Germany Europa Park- do they check age under 4?

[Barleysugar86]

We were looking at booking a few days to Europa park, and entry is free for under 4's. It took me too long into planning a trip with the assumption of the free toddler ticket to realise that my son will be turning 4 a couple of days before the schools break up, it puts the price up hugely from free toddler to full cost child factoring this in. I have older children too and do feel like their education is important so I don't really want to take them out of school and the school nursery during term time.

Would I be crazy to book him as 3 anyway and chance it? Has anyone had any experience of the parks and attached hotel to know if they are likely to check?He isn't especially old looking and he'll still be under 1m tall so only eligible for the toddler rides.

Surely if you are taking older children anyway the price difference is negligible and not necessarily such an increase to mean you can't afford the trip?

But to answer question I guess they probably don't check but might ask child how old he is.

They can ask to see passport - doesn’t mean they will, but equally doesn’t meant they won’t.

Do you're planning to lie about your child's age? Why? Pay the price it's supposed to be and then no worries.

To be fair, it's a difference of at least 44€ (or more, depending on the day). That's not cheap. I'd probably lie about the age at the entrance. They don't usually check and will trust the adults.
Would be different if you were trying to smuggle an obviously much older kid in.

If you are staying at the hotel won't they want your passports at check in?

If you are staying elsewhere and have your tickets I'm sure you'll be fine.

The child is older though. There has to be a cut off point. This is it. Don't go to another country and immediately disrespect them.

The child is older by a few days...don't be so dramatic.
I'm neither going to another country...nor am I disrespecting "them". Plenty of Germans would have no issue doing this. Ticket prices are extortionate and it's not as if they aren't paying full price for everyone else.

You might want to see whether you can get any deals, though. Phantasialand have them quite frequently, for example.

Again, there has to be a cut off point.
Being honest isn't being dramatic. 😧

Do you know many Germans?
I do and they would be pretty horrified by the very idea.
Having said that OP as a non German I don't think its the crime of the century, just be prepared as to what you will do if rumbled

What will you do if your 3yo inevitably goes "No mummy, I'm FOUR!" at top volume when you buy the tickets?

I'd also check to see if the free ticket means he can't go on as many rides?

Do I know many Germans? Yeah..loads. I'm a German national and I live in Germany. I don't know anyone, who would be the least bit concerned about this...

Just don't let him learn the German word for no, because then they'll think he's 'nein'....boom boom.

Nein.
Du spinnst.
Won't ever cross the road at a red man.
Obey cycle lane rules very strictly.
Yet lie about the age of die Kinder?

How would you be with being lied to because it would save someone money? Are you happy for your children to lie to you if it suits them?

If not then no, don't lie. If you would be then have a think about your moral compass (assuming you have one)

Is that the extent of your German?
Most parks will go by height anyway and for the Europapark, you'd just have to check that the child will be allowed to go on the different rides. That makes much more sense, when talking about certain cut offs.

Man kann sich das Leben aber auch schwer machen...

I should have seen das coming...

I hope they do. Other parents pay full price. Why shouldn't you?

I would say it depends weather he's a tall 3yo or on the small side.

Most rides have a hight restrictions, so if he's at a hight where he can access most children's rides he should play...

Are you referring to me?
Of course that's not the extent of my German however this is an English speaking site so.....

Apologies, you have much more insight into Germans than me then.
I would say the ones I know would be horrified (maybe different generations?)

@Fuzzypinetree Europarks aside, I'm actually really interested in most things German, I really love the language and spend a lot of time watching German films and series, as well as stuff on YouTube etc. I hope I haven't offended you too much. 🇩🇪

Crossing the road or obeying rules for cycling have to do with safety.

That's why I'm saying, if the cut off has to do with height restrictions, it makes more sense. Just the age is rather arbitrary, which is why it's not something I'd be too worried about...especially when the difference is just a few days. DS is really tall, for example, which is why we used to have to pay full price long before other people, who just happen to have smaller children of the same age.

The absolute worst that would happen is they do check, you apologise for your error since he's literally just turned four, and pay for the child ticket there and then. But in all likelihood nothing will happen. It's a few days difference and you said he won't be accessing the rides for over 1m so I really don't think it will be an issue.

Hi Op, we went a few months ago and stayed at one of the resort hotels.

It would be based on what you’d filled in on the online check in or whenever the stage was when you enter all the children’s dates of birth. You can log in and see what you have entered but can’t edit the details once submitted that first time.

So of you already entered the DC as age 3 then it will be taken at face value I’d think, unless they looked like an 8 year old or something 😊.

Honestly don’t worry about it, the staff at the hotels are great and it’s an awesome theme park, enjoy.

I am aware of the safety aspect.
I just don't like lying, I tend to be honest even if I don't have to. Agree that a height based system would make more sense tbh.