NO FIEND WOULD EVER DO THIS

[Travisma 1,317]

Syndicated column  Dear Prudence in a Tampa newspaper today posed an interesting question....

 

It's okay to fool Disney?

My husband and I are facing an ethical dilemma. His parents are comfortable financially and it has become a tradition for us to fly down on school break to their home in Central Florida. Often, on their dime, we visit One of Central Florida's Most Popular Destinations. This year our youngest will be turning 3 just ahead of arrival. That is the 'magical' age at which admission must be paid. My in-laws have asked how we feel about passing him off as 2-year-old, thus getting in for free. Our issues are that it's their money, but we feel kind of icky about lying, and also our other children would be old enough to pick up on what we're doing.

Last year Disney CEO Robert Iger made $34.3 million. This was a crushing drop of 15 percent from the previous year, and probably due to people like you who pretended their 3-year-olds were 2-year-olds and didn't pay the $93 kiddie tariff. Yes, that's what it costs to bring a child into the park. Perhaps when you get to the ticket booth and say junior is only 2, your older children will be appalled to discover Mom and Dad are conspiring in a lie to defraud Disney. More likely they'll be distracted by the tweens hitting puberty who are being pushed in strollers by parents claiming the kids are still toddlers. Tell your youngest to say, 'Ga-ga, goo-goo,' as you enter and don't worry about ripping off Disney - your group will be dropping a bundle. All age cut-offs are somewhat arbitrary, but that 3-year-old one seems positively exploitative. -

 

[BuckeyeFortFan 35]

No.  Never.   >:D

[devores 382]

I for one find this appalling. Does it happen? Yes.....Is it OK? Not at all. You are knowingly "stealing" from a company. Its like saying Marvel made 1.3 million on a movie, so its OK to record the show on your smart phone and sell it on the net. Or one step further, Sears made $106million dollars, its OK to walk out with that pair of socks.

 

Stealing is stealing. Point your moral compass where you may, but its wrong no matter how you justify it. And for a news source to openly condone this practice? Even worse. I can see a lawsuit from Disney in the future for them.

[Grumpy and Grandma 739]

Dear, It's Ok,.

 

If the in-laws are that strapped financially that they can't afford the extra ticket you should be chipping in for the trip...

 

Prudence.

 

This kind of "s---" burns my rear.

[CampMImi 22]

Wow. Why don't we just succumb to socialism?  What a DA to publicly advise someone to steal.  It is obviously not a big deal for the writer who rides the financial coat tails of someone else.

 

I simply would not do this because regardless if we like it or not, we set the tone. And besides, both of my girls were ADAMANT about every digit/every month of their age!  It was, "No!  I am 3 years and 4 months old!"  

 

I could never rob them of that. :)

[BradyBzLyn...Mo 2,023]

Full disclosure, I am not a parent, but if I was I'd be very concerned about teaching my toddler (and other kids) that it's perfectly ok to lie if you think you have a good enough reason to do so.

 

By that logic, wouldn't it be perfectly fine to steal stuff from Walmart because the family that owns it has buckets of money (even more than Disney)?

[AC in A2......Aaron 693]

While i think it's ridiculous that the "magical age" is 3. It is their business to use whatever business model they like and my decision to pay or not. I could have likely gotten away with that particular move on a few of our trips, but I agree that stealing is stealing.

FP+ workarounds are fairgame once admission is paid though. :)

[Mtnmanky...aka Leon 72]

I scares me for our society when this is even a question that would make a newspaper discussion.

 

Reminds me of the old joke about:

Q: would you do this for a million dollars? 

A: yes. 

Q: For twenty dollars?

A: no, what do you think I am? 

We settled that, now just haggling over price.

[ftwildernessguy 778]

I have fooled many CM's at the gate by walking in backwards, thereby giving the illusion I am leaving.

[BradyBzLyn...Mo 2,023]

I scares me for our society when this is even a question that would make a newspaper discussion.

 

This is actually one of the topics that pretty regularly flares up on some other forums.  And by "flares" I mean "quickly goes down in flames."

[JaimeN 8]

I have fooled many CM's at the gate by walking in backwards, thereby giving the illusion I am leaving.

 

Best laugh I've had today! 

[h2odivers...Ray 952]

Let me put out this question..."is it ok to buy a Kids meal for yourself?"

Or for your child who just turned 10 a week before they arrive at Disney and eats like a bird or do you buy them the adult portion that is twice as much food and costs twice as much?

[BradyBzLyn...Mo 2,023]

My 2 cents is that it's different because Disney doesn't put an age limit on who can order a kids meal, and you're still paying for the food.  I don't think Disney really cares who eats the food as long as it's paid for.

 

As opposed to lying to avoid paying an admission.

[mouseketab.....Carol 1,261]

My 2 cents is that it's different because Disney doesn't put an age limit on who can order a kids meal, and you're still paying for the food. I don't think Disney really cares who eats the food as long as it's paid for.

As opposed to lying to avoid paying an admission.

Agreed. I buy kids meals at CS quite often.

[mouseketab.....Carol 1,261]

However, at a buffet, if the kid is 10, then they should pay adult price.

[h2odivers...Ray 952]

However, at a buffet, if the kid is 10, then they should pay adult price.

Well. Would you allow your 10 yr 7 day old child eat a kids buffet?

[h2odivers...Ray 952]

My 2 cents is that it's different because Disney doesn't put an age limit on who can order a kids meal, and you're still paying for the food.  I don't think Disney really cares who eats the food as long as it's paid for.

 

As opposed to lying to avoid paying an admission.

  

Agreed. I buy kids meals at CS quite often.

Actually Disney does.

It says on the kids menu "for guests age 9 and under".

[DinDavie 37]

I think the letter writer asked the wrong person for advice.  She should have asked her older children.  If she is half the mother I hope she is, she wouldn't even get the question out.  She would realize that she is her childrens best ethics teacher and the kids learn by watching their parents.  

[CCIntrigue...aka Gwen 547]

I can't lie.

[h2odivers...Ray 952]

This question intrigues me.

First I believe wrong is wrong.

Yet I drive 70 mph in a 65 mph zone.

When my DD turned 3 we flew to California to see family a month later I lied and said she was 2 and she flew as a lap child. I told myself "It's ok she's not taking up a seat". Did that make it ok? No.

Once a fellow fiend let me use their TIW card so we I could get a discount. This was also wrong.

And I'm sure there's been other things I've done that most people including me would say is wrong and/or stealing.

I guess everyone chooses where the line is they won't cross.

[CampMImi 22]

I think in the case of this article, the most disturbing thing is the motive behind the advice.  Since Disney is "loaded", it is ok to steal from them!!  That is my issue.  

 

No one person is perfect and there is not a person that can say they have always done the right thing.  Is eating off of a kid menu wrong?  Perhaps.  I believe that it is fine for people who truly only want a "bite" to eat. 

 

Ethics will always have several variables at play and opinions will vary. I work in accounting so this always comes up, but my opinion is that the global language of ethics is played off of motive.  It is written into legal code and it is what separates the good from the bad.  

 

Stealing from someone because they have enough to go around is bad motives.

[ftwildernessguy 778]

I think in the case of this article, the most disturbing thing is the motive behind the advice.  Since Disney is "loaded", it is ok to steal from them!!  That is my issue.  

 

No one person is perfect and there is not a person that can say they have always done the right thing.  Is eating off of a kid menu wrong?  Perhaps.  I believe that it is fine for people who truly only want a "bite" to eat. 

 

Ethics will always have several variables at play and opinions will vary. I work in accounting so this always comes up, but my opinion is that the global language of ethics is played off of motive.  It is written into legal code and it is what separates the good from the bad.  

 

Stealing from someone because they have enough to go around is bad motives.

And yet our government does it every day.

[mouseketab.....Carol 1,261]

If it is a buffet, then it is all you can eat for a fixed price. A certain age is charged a certain price. For al a carte meals, you pay a set price for a finite amount of food, regardless of the age of the person consuming the food

[DaveInTN 3,247]

And yet our government does it every day.

 

But they are the poster child for "lack of ethics".  

[h2odivers...Ray 952]

If it is a buffet, then it is all you can eat for a fixed price. A certain age is charged a certain price. For al a carte meals, you pay a set price for a finite amount of food, regardless of the age of the person consuming the food

I completely agree with you. And I have no problem breaking that rule but some people might disagree since it clearly says the kids menu is for guests 9 hrs old and under.