Beverage options for under 3

[poohbear luvs grumpy]

Now that the dining plan has changed to one beverage at breakfast instead of two I need to change my plans. I know that at buffets my under 3 year old will get a beverage but what are my options for the other meals? Will I have to pay OOP for all of her drinks? Are the drinks still big enough for me to share with her if I bring a sippy cup? Will they have a problem with a sippy cup. Sorry I know this is more than one question but I would love to know what you have done or would do.

 

[hannahdrewmom]

We normally pay oop for our kids drinks at a ts that isn't a buffet. They will bring the drink in a kids cup with a straw and then we just transfer it to the sippy cup. There has never been a problem with that. A few times when we have been on the dining plan we weren't charged for her drink. But I believe this was pixie dust and not the normal practice. The other option is for you to get water and give her your drink.

 

[ccgirl]

We lucked out with drinks for my DS2 this last trip. We ate primarily at buffets so I think that's why. As a matter of fact, at Chef Mickey's gave they brought over extra juice boxes to take with us and we didn't even ask. We always brought the sippy cup. They cannot fill the sippy cup for you due to the food safety but we just dumped the cup they brought into the sippy cup and we were fine. Another option is to bring those Crystal Light or juice powder packets and just get water. Then, you can just mix these in.

 

[mwatson011]

What does your little one mainly drink? Both our dds drink a lot of milk and water, so I would keep a jug of milk in the fridge in the room so they got their fill in the morning and evening, and during the day we always ordered them water (tap water doesn't cost anything). Even with the drinks included in our older dd's meal, she still prefers water most of the time.

If you have to carry a diaper bag into the park anyway, and your kiddo is a juice drinker, you could always bring your own juice boxes, and then just ask for a cup of ice and pour it all into the sippy cup.

BTW, when did the dining plan change? I thought you still get 2 drinks with breakfast?

 

[poohbear luvs grumpy]

I believe it changed with 2011. I am not sure if they are still letting people get two drinks for breakfast but the 2011 dining plan only states one beverage not two like 2010. Thanks for the suggestions. My daughter doesn't drink water all that great and water in another state always tastes different. I would like her to be able to drink milk at least once a day but she doesn't drink that all to well either and I rarely give her juice. I am still trying to figure out what she drinks. I just know I need to keep her hydrated. I may have to look into garden grocer.

 

[momtoejanda]

I was never charged for drinks when my boys were 2. In fact a few of the restaurants gave them free kids meals.

 

[poohbear luvs grumpy]

So today in the mail I received some toddler formula packets. I was not expecting them. I have not given my daughter formula since she was 23 months. This formula is for toddlers 10 months to 36 months. It will be a good option for us. We were already planning on bringing water and now she can get some milk. I am hoping she will drink it but if she doesn't I won't feel like I have wasted a bunch of money.

 

[Tricia1972]

I've always had a child under 3 when going to Disney, both on and off the dining plan. We always order a drink for our under 3 year old and are prepared to pay for it, however, we've never been charged.

I've never been given a free kids meal (on or off the plan), but drinks (Milk, Juice) have always been included.

Like the PPs, I don't know if it's normal practice, but it's sure been our experience.

(Also, I can confirm that the second drink is no longer available at breakfast in 2011 - we had the DxDDP in January and the our experience matches the new rules in the brochure)

 

[hannahdrewmom]

It seems to be consistant that kids under 3 get free meals at CRT and Ashkerhous since those are fixed price meals. It has happened to us every time regardless of what time of the day (B,L,D).

Free drinks were at buffets and signatures (just looked at my receipts). I was charged at normal TS restaurants. (But there were only 2 of those so don't know if that is the norm or not.) And my husband makes fun of me for saving all that "junk"!