At Legoland, admission is discounted for two-year-olds. But a child must be at least three for most of the fun attractions.
At the ticket window the parents are asked how old the child is. But
at the ride entrance the attendants ask the children directly.
The parents lie. The children tell the truth.
That is again Jeff Ely, from cheeptalk.wordpress.com
Why? Presumably Legoland wants to stop 2-year-olds from getting on the fun rides, but also wants to stop them from getting a discount. So why not ask the children directly, both times?
Did I understand it right? For example, the child is three, so the parents tell two years (they want the discount) and the child, when asked, says it is three and gets the ride. Does seem to be a good deal for the parents
The idea that most 2 year olds can answer that question at all is ridiculous. The idea that most 3 year olds can answer accurately is equally ridiculous.
Disney asks the kids at the gate (but sometimes doesn’t ask at all), and uses measureable height for rides. On some intense rides have subtle wall marks that a ‘cast member’ can use to judge kids’ heights unobtrusively as they walk by.
The commenter who asked whether two and three olds can answer the questions is obviously not a parent. Try it and see. It’s like asking grandparents to show you a picture of their grandkids.
Allison, my three year old will tell you her age AND her birthday. (fishing for presents?)
Don’t discount that a two year old would lie to get on to a ride either. All they need to hear is another child say ‘three’. When they know the magic word they’ll use it.
They, the two year old, might also be prompted by a parent who thinks the restriction is silly, or their child is ready for the ride.
The real economics is that Legoland makes their money off the concessions, and getting parents and/or an older sibling in and buying toys and food is well worth losing the admission for the 3 yr olds.
In my experience most 1-year-olds can say they are 1, if they are instructed how to answer this question, and virtually any kid 2 and up will tell you how old they are. Although in the case of my kids (2, 4) they think it’s hilarious to lie.
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