FREE dining plan for kids in 2026 is valid for DVC point stays

[Cyberc1978]

I had not heard any reports of this occurring since they started bringing back the AP's during the pandemic.
Is this still happening?

I dont know how recently it was mentioned but I think the questions and the threads "I managed to buy an sorcerer pass despite being resale" happens a few times a year - makes me wonder what about all of those that keeps their mouth shut and still manage to get the pass.

 

[Narcoossee11]

Whats stopping you from adding an extra child to the reservation and getting free dining for that child?

Reading online it seems that an adult can use dining credits from the child's entitlements.

This is exactly my thought. Book a studio/1 br, 2adults add 3 made up kids . Select the QS ddp.
QS would be easy to go under the radar.

----- tricks Disney had to stop ---------
Years ago (15+). When the FREE ddp came out. You could book a tent site, 10 guest. Really only have 2 guest. Now you have PLENTY of meals. OR people would book a res at camp ground for little cost but never stay at site to get free DDP.

 

[Brian Noble]

Whats stopping you from adding an extra child to the reservation and getting free dining for that child?

"...we tried [...] to practice these principles in all our affairs."

A good night's sleep is worth more to me than saving a few dollars at WDW.

 

[MOM POPPINS]

I can’t figure out why I can’t get this to work. Suggestions. Beach club studio stay. Please assist thanks I tried all different numbers to see what was going on I can’t get the kid number to be $0

 

[MarkNC2Disney]

I can’t figure out why I can’t get this to work. Suggestions. Beach club studio stay. Please assist thanks I tried all different numbers to see what was going on I can’t get the kid number to be $0

Was this DVC reservation made prior to the announcement the other day? If so, I believe Tom Bricker’s blog said you’d need to call MS to have them execute it.

 

[sethschroeder]

Was this DVC reservation made prior to the announcement the other day? If so, I believe Tom Bricker’s blog said you’d need to call MS to have them execute it.

I would just "rebook" by modifying and not changing anything first to see if that works. Likely can save yourself a call.

 

[Brian Noble]

When are you checking in: 2025 or 2026?

 

[MOM POPPINS]

Odd

 

[MOM POPPINS]

Wrong year sorry y’all

 

[eticketplease]

Ok i thought they had fixed it

Thanks for clarifying it was for 2025

 

[eticketplease]

How would disney know if a parent is a single parent?

The ticket part they could see. Still when you made the reservation you could have opted in for the DDP and the intention was to bring all 4 kids but before tix are bought only 3 kids are going, 4th one want to stay with dad. You could argue that then all you need to do is change the reservation. But if you rented the reservation from a broker then changing it might cost money and you dont want to spend that money so best to leave the reservation alone.

That is true but are you no longer having an extra adult on the plan as well? If it was like my hypothetical example that I posted earlier with 1 adult and 4 kids and now suddenly one kid is not going would certainly raise eyebrows to me if I was Disney

I said that as an example. I don't know how Disney would know for certain but I'm sure they will be checking for people engaging in unethical behavior similar to how they cracked down on DAS.

To your point about changing the reservation would the same be true if kids were not free and you were paying for the kid that is suddenly not going? My guess is that the affected party would be calling to modify the reservation so that they could get their money back for the dining plan.

 

[Cyberc1978]

To your point about changing the reservation would the same be true if kids were not free and you were paying for the kid that is suddenly not going? My guess is that the affected party would be calling to modify the reservation so that they could get their money back for the dining plan.

100% true. We as humans will always take action if we can save money. On the other hand if something will end up costing us money the likelihood of us doing something is much much smaller.

 

[Girlstar30]

Sorry that I am confused but my cousin is a single mother with 2 kids that qualify, can she get 2 free kids in a legit way if she is buying this?

 

[PolyRob]

WDW now separates adult and child dining credits since the DDP returned. This was not the case prior to 2020 when the dining plan was suspended. The server now sees X adults and X children on the room and policy states only that number applied to a table. The credits are not transferrable and can no longer be shared.

QS can't be managed the same way so that's up to the person.

 

[Girlstar30]

I don't suppose an older child that is 12 that doesn't eat much would qualify if they only want kids meals so I told her no to that one

 

[Cyberc1978]

WDW now separates adult and child dining credits since the DDP returned. This was not the case prior to 2020 when the dining plan was suspended. The server now sees X adults and X children on the room and policy states only that number applied to a table. The credits are not transferrable and can no longer be shared.

QS can't be managed the same way so that's up to the person.

If that is correct then it’s more difficult but not impossible to cheat.

Do you perhaps have any link or similar to read up on?

 

[PolyRob]

If that is correct then it’s more difficult but not impossible to cheat.

Do you perhaps have any link or similar to read up on?

These are the official terms now:

• Beverages are included with each meal. Guests under 21 years of age may choose from a variety of nonalcoholic beverages. Guests 21 and older with valid identification may substitute for beer, wine and cocktails.
• Reservations at Table-Service restaurants are highly recommended and are subject to availability.
• Guests ages 3 to 9 must order from a children’s menu, where available.
• Plan must be purchased for the entire length of stay and for the entire party (ages 3 and up).
• Meals are nontransferable between party members and expire at midnight on day of checkout.

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/guest-services/disney-dining-plan/

I have read numerous threads/posts here, Reddit, WDWMagic, and Facebook that the sharing with friends has stopped and child credits only work on the kids menu:

A

Thread 'Meal allocation question'

Jan 24, 2024

Question on meal allocation with the new version of the dining plan. We'll have 4 adults (Myself, my wife, my mother, and my 10 year old son) over 9 nights, so if we do the standard DDP we would have a total of 36 table service and 36 quick service credits over the course of our trip.

Are those credits put into one "pool" for the trip, or are they assigned to each individual in the room?

For example, if my wife and I wanted you do a few signature dining experiences while my mom and son ate quick service (so maybe by the end of the trip we used 22 TS meals and they used 14) would that be...

• amgodinich
• Replies: 41
• Forum: Disney Dining Plan

https://www.reddit.com/r/WaltDisneyWorld/comments/1hpc0p6/using_disney_dining_plan_ddp_for_dinner_with

https://forums.wdwmagic.com/threads/disney-dining-plan-question.985313/

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/16ChLJfYfz/

 

[Sandisw]

If that is correct then it’s more difficult but not impossible to cheat.

Do you perhaps have any link or similar to read up on?

For those who are cash guests, they re getting it with a tickets for their kids since it’s part of a package.

For DVC, it’s going to be different but maybe there will be a way that they check when you get to the resort as to who in the reservation it matches to in your friends and family list?

And if you don’t hafe someone with a ticket it could be canceled?

 

[Ariel620]

For those who are cash guests, they re getting it with a tickets for their kids since it’s part of a package.

For DVC, it’s going to be different but maybe there will be a way that they check when you get to the resort as to who in the reservation it matches to in your friends and family list?

And if you don’t hafe someone with a ticket it could be canceled?

Why would it be cancelled if you don't have a ticket? As DVC we don't need a ticket to access this free dining, correct? just a DVC points stay is required.

Example, we are planning to visit universal, not disney, but use our dining credits on our resort days with our DVC stay.

That should be allowed based on the terms of this promotion right? I don't need Disney tickets in order to get the free dining for the kids, right?

 

[Sandisw]

Why would it be cancelled if you don't have a ticket? As DVC we don't need a ticket to access this free dining, correct? just a DVC points stay is required.

Example, we are planning to visit universal, not disney, but use our dining credits on our resort days with our DVC stay.

That should be allowed based on the terms of this promotion right? I don't need Disney tickets in order to get the free dining for the kids, right?

I was just responding to what DVC might do for those who try to put random children who are not with them.

You are correct, we don’t need tickets. But if Disney felt DVC owners were abusing it by getting free credits for kids that don’t exist, they could change things.