Is it too late for me to add my 2y/o to free dining?

[beachgrl001]

I know if they are 2 they are free but my ds will be 3 a month after our trip and I have been on the fence about adding him but lately I have been thinking I would like to avoid the temper tantrums of him having to share and add him on as a 3y/o. So my question is now that the free dining promo is over could I still add him if I want to, by buying him the childs park ticket?

 

[WeLuvTink!]

I wouldn't. We took our 2 year old daughter last year, and between 2 adult meals, one (older brother) kid's meal, all the appetizers, snacks, and desert, we had food coming out of our ears!! Two year olds even eat free on the buffets. She always was provided a glass of milk - no charge (though I was expecting and ready to pay for it).

In short, enjoy your last trip where you don't have to buy the park admission and have a great time!

 

[septbaby]

How many meals could you buy him OOP for the price of the park ticket? Most kids meals run $4-8 isn't a one day park ticket close to $50? You can use snack credits to get him his own(eggs, cereal, fruit, fries, etc.)at CS locations. Also request a small plate for him when he shares and serve him first! Wait staff want the tantrum even less than you do, they'll help out.

 

[beachgrl001]

Thanks I guess I wont add him on. The last CM I spoke to said it wasn't nessessary also. I just thought it might be eaiser, especially since he is a big boy and is already walking around saying " Im three now." oh except yesterday he said He was four!!!

 

[jcemom]

Will he really even notice that he doesn't have his own meal? Get an extra plate so he has 'his own' plate and then put whatever you want to give him on it.

I think you made the right decision leaving him off. As someone else pointed out, if it's really an issue you can order him a kids meal and pay for it when necessary and I'm pretty sure you'll still come in under the cost of the ticket.

 

[tasha99]

Sounds like you decided not to, but FYI, I just called Disney about possibly adding my 17 year old son (who may or may not be moving back in from living with his dad for a while) to our free dining reservation. I was told it would be okay up to 72 hours before arriving and that he would get free dining too. .

 

[luv2go2disney]

We had the same issue when we went a couple of years ago. We did add our 3yr(& 16days) it is not really worth the cost. You are paying much more for your park passes than if your paid out of pocket, you could get him a $8 kids meal(TS) or $5(CS), just throwing approximate prices out there. The kids don't necessarily need the appetizer and dessert with the meal, or you can always share those with him. There is so much food that I think it works out as a better deal to pay out of pocket for him if needed! Looking back we never would have paid for park tickets for our barely 3yr old! Enjoy your free dining!!!!!!

 

[beth_cam]

one more issue that just came to mind about adding the 2 year old just in general though especially since you have decided not to do it, and not sure if it even applies to you -

If you have a family of 4 people plus the 2 year old and therefore are in a room that holds a max of 4 plus one under 3, yet change the 2 year old to a 3 year old just to add on the dining do you have to get a room that holds 5?

 

[HannaBelle]

Thanks I guess I wont add him on. The last CM I spoke to said it wasn't necessary also. I just thought it might be easier, especially since he is a big boy and is already walking around saying " I’m three now." oh except yesterday he said He was four!!!

How cute!

My favorite was when my DS(now 14!) would exclaim his age (always plus a few years) when at buffets, or the movies or at theme parks so that the cashiers always thought I was lying about his age to get him a cheaper ticket. Even though I knew the truth...I still felt like a heel!

At the movies the other day the cashier was trying to charge me for the 12 years+ ticket for my DD(9)!

I would have to agree with not purchasing the ticket and meal plan. If you are concern about your DS(2) not having a plate of his own, try to make ressies at family style restaurants and buffets! Then it will be a non-issue and you won't have a huge wait for food! IMHO, buffets are great when you have little ones...no long waits for dinner!

 

[beachgrl001]

How cute!

My favorite was when my DS(now 14!) would exclaim his age (always plus a few years) when at buffets, or the movies or at theme parks so that the cashiers always thought I was lying about his age to get him a cheaper ticket. Even though I knew the truth...I still felt like a heel!

At the movies the other day the cashier was trying to charge me for the 12 years+ ticket for my DD(9)!

I would have to agree with not purchasing the ticket and meal plan. If you are concern about your DS(2) not having a plate of his own, try to make ressies at family style restaurants and buffets! Then it will be a non-issue and you won't have a huge wait for food! IMHO, buffets are great when you have little ones...no long waits for dinner!

yep yesterday he said "I 9! I big boy!" Oh well what can you do? I m not going to add him on. I have mostly buffets planned, but I cant deal with 8 nights of it so I have like 3 sitdown resturants in there. The funny thing is I am choosing all the buffets not because of my 2y/o but because of my 12y/o! He has a very limited menu, so the 3 resturants we are eating at I am getting him a cs dinner before we go and just ordering him desert OOP(I can do that right?) It ends up working out well because in the end we have 3extra ts that we will use for the charactor breakfast at Ohana(I hope they have waffles cause thats all he'll eat )