Buying dining plan for an under 3 year old

[tigger51276]

Hi All,

I'm hoping someone may be able to help me with this. Last year before my trip I found out that other DVC'ers were able to purchase the dining plan for their child who was under 3 when they checked into their resort which excited me as I wanted my DD to be able to have her own meals. I was able to buy the dining plan for her last year when I checked in, but I'm wondering if I will still be able to to do so this year?

I tried to do it when I was on the phone with CS a few days ago when I added it to the room and paid for it but they wouldn't let me because she wasn't 3 yet. Has anyone had luck adding their under 3 year old when they checked in this year? My only concern is that you now have to add and pay for it 48 hours in advance instead of paying for it at check-in.
Thanks,
Stacey

 

[CarolAnnC]

You should find an answer to this query over on the Dining Plan Board. I am moving this thread over there for input (not DVC specific). Thanks and good luck!

 

[tigger51276]

You should find an answer to this query over on the Dining Plan Board. I am moving this thread over there for input (not DVC specific). Thanks and good luck!

If you feel it belongs on the Dining Board I understand, but I do see it as DVC specific as I was told by the resort it was a courtesy they extended to DVC since we have to pay for it and don't get free dining. I am wondering if other DVC'ers have been able to purchase since we buy it differently than other resort guests (meaning we don't need to also purchase MYW tickets).

thanks again!

 

[Cafeen]

Hi All,

I'm hoping someone may be able to help me with this. Last year before my trip I found out that other DVC'ers were able to purchase the dining plan for their child who was under 3 when they checked into their resort which excited me as I wanted my DD to be able to have her own meals. I was able to buy the dining plan for her last year when I checked in, but I'm wondering if I will still be able to to do so this year?

I tried to do it when I was on the phone with CS a few days ago when I added it to the room and paid for it but they wouldn't let me because she wasn't 3 yet. Has anyone had luck adding their under 3 year old when they checked in this year? My only concern is that you now have to add and pay for it 48 hours in advance instead of paying for it at check-in.
Thanks,
Stacey

If you register your < 2 year old as 3, they can qualify for the dining plan. This is true on DVC reservations as well as Cash. On DVC and AP Ticketless packages, there is no further requirement, as tickets are NOT required for those cases (and I think there's a Military exclusion as well).

So, you should be able to do this. However, it will have to be done beforehand and cannot be done at check-in, due to the 48hr restriction you note.

As a note, if doing this on a Cash, non-special package, you can do the same, it just requires tickets to be purchased as well (which usually would outweigh any potential savings). It has been done though and it's much like the registering your child as a 10 year old "adult" to take advantage of the adult plan (which is a very common thing).

If you feel it belongs on the Dining Board I understand, but I do see it as DVC specific as I was told by the resort it was a courtesy they extended to DVC since we have to pay for it and don't get free dining. I am wondering if other DVC'ers have been able to purchase since we buy it differently than other resort guests (meaning we don't need to also purchase MYW tickets).

thanks again!

We don't bite over here (well, much ).

It's less of a free dining thing, since that has it's own requirements (cash reservation, no room discount, 2 day tix, etc) and more of a WDTC package vs. "Specialty Package" thing (DVC, AP, Military, and yes, I know they're not all true packages, hence it's all in quotes ). Since the specialty ones don't require a ticket purchase, it's doable without much hassle. It's the tickets that get ya.

 

[tigger51276]

If you register your < 2 year old as 3, they can qualify for the dining plan. This is true on DVC reservations as well as Cash. On DVC and AP Ticketless packages, there is no further requirement, as tickets are NOT required for those cases (and I think there's a Military exclusion as well).

So, you should be able to do this. However, it will have to be done beforehand and cannot be done at check-in, due to the 48hr restriction you note.

As a note, if doing this on a Cash, non-special package, you can do the same, it just requires tickets to be purchased as well (which usually would outweigh any potential savings). It has been done though and it's much like the registering your child as a 10 year old "adult" to take advantage of the adult plan (which is a very common thing).


We don't bite over here (well, much ).

It's less of a free dining thing, since that has it's own requirements (cash reservation, no room discount, 2 day tix, etc) and more of a WDTC package vs. "Specialty Package" thing (DVC, AP, Military, and yes, I know they're not all true packages, hence it's all in quotes ). Since the specialty ones don't require a ticket purchase, it's doable without much hassle. It's the tickets that get ya.

LOL I didn't think anyone would bite me over here . I did think about registering my 2 year old as a 3 year old, but my fear is that they will then tell me that we have too many people in the room since it would be 2 adults and 3 kids instead of 2 adults, 2 kids and one under 3. I still have 3 days so I will try to call them tomorrow and see if they will let me do it that way. I like the convienience of the dining plan and if the rest of us are on the plan and my little one isn't then the convienience factor is gone as I still have to carry a bunch of cash with me everywhere to pay for her meals and snacks.

 

[hannahdrewmom]

LOL I didn't think anyone would bite me over here . I did think about registering my 2 year old as a 3 year old, but my fear is that they will then tell me that we have too many people in the room since it would be 2 adults and 3 kids instead of 2 adults, 2 kids and one under 3. I still have 3 days so I will try to call them tomorrow and see if they will let me do it that way. I like the convienience of the dining plan and if the rest of us are on the plan and my little one isn't then the convienience factor is gone as I still have to carry a bunch of cash with me everywhere to pay for her meals and snacks.

This may be a problem due to the overage of people in the room for sure. It definitely would be for a non-dvc... I'm not sure how dvc would handle it.

 

[VAN]

Why not just pay OOP for the child's meals. If all the other people are on the dining plan, I would think you will have plenty of food to "share" for the majority of your meals. Then you could just purchase meals OOP when necessary.

Based on the child's age and the amount of food you'll have from the rest of you, I wouldn't think you would spend more OOP than it would cost to buy a dining plan.

It might not be as convenient, but at TS meals you are still going to have to pay gratuity as well as for any non-DP items ... so, it shouldn't be too big of a deal handling the bill.

Anyway, JMHO.

 

[TDC Nala]

That is the problem with what you want to do. You can't get DDP for the 2 year old unless you register the child as 3 years old. However, if you register the child as 3 you will be exceeding room capacity (DVC won't allow you to book a room for which your party exceeds capacity). I don't see how you can do it unless you are able to find someone who can override the computer when booking your room. Sorry, but you won't be able to add the child to the dining plan when you check in. It has to be done ahead of time.

I would say just buy kids meals for the child, and do buffets/family style where you can at TS (the child can eat as much as they want at meals like that for free.)

 

[tigger51276]

They have allowed me to buy it at check in in the past regardless of her age, I am just wondering if any DVC'ers have had any luck purchasing it for their child under 3 since they recently changed needing to pay for the dining plan before you check in.

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

They have allowed me to buy it at check in in the past regardless of her age, I am just wondering if any DVC'ers have had any luck purchasing it for their child under 3 since they recently changed needing to pay for the dining plan before you check in.

The only way Disney can do it is if they changed the child's age to 3 in the computer, otherwise the computer won't allocate the credits. If your room max is 4 than I don't see any way to get around it unless you get a kind CM to override the room maximum occupancy issue.