Toddler Budget

[mommyofsamson]

My boyfriend and I are planning on a trip in January with our son who will 23 months old. He eats quite a lot and I don't like sharing my meal because he actually eats as much as a 3 year old some days.

My question is what is the best way to budget for his meals? We will be on the Dining Plan. I was thinking about doing the plan for him but I know that if we do, that I will have to get him a ticket and that is not something we can afford.

 

[suemom2kay]

I've heard on another thread that you can add the dining plan to your room only ressie without buying tickets. Can't be done online but you can do it over the phone. Not sure if this is a time limited offer. Call resort reservations.

 

[mommyofsamson]

My boyfriend has an annual pass and I will be getting one. Does that affect us?

 

[suemom2kay]

My boyfriend has an annual pass and I will be getting one. Does that affect us?

I think that works in your favor. Did you book your room yet? it is very early for January. Once the AP offers come out for January then book as a ticketless package or just call them on the phone and tell them you want the AP offer with the Dining Plan. Tell the CM that your 2yo has a hearty appetite and you would like to add him to the dining plan. I know I upgraded my daughter who was 9 at the time to 10 for the dining plan (gymnast - she burned a lot of calories training, so she ate like a teenage boy then). It was no problem and did not effect her park entry. I would just call resort reservations and ask. Have fun!

 

[mommyofsamson]

I was thinking about doing the booking through a Disney travel agency. Can I still do that?

 

[suemom2kay]

I was thinking about doing the booking through a Disney travel agency. Can I still do that?

You can ask.

 

[Nicnic]

Depending on where you are going to eat and how much the upgrade will be.
If your doing a lot of buffets/ayce then I would prob leave it as it is and pay oop for a kids meal for your other meal that day, have a look at the menu prices and work out whats best, we did a lot of buffets for an early dinner with our 2yo, prob one every day! there was always something she would eat there. For lunch we would get a QS kids meal for her or if I was having say and adult pizza or adult nugget meal, she would share mine, 8 nuggets in the adult QS meal.

 

[AllyinWonderland]

You will probably be better off paying out of pocket for his meals. If you check out allears.net you can look at restaurant menus and prices to get an idea of how much things cost. You also could take food into the parks for him if you would rather do that. We are taking DD (21 months) this fall and she eats a ton so we probably will want her to have her own food as most meals. Even though we are planning on having the dining plan we are packing snacks for her and bread, pb, and jelly to make sandwiches (healthier and less expensive than buying an uncrustable meal).

 

[patsal]

Plus if you are doing any character buffets/ or AYCE type places your under 3can eat for free. I would just pay OOP for smaller items like a kids meal at CS and regular TS restaturants.

 

[sharonabe]

At QS places, a kid's meal is $5.99 plus tax. Most TS kid's meals are $9.99.

As other's have said, the more buffets/AYCTE places you do, the cheaper it will be as he can eat freely at those type meals.

I wouldn't count on the ticketless package. Others have said that is no longer an option.

 

[lizard1]

I would pay OOP for him. One reason is that you can't predict now how hungry he'll be then- kids eat a LOT when they are growing, but then the growing slows down and they barely eat...by the time of your vacation he may be at a point where he isn't eating quite as much anymore. Another reason is that even though you both want your own meals and think he will eat enough to have his own the DDP provides a LOT of food. If it were me, I would rather be in a situation where I had to buy extra sometimes than to put the money out up front and then really not need the additional food.

 

[Nancyg56]

I would pay OOP for a child not on the plan. Children's meals are pretty inexpensive, and as others have already suggested, if you are doing any all you care to eat places, you will be able to get him his own meal. I do have to say that there generally is plenty of food to share when we go, and we are all hearty eaters.

 

[suffieldhockeymom]

I would pay OOP. As others have said, buffets and family style are the way to go because under 3 is FREE.