Did they change under 3 eat free policy?

[lillykat]

It was my experience and from research the under 3 eat free at buffets and family style restaurants but if you order them a meal that you pay for it unless they eat off your plate. I was helping some one plan on another board and they mentioned they were told under 3 eat free. I told her to check and copied allearsnet. She says she called disney and they told her that if she orders her child food she won't have to pay for it. Does anyone have an official link I don't want her to get a surprise and I don't think she believes me that she will have to pay bc some at wdw told her no over the phone.

 

[Sienna]

It's my understanding that if they eat off your plate, including buffets, there is no charge. If you order them something separate, you will be charged for it.

 

[autismgoesdisney]

Yes, previous poster is correct. If you order them food, you have to pay for it.

 

[DisneyGrampa]

It's my understanding that if they eat off your plate, including buffets, there is no charge. If you order them something separate, you will be charged for it.

Exactly my understanding also-i've seen reference to under 3 eat off of your plate in many places-I've never seen any reference to ordering a meal for an under three child at no cost.

 

[lillykat]

It's my understanding that if they eat off your plate, including buffets, there is no charge. If you order them something separate, you will be charged for it.

It's okay no wonder there is so much bad info - I just called 2 times and BOTH times they kept telling UNDER 2 is completely free for food if I order it off the children's menu, tickets etc but 2 and up have to pay for everything so I have to pay for my 2 year old to eat, get into the parks etc. How clueless can they be over there. They argued with me that I better call back and buy my DD#1 who will be 34 months (1.5 months from turning 3 when we check in) park tickets b.c she was NOT under 2. I kept saying you have to pay from 3 and up and she will be 2 not 3 - and they insisted unless they were UNDER 2 I had to pay.

 

[Tricia1972]

I've been to Disney three times with an under 3 child. At buffets, Family Style meals, etc, your child will eat for free. We have never had an issue getting our child a plate and making their own plate at a buffet. Also if you order an AYCE item such as the skillet, you can share at no cost.

Servers will always bring you an empty plate for sharing with your 'infant', and though they could charge for your beverage, it's been my experience that they do not.

If you order a kids meal for your child, then you will have to pay for that meal.

 

[Momto2PrncChrmgs]

I've been to Disney three times with an under 3 child. At buffets, Family Style meals, etc, your child will eat for free. We have never had an issue getting our child a plate and making their own plate at a buffet. Also if you order an AYCE item such as the skillet, you can share at no cost.

Servers will always bring you an empty plate for sharing with your 'infant', and though they could charge for your beverage, it's been my experience that they do not.

If you order a kids meal for your child, then you will have to pay for that meal.

Same thoughts here. We've been 4 times with kids under 3 and have never had a problem! I think we MAY have been charged for a drink to two, but I doubt it. Sometimes (on the DDP), I'd order milk or juice as my beverage and let my little one have that, and I'd have water (or maybe a nice adult beverage...).

 

[DisneyGrampa]

It's okay no wonder there is so much bad info - I just called 2 times and BOTH times they kept telling UNDER 2 is completely free for food if I order it off the children's menu, tickets etc but 2 and up have to pay for everything so I have to pay for my 2 year old to eat, get into the parks etc. How clueless can they be over there. They argued with me that I better call back and buy my DD#1 who will be 34 months (1.5 months from turning 3 when we check in) park tickets b.c she was NOT under 2. I kept saying you have to pay from 3 and up and she will be 2 not 3 - and they insisted unless they were UNDER 2 I had to pay.

Is two the new three?

 

[TheRustyScupper]

It was my experience and from research the under 3 eat free at buffets and family style restaurants but if you order them a meal that you pay for it unless they eat off your plate.

Correctomundo.

 

[carrie6466]

When we were there last October on the DP with my two nieces who were
2 1/2 and 1, a few table service restaurants did offer us (for free) spaghetti or noodles with butter for them. Other then the buffets or family style being free for them, that was the only free food they offered us.

 

[sherylcin]

It's okay no wonder there is so much bad info - I just called 2 times and BOTH times they kept telling UNDER 2 is completely free for food if I order it off the children's menu, tickets etc but 2 and up have to pay for everything so I have to pay for my 2 year old to eat, get into the parks etc. How clueless can they be over there. They argued with me that I better call back and buy my DD#1 who will be 34 months (1.5 months from turning 3 when we check in) park tickets b.c she was NOT under 2. I kept saying you have to pay from 3 and up and she will be 2 not 3 - and they insisted unless they were UNDER 2 I had to pay.

Unless Disney has completely changed their policy regarding tickets, you do NOT need a ticket for a two-year-old. In fact, my grandson turned 3 DURING our last trip and we were told that as long as he was two when we arrived he wouldn't need a ticket at all (I thought I would need to buy a partial ticket for the days after he turned 3). We had no problems. Sounds like Disney has a bunch of new people on the phones!

 

[Sleeping Becca]

2 is not the new 3

3 is still 3

 

[milmore104]

Just returned from the world w/ a little one. Every place we ate at, and we ate at a LOT offered a free beverage for her. Also a few places that weren't buffet or AYCE she was offered pasta w/ butter for free. Never had any problems everyone was nice. Never ordered her a "meal" of her own but was never charged when I asked for applesauce. QS meals well that's another story had to pay for anything extra for her unless we subbed something in our meals for it.

 

[cyesutis]

Yes, there is an official link--it's on the dining plan brochure. Clearly states they can share from an adult or purchase a meal from the menu.


Unfortunately, I can't give the link cause I haven't posted 10 times, but look up the brochure

here's what it says....

The Disney Dining Plan is unavailable for Guests under the age of
3, but they may share from an adult plate at no charge, or a meal
may be purchased from the menu. The price of the meal will be
added to your bill. Guests ages 3-9 must order from a children’s
menu where available.

 

[tink1953]

We just got back with our 2 1/2 yr old grandson...

He ate from our plates for free and some resturants brought him fries or something different if we wanted it at no charge.
We did have to pay for his Soy Milk a couple of times but mostly we didn't.
We chose buffet/family meals for that reason.

We did not pay for anything for him he was free to get in, free to the halloween party....until they turn 3 they are FREE thats why we took him now.

BArb

 

[lillykat]

Thank you all!! That was what I had thought - we have our trip booked for May with 2 under 3 going an she was saying disney was telling her this - and I knew it was wrong - but I thought I would come over here and check again to make sure they hadn't changed something and I missed it.

The one women I spoke to was SO confused and was rather argumentative about it. She kept insisting UNDER 2 was free and I said but to get into the park it is 2 AND under and she said your DD is 2 right - she will have to pay - what do you not understand about UNDER 2... She is 2 and 2 pays your 1 year old is free - it is not difficult..

 

[mjbradeis]

Only place they gave our under 3 their own was CRT, they said that it was complimentary

 

[Kcat1971]

Unless Disney has completely changed their policy regarding tickets, you do NOT need a ticket for a two-year-old. In fact, my grandson turned 3 DURING our last trip and we were told that as long as he was two when we arrived he wouldn't need a ticket at all (I thought I would need to buy a partial ticket for the days after he turned 3). We had no problems. Sounds like Disney has a bunch of new people on the phones!

This is what I was just told as well. We are starting the trip with a two year old. We are staying offsite the first week then checking in to ASMu on his 3rd birthday. I made sure he was still free. We don't have to have a family suite.

 

[Dizzymrslizzy]

I just got back with a 1 yr old and we were on DDP. We had to pay OOP for a handful of meals for him. All buffets were free though. I don't remember what we did at Whispering Canyons. I think I just gave him stuff off of the skillet.

 

[MommytoaSweetie]

Only place they gave our under 3 their own was CRT, they said that it was complimentary

We also got a free meal for our almost-2-year-old at the Epcot Storybook Princess Dining - they gave us a kids menu and we said no thanks she'll share, but our waiter said it was complimentary so we went ahead with it. DD enjoyed her pizza (and definitely more than she would have enjoyed sharing our salmon or pork, but she would have survived), and we thought it was great!

We also got free drinks for her at other restaurants, as well for TS - we did Tusker House, Crystal Palace, and 50's Prime Time Cafe (in reality, we get kid free drinks at most non-disney restaurants, too, regardless of if we purchase a kid's meal)... buffets, DD got her own plate and we put all her endless fruit on them for her to devour, and at 50's PTC, she got an empty plate and shared from ours (we had plenty to share!).

We're taking both girls now in January before DD1 turns 3, so that both of them will be free. DD2 will be 10 months old, so we're still hoping they can share off plates or share kids meals at CS restaurants.