morality vs frugality

[Belle]

I wouldn't lie. I'd feel like I was selling my integrity for $80 and showing my kids that small things are ok to lie about as long as the $$ was inconvenient. I would hate paying as well, but I wouldn't lie about it. If I were the OP and if it was worth it for me to bring him to the park and still go as a family even though an adult would have to sit with him the entire time we (DH and I) went on rides, then it would be worth it for me to pay the admission that they ask for him. But in actuality I'd probably rather pay a sitter with that money because it would bum me out not to go on rides with everyone, or have my DH sit out while I went on the rides.

How long has it been since he's been to a park like this? Maybe he might be over some of his fears since the last time you went? Will he go on the kiddie rides with an adult?

[drunkenmonkeysmommy1]

We went to a fair a few months back and he screamed on a kiddie ride with me right next to him. They had to stop the ride.
I would love to leave him with a babysitter, but we will be 5 hours from home. This is my older ds birthday present( the only thing he has asked for, so we combined it with our family vacation )so we can not not go.

[drunkenmonkeysmommy1]

Maybe we will all go one day and pay for him and them him and I will do something else the other day.

[peaches330]

If it were me I'd just say he was 2.... I'm sure that's not the popular answer but I wouldn't feel bad about it. My parents did stuff like that when I was a kid (especially at places that have a kids price) and I never thought it was a huge deal.

[alice_hallett]

I would pay because it is the honest thing to do. But my frugal heart would find a friend/relative to watch him before I pay $80 for him to people watch. Good luck!

[ofthemoonsglow]

I'd lie and say hes 2. Hes not riding any rides so i say its fine.

[MamanMoore]

I couldn't lie about it, if the $80 was too much I wouldn't go. In fact right now we can't afford similar things (no valley fair here, but it's the same idea) and we just don't go.
I get the temptation for sure, but lying is lying.

[MyPerfectLife]

Yep...I'd say he was 2. I wouldn't feel bad about it either. It's a large corporation with policies aimed at high profit - in fact THEY should feel bad for making a family spend $80 in 2 days on one small child just to GET IN THE PARK. IMO they're going to suck every penny they can out of you in food/drink/entertainment anyhow...for goodness sakes a water is $5. I wouldn't even think twice about it. That being said, I would make DH stand with the kids and distract them so they didn't hear me lie... FTR I worked at a couple amusement parks, they can't ask LO to confirm or deny age...and even if he did say something they have to take your word.

[kaia.aline]

I would call and ask if they have a nonrider price or an exemption for small children that will not be able to ride the rides but happen to be just over the 2 or under rule. If they say no I'd suck it up and pay the money but I wouldn't like it.

[Belle]

Originally Posted by MyPerfectLife Yep...I'd say he was 2. I wouldn't feel bad about it either. It's a large corporation with policies aimed at high profit - in fact THEY should feel bad for making a family spend $80 in 2 days on one small child just to GET IN THE PARK.

I have to say that if I felt that a park was taking advantage of me this badly, I really wouldn't go. I wouldn't patronize a business if I felt they were screwing me over. Amusement parks have huge liabilities, just for people walking into the park. If it was worth it to me to bring my child into the park, it would be worth it to me to pay what they were asking. If it was not worth it to me because I felt like it was too much money, then I'd leave the kid at home and pay for a sitter instead of lying.

I could probably justify in my head a million different reasons why it's okay to lie -- he's not going to ride the rides, it's overpriced, the company is taking advantage, the food is expensive too, he's a small kid, etc, etc...but in the end, I'm still the one that would have to lie.