solved :)