Pay for DDP for son?

[Captain_Hook]

Ok, don't get too excited.... This isn't a "bend the rules" question!

I have two questions:

1. Will Disney allow me to buy the dining plan for my DS (22mos at the time of the trip)? The rest of us are getting the dining plan and DS has a huge appetite -- he is a BIG boy! I can't imagine that they will turn away the money!

2. Is it worth it? We will be doing several buffet meals (4) -- I know we wouldn't be charged there anyway, but I'm thinking about the counter service places (8), the snacks (8), and the other dinners (3) we have planned.

He definitely eats enough that he wouldn't be satisfied eating off of our plates.

Thanks for any help!

 

[Fall1]

I've tried to do this for my 26 month old twins and I was told that I'd also have to buy them a 1-day park pass. I'm going to pass and just pay OOP, since paying park passes makes it not worth it to me.

 

[MariDisney]

You would have to have the same park pass as the rest of the party. I'd price it out and see if the CS meals and snacks would be a good move financially.

 

[braydensmom]

we will be staying DVC and i purchased it for my son who will be 28 months at the time we go. I only bought for him the portion thaat we got the QSDP, not the DxDP, because it can simply just eat my appetizer, there will definitely be enough for us to share.
If we were doing alot of buffets, I probably would do it. Do the math and see if it would be worth it or not.

 

[Captain_Hook]

The rest of the party has annual passes.

We will be staying at SSR since we are DVC-ers (no free dining for us! ). Would we still have to get him a park pass?

 

[MariDisney]

The rest of the party has annual passes.

We will be staying at SSR since we are DVC-ers (no free dining for us! ). Would we still have to get him a park pass?

I think, essentially, if you get him the DDP you have to say he is 3 and therefore would need a park pass of some sort. I'm not clear of what all the rules are for DVC vs. non DVC. But I think the only way to get DDP is to "be" 3. Someone will correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[HelenePA]

I think you'd have to BUY the park pass but not actually use it to get in. I think you could save it for another trip for when he is 3. I could be wrong

 

[rt2dz]

What you need to do is go to All Ears and check out the menus. Figure out what your OOP cost would be. If it is less than the DDP, skip it. If it is more than the DDP, go for it.

If you all have APs, it might be cheaper to just use the TiW card: Evaluating Disney's Dining Plans

But, no, since DVC owners (and AP holders) can get the dining plans without buying tickets, you would not need to buy your child a ticket. You would just have to age him up a little over a year.

 

[bumbershoot]

Staying at a DVC resort means you do not have to buy a package to buy the DDP. Therefore, you could call him 3 and buy the plan for him, without having to buy a ticket (staying at a DVC resort on points no one has to even buy or have a ticket to buy the PLan, you could just do resort dining your entire stay, never entering a park).

BUT would that mess up the occupancy for your room, with them having him down as 3 (not an infant)?

 

[Captain_Hook]

I don't think it would impact the occupancy. They know that he is there regardless of how old he is (he has always been on the reservation) PLUS we are getting a two bedroom.

Thanks for the quick replies!

 

[Magical Mama]

Yes, you would have to buy a park ticket if you want to add him to the dining plan.

I went through this last year with my DS, he turned 3 the day after we checked in. At buffets, he will eat free so it is no concern at all. And we checked all ears menus and it was just cheaper for us to pay outta pocket for the few other meals than it was to buy the park ticket and dining plan.

We were on the DxDP and could have easily feed him off of our meals! There was more food than DH and I could eat, definately enough to feed a little guy!

Good luck and enjoy your trip!

 

[DISNEYNV]

Yeah, I think you would have to buy him a park pass to qualify for the childs dining plan. My DS(1) ate off my DDs(4) plate (he eats more than she does as well) so if you have another child with you they can eat off of their DDP menu. Not as a seperate meal, but whatever they get including the Buffets!!! I dont see spending the extra cash to get a ticket for him, but just pay out of pocket for the meals he might want. Happy kid...less money!!!

 

[Wendybird55]

Bumbershoot is correct - if you are staying on DVC the DDP can be baought seperately without having to purchase tickets. I believe the main reason is many DVC members get annual passes because they go multiple times a year which means they would never be able to buy DDP if they have to purchase park tickets.

It is not bending or breaking any rules if you purchase a childs DDP for your son if you stay on DVC - others do it. I gues you can call it a small DVC perk.
But I think the besty way to do this is to purchase your park tickets seperately from DDP. We buy ours from unsercovertourist.com.

This way you have your park tickets for the adults and then on your room key you have the DDP for adults and your son. To make sure - just ask on the DVC planning boards - I'm sure someone will have the answer. ts

We stayed DVC last year and again this year DS was almost 2 last year and almost 3 this year. We get the DXDP and eatmany family style/ buffet meals so it is not cost effective to get a dining plan for him. Though we did consider it and I did my calculations. This year we may have to pay OP for some of his meals - mostly because right now he's a picky eater and we may need to order from the kids menu to get him something he will eat.

Kids meals are not that expensive and when I did my figuring I concluded that OP will be cheaper then buying the plan - but again I figured on DXDP which is $21 per night for child as opposed to DDP which is $10.

If you have a fair amount of buffet or family style meals then there will be plenty for DS to eat. If you think between snacks and OP meals you will be paying more then $10 per day for DS food then get the plan. ALLEARSNET has menus so you can see pricing.

 

[MSSANDRA]

I really think also you will be surprised at the amount of food you will end up with. Add in the buffets and snacks and I would just pay oop IF you need more food.

DGS is 2 1/2-35lbs and we NEVER buy him a meal. Between us we have plenty to share. I however am not a big eater but still. WE ate a few breakfast platters(food court)one year and I shared with my teen son, added a snack credit pastry and had more than enough!

 

[SaraMc]

DS eats like crazy. However when we went ( he was 25 months then) the meal plan is really designed for the older child. Its ALOT of food, even for a little guy who eats a lot. We did a lot of buffets where he was able to get his own plate.
This year he's 3 and well, he's getting a meal plan, do I expect him to eat everything? no not really. However he now has a little sister who will be eating some solids by then.. but really we know its more portions for a 9 year old than the 3 year old.