Can I add my niece to my reservation so my son can get a dining plan even though she

[DisneyFansInLINY]

isn't going to be there? We are DVC owners so we don't need to buy a ticket package in order to add the dining plan. My son is going to be 4 months shy of 3 years old and so we can't add the dining plan for him. However, if I add my niece to our reservation, I can then use "her" credits for him. But is this allowed? I am paying for it and the room holds 4 people plus 1 infant. So we aren't breaking any capacity rules. Otherwise, we have to pay oop for him and usually we use our TIW card but we decided not to renew it for our December trip, as it expires in September and 3 out of our 9 days have blackout dates.

 

[detarica]

They never really "check" to see if everyone is there, do they, so I think you would be ok. What about rounding up and putting him as a 4 year old on the reservation? Since you won't have to buy him a ticket on the reservation, I think it would be ok.

 

[ibela]

At all the character meals and buffet restaurants, there's no cost for him since he's under 3 so does he really need credits to use anyway?

 

[aaarcher86]

As PP suggested, just change his age to 3 or 4 on the reservation instead of adding an entire person. Then he'll receive the dining plan with much less effort.

 

[Dizneydaz]

As PP suggested, just change his age to 3 or 4 on the reservation instead of adding an entire person. Then he'll receive the dining plan with much less effort.

This makes more sense to me as well. Much easier and changing the age of your child has been allowed in the past. But, since he will be 2 and free at buffets, etc. wouldn't it make more sense to keep him at 2 and pay OOP for the meals/snacks he will eat? It will cost about $19/night for the basic DDP for a child. If you are staying 8 nights, that will run about $160. Would you spend that on your 2 y/o meals/snacks, not inc. buffets? If so, then upgrade him to 3 y/o, if not, just pay OOP. The basic plan for 8 nights will inc. 8 TS, 8CS, 8 SC, and 1 refillable mug for an 8 night stay.

 

[poohs_hunny]

As PP suggested, just change his age to 3 or 4 on the reservation instead of adding an entire person. Then he'll receive the dining plan with much less effort.

But if his age is changed, won't he need a ticket? There goes any savings...

 

[purple figment]

But if his age is changed, won't he need a ticket? There goes any savings...

The OP is a DVC member so they can book a dining plan without buying tickets.

 

[DisneyFansInLINY]

Thank you everyone for your replies. I don't want to change his age. I will talk to a member services and see what they suggest.

 

[poohs_hunny]

The OP is a DVC member so they can book a dining plan without buying tickets.

Yes, but I'm pretty sure changing his age will come back to bite them at some point.

 

[aaarcher86]

Yes, but I'm pretty sure changing his age will come back to bite them at some point.

Not really. They aren't going to argue with it. People change ages all the time in the system to get adult credits for their children during free dining.

 

[aaarcher86]

This makes more sense to me as well. Much easier and changing the age of your child has been allowed in the past. But, since he will be 3 and free at buffets, etc. wouldn't it make more sense to keep him at 3 and pay OOP for the meals/snacks he will eat? It will cost about $19/night for the basic DDP for a child. If you are staying 8 nights, that will run about $160. Would you spend that on your 3 y/o meals/snacks, not inc. buffets? If so, then upgrade him to 4 y/o, if not, just pay OOP. The basic plan for 8 nights will inc. 8 TS, 8CS, 8 SC, and 1 refillable mug for an 8 night stay.

That's how I'd do it personally.

I don't know why the OP would have a problem changing his age but is okay with adding a phantom guest...

 

[EPCOTatNight]

That's how I'd do it personally.

I don't know why the OP would have a problem changing his age but is okay with adding a phantom guest...

This ^

Ted Nugent is an idiot. Sent from my IPad using DisBoards.

 

[ibela]

Yes, but I'm pretty sure changing his age will come back to bite them at some point.

I believe that once he's in the system with a phantom date, he's in the system for future visits. So when he's 9 but 10 in the system, he'd need an adult ticket and adult dining plan vs the kid one. That'd probably only be an issue if they go during the few months that they're fudging but you never know.

 

[aaarcher86]

I believe that once he's in the system with a phantom date, he's in the system for future visits. So when he's 9 but 10 in the system, he'd need an adult ticket and adult dining plan vs the kid one. That'd probably only be an issue if they go during the few months that they're fudging but you never know.

You can change it back. It's not a big deal. The OP would just have to let them know.

 

[MinnieLovesMickey12]

And just to clarify for the PP who suggested he would eat free at buffets because he is only 3. 3 year olds do not eat free. 2 year olds do. Once they turn 3 you have to pay for them.

I also don't see the moral dilemma of changing his age to four when the original idea was to add someone on that is not even really going to be there.

 

[Dizneydaz]

I believe that once he's in the system with a phantom date, he's in the system for future visits. So when he's 9 but 10 in the system, he'd need an adult ticket and adult dining plan vs the kid one. That'd probably only be an issue if they go during the few months that they're fudging but you never know.

I too thought that Disney changed your kids ages as time went on. However, I remember when my DD was about 9 they stilllhad in in the system still as 4. I was surprised and had them change it. (THe CM told me they don't automatically change them.) The next year we were there when she turned 10 and I asked for her to be counted as an adult at the start of our trip. The CM said he had already done it. Since we were getting the free dining I was happy to go ahead with her age being advanced. Had we not been getting the free DDP I would have had her stay at 9 for the entire trip.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Thank you everyone for your replies. I don't want to change his age. I will talk to a member services and see what they suggest.

Quite likely, Member Services will suggest NOT listing someone on your reservation who won't be in your room - aka the infamous "ghost guest".

 

[JMNE]

We had a similar situation when DS was 2. When we called they just recommended us say he was 3 for the dining plan. It was kind of a last minute trip so we ended up getting ADRs for mostly buffets (we had deluxe dining, upgraded from free dining) so after setting up my ADRs I called back and changed DS back to being 2. No one even batted an eyelash at all my age changing. I thought for sure when I called to say my 3 year old was actually 2 they would think I was crazy, but nope.

 

[brekin67]

Last week, we changed our grandson from age 7 to age 10 so he could have regular dining menu choices. I told CM what I was doing and why and they made the change. The cost was $21 total increasefor a 9 night stay.

 

[pooch]

And just to clarify for the PP who suggested he would eat free at buffets because he is only 3. 3 year olds do not eat free. 2 year olds do. Once they turn 3 you have to pay for them.

said her son was 4 months shy of his THIRD birthday so he's only 2. I agree, let him eat off of your plate and pay OOP for any extras. We took GGS last year and except for breakfast, he was too excited or tired to eat much. We stuffed him at breakfast & let him graze the rest of the day.