Under 3 Meals?

[emcreative]

Okay now I'm VERY confused.

When I called for reservations the other night, I was told that under 3 were given food (all the rest of the party is on the dining plan) and allowed a children's meal.

Now that I've been reading (trying to decide if we need the deluxe plan) everything I've found says they are allowed to eat from an adult's plate, but if you want to order them a kids' meal you had to pay out of pocket.

Which is it? I'm starting to wonder if we should have gotten him a meal plan, because he eats like a 5 year old and there's no way he can just eat "off our plate."

Does anyone who has been there recently with an Under 3 know the answer?

Thanks!

 

[squirrel]

At the buffets and TS meals your under 3 will eat off your plate for free. There is conflicting reports about having a plate for the under 3's-some people were charged if their child had a plate at the buffets. CRT and I think there is one other place that is pre-plated and they give the under 3's a free plate.

At CS meals you will have to share or buy a meal. You can also use a snack credit at most CS for something-fruit, yogurt, fries, etc.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Children under three eat free at buffets and family-style meals.
They can eat off the parent's plate at no cost, and most restaurants don't charge for their drink.
If you order from a menu for a child of any age, you must pay.

 

[nmmom95]

I also tried to purchase the DP for my son who was under 3 and was told that you can't get it without a ticket. We purchased his meals OOP, except at the character buffets, where he was free.

 

[aubriee]

I also tried to purchase the DP for my son who was under 3 and was told that you can't get it without a ticket. We purchased his meals OOP, except at the character buffets, where he was free.

That's true. In order to purchase the DDP you would have to register the child as a three y/o which means he would have to purchase at least a one day ticket. What you could do, if you want to purchase a child under three the DDP is to register him as a three y/o then buy everyone in the room just one day park tickets (since everyone on the reservation has to have the same ticket). Then once you get there, just go to guest services at your resort and upgrade every one else's ticket to whatever they need. You could then save the child's ticket for him to use at a later date. He would then get his child's DDP credits for the trip though.

 

[WantToGoNow]

My dd was 3 weeks short of her 3rd birthday on our last trip. She ate for free at buffets/family style meals. We shared with her at our other meals - there was plenty of food and she is not a small eater. If you order a kids meal, you will have to pay for it. All of the places we ate provided dd with drinks, only Coral Reef brought a bill for it.

 

[gigi1313]

we're in the same boat... our 1yo eats like his 12yo brother some days (and not at all other days! oh, the joy of kids! LOL!)... i'm really tempted to get him a ticket/put him on the reservation for the food side, but it's so obvious that he doesn't need a ticket (he's a little thing)... that i'm not sure what to do...

we made our last trip a mostly buffet trip, for just this reason, but this trip my niece is joining us and she doesn't "do" buffets (she has germ-a-phobe issues when it comes to food) and my mom will be w/us, and she's in a wheelchair, so buffets are difficult for her to maneuver...

maybe i'll go w/lots of family style meals... i wonder if they will bring my niece her own platter ('cause she doesn't like to even share with family)... hmmm...

:ff to explore all the family style meal options::

 

[Haley]

I think if you have a 2 yr old that's a big eater and you are getting the free dining promo-- then just adding them as a 3 yr old paying for a 1 day base ticket makes sense (of course everyone on the res. has to have the same ticket, but you could upgrade at guest relations).

If you aren't on free dining you'd be paying the $10/night plus the ticket cost-- in that case, I'd just pay oop for the 2 yr old's meals.

 

[hillview]

Hi,
Never been to disney (well not in 20 years) and now want to take my 2 boys (almost 2 and almost 4) to disney next week (will be in Ft Lauderdale so we will drive). We will spend 2 nights (but 2.5 full days) at the GFL (or at least that is the current plan). It will be me, 2 kids (1 and 3), my mom and my 89 year old grandmother. I am thinking of getting the Deluxe Dining Package. I am sure we will eat all meals on site. We may not eat LARGE meals every time but it *sounds* like a good deal. We plan to get one room -- which I know will be CRAMPED but doable I hope. What should I ask for? Lagoon view? Will my 3 year old appreciate the park view/fireworks? Other tips?
HELP!
Thanks
/hillary

 

[squirrel]

I would not get the DxDP for a first trip. With the TS meals you are sitting down a min of 1hr. Waiting for a seat and then waiting for the bill. It adds up quickly and then you have less time to have fun in the parks.

I also couldn't eat that much. We were on the free DP and still had lots of credits left over.