Disney Debate: Is 10 Too Young for Kids To Be Adults?

Disney Debate: Is 10 Too Young for Kids To Be Adults? cinderella-castle-family

I did tell you last week that this Disney Debate topic was a banger.



The Disney Parks have three tiers of tickets when it comes to age groups. Children 0-2 (inclusive) are allowed admission at no charge. Kids aged 3 – 9 (inclusive) are classed as one price bracket, commonly referred to as Children’s Tickets, with everyone else, 10 years of age and over, considered to be Adults. At times, the ticket price difference is so minimal that it doesn’t really matter, but on principle, it can be hard to accept that our ten-year-olds are considered to be adults. I took some figures down using a single sample day; a 1-day ticket to Magic Kingdom was priced at $184 for adults and $179 for Kids, a difference of just $5.

Disney Debate: Is 10 Too Young for Kids To Be Adults? One Day ticket

Yet, in other examples, such as dining experience, the difference can be not too far off double the cost for Adults as it is for Children, making the gap between the ages of 9 and 10 feel rather expensive.



Disney Debate: Is 10 Too Young for Kids To Be Adults? Dining Dessert Party Example

In Disneyland Paris, the same two price bracket options are available, though Adults are considered ages 12 and over, with a price difference of around $4-$6, depending on the day. While I understand that where the parks are concerned, another person in a seat places the same strain on capacity at just about any age, there does seem to be a missing link here where a fourth and perhaps fifth age group could be accommodated. The Tokyo-based parks are different again, with three price brackets offered for Adults: ages 18 and over, Juniors: ages 12 to 17, and Children: ages 4 to 11. The pricing difference is closer to $10 USD between each one, and kids 0 – 3 are free to enter the park.

Disney Debate: Is 10 Too Young for Kids To Be Adults? Tokyo Disney Tickets

I’ve always thought offering a seniors rate for the Disney Parks would be nice, encouraging our Disney families to keep returning to the magic as they get older. After all, for many of us, Disney is a family affair, one that our older generation introduced us to and encouraged. But could it also be warranted to offer a youth or junior rate? Especially for dining experiences, the jump from 9 to 10 years old doesn’t seem to warrant the pricing associated with an adult appetite.

Whether you consider the question over all aspects of the parks or limited to dining experiences, is 10 too young to be considered an adult?



If you’ve ever felt the sharp sting of when the children in your group are suddenly classed as adults after the clock strikes 12 on their 10th birthday, you likely have an opinion on this one. Let me know your thoughts. While you are here, share your thoughts on some sort of tween/teen youth ticket to bridge the gap in pricing, as well as an option for seniors. Would you utilize these different price brackets?



author avatar
Zoë Wood
Zoë Wood is a travel writer from Sydney, Australia. Since her first visit to Disneyland at the age of 6, she has spent her years frequently visiting Disney Parks and traveling around the world. Join Zoë as she lets you in on all the tips, tricks, anecdotes, and embarrassments that arise from her family adventures.















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