Free dining and two year old?

[rhw]

We have 3 adults, a 4 year old, and a 2 year old. With free dining, does the 2 year old get meals also? Should we change him to a 3 year old so he can eat? He will eat 3 times as much as the 4 year old and sharing meals may be a problem.

 

[a*lil*bit*goofy]

Honestly, this question comes up and it always sparks a debate. Not usually that friendly either.

Here is the RIGHT answer:

Here is the thing: do NOT change his age. There is so much food it won't matter. If he eats more than your 3 year old, then your 3 year old can share with you. PLUS if you are going to a buffet, the 2 year old would eat for free anyway.

If you need to buy a meal, it will cost you what...$5, $6?

That is the right answer, and I am sure you know that.

What I would do, I don't know. What other people do? Yea I am sure some of them have done it. What you will do is up to you.

But asking about cheating the system is just going to cause a problem. Do you need a message board to tell you what to do for your child?

Good luck!
:O)

 

[ElizabethH]

If you change his age to 3 than you will have to get a ticket for him to the parks as well right? So than will you really be saving any money?!

 

[rhw]

not my child. someone else is going. not cheating system as a ticket would have to be bought

 

[pinkerbell]

We have 3 adults, a 4 year old, and a 2 year old. With free dining, does the 2 year old get meals also? Should we change him to a 3 year old so he can eat? He will eat 3 times as much as the 4 year old and sharing meals may be a problem.

we went with a 4 and 2 yr old we are luckly our 4 yr old would share her food - some do not like to whether they are going to eat it or not - so I can see that may be a problem with and already tired child. I do believe however that there will truly be enough food for your two yr old. As mentioned they can go to buffets free. You may be concerend that your 2 yr old might not like the adult food choices but now is a great time to introduce these foods to you little one - there really will be options and I would consider this one of the things you can put on the bottom of the worry sheet they try to accomodate and you would have to buy at leat a one day tix to get free dining so buy a kids meal if necessary would cost about the same as buying an occasional meal HAVE A DISNEY DAY!

 

[rhw]

I know it would cost more money to buy a ticket. And the money is not what I am worried about. What I am worried about is both kids being treated equally. This 2 year old is very aware of what is going on. Sharing the meal will not be possible even if the 4 year old doesn't touch his meal. We are only doing quick service and just want to hand them a card and not mess with getting money out and trying to add anything on. And I do not put charging privilages on any room key. Do not trust that at all. Not trying to cheat Disney as it will be way more money to buy a ticket since we will only be there a few days as far as free food goes. I just want to avoid that family's (and me) visit having any meltdowns for a situation that can be taken care of in advance. My kids were a lot older when we went for the first time, so I didn't have to worry about any of that. Paid rack rate for everything and knew it would be our only trip there!(Guess I was wrong about that as we went right back every year)

 

[3boys4me]

You are not cheating Disney if you change his age to 3. Disney allows this. You could change a 7 year old to 10 on your ressie and get them the adult plan, you just have to buy the adult park ticket. Alot of people do this with DIsney's o.k. Keep in mind that if you change him or her to three that adds anther person to your room. I don't know your plans, but I noticed that you have 4 people +baby. If you are all in the same room, depending on where you're staying that could put you over the limit of people per room.

 

[MsAmerica]

Disney is not going to give you two children's QS meals and only charge you for one credit.

If you want the two year old to have their own meal, you are going to have to pay for it one way or the other.

Good Luck

MsA

 

[maryann92201]

For my 2 year old we're just planning to share our meals with her. I upgraded to the deluxe plan because my kids are use to eating 3 meals a day. Not that we are eating that many. Most days I have 2 sit down meals scheduled. I have several buffets planned and the other meals she will share with my DM and me. Which is what she is use to doing anyway.

You know your child best, but you do get a lot of food. Sharing shouldn't be a problem. Or just order your 2 year old something. I wouldn't change the age because like pp have said you then have to pay for park tickets.

 

[MusiqChic99]

Don't change the age. Just share as much as you can or book as many buffets as you can too.

We have free dining with a 2 year old and plan on sharing at every meal. We have 2 other children going 8 and 9 and then 5 adults. Chances are there will be something someone can share with my son.

Take small snacks in the park too for him.

 

[emilyann415]

Ok...so some of them haven't read your entire post....since you are getting only the quick service meals...buffets are not an option as I am sure you have already figured out . If you want your child to have their own meal, you can change the age to 3. We have done this, Disney knew very well we did this...they are, after all making more money by you doing this. They let 2 and under eat free as a courtesy. If you want to put them on the dining they are fine with this. That being said, you will have to pay for the 3 year old passes into the park. It will be easier to not have to pay for anything while at the park, but if you do the math it will be WAY cheaper to just buy the two year old a meal at the place you are eating and not get the DDP. If the convenience is worth it to you change the age. That is your call. We are staying CL this trip and most of our family says we are insane to spend that much money for "snacks". We don't do it for the "snacks". It's all about convenience. For us, we feel it's worth the money. A lot of other people will disagree. Hope this helps....Disney will change your ressie gladly.

 

[rhw]

Thank you for the responses. I think it would be best to change age.(Although Disney will be getting more of our money than just sharing a meal). We are only doing one day tickets anyway. Have to buy tickets for the plan. Two of us are AP holders & going to MNSSHP so those one day tickets will just be saved for another time. I checked with his mom and he would be upset if he didn't get his own meal, souvenier cup, etc. We will also be paying out of pocket for 2 character meals...if they take to the characters. Will cancel our ressie if they are scared. I know that both boys will have to have something for 3 meals a day and the quick service is only 2 a day. Really trying to make everything flow as smoothly as possible with the little ones. This trip will be totally different than any other we've taken to Disney. I can't wait to see it all through their eyes.

 

[livie1205]

disney does not mind if you change the age so you can get ddp...all you have to do is buy a ticket.This is NOT cheating disney.If people flame you I am sorry just pay no attention.If you want him to have his own meal plan let them know they will change the age no problem.

 

[a*lil*bit*goofy]

disney does not mind if you change the age so you can get ddp...all you have to do is buy a ticket.This is NOT cheating disney.If people flame you I am sorry just pay no attention.If you want him to have his own meal plan let them know they will change the age no problem.

But they are not going to buy a ticket. She is going to buy a 1 day ticket only for everyone. So the rest of the time he will be getting in for free (id showing under 3) and eating for free (on dining plan for over 3)

 

[arielmomma]

I am going with a 2 year old with a healthy appetitie in September and she had a healthy appetite at 18 months when we went last year. We did lots of buffets (where she ate for free) and I shared my meals with her. Just ask for an extra plate. I am a big eater and I always had more than enough to share even at the CS meals. So long as you plan it out right, you won't have to worry. There will be plenty of food for all!

 

[livie1205]

But they are not going to buy a ticket. She is going to buy a 1 day ticket only for everyone. So the rest of the time he will be getting in for free (id showing under 3) and eating for free (on dining plan for over 3)

if disney allows this(and they do) then it is ok....they will tell you as long as you buy the one day ticket the child can get ddp regardless if it is free or not.

 

[LadyCluckwon]

We have 3 adults, a 4 year old, and a 2 year old. With free dining, does the 2 year old get meals also? Should we change him to a 3 year old so he can eat? He will eat 3 times as much as the 4 year old and sharing meals may be a problem.

Last year we took our 4yr old and our 2yr old; yes, my little garbage disposal (2yr old) ate way more than my 4yr old did. While we didn't do the free dining, we simply shared the adult meals / 4 yr old meals with the under 3 child. We found that the carryout meals we purchased provided us with much more food than we needed if we simply purchased enough for those over 3 and shared from all plates, as needed. I would just get the free dining for those 3 and over and not mess with changing the age of the child. (As so many have pointed out, you'd then need to buy the ticket, etc., for the child...)

 

[damamoli]

We often share the meals we purchase at quick service counters. I am a very healthy eater and I could never finish the chicken finger platter at any of the counters. I am all for sharing.

I can't say I'd but tickets just to get the dining plan. I think it would be more economical just to buy the meal for the child. If you do not want to carry cash, authorize your card for charging and use it at meals only. Not a big deal. You could even get a duplicate or extra card from your resort just for this purpose if necessary...

Hope this helps!

 

[rhw]

Well, we decided to just save the price of the ticket. I know there is always way to much food, as we seem to waste alot at Disney. Well, me...not so much my teenage sons. I wasn't worried about how much food. Just worried about how aware the 2 year old was about not getting exactly what the 4 year old got. Decided both would be so distracted by the atmosphere that we could divide meals without them noticing.

We are also paying for 2 character meals out of pocket as all we are getting is the counter service dining. Only being there a few days, we can't waste all our time sitting down to meals.

 

[pinkerbell]

Have a great time! hope it all works out - you are clearly trying to do what is best for you and your family/group and not get away with anything - Lots of pixie dust! :