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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To say 3 year old DC is 2 for free theme park entry?

242 replies

MooonDreamerz · 10/08/2024 08:43

Toddler has just turned 3 and very small for their age.
we are going to a theme park next week. It's free for age 0-2.

DH says we should say DC is 2 so we don't have to pay for them. We will be paying for ourselves and older children.

Do people do this?

I can see how people get away with it as toddlers tend not to carry ID!

OP posts:
mitogoshi · 10/08/2024 09:55

I did for Disney, just a day ticket (California) as dd was strapped into the double buggy going in they didn't even blink, in fact they thought they were twins and said how cute. Dd was non verbal so seemed younger too

mitogoshi · 10/08/2024 09:58

Should also add that there wasn't really any rides dd could go on that her younger sister couldn't go on too, was very small (5th percentile)

tsmainsqueeze · 10/08/2024 09:58

I did it and have no guilt , spent plenty once inside and as others have said the prices some of these places charge are a rip off.

HunterHearstHelmsley · 10/08/2024 10:03

I'm doing this next week.

Tbf, the place I'm going has ambiguous wording. 0-2 or 2+. I'm paying the 0-2 price instead if 2+ for a 2 year old.

It's ridiculous paying the same for a 2 year old and a 7 year old when the 2 year old will not get anywhere near as much value. Theme parks should bring back the old non-ride wristbands.

Goodadvice1980 · 10/08/2024 10:03

I wouldn’t lie OP. Worse case scenario what if there’s an accident and it turns out you lied about this age and he isn’t covered by their public liability insurance?

DancingPhantomsOnTheTerrace · 10/08/2024 10:05

Are the rides in the park based on height, and if so, is your child under the height for most of them?

I like the way legoland does it which is you pay if your child is at the height that means they can go on more rides. If they're tiny and can only go on a couple of the small toddler rides, it's free.

I'd be annoyed to be paying based on age if they then couldn't go on much because of their height.

LittleBitAlexisLaLaLaLaLa · 10/08/2024 10:05

Crack on. I reckon everyone I know including me has done this at least once. When they could get away with it.

crumblingschools · 10/08/2024 10:06

If you ran a business would you be happy if people did this with your business?

Simonjt · 10/08/2024 10:09

Goodadvice1980 · 10/08/2024 10:03

I wouldn’t lie OP. Worse case scenario what if there’s an accident and it turns out you lied about this age and he isn’t covered by their public liability insurance?

This isn’t how public liability insurance works.

MeYouAndAQuestion · 10/08/2024 10:09

I never did it as it's not the type of thing I do however I almost always had the extra fee waived. We used to ski at different resorts and it seemed to be a policy to let older kids in at the younger kids prices. My kids were tall too.

I dislike casual dishonesty and I find it cheap to lie about things like this. The worse thing is when people try and justify doing it. If you are ok doing it then own it! Don't try and make up reasons why it's morally ok. It's hardly the biggest crime in the world but it's not honest.

LadySailorr · 10/08/2024 10:10

I have never done it, simply because it never ever occurred to me.

This thread has got me thinking…

MeYouAndAQuestion · 10/08/2024 10:10

Goodadvice1980 · 10/08/2024 10:03

I wouldn’t lie OP. Worse case scenario what if there’s an accident and it turns out you lied about this age and he isn’t covered by their public liability insurance?

Don't be daft! Lots of reason not to,lie but this isn't one of them.

Procrastinates · 10/08/2024 10:12

It's ridiculous paying the same for a 2 year old and a 7 year old when the 2 year old will not get anywhere near as much value.

This annoys me way more than it should but it's so true. There's lots of attractions near us that charge a child's price e.g. anyone between 2-16 pays the same price how can that possibly be logical there's no way a 2 year old and a 16 yet old are getting the same experience so why are they the same price.

Absolutely do it, especially if she's not going to be able to go on all the rides. Charging by height at a theme park makes so much more sense anyway.

Floralnomad · 10/08/2024 10:12

This is not something I have ever done or would do .

Scentsless · 10/08/2024 10:13

Are your older children likely to blurt out something like "but Mummy, she's three now. Have you forgotten she had her birthday last month?"

Minikievs · 10/08/2024 10:15

Oh God I'd 100% do it. It's not like you're trying to sneak you ALL in. You're paying for adults and older kids. I wouldn't even mention it, just say 2 adults and 2 DC, and ignore the third DV. I doubt they'll even ask.

Namechangenoooo · 10/08/2024 10:16

I did this with my son and he reminded me in front of the ticket lady that he was now 3 😂The lady laughed and said mummy must have forgotten!! She waved us through. That was at Legoland or Chessington .

sesquipedalian · 10/08/2024 10:16

Sorry, but I’m appalled by the casual dishonesty people are displaying. If you think theme parks are extortionately priced and the food and drink are daylight robbery, then don’t go - but don’t use it as a justification for being dishonest, and saving a few bob in an entry ticket.

Namechangenoooo · 10/08/2024 10:19

MeYouAndAQuestion · 10/08/2024 10:09

I never did it as it's not the type of thing I do however I almost always had the extra fee waived. We used to ski at different resorts and it seemed to be a policy to let older kids in at the younger kids prices. My kids were tall too.

I dislike casual dishonesty and I find it cheap to lie about things like this. The worse thing is when people try and justify doing it. If you are ok doing it then own it! Don't try and make up reasons why it's morally ok. It's hardly the biggest crime in the world but it's not honest.

🙄

Notthatcatagain · 10/08/2024 10:19

I paid the proper price for small grandchildren last summer, never occurred to me not to do so. Then got absolutely fleeced for ridiculously priced ice cream and soft drinks. I shall think twice next time

Aprilmaymum · 10/08/2024 10:20

I have problems as my DC are all very tall and look much older. I have been asked on a couple of occasions when I hadn’t paid for my two year old as he looked well over three. I also don’t agree with it being height based as just because a young child is taller mean they are mature enough to want to go on a ride. I have always been honest to teach my children honestly but it is up to you really.

Soubriquet · 10/08/2024 10:20

Absolutely go for it. Especially if there isn’t many rides for the 3 year old to go on.

It’s one of the perks of having a tiny toddler

whatsappdoc · 10/08/2024 10:21

I more than make up for a free child by having to pay a full adult price and not going on any rides. So in my eyes they're quids in.

lol at it's only 'a few bob extra'. Throw a few notes my way will you?

Charlie2121 · 10/08/2024 10:22

Would you also steal from a shop if you knew you wouldn’t be caught?

There is no difference.

Createausername1970 · 10/08/2024 10:23

I am the type of person who will point out I have been given too much change, I prefer to be honest.

But I have done what you are going to do. If I paid more at the gate, then I had less to spend inside, at the gift shop for example, so I was telling DS "no, sorry, can't afford it". But if I paid less at the gate then I had more money to spend inside. My DS got a better experience as he came away with stuff from the gift shop and had ice creams and lunch etc.

I probably ended up spending more overall when I paid less at the gate.