Help with DDP - child under 3?

[julirina]

Hi all --

This is my first post -- so thankful to have found you all. We're getting ready to book for our trip in September and I have a question about the dining plan. We'll be a party of 4 (2 adults, one child age 6 and one child who will be just shy of two). Our toddler is a big eater already, and I think she'd easily eat the portions a child's DP would offer her. Is there an option for purchasing a child's DP for a child under 3? The package booking tool just seems to assume that we don't want one for her, and everything I'm reading refers to kids ages 3-9. Will we just have to purchase her meals outright or share from our plates?

Thanks for your help -- I'm sure I'll be around a lot between now & September!

 

[biggroofy]

We are travelling with DD2 this March. According to CMs, if you are going to purchase Dining Plan for your child, that implies you have to pay for his/her theme park tickets as well. This is because WDW does not sell Dining Plan as a standalone entity, it is an option to your Magic Your Way tickets.

According to them, your child can eat free of charge in any all-u-can-eat or buffet restaurants. For menu-based (Al la Carte), you can share your plate with him/her. Of course, if you want to order something from children menu then you have to pay, but if I were you, it is better to pay OOP than to buy a Dining Plan for child < 3. Take this free privilege while your child is still eligable

 

[jennifer293]

Hi all --

Will we just have to purchase her meals outright or share from our plates?

Thanks for your help -- I'm sure I'll be around a lot between now & September!

yes this is your option. by the time everyone gets appetizer, entree and dessert there should be plenty to feed your child. you can pay OOP if you don't feel it will be enough food though...

 

[deelam]

I have a 2&1/2 year old who wants his own everything. He would rather go hungry then share. I figure the 11.99 plan is a bargain. I called disney and they told me that they could put him on the dining plan as a 3 year old. The only catch is that I would have to buy him a 1 day park ticket to be on the package. They said that we could save his park ticket to use anytime, and he would be free in the park as he is under 3. If I crunch the numbers it works out better for me not to put him on the plan and pay cash. But the thought of having everyones food covered just sounds nice.

Also, from what I've read on these boards I could pay cash for 2 of the kids table sevice meals(4 credits) and use them for an extra table service dinner for Adults & kids. I don't think I would do this. After all, it's so much food and trying to squeeze in an extra meal somewhere really isn't needed.

 

[julirina]

Thanks for the input, everyone. I'm sure she won't starve; I was just thinking it would be easier if she had her own DP! But her older sister is not always a big eater so I imagine they can share pretty easily. We'll just ask for lots of extra plates and budget in some food $$ for her just in case.

 

[cheerbop]

We were just there in Dec with a VERY good eating-always Hungry almost 2 year old... I mean, if he sat in his chair at the table , he could and would eat ALL day long if he could!!

We had NO problems at all with no dining plan for him. There was Plenty of food. Now, some places, like counter service, if we really needed to we bought him his own meal or a side or something.

I encourage you to just let him eat "free" because I promise there is plenty of food for him. And, if you do any buffets, he/she WILL have their own plate, because they are also free there.

Have fun planning for a great trip!

 

[dcgrumpy]

The portions are pretty large, we had no problem with our 2yo and 5yo sharing in November. Half of the time they didn't even finish the meal between the two of them. Plus like others have said if you plan on doing any buffets or AYCE restaurants she would be free.

 

[The Sweetness]

At a buffet or all you care to eat family style serve... Your tot can eat his weight if they like. In TS with menu's maybe youd feel better ordering an extra side of mashed potatoes etc, to supliment what will already be on the table. Or just order him a kids meal and pay oop