Can I add the dining plan for 2 year old - room occupancy question

[Hemlock]

We are renting DVC points for a stay in a 1 bedroom at SSR (room occupancy is 4). Our family consists of 2 adults, 2 Disney adults and a 2 year old. My 2 year old is listed on the reservation, but he doesn't count toward occupancy. I would like to add the DDP for him because he is a BIG eater (he will be turning 3 a few weeks after our trip) and he would like to have his own meal. I crunched the numbers and it would be cheaper to add the DDP than paying OOP for him. Can I do this?

 

[MakiraMarlena]

Only if you register him as 3 years old. This would mean buying him a ticket unless you are on a ticketless package (most likely if you are DVC renting you don't have a package at all). But, it would also count him toward resort occupancy. Plan on doing a lot of buffets and AYCE and just buy him a kids meal when he wants one. It will be cheaper.

 

[aaarcher86]

Kids meals are inexpensive. Much less than the coat of a DP and ticket. But since it'd put you out of your room it's not feasible anyway.

 

[supersnoop]

(room occupancy is 4)

But since it'd put you out of your room it's not feasible anyway.

Actually, SSR allows 5 adults in a one bedroom, but the fifth has to bring their own bed. So it wouldn't put you out of the room, but, as noted, it would not make sense financially. Only the buffets are more expensive than the plan, and those are free for a two-year-old. It will be much less expensive to order a kids meal at the other locations than to buy the plan plus the park ticket.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

for DVC rental, they're not on a package, so there wouldn't be a park ticket purchase involved. It might hinge on how many of their planned meals are buffet or AYCE and how many are at regular restaurants. That is IF they can swing a room occupancy of 5 persons.

 

[supersnoop]

for DVC rental, they're not on a package, so there wouldn't be a park ticket purchase involved.

That's a good point. Do infant magic bands turn green at the tap-stile? Or does it turn blue?

You'll purchase the dining plan by telling them the child is 3, but when you get to the gate, you're trying to tell them the child is 2. The child's magic band will say he/she doesn't have valid admission. I think that's going to be a problem.

It might hinge on how many of their planned meals are buffet or AYCE and how many are at regular restaurants.

But it's really only the buffet and AYCTE places where the price makes the plan beneficial. The kids meals at the regular restaurants will never add up to the plan price.

 

[wilkeliza]

That's a good point. Do infant magic bands turn green at the tap-stile? Or does it turn blue?

You'll purchase the dining plan by telling them the child is 3, but when you get to the gate, you're trying to tell them the child is 2. The child's magic band will say he/she doesn't have valid admission. I think that's going to be a problem.


But it's really only the buffet and AYCTE places where the price makes the plan beneficial. The kids meals at the regular restaurants will never add up to the plan price.

Children under 3 don't have to tap their magicband. You just say they are under three and in they go.

 

[supersnoop]

Children under 3 don't have to tap their magicband. You just say they are under three and in they go.

But the whole reason they send magic bands for infants is so they can act just like everyone else. What happens if the child wants to scan their band? They'll get stopped and questioned. And, will they really be able to explain to the folks at the gate why the kid is listed as 3 and had a dining plan? If the CM's let it go, I suspect the family will either waste a good amount of time at the gate, or get sent back to guest services a couple time. I just don't think it's worth the risk or hassle.

 

[wilkeliza]

But the whole reason they send magic bands for infants is so they can act just like everyone else. What happens if the child wants to scan their band? They'll get stopped and questioned. And, will they really be able to explain to the folks at the gate why the kid is listed as 3 and had a dining plan? If the CM's let it go, I suspect the family will either waste a good amount of time at the gate, or get sent back to guest services a couple time. I just don't think it's worth the risk or hassle.

That is at the parents discretion though. They can juts keep the 2 year old from tapping their band. If a 2 year old taps their band it does indeed turn blue. They don't have an admission ticket. All the parent will have to say is oh he's 2 and that's that. The CM at the turnstile doesn't seen the name and ages unless they call over a plaid or use their hand held readers.

 

[wed100105]

We have taken our kids (both big eaters) several times and have stayed DVC each time. You will be fine without a dining plan for you 2 year old. Where are you planning on eating? We always have a car and bring some snacks along. Also, we found the adult quick service portions to be large and our kids are off our plates. We mostly eat family style or buffet, so each time our under 3 year olds were free at those meals.

 

[Hemlock]

O/P here - We have a split stay booked at AKL/SSR (both on rented DVC points). My son will be turning 3 eight days after we return from our trip and he is a huge eater. I checked out the menus for the restaurants that we have booked and most meals are in the $8-$9 range. After you add in a snack and the refillable mug, I really think the $20 cost of the DDP would be cheaper (and more convenient).

I also actually have a ticket for him that I won't be using until our 2017 trip, since my mom purchased our Disney tickets as our Christmas gift (she didn't realize that he didn't need a ticket until he was 3)

 

[supersnoop]

O/P here - We have a split stay booked at AKL/SSR (both on rented DVC points). My son will be turning 3 eight days after we return from our trip and he is a huge eater. I checked out the menus for the restaurants that we have booked and most meals are in the $8-$9 range. After you add in a snack and the refillable mug, I really think the $20 cost of the DDP would be cheaper (and more convenient).

I also actually have a ticket for him that I won't be using until our 2017 trip, since my mom purchased our Disney tickets as our Christmas gift (she didn't realize that he didn't need a ticket until he was 3)

Table service kids meals are in the $8-9 range, quick service would be closer to $6 and snacks are closer to $3. Plus, many people seem to leave with leftover snack credits. I can't imagine a refillable mug is going to be very useful for a 2 year old.

I routinely find that quick service meals are large enough to share, and he'll eat for free at every buffet. Do you have any buffets planned?

 

[Hemlock]

No buffets planned and we never leave with leftover snack credits - lol. Also, if we don't buy him his own meal someone in our party needs to make sure that we order something that he will eat (not too spicy...). You are right about a 2 year old not getting much use from the refillable mug, but I was hoping to fill it with some candy and give it to my nephew as a gift when we get home.

 

[Nennie]

Just wanted to make sure you are aware that you can now substitute the drink and/or dessert for a snack on the QS locations. I don't drink soda, and while I love desserts, I don't like the QS desserts, so I plan on getting 2 snacks with my entree, and then I can share with my DD by getting extra fries, fruit cup, etc! Just an idea for you if you don't want to purchase the DDP for him.

 

[Googilycub]

We added my daughter when she was 2. She was't a huge eater at the time, but I didn't want to have to order something child friendly for myself at every meal. The extra snack credits were also an added bonus