DDP and a 2.5yo

[NYEmomma]

Hi everyone! I'm planning an Oct. 11 trip for our family -- it'll be my daughter's first Disney trip, yay!

We're planning on getting the DDP... when DH and I went on our honeymoon 8 years ago, we got it & LOVED it.

DD will be 2 months shy of her third birthday when we're down there and I have read on other threads that toddlers are allowed to eat off of their parents' plates. That would be FANTASTIC for us because we get WAY more food than we could possibly eat with the DDP, plus my parents & brother/SIL will be with us, all on the DDP, so she'll have plenty of plates to scavenge from, lol. Of course, we'll get a hot dog or two for her, but more often than not she likes "grown-up" meals.

I'm just worried about the meal-sharing policy. I'm afraid that because DD will basically be walking, talking, looking, acting like a 3yo at the time of our trip, employees will think we're trying to cheat the system or something along those lines and not allow her to share.

What do you guys think??

 

[Nadjalu]

Do not worry, your DD age will not come into question.

Go ahead and give her what she wants off your plates. Don't hesitate to take her up to the buffet if you have one planned. And get her own plate for her there.

No one will question you or her. WDW sees thousands of children a day, you won't be the only one...guaranteed! They are use to it.

 

[chrissyb2411]

Our son was just shy of 3 when we went a few years ago. He was an extremly tall, extremly talkative toddler, and could easily have passed for 4 never mind three! I brought his birth certificate with me thinking just in case. No one ever questioned it. He ate free. Have a blast!

 

[dmoore718]

Don't worry about it at all!! No one will question you but if you would feel better, than you can carry her birth certificate with you. I'm going to do that for the plane because my 18 month old is big for her age. Last time we flew down, my daughter was just shy of 2 and one flight attendant did make a comment but then she let it go.

 

[clanmcculloch]

We're planning on getting the DDP... when DH and I went on our honeymoon 8 years ago, we got it & LOVED it.

I just want to make sure you know that the DDP does not look like it did 8 years ago. 8 years ago, each TS meal included appetizers and tip along with the entree, drink and dessert. Now it's just the entree, drink and dessert (no appetizer) and you pay the tip yourself. I would hate for you to get there and expect the same thing you had purchased in the past.

If you already knew this then ENJOY!!!

 

[lblume91]

On our 1st trip with the DDP, our youngest DD was just shy of 3. We simply asked our server for an extra plate to share with her. No one questioned it at all. At the buffets, she had her own plate. Some servers even offered to bring her a drink in a kiddie cup at no additional charge.

I agree with PP that DDP has changed alot since you last used it. Make sure you check it out so you know what to expect. We were soooo disappointed to lose the appetizers & gratuity inclusion.

 

[Momto2PrncChrmgs]

I've done it too! My boys have always been in the 97th percentile (or off the charts), so I was concerned when we took them a few months before they were 3. Like others have said, no one questioned it, and we usually got their drinks for free. There was even one fabulous server at Ohana (we'd ordered chicken nugget meals for both boys FULLY expecting to pay OOP for the nearly-3yo's) and she said not to worry about it, kids under 3 eat free. Now I know full well she was probably just too busy to ring it or whatever, but it was a nice added bit of Disney Magic. Have a fabulous trip!

 

[twoplustwins]

my twins were almost three on our last trip. no one, and I mean no one even asked. they brought them drinks at every TS meal for no charge. they brought us additional plates and silverware too. CMs even gave the twins birthday cupcakes and cards, again no charge (this happened at three separate TS meals). It was very sweet and made for some nice scrapbook pictures.
Have a great time!