Am I going to have trouble using the dining plan with a almost 3 year old?

[SerinaEmily]

We are planning to go back to Disney this year for our youngest daughter's third birthday.
I'm pretty sure I've researched enough to understand that as long as we check into Disney BEFORE her third birthday she is free for the duration of the trip... (right?)
We're checking in on September 21 and she will turn 3 on the 25.
Now when we are dining using the dining plan she woudn't get a plate at table service meals right? We'd have to share off ours? But at buffets we'll be able to give her her own plate?
Will the cast members understand when we have 5 people eating but only want to use 4 of our credits?
I'm worried specifically about her birthday breakfast at Cinderella's Table. We'll be using dining credits to cover the rest of us, I'm just worried we're going to have to do a lot of explaining all week.
Any experience with this?

 

[The Sweetness]

At places with a menu, you can ask for an extra plate, so that you can give her some of your food. There, if you order her something (kids meal or side of potatoes etc...) you will pay OOP (This may also apply to any drinks you order her) At FS or buffets, you can give her her own plate, and probably just pay oop for a glass of milk or juice, if you want her to ahve one (I dont think that would be comp, but maybe I am wrong

 

[patsal]

You should not have any explaining to do. Your room cards will be programmed for the number of people in your party paying for dining. Then when you make ADR's they will ask how many in your party and the ages at that time, here you will tell them 2 throughout to avoid confusion. When you go to check in they will confirm, party of five, list off kids ages and your server will be aware prior to your ordering.Next, your server will most likely remind you at regular TS that your under 3 can share from your plate or pay OOP for a meal. Last December we had nine in our extended party with one under 2 in the party. We were on three separate rooms, but when I made ADR's I made them for all 9 of us. The CM who helped me with my ADR's went over all fo the rules and when we checked in hostesses confirmed the numbers and waitstaff went over the "rules" for my then 18 mo niece. She shared off of her sister's DDP sometimes and from her mother sometimes. She had her own Mac and cheese sometimes. We were never charged for her or questioned about it. Years ago, when I took my own DD at 15 mos. we experienced the same things. Have fun, MY DS share a birthday with your DD on the 25 of Sept. That is where we celebrated his fifth bithday (when DD was 15 mos!)!

 

[SerinaEmily]

cool! Thanks for the help .. hopefully I'm just overcomplicating things lol.