Kids Eat Free Disney Dining Plan Question

[BWV Dreamin]

Once my resort is booked for our family trip, am I able to purchase the Disney Dining Plan promotion where kids under 10 eat free?

 

[Brian Noble]

Yes. Remember that everyone on a single reservation has to be on the same dining plan. If you have multiple rooms, you may want to be a little strategic about who goes where.

 

[BWV Dreamin]

Yes. Remember that everyone on a single reservation has to be on the same dining plan. If you have multiple rooms, you may want to be a little strategic about who goes where.

Great. I’m waiting on buying the tickets so didn’t know if I had to have the tickets purchased as well. We will all be in a 2bedroom villa so it’s all good! Thanks

 

[Genie+]

This DDP offer does not require buying tickets as part of the package. All you need to qualify is having the room booked. This is a welcome change!

 

[hardcorestitch]

Once my resort is booked for our family trip, am I able to purchase the Disney Dining Plan promotion where kids under 10 eat free?

As long as you have purchased a package directly from Disney including a Disney Resorts Collection hotel stay and that guests 10+ have DDP as well, you should be able to acquire your under 10 free DDPs.

 

[Genie+]

As long as you have purchased a package directly from Disney including a Disney Resorts Collection hotel stay and that guests 10+ have DDP as well, you should be able to acquire your under 10 free DDPs.

I think DVC and DVC rentals are included with this offer as well.

 

[DigitalOlli]

hello
Do the child on the reservation need tickets to get the free dining plan with a dvc reservation?

 

[eticketplease]

hello
Do the child on the reservation need tickets to get the free dining plan with a dvc reservation?

Not that I’m aware of as you could always do a resort only stay. Of course you are then limited to dining at the resorts and Disney springs and the water park on check-in day if going in the summer.

 

[Choppers]

Can anyone tell me, how do kids credits work on ddp? Are they differentiated in some way? I’ve heard of people adding fake-kids to rooms to get their dining plan credits but I can’t see how this is particularly useful if the credits are clearly just for kids meals?

 

[BWV Dreamin]

Can anyone tell me, how do kids credits work on ddp? Are they differentiated in some way? I’ve heard of people adding fake-kids to rooms to get their dining plan credits but I can’t see how this is particularly useful if the credits are clearly just for kids meals?

Some of the kids meals are really big. Definitely more food than any real kid could eat.

 

[eticketplease]

Can anyone tell me, how do kids credits work on ddp? Are they differentiated in some way? I’ve heard of people adding fake-kids to rooms to get their dining plan credits but I can’t see how this is particularly useful if the credits are clearly just for kids meals?

They are differentiated in that they can only be redeemed for a kids meal although it still comes with a snack that can be used anywhere snack credits can.

Yes it is unfortunate that some people would try and add a fake kid to a reservation. Eventually Disney will crack down and then what could be a great program for families that could really take advantage of it with 2-3 REAL kids eating free will be no more.

 

[DigitalOlli]

Not that I’m aware of as you could always do a resort only stay. Of course you are then limited to dining at the resorts and Disney springs and the water park on check-in day if going in the summer.

so i only can use these credits at the resorts not in the parks? I think it will all put together

 

[lanejudy]

hello
Do the child on the reservation need tickets to get the free dining plan with a dvc reservation?

so i only can use these credits at the resorts not in the parks? I think it will all put together

A ticket purchase is not required for the Kids Free Dining offered in 2026. All adults on the reservation must pay for the dining plan, and a reservation (cash or points) at a WDW-owned resort. Those are the only requirements.

You can buy your tickets from WDW or separately from a third-party reseller. Your dining plan credits can be used at any dining establishment (resorts or parks) that accepts the DDP. If you don't have tickets, you obviously won't be able to eat within the parks. But the DDP is not dependent on buying tickets.

 

[eticketplease]

so i only can use these credits at the resorts not in the parks? I think it will all put together

You can use them in the parks but you asked originally if you didn't have a ticket so in that case no you can't use them in the parks

 

[Sandisw]

hello
Do the child on the reservation need tickets to get the free dining plan with a dvc reservation?

No…DVC can add to the reservation and tickets are not required.

 

[BWV Dreamin]

No…DVC can add to the reservation and tickets are not required.

Love your signatures!

 

[Cfabar1]

The math can be quite good... It worked to our favor on our recent trip...

Overall though, I wouldn't consider the dining plan without this kids eat free promotion... Even then, if other restaurants had been booked, I think we would have lost money....

 

[atots]

Adding the dining plan to my DVC reservation was straightforward on the DVC site. I just had to pay for the two adults on my reservation and my two kids on the reservation were free . Using it was also easy at sit-down restaurants and quick service in the parks. I always seem to get a new employee at quick service in the resorts who struggled with checking us out and understanding that a drink should be included. They also make it easy to charge the tip and any appetizers outside of the plan back to your room so I could pay it off with discounted gift cards

We just got back from eight nights with the dining plan. Two adults, two kids under nine. I planned out our meals ahead of time and even with only my husband drinking alcohol, it looked like it would work out in our favor. I ultimately saved over $600 with the dining plan but we went heavy on the character dining since my kids are young and this was our first trip. We did end up wasting one adult quick service meal. If kids weren't free, I wouldn't do it again though. We adults are big eaters but all the character dining buffets was just way too much food. I thought people were crazy saying the dining plan was too much food given that you only get two meals and one snack a day, but they were right. My biggest challenge though was that my autistic son is extremely picky. Breakfast buffets worked best for us since he likes breakfast foods. Otherwise, he only eats cheese pizza, flat McDonald's looking cheeseburgers, chicken nuggets (which I could not find anywhere, and no Disney, the smaller chicken tenders that you called "nuggets" at 1900 Park Fare do not count), plain pasta.

 

[BWV Dreamin]

Adding the dining plan to my DVC reservation was straightforward on the DVC site. I just had to pay for the two adults on my reservation and my two kids on the reservation were free . Using it was also easy at sit-down restaurants and quick service in the parks. I always seem to get a new employee at quick service in the resorts who struggled with checking us out and understanding that a drink should be included. They also make it easy to charge the tip and any appetizers outside of the plan back to your room so I could pay it off with discounted gift cards

We just got back from eight nights with the dining plan. Two adults, two kids under nine. I planned out our meals ahead of time and even with only my husband drinking alcohol, it looked like it would work out in our favor. I ultimately saved over $600 with the dining plan but we went heavy on the character dining since my kids are young and this was our first trip. We did end up wasting one adult quick service meal. If kids weren't free, I wouldn't do it again though. We adults are big eaters but all the character dining buffets was just way too much food. I thought people were crazy saying the dining plan was too much food given that you only get two meals and one snack a day, but they were right. My biggest challenge though was that my autistic son is extremely picky. Breakfast buffets worked best for us since he likes breakfast foods. Otherwise, he only eats cheese pizza, flat McDonald's looking cheeseburgers, chicken nuggets (which I could not find anywhere, and no Disney, the smaller chicken tenders that you called "nuggets" at 1900 Park Fair do not count), plain pasta.

Thank you for this reply!!

 

[Mle8308]

Who would have thought to add non existing kids to a reservation to get additional DDP credits when buying the adult DDP? Especially since purchasing tickets for them is not a requirement this time. Kind of ingenious, not morally right, but... People without young kids (or kids at all) never seem to have any offers geared towards them!