Buying Dining Plan for two year old?

[sweetsusannah]

We are going to Disney in a couple weeks and would like to get our 2 year old the dining plan. We are taking my parents so we are not eating at any buffets and would like her make sure she gets kid friendly meals for our TS meals. We are staying on points and have annual passes. When I asked to add the dining plan for her the customer service rep said we would then be required to buy her a theme park ticket as well because they are connected and they have to change her age in the system. My question....Should I add a fake child onto our reservation that is valid aged to get the dining plan and then use it for her or let them change her age in the system and risk her not getting into the park without a ticket? I am not sure how they are going to connect my annual pass the the key pass/dining card. I am not buying a park ticket for her. Thanks for advice.

 

[dianeschlicht]

I wouldn't do that. Just pay out of pocket for a children's meal if you want her to have her own. Most places don't charge for 2 year olds, but you are free to pay for her anyway. I just wouldn't put a "fake" age and buy a pass for someone who clearly doesn't need that expense.

 

[Golden Rose]

I wouldn't do it, either. We first took our DS when he was 2, and we were in the same boat you are. We weren't going to any buffets, and we weren't sure what he was going to get to eat at all the various TS restaurants. A few places actually brought us something for him at little or no charge, although at the moment I don't remember which.

We did end up ordering him child's meals at several restaurants and paying cash, but honestly, he really didn't like the food at WDW at that age. I'd had a bunch of snacks and things I knew he liked for him anyway, so half the time I fed him on things I brought. We also fed him a fair number of things off our plates, like rice and pasta, so we generally tried to order something we thought he might be willing to try. Honestly, the kid's meals at the nicer restaurants still don't particularly appeal to him, and he's four now.

The DDP _is_ a great deal for kids if they are going to eat the food on it, but I suspect you'll find that it isn't really needed for a two year old.

 

[Dean]

They may or may not allow you to add a 2 y/o, it really depends on who you get. You should be able to do so without a ticket for a DVC points reservation though if they allow it at all. I wouldn't, just pay OOP when you need to is likely the best.

 

[christa112]

OP--Why don't you want to pay OOP for your child? Is it the ease of having the DDP, so you don't have to worry about keeping track of cash? The fact that it will probably be cheaper in the long run for the DDP at $12.99 a day for a child. I am just curious (not being snarky).

I also, don't understand why the CM won't let you purchase the DDP. You are spending $ so what exactly is the problem?

I don't think you should worry about getting stopped at the gate. I am guessing you will have a stroller and it is not like you are cramming a 5 yr old in there and trying to pass them through as a 2 yr old. I think the most you would get is "Excuse me, how old is your child?"

 

[Crystal_27]

No, I wouldn't do the DDP for a two year old. With what you would be spending on a park ticket for her plus the cost of the DDP, you will be losing money. I would recommend taking advantage of your DD being free for this last year, and just pay OOP for whatever she wants to eat.

 

[ClarabelleCow]

I also would not do the dining plane for a 2 year old, you don't need tickets so definately wouldn't do that. But as far as food, pay out of pocket, and honestly for a 2 year old,I bet there would be enough food on your plates to make her up a plate to eat well.

 

[sweetsusannah]

My parents are paying for the dining as a TY for providing DVC accommodations. They want her to have her own plan for simplicity. Also, even though she is two she does a good job of eating but like most two year olds do prefers things like mac and cheese and apple slices. She also has a Mickey bar or something equivalent as snack most days at the parks. In that respect the dining plan actually makes sense for us because we will spend about the same on or off the plan with a snack and a child’s plate each night, and with the plan she can munch on a CS lunch too. Then we won’t have to worry about having to tote snacks around the parks or ordering something that she would like instead one that we would. I am just trying to figure out how they can link our AP to the key card with the dining plan. Seems the two are separate with DVC. The customer rep said she even checked with her superior to verify that they couldn’t sell it to me without changing her age in the system. I am against doing that because as DVC members we will be going again before she turns three next May. We will pay OOP for her if we have to but really prefer not.

 

[DenLo]

My parents are paying for the dining as a TY for providing DVC accommodations. They want her to have her own plan for simplicity. Also, even though she is two she does a good job of eating but like most two year olds do prefers things like mac and cheese and apple slices. She also has a Mickey bar or something equivalent as snack most days at the parks. In that respect the dining plan actually makes sense for us because we will spend about the same on or off the plan with a snack and a child’s plate each night, and with the plan she can munch on a CS lunch too. Then we won’t have to worry about having to tote snacks around the parks or ordering something that she would like instead one that we would. I am just trying to figure out how they can link our AP to the key card with the dining plan. Seems the two are separate with DVC. The customer rep said she even checked with her superior to verify that they couldn’t sell it to me without changing her age in the system. I am against doing that because as DVC members we will be going again before she turns three next May. We will pay OOP for her if we have to but really prefer not.

Since as DVC members, there is no requirement for park passes for the dining plan, I don't really understand that requirement by MS for your daughter to be on the DP. I do understand that the computer system may not accept a dining plan for a 2 year old, so they would have to change her age. I would also think that you could turn around and change it back for your next reservation.

 

[dianeschlicht]

My parents are paying for the dining as a TY for providing DVC accommodations. They want her to have her own plan for simplicity. Also, even though she is two she does a good job of eating but like most two year olds do prefers things like mac and cheese and apple slices. She also has a Mickey bar or something equivalent as snack most days at the parks. In that respect the dining plan actually makes sense for us because we will spend about the same on or off the plan with a snack and a child’s plate each night, and with the plan she can munch on a CS lunch too. Then we won’t have to worry about having to tote snacks around the parks or ordering something that she would like instead one that we would. I am just trying to figure out how they can link our AP to the key card with the dining plan. Seems the two are separate with DVC. The customer rep said she even checked with her superior to verify that they couldn’t sell it to me without changing her age in the system. I am against doing that because as DVC members we will be going again before she turns three next May. We will pay OOP for her if we have to but really prefer not.

I understand the wanting the convenience of the DDP, but I'm not sure why you have to buy her a pass????? If you are DVC members, the DDP is not tied to a pass. Did you ask this question at MS or did you call WDW dine? Since you have to call MS to order the DDP, I'd call back and check again, just to make sure. You should be able to buy the DDP without "aging her" by a year in the system. I would NOT do that. It could cause all sorts of issues down the line a few years...like having to buy an adult pass at age 9 instead of 10.

 

[dcfromva]

My parents are paying for the dining as a TY for providing DVC accommodations. They want her to have her own plan for simplicity. Also, even though she is two she does a good job of eating but like most two year olds do prefers things like mac and cheese and apple slices. She also has a Mickey bar or something equivalent as snack most days at the parks. .

With having to pay for the gratuity on the DDP anyway (and any other items not part of the DDP ), I wouldn't think it would be very much more complicated to add on a child's meal. One thing that DH and I found was a lot of times we didn't have any room for snacks and would have a lot of snack credits left over. (When we bring DS along, we don't have that trouble . ) Maybe your DD could help use up the snack credits for you all?