by Laura Bly, USA TODAY
Starting this weekend, Disney's U.S. theme parks
will ban children under age 14 unless they're accompanied by someone the
same age or older.
The new policy, which takes effect March 23,
will apply at Disney World in Orlando and Disneyland and Disney
California Adventure in Anaheim. Since most youngsters under 14 don't
carry government-issued IDs, "the policy will be enforced as guests are
entering the park, (with) a visual screening for someone who appears to
be younger than 14," said Disney spokeswoman Suzi Brown. If the staffer
determines that the guest is under 14, a parent or guardian will be
notified and required to escort the child in the park, she said.
The
policy was not triggered by "any kind of issue or incident," but was
intended to "provide a consistent age of admission and address a
question we occasionally get from parents," Brown added.
Families
with annual passes, some of whom routinely drop their children off at a
park for the day, were notified about the policy change in an e-mail
last week, she said.
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