dining plan for 2yo

[gellar]

DD turns 3 in the middle of our trip. I booked the trip as her being a 2yo, since that's how old she'll be when we arrive (I wasn't even thinking about her turning 3, just answered thinking "she's 2..., he's 4...), but now I see that she's not included on the dining plan? A 2yo gets no dining credits? She will need to eat on our trip.
I'm not sure how to proceed from here. Was I wrong to book her as a 2yo, though she turns 3 on the trip? I didn't really think it through this far.

 

[disney world dreamer]

children under 3 do not get a dining plan.
the dining plan is for ages 3-9 and 10+.
you can pay OOP for her meals which are quite inexpensive or you can have her eat off of your plate.
at buffets she can eat free of charge and have her own plate.

you were not wrong to book her as 2yo.
she will be 2yo on the trip and disney does not count it against you that she is turning 3 during the trip.

being that she's 2 she does not need a park ticket which saves you a lot of money in the long run so don't go changing her age on the reservation just to get the dining plan for her cuz you'll also have to pay for a ticket that she does not need.

 

[canadiandisneynut]

Portions are huge at Disney. Buffets will be perfect but if at a'la cartes and quick service, there will be more than enough food. Remember also, that QS credits are not divided between children and adults. If when going to a QS restaurant you order three adult QS meals, your children could share a meal. I share with my DD7 everytime because there is just so much food to go around. I agree with disney world dreamer-leave your reservation as is

 

[gellar]

Portions are huge at Disney. Buffets will be perfect but if at a'la cartes and quick service, there will be more than enough food. Remember also, that QS credits are not divided between children and adults. If when going to a QS restaurant you order three adult QS meals, your children could share a meal. I share with my DD7 everytime because there is just so much food to go around. I agree with disney world dreamer-leave your reservation as is

Oh, that is great info! I assumed there were "child credits." We'll be fine then! I've already made mutiple buffet ADRs, so that works in our favor too.

 

[baseballnut]

You're saving a lot of money by going at 2! And yes, you'll be fine food-wise since she can have all she wants at the buffets and can share your meals at other table service and counter service. We went when our DD was almost 3 and it was more than enough food when she shared ours. Have fun!

 

[Thing 1]

No worries....free at all buffets and family style and plenty to share off of the rest of your plates. DS rarely got a kids meal till he was school age. He (and me) preferred he eat more adult foods so he ate off my plate forever and we always had enough!

 

[Superchikk]

My daughter was 2 on our last trip, and she easily shared kids' meals with our 6 year-old son. I would just get 2 of the same side item with the kids' meal instead of 2 different things so they'd each get one and then split the entree and dessert. Order something extra if you need it, but don't worry about not having credits for her.

 

[bhardy]

We took out DD when she was almost 3 and we did the same ate most TS as buffets and she just shared with us at QS and we were not hungry once during the trip. So you will be fine. Enjoy your trip!!!

 

[luvmy2babies]

It'll be great. We went when my son was 2.5. I went to places that had large portions and shared with him some for Quick service meals. Kids meals aren’t bad though price wise though.

We had the regular dining plan so we also had Table service meals that trip. So with the exception of Cinderella’s Royal Table (where he also ate for free) our table service meals were all family style and buffets. He got his own plate for no extra. I loved it. My older child was 9 on that trip so knowing I was in for the price hike the following year, we lived it up. 8 days in the parks and 7 character meals plus dinner at Ohana. I think we only did maybe 4 or 5 actual lines to meet characters the whole trip.
I miss the days he got in places and ate free.

 

[gellar]

It'll be great. We went when my son was 2.5. I went to places that had large portions and shared with him some for Quick service meals. Kids meals aren’t bad though price wise though.

We had the regular dining plan so we also had Table service meals that trip. So with the exception of Cinderella’s Royal Table (where he also ate for free) our table service meals were all family style and buffets. He got his own plate for no extra. I loved it. My older child was 9 on that trip so knowing I was in for the price hike the following year, we lived it up. 8 days in the parks and 7 character meals plus dinner at Ohana. I think we only did maybe 4 or 5 actual lines to meet characters the whole trip.
I miss the days he got in places and ate free.

How did Cinderella's Royal Table work for free? We have an ADR there, and I assumed she'd have to eat off someone's plate.

 

[gellar]

Thanks everyone! I'm feeling great about this now. It looks like we accidentally booked the PERFECT time!

 

[disney world dreamer]

How did Cinderella's Royal Table work for free? We have an ADR there, and I assumed she'd have to eat off someone's plate.

she does have to share off someone's plate.
its only at buffet/family style restaurants that she can have her own plate.
if you want her to have her own plate at non buffet/family style locations whether TS or QS you'd need to pay OOP for her meal.

 

[luvmy2babies]

How did Cinderella's Royal Table work for free? We have an ADR there, and I assumed she'd have to eat off someone's plate.

He got a special meal for children under 3. Now as you can see from my signature he is 5 now so this was 2012. He got to share our bread, got grapes and cheese and then a plate of butter noodles for dinner and a drink. He was fine with that.

 

[puffkin]

We don't do the dining plan but just got back from Disney with my almost 3 year old and my DS9. We did ALL buffets and character meals this trip so younger DS ate virtually for free. I usually packed their lunches or they would share an adult meal as neither kid is usually thrilled with the kid offerings. Next time we have to pay for my youngest and DS9 will be a Disney adult so we will need to cut back on eating at the character meals because it will be too pricey.

 

[Figmentmommy]

Thanks everyone! I'm feeling great about this now. It looks like we accidentally booked the PERFECT time!

You sure did! Our first trip with the kids our youngest had just turned 2. He was easily the size of a 3+ year old and ate full meals as well! We happened to have mostly character buffets and all you care to eat meals planned so it worked out perfectly. I only remember ordering a la carte for him a couple of times over our week long trip. It was a huge savings for us not to have to buy admission for him that trip as he rode nearly everything!
Enjoy!

 

[Dfdisneymomma]

Good to know! Going with a 2 and 4 year old and was wondering how it would work.

 

[Princess Melody]

she does have to share off someone's plate.
its only at buffet/family style restaurants that she can have her own plate.
if you want her to have her own plate at non buffet/family style locations whether TS or QS you'd need to pay OOP for her meal.

He got a special meal for children under 3. Now as you can see from my signature he is 5 now so this was 2012. He got to share our bread, got grapes and cheese and then a plate of butter noodles for dinner and a drink. He was fine with that.

We've always gotten buttered noodles and/or grapes for lunch and dinner for a child under 3 at CRT and a small serving of plain French toast sticks for breakfast. This is without asking and we've dined there several times with kids under 3 the last few years. Plus they can share the pastry basket (breakfast) and bread (lunch/dinner). Last I had breakfast there with my own kiddo when she was under 3 was 2014. She LOVED strawberries and gobbled up the ones that came with the pastry plate. I asked for more and they came back with a whole bowl for her!