DDP with 15-month-old?

[Maestra99]

DH and I have done the DDP twice now, and we LOVE it. We are planning a trip for early November (probably 6-7 nights at a value or moderate), but this time will be our first traveling with a child. DS will be 15 months old during the trip and we can't decide if the DDP is a good idea or not.

I'm thinking the QS might be a better option (or just pay OOP for meals!), but DH still wants to do the regular DDP. I just don't know how DS will do in sit-down restaurants every evening. I'm trying to remind husband that our trip will be A LOT different this time and that we will have to plan our trip around DS this time.

I know we can now use TS credits for QS meals if necessary, but I don't want to end up wasting money. If the dining plan ends up being free during our stay (and we stay moderate), we will go for it, otherwise if it's OOP I just don't know.

Does anyone have any experience doing the DDP with a small child?

 

[Faldred]

Totally depends on the child. I'd suggest going out to eat locally to see how the child reacts and behaves -- ideally at low-peak times so if there's a problem, it won't be too much of a bother for the other guests. If it goes well, try peak times to get a more similar feel to what it will be like a WDW.

 

[KimberlyE]

I agree with the previous poster about test runs at local places. We have never had issues with dining with our children but we do follow a strict set of rules:

1. We preview the menu ahead and when we're seated we ask to go ahead and place our order.
2. We either bring a small snack (crackers) or ask for our appetizers or bread right away. Little ones get impatient waiting for food.
3. We bring small, quiet activities to keep the children occupied. I have a small bag that is filled with these and it only comes out at restaurants so the items are always exciting. (tiny coloring books, handheld magna-doodle, mini rubiks' cube, color forms, etc.)
4. We always stress to our children that if they misbehave, we will leave. Be prepared to do this - one takes the child outside while the other pays. Obviously this is something you do before Disney. I've only had to do this once and my son knows that I mean it.

I think preparing in advance and practice helps our little ones become patient diners and good company!

 

[Maestra99]

Great ideas; thanks!! I'm thinking we'll book the trip without the DDP and add it on later if we decide to go for it - when we have a better idea of how he'll be in restaurants at that age. He does fine now, but I know a lot will change before November!

Now I just have to convince DH that we need to go out for dinner more often to "practice!" Oh, the sacrifices we make for Disney!

 

[aubriee]

As others have said take him out now and practice. I think it just depends on the kid. Each one is different. I have seven grandkids (age 1 y/o, 1 y/o, 2 y/o, 3 y/o, 3 y/o, 7 y/o, and 15 y/o). I would take the two 1 y/o's, one of the three y/o's, the 7 y/o, and the 15 y/o anywhere. The 2 y/o and the other 3 y/o there is no way I'd take them to a nice restaurant. Their personalities are just different (loud, very hyper, no patience for sitting still more than a minute or two, always into everything). We do take them out to eat, but know one of us will be going outside with them (one is autistic and has a tendency to scream if anyone gets close to her and the other is hyperactive). On the other hand, my husband and I took the other 3 y/o to WDW this past Feb and he was a perfect little gentleman. We got several comments from wait staff and other guests on how cute, polite, patient, and well behaved he was. Now his hyperacrive cousin who is just six weeks younger is the exact opposite. She would have been the child who was getting dirty looks in any restaurant we took her to. Only you know your child and what he is capable of.

 

[shoney]

I would still do the ddp if I were you.

If the baby doesn't want to sit too long, one of you can take a walk with him.

When my kids were very little, we would always do a sit down lunch vs. a dinner.
They seem to do better because they weren't so tired. (not just disney, but at home and other vacations!)


I think it just takes some planning and knowing what works best for your child.

 

[KimberlyE]

I would still do the ddp if I were you.

If the baby doesn't want to sit too long, one of you can take a walk with him.

When my kids were very little, we would always do a sit down lunch vs. a dinner.
They seem to do better because they weren't so tired. (not just disney, but at home and other vacations!)


I think it just takes some planning and knowing what works best for your child.

I totally agree with the sit-down part! We've found that the sit down meals gave our son a chance to cool down from the heat of the day, relax in a much more serene environment, and rest up before tackling the next round of attractions. We always go to the hotel for a nap and swim after lunch. Then we are really ready to go for the evening. We let my son select some of the ADR's so he's excited and involved in the process - we let him preview the menus, too.

 

[NorweJenNY]

Honestly, I think it's nice to throw in some sit-down meals with a little one. CS meals can get crazy with so many people, waiting on line to order, then waiting for the food, trying to find a place to sit... sometimes you'll just want to sit down and be served!

If you don't mind trading off with being with the baby so you can go up to a buffet, I recall Biergarten being fun with my nephew. He LOVED the music. The performers completely grabbed his attention. He had a big smile on his face, dancing in his high chair with the music. So cute! A great memory!

It might be interesting to try a character meal as well... you might get some really great pictures, as the characters love interacting with little ones. I remember Goofy playing peek-a-boo by hiding his eyes with his ears. They like eskimo kisses too!

If you're concerned about the baby being loud, consider going to a rambunctious type of meal where the volume is already up a little in the restaurant - like 50s Prime Time or Whispering Canyon Cafe. Be prepared with some toys that baby enjoys as well... and maybe some finger food.

You can still enjoy the DDP with a little one. People do it all the time!

 

[TMEF23]

I am trying to make a similar decision, except we will be taking our 20 month old twin sons. We go out to eat pretty regularly here and the boys are pretty well behaved. However, I do have a good plan when we go as I quickly order their meal, decide on my meal immediately, and then start to feed them snacks (cheese stick and/or puffs) before their meal arrive. By the time we get to the end of our meal, the boys are ready to leave. I am struggling with the deciding about the DDP since I don't know if we will always make it to the dessert part of the plan. We would pay OOP for the plan since I used a pin code for a discount on the room.
I really liked what a previous poster said about waiting in lines being bad. I can imagine that waiting in a a CS line being worse than sitting and waiting for food at a TS. I also just looked into the Biergarten as suggested from a previous poster and think we will be booking that for our trip. My kids love music, so I really like the idea of having live entertainment. My husband said that he would like to do at least one TS a day, but probably at different times each day. Now I just need to see if it is worth the money to take the DDP or just wing it!