Hiya Erica,
Welcome to planDisney! Can you believe you'll have a three-year-old soon? My oldest Mouseketeer turns three in a few weeks, and I cannot believe how fast the time has gone. Three brings so many milestones, including one big one at Walt Disney World Resort.
Once a Mousketeer turns three, they will have to have a theme park ticket to visit the Most Magical Place on Earth, even if this occurs in the middle of your trip. There is one exception to this rule, however: Erica for Guests with
Vacation Packages (which is when you purchase your theme park tickets in the same transaction as your resort hotel reservation). When you reserve a Vacation Package, your child's age for the duration of the trip is determined by the age they are at check-in to the resort hotel. So, if they check in and are two and then turn three in the middle of the trip, they are considered two for the entirety of the trip. This is because the system currently doesn't allow for two different ticket types in a single booking. Since you mentioned that you plan to stay offsite, you would not have a Walt Disney World Vacation Package and would need to purchase tickets for your child once they turn three.
I hope this was helpful, Erica. Before I let you go, I'm not sure what your plans are for your vacation, but nothing says Happy Birthday to me like sweet treats. Adding a
dessert party or
Celebration Cake to mark your Mouseketeer's birthday at the theme parks is the perfect addition! Please come back and see us if you need anything else.
Happy Planning,
Ashley F.