Dining plan ? for kiddie

[tigger2on]

Soooo my son turns 3 as of June 20 and I am thinking of taking advantage of this for one last trip to MK before he needs to have a pass. I have my pass already and we aren't planned to go back until Oct 2013.
However, he's a very picky eater and am wondering if I can still add a child's dining plan even if he's not 3 yet?
We would be traveling from June 10 -15.
How would you do this? Do I tell Member services to put him down as 3? Would I have to buy him a pass then for MK even though he's not 3 yet?
Help Please!!!

 

[DebbieB]

Soooo my son turns 3 as of June 20 and I am thinking of taking advantage of this for one last trip to MK before he needs to have a pass. I have my pass already and we aren't planned to go back until Oct 2013.
However, he's a very picky eater and am wondering if I can still add a child's dining plan even if he's not 3 yet?
We would be traveling from June 10 -15.
How would you do this? Do I tell Member services to put him down as 3? Would I have to buy him a pass then for MK even though he's not 3 yet?
Help Please!!!

If you are staying on points, you don't have to buy a ticket to get the dining plan.

 

[tigger2on]

Ok so what do I do? Do I tell member services he's 3 to get Child DDP for him? Then I just tell them at the gates he's 3 in a week. Should I bring his passport with me to the park? I mean they can ask him but he'll tell them he is 6 or 10 as these are his favourite numbers right now LOL.

 

[sarahk0204]

The Disney Food Blog addresses this:

The Disney Dining Plan With Kids Under 3 Years Old
A few FAQs for those visiting with a toddler under 3 years old (Disney’s “children” classification begins at age 3 and goes through age 9).

Why can’t my under-three-year-old child can’t be on the dining plan.
That’s just the way it is. You may have a 2-year-old with a voracious appetite who you want to put on the dining plan. I don’t recommend it.

While theoretically you could fudge his age and say he was three, but then you’d be required to purchase theme park tickets for him. (Park entrance free for the under-threes.) It will be MUCH cheaper to just buy your two-year-old his own food at the restaurants.

How do I feed my 2-year-old at a traditional table service restaurant?
At regular table service restaurants, children under the age of three can share your meal.


They will be literally eating from your plate. If you want your child to have their own food, supplemental food, or their own beverage, you’ll have to pay for this separately.

How do I feed my 2-year-old at a quick service restaurant?
At quick service restaurants, children under the age of three can share your meal. They will be literally eating from your plate.

If you want your child to have their own food, supplemental food, or their own beverage, you’ll have to pay for this separately.

How do I feed my 2-year-old at a buffet service restaurant?
At buffet and family-style restaurants, children under age three can “eat from your plate” for free. Don’t take this literally. You can get them their own plate of food. They can eat whatever they want. The child’s beverage is included, you don’t have to pay extra.

Do I have to pay for my 2-year-old’s beverage?
At buffet and family style restaurants, no. At quick service and traditional menu-based restaurants, yes.

Of course, as previously mentioned, with DVC you can buy the dining plan without tickets, so "you must buy a ticket" does not really apply. What meals do you have planned, and are you buying the regular, quick service, or deluxe plan for yourself? If, for example, you are doing the regular DP and a lot of buffets, paying OOP for 1 child's counter service meal per day is probably a better deal.

 

[tigger2on]

That's great info.
We are booking on points and I am just looking at a Quick Service Dining Plan.
So if we do a park, do I take his passport to prove he doesn't turn 3 for one more week and a half?

 

[DebbieB]

That's great info.
We are booking on points and I am just looking at a Quick Service Dining Plan.
So if we do a park, do I take his passport to prove he doesn't turn 3 for one more week and a half?

They take your word for it.

 

[noname70]

You could always help the child eat the DDP food if you're a really hungry person

 

[akl-fan]

Take a photo of the back page of his passport and keep it on a cell phone. I would not take a passport into the park unless you really have to. It is unlikely that you will be asked for proof unless your child is a very tall. CM will generally take your word for it.
I totally agree with a previous poster, pay oop for your toddler for meals. It will be far cheaper.

 

[hakepb]

A picky eater and qs ddp may not be a good combination. Most qs kids meal options are chicken nuggets and pb&j. There are some places without kids menus where they can order from the adult menu. I think pop would be your best option.

 

[dclfun]

First of all, no one will question his age so no need to bring a passport or even a photo of it. I worried ages ago when my son was almost 3 and kept trying to show them his BC at the turnstiles. I think the CM's thought I was nuts! As to the DDP, I'd just let him eat what he wants from your plate. I've asked for an extra small plate before and if you're using a refill mug, he can have a refill too or you can order him a carton of milk/juice. At TS restaurants you can get refills of your drink too w/o an extra charge or get him a glass of milk or juice. Alternatively you can bring your own juice boxes which they sell in the resort gift shops. If you felt like he really wanted a kids meal, you can get one ( they aren't expensive and include a juice or milk) but it would be much cheaper than saying he's 3 and paying for him to be on the DDP. This is your chance to bring your little guy without much expense- go for it!

 

[cheezNE1]

My friend had the similar situation few years back. he just left it and no one at the park or restaurant bothered him. I say just leave his name out and don't worry about it. They are not gonna id him for 3,4, or even 5. Unless your 3 year old is like 3ft tall. My son's kindergarden class mate is 4 ft tall and I'm sure he would have a problem proving that.