DVC, dining and kids ages ??

[3Minnies1Mickey]

I posted this on the dining plan board, but haven't come across anyone that has done this so I thought I'd come to you guys....

We are staying DVC via an RCI trade and want to get the DDP. DS will be 2, but since we don't need tickets to get the DDP I'm considering getting the DDP for him since we'll buy him meals anyways. My question comes to buffets: he WILL be 2 (I'll have a copy of his birth cert anyways) so I shouldn't have to use a meal credit for him. I'd like to save them for a couple of extra TS meals we have planned (Beaches N Cream, The Plaza). We'd pay for DH and I OOP those meals and use any extra kids TS credits for the kids. It would save me about $30/week if we can do this.

Can I do this? Has anyone done this or asked about doing this?

 

[crisi]

I posted this on the dining plan board, but haven't come across anyone that has done this so I thought I'd come to you guys....

We are staying DVC via an RCI trade and want to get the DDP. DS will be 2, but since we don't need tickets to get the DDP I'm considering getting the DDP for him since we'll buy him meals anyways. My question comes to buffets: he WILL be 2 (I'll have a copy of his birth cert anyways) so I shouldn't have to use a meal credit for him. I'd like to save them for a couple of extra TS meals we have planned (Beaches N Cream, The Plaza). We'd pay for DH and I OOP those meals and use any extra kids TS credits for the kids. It would save me about $30/week if we can do this.

Can I do this? Has anyone done this or asked about doing this?

The way I follow it, you can do that.

One thing to be aware of is the risk of not eating the TS meals you have planned. Some of us don't like the dining plan with toddlers - they tend to do things like decide to have a melt down before dinner, or decide to sleep. Dining plan = less flexibility. But you know your kid, its just something to be aware of.

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

The way I follow it, you can do that.

One thing to be aware of is the risk of not eating the TS meals you have planned. Some of us don't like the dining plan with toddlers - they tend to do things like decide to have a melt down before dinner, or decide to sleep. Dining plan = less flexibility. But you know your kid, its just something to be aware of.

I am, thanks. We will be there for 2 weeks (yes I got 2 consecutive DVC weeks via RCI!) so we will be taking lots of breaks (read NAPS) to avoid major meltdowns. They do pretty well in restaurants anyways.

 

[bastraker]

I don't think you can do that at buffets. When you give them your KTTW card to pay, the card will have the child listed on there as a paying child (3 or over) and they will have to use a table credit.

 

[ibela]

I don't think you can do that at buffets. When you give them your KTTW card to pay, the card will have the child listed on there as a paying child (3 or over) and they will have to use a table credit.

This is what I was thinking to, unless you try to say there's another kid that's not with you? I don't know, it gets messy. I'm actually planning to do the same thing. I figured for the non-buffet meals, CS, and snacks, the extra $11 (or $12?) per day was still worth it even if I end up using a credit for ds2 at the buffet restaurants. You're going first so if you don't mind and if you remember, I'd really appreciate if you post back or pm me with what happend.

 

[joandegennaro]

I don't think you can do that at buffets. When you give them your KTTW card to pay, the card will have the child listed on there as a paying child (3 or over) and they will have to use a table credit.

I agree with PP. If he is listed as 3 which he would be in order to be on a dinning plan then he is 3 for all meals. I would suggest just paying OOP for meals that aren't buffet.

 

[LSchrow]

I agree with PP. If he is listed as 3 which he would be in order to be on a dinning plan then he is 3 for all meals. I would suggest just paying OOP for meals that aren't buffet.

i agree....it is very easy to confirm the info, and not worth the potential embarrassment and/or hassle.

 

[AlwaysDreamofDisney]

I don't think you can list him as 3 for the dining plan and NOT have to buy park tickets. Its an all or nothing deal. Under 3 they are supposed to "share" but from what I recall when we dined a few years ago with my then 17 mos old at buffets she could take her own plate!

They really don't eat too much! And even at sit down dinners you can always add anything to the order and just pay OOP. We did this last August for anything extra that we wanted and just paid at the end for those items!

 

[londonderrydisneyfan]

When DS was 2, three years ago, we were allowed to add him to the Dining plan without buying a park ticket for him. But we did eat at several buffets and to my knowledge they charged us for him.

 

[johnf0614]

I don't think you can list him as 3 for the dining plan and NOT have to buy park tickets. Its an all or nothing deal. Under 3 they are supposed to "share" but from what I recall when we dined a few years ago with my then 17 mos old at buffets she could take her own plate!

They really don't eat too much! And even at sit down dinners you can always add anything to the order and just pay OOP. We did this last August for anything extra that we wanted and just paid at the end for those items!

You can definitely purchase the dining plan and not have to purchase park tickets, as long as you didn't get your room as a vacation package... You can definitely do an exchange from RCI to DVC, purchase the DDP separate, and purchase park separately and they will not be combined to your dining.

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

When DS was 2, three years ago, we were allowed to add him to the Dining plan without buying a park ticket for him. But we did eat at several buffets and to my knowledge they charged us for him.

Did you ask them not to, or tell them he was 2?

I haven't made a decision as to whether or not I'll actually do it. I want to get as much info as possible so I can decide what's best for us. My ADRs aren't until March and then I'll finish running the numbers before deciding what to do.

Anyone else have personal experience with it?

 

[Brian Noble]

In the words of a good friend, it sounds like "too much sugar for a dime." I'd just list him as 2, and pay as you go for what you need, especially given the small savings.

 

[londonderrydisneyfan]

Did you ask them not to, or tell them he was 2?

I haven't made a decision as to whether or not I'll actually do it. I want to get as much info as possible so I can decide what's best for us. My ADRs aren't until March and then I'll finish running the numbers before deciding what to do.

Anyone else have personal experience with it?

We didn't mention that he was 2 because we weren't going to use those credits anyways so we didn't bother .If we were paying out of pocket we definitely would let them know that we shouldn't be charged for him.

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

We didn't mention that he was 2 because we weren't going to use those credits anyways so we didn't bother .If we were paying out of pocket we definitely would let them know that we shouldn't be charged for him.

Thanks.