Dining Plan with a toddler

[cbcaddict]

We are taking advantage of the dining plan in September and decided to throw in this extra trip this year for our daughter's third birthday. I was told when we purchased the package from Disney that I only had to buy one day tickets to use the free dining promotion our entire stay. I did so, since I already have unused tickets from our last trip. I was told by the CM that my daughter is considered two the whole trip even through she will turn three while we are down. I would however like to order kids meals for her on occasion. I had planned to just pay oop but I am wondering if I can just buy her a one day ticket? And she can use the free dining as well...?? I have never used the d.p so I am not really sure how it works. Thanks!!!

 

[HolliePoppins]

We are taking advantage of the dining plan in September and decided to throw in this extra trip this year for our daughter's third birthday. I was told when we purchased the package from Disney that I only had to buy one day tickets to use the free dining promotion our entire stay. I did so, since I already have unused tickets from our last trip. I was told by the CM that my daughter is considered two the whole trip even through she will turn three while we are down. I would however like to order kids meals for her on occasion. I had planned to just pay oop but I am wondering if I can just buy her a one day ticket? And she can use the free dining as well...?? I have never used the d.p so I am not really sure how it works. Thanks!!!

I am pretty sure you would have to tell them she is three. Therefore she will need a ticket for each day since kids three and up need a ticket. I do not think she can use your old ones since tickets are non transferable. She could use each of the one day tickets you purchased to get the package and then you could buy her any additional days she needs.

I think it would be a lot cheaper to buy her meals oop. If she is not a big eater kids under 3 can eat off of your plate and most buffets will let you make her a plate also. I have also heard of people ordering a meal for a child under 3 and some restaraunts charged them and some didnt.

I hope I wasnt too confusing and the info helps you out. I am pretty sure the info is accurate but I know someone will let us know if its not.(It has happened before)

 

[Hoosier Mom]

We did the same thing...except it was Sept 2006. I have a trip report below. It's short and has photos on page 1 & 2.

Anyway, our son was 18 months, so he was not on the plan. We used our dining plan for lunches and suppers. For breakfast, we paid OOP. (food court at CBR)

Basically for breakfast, we got him a banana from the grab & go, plus he shared all the food off our plates. I got mickey waffles & bacon most days and my husband got oatmeal.

For lunches & dinners, he shared a little of ours, but he is a very picky eater. I brought peanut butter and applesauces with us. I bought a loaf of bread at the CBR gift shop. So we would take a soft sided cooler with us in the parks and have sandwiches and applesauce for him. If we were doing cheeseburgers & fries, I just shared mine with him. Garden Grill brought him a child's meal even though he wasn't on the plan. That was nice of them.

This time we're going and he is 4. So he'll have his own dining plan. He will order a child meal for lunch and supper. We'll do breakfast OOP again. I may try to order a platter breakfast meal and share with him. Someone told me the portions for the breakfast platters were large.

I don't know if that helps you or not.

Maybe you could look over the menus and add up what child meals costs...then compare it to the cost of a one day ticket. Paying out of pocket for a child meal may still be less expensive.

 

[Alysa]

My son was two and my niece turned three mid trip. Both were eligible for the free dining but at $10 per child per day, they were both big enough that we wished we had done the plan. Little ones don't do very well on one large buffet meal all day long so we were often buying water, fruit, and counter service breakfast and lunches. Regular dining prices are so expensive and we spent way more in extras than the food plan would have cost. Plus, our daughter didn't fancy the kids meals that much and for the counter service she would ask for an adult meal like a salad so I would end up using her kid credits for my son and going without myself. For $10, do it! One mickey bar is $3, add a bottle of water and some breakfast and you have already spent more than $10.

 

[Hoosier Mom]

My son was two and my niece turned three mid trip. Both were eligible for the free dining but at $10 per child per day, they were both big enough that we wished we had done the plan. Little ones don't do very well on one large buffet meal all day long so we were often buying water, fruit, and counter service breakfast and lunches. Regular dining prices are so expensive and we spent way more in extras than the food plan would have cost. Plus, our daughter didn't fancy the kids meals that much and for the counter service she would ask for an adult meal like a salad so I would end up using her kid credits for my son and going without myself. For $10, do it! One mickey bar is $3, add a bottle of water and some breakfast and you have already spent more than $10.

Sounds like good advice!

 

[nicolem05]

Good to know!

 

[cbcaddict]

My son was two and my niece turned three mid trip. Both were eligible for the free dining but at $10 per child per day, they were both big enough that we wished we had done the plan. Little ones don't do very well on one large buffet meal all day long so we were often buying water, fruit, and counter service breakfast and lunches. Regular dining prices are so expensive and we spent way more in extras than the food plan would have cost. Plus, our daughter didn't fancy the kids meals that much and for the counter service she would ask for an adult meal like a salad so I would end up using her kid credits for my son and going without myself. For $10, do it! One mickey bar is $3, add a bottle of water and some breakfast and you have already spent more than $10.

Exactly the info I was after!! Thank you! Do I have to call and have that added to my reservation or do I pay at the resort/park?? She is a big eater and we have some food challenges that would make sharing with my husband or I not work out so well. I am happy to pay a set amount like that for her. Thanks again!!

 

[Alysa]

Call and book it now. We realized by the end of the first day that not having a dining plan was not going to work for us and we tried to add it at guest relations at the hotel and they were unable to do so because we had already checked in. Wonk wonk.
Glad I could help!

 

[Mickey1976]

My DD will be 2 1/2 when we're there and I wanted to buy her a meal plan since all the snacks and drinks she'd need would cost more than the plan...but they wouldn't let me and if I tell them she's 3 they'll make me pay her park entrances. Hmmmm....any way to just add the meal plan?

 

[Alysa]

I'd try purchasing it from another cast member? I have never heard that you are unable to buy another meal plan for a toddler if you want to, and they never mentioned that to me when I was trying to get one for my son on day 2.

 

[scarlet_ibis]

My DD was 2 years 11 mos on our last trip and we did the Dining Plan. (She did NOT have her own plan.) We were fine. We planned a bunch of buffets and bought her her own meal other times and let her share with her sister other times. But seriously, how much does a one day ticket cost nowadays? $63? That's something like 6 kid meals, no?

 

[gigi729]

We wanted to buy the plan for our then 18 month old on our last trip and we were told that we could do it, but they would have to enter her as a 3 year old and we would have to buy her park tickets too. I thought this was a little crazy b/c there are a lot of little ones that are big eaters and I don't want to pay 220 for a park ticket just to get the DDP, obviously we paid OOP.

It worked out fine, especially buffets where under 3 eat free. Other times she could usually share with me and DH and other DD is not as big of an eater. But there were times we bought her, her own meal too. Not really a big deal, but I do think Disney should allow you to buy the plan for under 3 without having to buy a park ticket.

 

[Mickey1976]

Yup, tried with several CM and they all said the same thing...we'd have to enter her as 3 and then we'd end up paying for her entrance to the parks for 7 days...so, we'll just pay oop for whatever we think she needs...but I wish they'd just let us buy her a meal plan!