At what age are kids "free"??

[ama223]

We are thinking about going in Fall/early winter of 2011 and DS1 will be 5 (I know we will need to pay for him!) but DS2 will not turn 3 until Jan 2012. So if he is 2, will he be "free" into the parks? What about if we do the dining plan?

When can we book for Sept, Nov, or Dec 2011?

Edited to add - we are also thinking about renting points from someone for a room in a DVC location since we would LOVE to have 2 bedrooms. How far in advance can members book for 2011 and does that change any of the costs of park tickets? I know if we go that route, we can't do dining plan right??

TIA

 

[drmommy]

He's free until he turns 3...child ticket is ages 3-9. There's no price difference/adjustment to park tickets when renting DVC (to my knowledge). You can still get the dining plan when renting from a DVC member. You'll have to ask the owner to add that to the reservation and you pay for it on check-in. The 2 year old does not get the dining plan. Disney recommends that the 2 year old share your plate or you can purchase a kid's meal from the kid menu.

 

[RMulieri]

Children are free under age 3.They only eat free if they eat off your plate or at a buffet.If you order anything for them, you pay for it.No dining plan for under 3.If you want to purchase the dining plan for the 2 yr old, you would also need to purchase a park ticket too

 

[ama223]

Great, that's kind of what I thought but wasn't sure.

Thanks to you both

 

[jel0511]

He's free until he turns 3...child ticket is ages 3-9. There's no price difference/adjustment to park tickets when renting DVC (to my knowledge). You can still get the dining plan when renting from a DVC member. You'll have to ask the owner to add that to the reservation and you pay for it on check-in. The 2 year old does not get the dining plan. Disney recommends that the 2 year old share your plate or you can purchase a kid's meal from the kid menu.

Actually that's sort of incorrect. Starting in the fall, DVC will begin requiring people booking the dining plan with points to pay in full for the dining plan upon adding it to your reservation. As the OP is looking for NEXT year, they're reservation most likely will be made with these new rules in effect. To the OP, you can book DVC reservations on points up to 11 months in advance. Go to the rent/trade board for more specifics, but most renters rent their points as non-refundable transactions. Something to keep in mind.......

 

[starsweeper]

We did our first trip last year when our kids were 2.5 years old, it was a good age. Kids are free into the parks until they turn 3. We opted not to do the dining plan for any of us and didn't spend a ton. At buffets, your under 3 kids must eat off your plate using a mat YOU provide. We bought disposable eating mats for this. However, watch your bill because AK Tusker House tried to charge us for 4 meals (DH and I got 1 plate each that we shared with 2 toddlers ). At non-buffet meals we ordered 1 adult meal to split between our toddlers--cheaper than 2 kid meals.

 

[PolyndianPrincessJes]

We did our first trip last year when our kids were 2.5 years old, it was a good age. Kids are free into the parks until they turn 3. We opted not to do the dining plan for any of us and didn't spend a ton. At buffets, your under 3 kids must eat off your plate using a mat YOU provide. We bought disposable eating mats for this. However, watch your bill because AK Tusker House tried to charge us for 4 meals (DH and I got 1 plate each that we shared with 2 toddlers ). At non-buffet meals we ordered 1 adult meal to split between our toddlers--cheaper than 2 kid meals.

I've never heard of having to bring a mat. When DS was two, we were able to use the provided buffet plates, and they never charged us for his meal. I take that back. He was charged at Chef Mickey since it was his third birthday meal (hadn't actually turned three yet, but this was where we had his "party"). I mentioned that he was still two (despite the presents and cake at the table ), and they took off the charge without the blink of an eye.

 

[tricia]

We did our first trip last year when our kids were 2.5 years old, it was a good age. Kids are free into the parks until they turn 3. We opted not to do the dining plan for any of us and didn't spend a ton. At buffets, your under 3 kids must eat off your plate using a mat YOU provide. We bought disposable eating mats for this. However, watch your bill because AK Tusker House tried to charge us for 4 meals (DH and I got 1 plate each that we shared with 2 toddlers ). At non-buffet meals we ordered 1 adult meal to split between our toddlers--cheaper than 2 kid meals.

I also agree that it is a good age. I brought my youngest at 22 months and again at 32 months. He was always allowed to have his own plate at buffets and was never charged extra.