Under 3 on DDP - questions!

[Elise79]

OK - so having looked at the numbers I have decided it would make sense to add the DxDDP for one night on our upcoming trip (usually use TIW) however DD will just under 3.

I know I can change her age to 3 with MS so I can get her added (she will not want to be sharing meals as she doesn't at home any more when we go out to eat) - I assume this means she will get a room key when we check in?

Secondly as she will still be 2 - one of our meals in a buffet will they make me use a credit or can I still have her being 'free'? I don't mind as the other 2 meals I have planned will cover the cost of DP just wondered if I will be able to use the last credit for her CS lunch?

Thanks

 

[Pirate Granny]

Careful...I could be wrong, but you may have to pay for a park pass if you change her age to three...but maybe not if you are in a DVC and not a regular room

 

[dawne98]

My dd is 3 and she is not one to eat a lot so I don't know what to do but last year when we went she was 2 years old and we never paid for her to eat a thing lol she just eat what we got and at the buffet she was able to eat what she wanted.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Either you do the plan or you don't. If you want her to be two, she has to be two for the entire trip. If you want her to be three, she has to be three for the entire trip. Make up your mind.

 

[bastraker]

If you make her 3 for the dining plan, then yes they will take a credit for the buffet meal. If you keep her at 2 (not on the plan), then buffet meals are free for under 3 years old.

 

[Dean]

OK - so having looked at the numbers I have decided it would make sense to add the DxDDP for one night on our upcoming trip (usually use TIW) however DD will just under 3.

I know I can change her age to 3 with MS so I can get her added (she will not want to be sharing meals as she doesn't at home any more when we go out to eat) - I assume this means she will get a room key when we check in?

Secondly as she will still be 2 - one of our meals in a buffet will they make me use a credit or can I still have her being 'free'? I don't mind as the other 2 meals I have planned will cover the cost of DP just wondered if I will be able to use the last credit for her CS lunch?

Thanks

I don't think it's as simple as just getting them to list the child as 3. Normally they won't (there have been exceptions) and the only way to get it done is to lie about the age of the child. The reason is centered around that of adults sharing meals or using the credits. As for the buffet, it should be either or but in reality it is very variable and also dependent on the age you give them.

 

[PEANUT1]

I assume you are DVC if you are just adding one day of Deluxe to your reservation....MS may know how old your child is. We have been on many trips and I assume they know how old my girls are. I don't think you can add dining plan for a 2 year old. I would just pay out of pocket for her.

 

[Kidanifan08]

If it's just one day, does it really matter if she shares a meal or two with the two of you? Can't you just make it look like she is getting her own meal (extra plate)? You could probably sneak her by for the buffet, as you describe, but is it really worth it to get a crummy children's CS lunch the next day? If your willing to spend $22 for a one day DxDDP for an almost 3 year old, the cost of the CS lunch probably would be at least $10 less.

Our son is almost 5 and we still share meals with him. He is so distracted by everything else going on, he doesn't notice which plate the food is coming from!!!

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

I don't get the negative responses for parent wanting to feed their 2 year old (especially if that 2 year old is nearly or turning 3). Nobody has a problem if you want to upgrade a 8 yr old (or even 5 yr old) to an adult, why is upgrading a 2 yr old so much worse?

Dean, as far as using the "extra credits" for adults, they are listed as kids meals. So for QS I can see where abuse would be easy. For the reg. dining plan those TS meals are only good for a kids meal. And for Deluxe the meals are pooled in the computer but seriously if the adults split meals, they'd have to eat 3-4 credits worth of meals a day to use them all up.

 

[Deb & Bill]

I don't get the negative responses for parent wanting to feed their 2 year old (especially if that 2 year old is nearly or turning 3). Nobody has a problem if you want to upgrade a 8 yr old (or even 5 yr old) to an adult, why is upgrading a 2 yr old so much worse?

Dean, as far as using the "extra credits" for adults, they are listed as kids meals. So for QS I can see where abuse would be easy. For the reg. dining plan those TS meals are only good for a kids meal. And for Deluxe the meals are pooled in the computer but seriously if the adults split meals, they'd have to eat 3-4 credits worth of meals a day to use them all up.

No problem upgrading the 2 yr old to a 3 yr old. But you can't pick and choose when you want to do that. Either she is three or she is two.

 

[dawne98]

If you make her 3 for the dining plan, then yes they will take a credit for the buffet meal. If you keep her at 2 (not on the plan), then buffet meals are free for under 3 years old.

My DD is going to be 3 when we go and we are doing a few buffet meals DO I have to pay for her or she is going to be free? We are not going to the parks just MNSSHP.

 

[dianeschlicht]

My DD is going to be 3 when we go and we are doing a few buffet meals DO I have to pay for her or she is going to be free? We are not going to the parks just MNSSHP.

If she's going to be 3, then she isn't UNDER 3, so yes, you would have to pay for her at buffets.

 

[Audray]

We've got a two year old, and I'd be nervous changing her age in (one of) the system(s) to three. I'm not sure how well they cross reference statistics amongst thier various systems, but I'd prefer not to deal with any issues with our park passes that could pop up. For example needing a park ticket for our two year old just because we said she was three for the dining plan.

 

[MinnieGi]

We've got a two year old, and I'd be nervous changing her age in (one of) the system(s) to three. I'm not sure how well they cross reference statistics amongst thier various systems, but I'd prefer not to deal with any issues with our park passes that could pop up. For example needing a park ticket for our two year old just because we said she was three for the dining plan.

No one at the gate will stop you from pushing your 2yo through the gates without a ticket just b/c she is on the dining plan. They will not know and frankly have way too many people coming through those gates to even worry about it.

 

[Kidanifan08]

No one at the gate will stop you from pushing your 2yo through the gates without a ticket just b/c she is on the dining plan. They will not know and frankly have way too many people coming through those gates to even worry about it.

This is true. In fact, we had a ticket for our son when he was 3 yo and most of the CM's were surprised that he had a ticket. As the PP commented, I wonder if Disney has a way of tracking age declarations in the system from one trip to the next.

From a practical standpoint regarding DDP, the room key is stamped with the dining plan info and indicates how many adult and child plans are on the account. An astute CM at one of the buffet restaurants should pick that up and charge the child plan to the account, even if trying to pass the child as less than 3. On our last trip, I ordered 3 meals at Wolfgang Puck Express, and the CM politely asked me which one I wanted as the child's meal since the keycard listed 2 adults and 1 child. They changed the spaghetti (or should I say 'pasketti)to a child's portion.

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

My DD is going to be 3 when we go and we are doing a few buffet meals DO I have to pay for her or she is going to be free? We are not going to the parks just MNSSHP.

Yes you will have to pay for her a buffets (and for MNSSHP tickets).

This is true. In fact, we had a ticket for our son when he was 3 yo and most of the CM's were surprised that he had a ticket. As the PP commented, I wonder if Disney has a way of tracking age declarations in the system from one trip to the next.

They do. However, I've heard several accounts where they haven't aged a child in between trips. Example: Jane was 8 on the last trip in 2009, and the computer still had her listed as 8 for our fall trip in 2011 instead of 10. The CMs never asked if the age they had on the screen was correct and quoted the package price incorrectly. Once the parent got their confirmation they noticed the mistake and had to call back and correct everything.

 

[ccgirl]

My DD is going to be 3 when we go and we are doing a few buffet meals DO I have to pay for her or she is going to be free? We are not going to the parks just MNSSHP.

The rule is that children UNDER 3 do not need park admission and are free at the buffets. Once a child reaches 3, park tickets (MNSSHP in your case) and the buffett will incur a charge. My son is now 3 and we have to pay for him. I know how it can add up.

 

[hansel1]

I believe your room key for DDP shows how many adults and how many children are on the plan. So if you give your room key to the server she will see 2 adults and 1 child (if you bought the plan for your child). She will charge you as such.

 

[Dean]

I don't get the negative responses for parent wanting to feed their 2 year old (especially if that 2 year old is nearly or turning 3). Nobody has a problem if you want to upgrade a 8 yr old (or even 5 yr old) to an adult, why is upgrading a 2 yr old so much worse?

Dean, as far as using the "extra credits" for adults, they are listed as kids meals. So for QS I can see where abuse would be easy. For the reg. dining plan those TS meals are only good for a kids meal. And for Deluxe the meals are pooled in the computer but seriously if the adults split meals, they'd have to eat 3-4 credits worth of meals a day to use them all up.

It's Disney's rules so it's up to them to decide if or how to enforce them, the rest of us just have an opinion about various aspects. If they decide not to and actively allow such alterations, that's their choice. My understanding is that their official instructions to the worker bees is NOT to allow this for the 2 y/o to get the DDP as a 3 y/o. I haven't heard their official stance on the kids getting adult meals, again their choice. However, I will tell you it IS possible to take the child plans and get adult benefits in a number of ways. I won't say anymore because I don't want to give ideals or violate the DIS policies. In this regard I think there is a BIG difference between one group and the other from a money standpoint. However, even if there's no financial issues to one group or another (there are for the lower group), the only real question is what will Disney officially allow.

My DD is going to be 3 when we go and we are doing a few buffet meals DO I have to pay for her or she is going to be free? We are not going to the parks just MNSSHP.

Disney's official policy is the age at the start of a reservation.

As for parks and buffets, I think it's hit or miss and varies with the CM involved.

 

[hansel1]

My DD is going to be 3 when we go and we are doing a few buffet meals DO I have to pay for her or she is going to be free? We are not going to the parks just MNSSHP.

If you are going to take her to MNSSHP she will need a seperate ticket for that as well since she is 3. Buffets do charge for children 3 and older.