The Math adds up

[Suellen]

I am thinking of upgrading my 20 month old to be three on our plan for March.

I did all the math and with adding in the snacks, and what I am going to pay OOP for her meals (CRT, all TS that aren't buffets) and the refillable mug she will definately want to have her own of ~ it adds up to saving us money.

We are only buying 1 day tickets and won't be using them since we are AP.

Do you think the servers will look sideways at me since she OBVIOUSLY is not 3?

 

[Annabelleasb]

I don't think they would care at all. Of course, only you know your child, but will she really eat that much? My 8yr. old and 2 yr. old usually share meals and IMO I think that will be a lot of food for her. I think you would be better off with buying a side dish or appetizer for her; you'd save money that way.

 

[septbaby]

Please don't do that. You will spend $50 to buy her a ticket. You also give up two chances to take her for free. It will also bug you when she's 9 and WDW has her at 10 or 11.

Would she actually eat $50 in extra food? And that doesn't even include her DP rate, so I'm guessing you'd spen $100 to have her there versus $0 or a few $ for food.

You won't have to buy her a plate at CRT, she can eat off your plate for free. And how would you feel if on that day she's a bit finicky, won't even eat the stuff on her kids plate? $25 out the window, ouch.

Buy a Disney gift card. Anytime you choose to pay for things for her swipe the card. It will save you money and have her covered.

 

[gigi1313]

also, an fyi, unless you're on the QS or DlxDDP, there is no refillable mug included... base DDP does not have the refillable mug on it's plan!

heck, i've considered upgrading my 10mos ds to a 3yo for our august trip 'cause he, too, can already eat us out of house and home!

 

[blessedby3]

I agree with the PP. I wouldnt pay for a 20 mo old just so she could have her own plan. You would have to purchase a ticket for her on top of the food plus pay tips on her meal too. I have always had my kids share meals (with other kids and me) and my kids are 18, 13, 9 and 1. This will be our first time on the dining plan only because I cant keep my DS13 full anymore. We are just doing the CS plan. Snacks- my DD16mos will just share a few bites of ours. I am also packing her some of her own favorite snacks in the diaper bag. No way would she eat one of Disneys snacks on her own- they are HUGE. As for the resort mug- go to walmart and buy her a mug of her own at a fraction of the cost. Then dump whatever she will be drinking from yours into hers. Honestly though, my DD16 mos couldnt handle a mug of her own right now to actually drink out of- play with while empty, but not drink out of.

 

[gigi1313]

totally OT:
OP, i see you are from biddeford, me... we have great friends in nearby saco and visit nearly every summer... we enjoyed 4th of july weekend there last year! stayed on the strip at old orchard beach! it was awesome!

 

[Suellen]

We are on Deluxe.

I just feel like we are going to order her a meal anyway at most of the places.

Technically if they have a plate at the buffet you have to pay for them ~ meaning they have to literally eat off your plate (I have had to pay for my older DD when she was under 3 because we gave her a plate).

This way I just won't have to worry about it. I figure it will cost me $236 to add her.

I am pretty sure she won't eat off my plate at places like CRT since I will most likely have steak...

I just really don't want to have to think about it.... it stunk trying to make sure they didn't use entitlements that they weren't supposed to for the kids not on the meal plan.

We do have two of the 200 GC's for this trip.

I just wish they offered a plan for the 2-3 year old group.

 

[Suellen]

totally OT:
OP, i see you are from biddeford, me... we have great friends in nearby saco and visit nearly every summer... we enjoyed 4th of july weekend there last year! stayed on the strip at old orchard beach! it was awesome!

The 4th is so crazy around there!! We lived at the Grand Victorian two summers ago while waiting for our house to be done and OMG it was crazy!!! Loved being right on the beach though... it was fab!

We are actually almost in Saco ~ less than a mile away!

So my DD 20months has been drinking from that type of cup with a straw since we was about 11 months old. We don't do sippy cups here so she quickly learned to use the mug/cup with cover straw kind of thing. That is not an issue.

I wouldn't fill a mug and dump into hers... that kinda seems like cheating. I wouldn't bring my mug from last year and do that.

Pretty sure I will have to tip on her meals I pay OOP for anyway won't I

Anyway ~ we are just thinking about it. I would save her 1 day pass to put towards her AP when we buy hers. So I really don't feel like that is a wasted expense. Her age as far as Disney is concerned doesn't really matter to me as AP holders ~ I don't see us going again and not buying her a meal plan and since we don't buy tickets (usually) it really won't matter.

 

[Tiger926]

We are on Deluxe.

I just feel like we are going to order her a meal anyway at most of the places.

Technically if they have a plate at the buffet you have to pay for them ~ meaning they have to literally eat off your plate (I have had to pay for my older DD when she was under 3 because we gave her a plate).

This way I just won't have to worry about it. I figure it will cost me $236 to add her.

I am pretty sure she won't eat off my plate at places like CRT since I will most likely have steak...

I just really don't want to have to think about it.... it stunk trying to make sure they didn't use entitlements that they weren't supposed to for the kids not on the meal plan.

We do have two of the 200 GC's for this trip.

I just wish they offered a plan for the 2-3 year old group.

This is not true - we've eaten at all you care to eat buffets many times while kids were under 3, and no charge. They will charge you though when you order a kids' meal at a TS restaurant. At buffets, you are allowed to get your own meal, and will not be charged. Not sure what happened to you on that trip, but that should not have happened, BTDT, many times and have never paid, and our children have always had their own plates, with their own food, as well as their own drinks. They must have thought your child was over 3 years old and made an error? Why didn't you get it corrected? What restaurant was it at, if I might ask?

Good luck, Tiger

 

[Suellen]

Technically they are supposed to charge you. I emailed and called GS after realizing we were charged for DD. The lady explained if they have a plate you are supposed to pay. True they usually do not charge you even if you give the child a plate but they are supposed to. Call, ask, they will tell you. You don't pay if they share OFF your plate.

So to us ~ if that is the actual rule ~ we will pay for her if she has a plate. My DH is a huge rule follower and since we were told this by a Guest Services Cast Member ~ he would either pay or not let her have a plate. Just the way he is.

 

[MOM22princess]

Last summer we purchased the DDP for me, DH and DD age 6. DD 22 months was not on the plan, mind you she is a great eater. Anytime we ate a buffet she had a separate plate we were never charged for it. When we had lunch at CRT waiter brought DD a bowl of macaroni with butter we were not charged for it. Only time we paid for a meal was when we ordered her something off the menu. We are going again in June, I still don’t think I will purchase the plan for her.

 

[MOM22princess]

Last summer we purchased the DDP for me, DH and DD age 6. DD 22 months was not on the plan, mind you she is a great eater. Anytime we ate a buffet she had a separate plate we were never charged for it. When we had lunch at CRT waiter brought DD a bowl of macaroni with butter we were not charged for it. Only time we paid for a meal was when we ordered her something off the menu. We are going again in June, I still don’t think I will purchase the plan for her.

 

[blessedby3]

So my DD 20months has been drinking from that type of cup with a straw since we was about 11 months old. We don't do sippy cups here so she quickly learned to use the mug/cup with cover straw kind of thing. That is not an issue.

I wouldn't fill a mug and dump into hers... that kinda seems like cheating. I wouldn't bring my mug from last year and do that.

Pretty sure I will have to tip on her meals pay OOP for anyway won't I

I dont think that putting a bit of juice or soda into a mug for her is cheating. I said nothing about bringing your old mugs to use- just a cup/mug that she would love. We have never bought mugs for all of our family members on our trips. We buy a couple and share which is no different than putting some juice of yours into her mug. I will be bringing a sippy straw cup for our DD to use and will do the same. I dont know of too many people who buy a mug for a baby to use Even in the parks we buy drinks and share.

As for tipping on her meals you buy OOP- yes you would have to do that, although in my post I was sharing that my kids split meals and you wouldnt have to tip on 2 meals if you only buy one to share.

I just dont see how 2 small kids like yours would eat that much food. Sounds like money is not an issue for you though, so go ahead and get the plan. No one will care if your DD isnt 3 and you are paying for her if that is what you want to do. Personally $236 could go a long way in our family for other things- into the savings account for our next trip if nothing else.

 

[septbaby]

If you really plan to play by the rules you can't upgrade her. The DP isn't available for guests under 3 years of age. The only way to get the DP for her is to say she's 3 and that is clearly not playing by the rules.

You can pay as you go. So anything she eats that isn't gratis or shared pay for. Using a Disney gift card charged with $ to do this is the same as paying for her: it will still be pre paid and "credits" will come off as you use them. That won't cost you anymore and you won't have to bother with a ticket for her especially since you are an AP family.

 

[Annabelleasb]

I have never had to pay for any of my kids when we were at Disney and they were under 3. I've eaten at many of the TS restaurants (with and w/out DDP) and if anything, the CM's have been the ones to just bring an extra plate. Maybe you got a new CM. I personally wouldn't get her the plan, but if it will make your trip less stressful...........

 

[PinkRhombus]

I think you might be making this harder than it needs to be. Just plan on using those gift cards to pay OOP for when you ARE charged.

 

[Tiger926]

I have never had to pay for any of my kids when we were at Disney and they were under 3. I've eaten at many of the TS restaurants (with and w/out DDP) and if anything, the CM's have been the ones to just bring an extra plate. Maybe you got a new CM. I personally wouldn't get her the plan, but if it will make your trip less stressful...........

This is what I am saying! I was very intrigued as to why you would have been charged, so I went to double check the lingo on the DP and other websites, and here is what I found:

The 2009 Dining Plan brochures say that kids under 3 eat free when sharing from an adult plate at buffets/all you care to eat or TS meals. If ordering a separate meal, then a charge will apply.

Here also is what it says on All Ears:

CAN MY KIDS EAT FOR FREE?
Walt Disney World Resort Restaurants consider a child to be ages 3-9. Most restaurants have a separate children's menu with selections geared to children's tastes. Most entrees on children's menus are priced under $6, although some restaurants may have higher priced offerings.

At table service restaurants, there is no charge for children under 3 who share from an adult's plate. However, if you order from a menu for a children under 3, you will be charged the menu price.

At buffet and "all-you-care-to-eat" restaurants, there is also no charge for children under 3 who share from an adult's plate. However, if you order from a separate children's or ala carte menu for a child under 3 (rather than eating from the buffet or all-you-care-to-eat offerings), you will be charged the price reflected on the menu.

At counter service restaurants, you will be charged the menu price if you order a meal for a child under 3.

NOTE: When making your Advance Reservations, be sure to include all children in your count of members of your party, even if they will be seated in a highchair.

I also went on Mickey Mom's Club message board, and they are telling everyone that kids under 3 eat free at buffets, period. Nothing about sharing plates, etc. As I stated, we have never been charged, ever. As mentioned above, CMs bring the kids out plates, and bring them their own drinks, all free of charge.

I would just go with it and assume that you are going to be find with sharing, but if you have to buy a meal or appetizer (remember, you can share your deluxe dining plan appetizer with her as well - we did this frequently), it will be a minimal amount of money out of your pocket, as opposed to lying about her age (which is not playing by the rules!) and paying for tix and plan.

Happy eating, Tiger

 

[Suellen]

yes ~ who SHARE from an adult plate. SHARE from the PLATE.

We have been charged. I am sorry none of you here at disboards believe that. Again... if you don't believe me ~ which you all obviously do not ~ call Guest Services your self and ask!

I figure Disney doesn't care if I am upping the age of a child to give them more money.

 

[Tiger926]

yes ~ who SHARE from an adult plate. SHARE from the PLATE.

We have been charged. I am sorry none of you here at disboards believe that. Again... if you don't believe me ~ which you all obviously do not ~ call Guest Services your self and ask!

I figure Disney doesn't care if I am upping the age of a child to give them more money.

I don't think we are saying we don't believe you, but after thousands upon thousands of dollars spent in WDW restaurants, I am reporting that I have never been charged, nor have any of the other DISers on here. Does it mean it hasn't happend? Nope, as crazy things happen at Disney World all of the time. We have eaten in every restaurant, multiple times for B, L & D, and not once did we get charged and as has also been reported, CMs frequently bring out plates and free drinks. Here is an example of something that shouldn't have happened, happen to me: I wasn't supposed to be charged for CRT as I was on DP, guess what? My credit card got charged for $125.00 - I called and they straightened it out, so sure, I believe that you got charged, as you are reporting as such, but when I reported on here, people called me a liar and accused me of causing trouble. Was I? Nope - my point, as I think yours is, is to show that Disney does make errors and is inconsistent at times - go figure! Now, should you have been charged? That is entirely another subject. By the way, did I miss you say what restaurant it was, and how old was your daughter at the time?

If you don't want to chance it, then up her age, but, you did say your hubby plays by the rules, and this in fact is playing against the rules as children under 3 are not allowed to purchase the DP.

Good luck with whatever you choose, Tiger

 

[Suellen]

We were charged at 1900 Park Fare and Crystal Palace.

When I called GS they said that if my child had a plate we had been charged correctly. That she would have to eat literally off my plate or I could take the food off my plate and let her eat it off the table ~ but not a plate.

She was about under three... this was in March and she didn't turn three until July. It was two places on the same trip.