Should we buy the dining plan for DD (turning 3)

[AJsMomma]

Hmmm...so given our recent line-up of ADRs we have booked, I'm thinking that maybe we should purchase the dining plan for our daughter.

Can we do that even though we're not paying for her park tickets?

 

[kdfogliano]

no, we just went through this with my son

If they are under 3 they are free,

so if you want to get her a meal plan you would have to get her tickets as well

BUT>>>
if you are DVC and have seperate tickets (like AP's or if you bought them elsewhere)
you could say your daughter is 3 and get the meal plan, since your park tickets are separate

We did not do this, we opted to not get the DP for him b/c i ran the numbers and it would have cost more.

Remember they eat for free at buffets and can share your plate if you want, but the most expensive kid item at TS were steaks and they were $13

Hope this helps!

 

[gilsan]

I think that you would need a park ticket for her if you want her to be on the dining plan. Most kids meals are relatively cheap, and she would eat free at any of the buffets. I would probably just pay out of pocket for her meals.

 

[wdwmom0f3]

I would also just pay out of pocket.

 

[CathieArms]

I don't believe you can, but I'll be honest when I tell you that you really won't need it for her. The serving sizes at the restaurants are generally way more than enough that you'd be able to share yours with her and still have plenty left over. To that end, my 6 year old doesn't eat enough to warrant his own dining plan and we could easily share our meals with him and still have enough.

 

[AJsMomma]

Well...my real reasoning was that I did NOT want to eat chicken nuggets and mac and cheese for all of my meals that I'd have to share with her!

We mainly have buffets anyway...

BUT the kids dining plan price is a steal! Table service meals seem to be around $8 anyway and for $12 for an additional snack and a counter service is awesome.

But yeah...not forking over an extra $300 to get her tickets.

Thanks guys!

 

[squirrel]

Well...my real reasoning was that I did NOT want to eat chicken nuggets and mac and cheese for all of my meals that I'd have to share with her!

We mainly have buffets anyway...

BUT the kids dining plan price is a steal! Table service meals seem to be around $8 anyway and for $12 for an additional snack and a counter service is awesome.

But yeah...not forking over an extra $300 to get her tickets.

Thanks guys!

So at all the buffet/family style meals she will eat for free anyway. The CS kids meals are cheap-$5 and snacks are around $4. Since you have mostly buffet and family style meals even if you had to buy a few TS children's meals it would still be cheaper than purchasing the DDP for her.

Look at the menus-I share the 1/2 chicken meal with my niece, more than enough for both of us (she was almost 6 last year). Sometimes you might not even need a whole meal for her. You can get a side of fries, yogurt, fruit, etc to help make a meal with some food off your plate.

 

[aubriee]

Well...my real reasoning was that I did NOT want to eat chicken nuggets and mac and cheese for all of my meals that I'd have to share with her!

We mainly have buffets anyway...

BUT the kids dining plan price is a steal! Table service meals seem to be around $8 anyway and for $12 for an additional snack and a counter service is awesome.

But yeah...not forking over an extra $300 to get her tickets.

Thanks guys!

Then just buy a one day base ticket for everyone in the room, including your daughter. That way you can add the DDP for her. Once you get down there, go to any guest services and upgrade everyone else's ticket to whatever they need. Save your daughter's ticket for a future trip. At that time you can upgrade her ticket to how many days she needs. In order to buy the DDP all you need to do is buy one day base tickets for everyone in the room. Disney doesn't care what you do with them afterwards. You don't have to use them and as long as you don't put her room key into a turnstyle the ticket will be good forever.

 

[TDC Nala]

If you mainly have buffets it will likely cost you less to buy her a few kids' meals.

To purchase a dining plan for her you will need to register her as 3 years old and buy her a park ticket if you are on a package.

If you're DVC or an annual passholder, all you 'd have to do is pay for the dining plan as you're not required to buy tickets, but you'd still have to register her as 3 years old.