Would you claim your 3 year old was 2?

[MyZoeJane]

your options are to not do the DDp and just buy yourself and mom tickets so you can use your old ones to get DD in or to buy the package and pay for everything. the money you save by not buying the package for your 3 yr old DD will mroe than cover the difference between buying the dining plan and paying out of pocket. It's a simple math problem. Don't get a package and just charge it all to your room and pay at the end of your stay.

Now that's a plain and simple answer to the highly flamable question you asked above. Tose are your only options and you just ahve to pick one! whatever we say her is not goignt o change your mind but remmeber if you have ever been there before with her then they hve her age on file from last time and you will ahve to lie about her age every time you go after that cuz they keep it on file! When I booked my last room and out 4 peope in it, then knew my DD's name s and ages from last tiem we visited.

See, the only thing that makes this question "highly flammable" is the fact that people AUTOMATICALLY get all up in arms about it. I only wanted to understand from a different viewpoint. I don't need to be told by someone who gets a rise out of an attempt to "put me in my place" that "I've already made up my mind"... That's just stupid. If I had already made up my mind, do you think I'd bother asking for input?

I got exactly what I was looking for here... the support I needed to make a decision based on logic and good faith. And I didn't need the stupid "holier than thou language" to get there.

 

[HLAuburn]

I have to admit - I'd be on the fence about it, too. But since you have to buy everyone at least 1 day tickets to be on the plan, I can't imagine that the dining plan would put you that far ahead anyway. We did the same thing with the 10 day passes, and so decided to pass on the dining plan for our next trip, even after pricing out with 1 day tickets. We're stil eating where we want to eat, but not appetizer, entree, and dessert for each of of for every meal.

To me, the "experience" is eating at the Disney restaurants, NOT having it prepaid on a card. If you take the money that you would spend on the DDP and use it at places you want to eat, you still get the enjoyment of the meal, and you've paid the same amount really...just one is prepaid and one isn't. The DDP is great, but it is a TON of food!

You're not going to get the "go ahead" around these boards - people seem pretty stick to the rules/no bending. If its worth the $10 and the "experience" to you, then do it. I don't see where anyone (ie Disney) loses out, but I'd worry about it somehow coming back to bite me in the butt.

 

[MyZoeJane]

I don't see it as a moral or ethical dilemma at all, because, as the OP stated, she isn't trying to get something for free, she just doesn't want to pay for something she doesn't want! She has paid for the tickets already, and will pay for the food OOP. The child's credits are useless for her because her child doesn't eat enough to warrant her own meal anyway. The only possible reason this would make sense is if they were doing alot of buffet meals, at which point the child's meal price and snack credit would exceed the cost of the dining plan.

OP, if you are concerned about following Disney rules, even if they don't make sense, you could always plan some character buffets, and/or signature meals or HDDR, to more fully utilize your daughter's credits. In that case, I would just buy everyone a 1 day ticket, and then upgrade yours and your Mom's to whatever you need at Guest Relations.

Disney is not being "cheated" here, they still get their park admission, and paid OOP for any meal your daughter orders. Room prices are based on two adults, and children under 18 stay free, so they aren't losing anything there either.

Thanks... this makes sense. I just had to come to terms with the fact that I will STILL be sitting on so much park admission that I've paid for already. I've got two park hoppers with three days left on each (but one is tied to my husband who will not be attending this trip, so they will be set aside for a future trip) and then we have two unused park hoppers, too. That's about $220 worth of tickets right there. We're just going to have to plan a "diet" trip for later next year where we all go without the DDP and book room only!

 

[MyZoeJane]

I have to admit - I'd be on the fence about it, too. But since you have to buy everyone at least 1 day tickets to be on the plan, I can't imagine that the dining plan would put you that far ahead anyway. We did the same thing with the 10 day passes, and so decided to pass on the dining plan for our next trip, even after pricing out with 1 day tickets. We're stil eating where we want to eat, but not appetizer, entree, and dessert for each of of for every meal.

To me, the "experience" is eating at the Disney restaurants, NOT having it prepaid on a card. If you take the money that you would spend on the DDP and use it at places you want to eat, you still get the enjoyment of the meal, and you've paid the same amount really...just one is prepaid and one isn't. The DDP is great, but it is a TON of food!

You're not going to get the "go ahead" around these boards - people seem pretty stick to the rules/no bending. If its worth the $10 and the "experience" to you, then do it. I don't see where anyone (ie Disney) loses out, but I'd worry about it somehow coming back to bite me in the butt.

The point of claiming my daughter as still being 2 is not only the fact that I wouldn't be paying for the DDP that I don't need, it's that I wouldn't have to pay for the ticket I don't need, either. Kids under 2 are free to get into the parks. BUT I would NOT try to sneak her into the parks without a ticket. I would simply use the tickets I already paid for. You see? I would not be having my daughter using ANYTHING for free.

But I do want the dining plan, at least for this trip with my mom. And since I was reminded of my option to buy one day hoppers again, and upgrade my mom's and mine instead.... it's easier to accept the fact that in order to NOT lie about my daughter's age, I'll have to just pay for the plan and buy her the one day ticket. I'll use the tickets I already have for yet ANOTHER trip.

 

[1happymommy]

I realize this is EXTREMELY tempting. However, it is one of those ethical & moral decisions. Yea it stinks that your daughter will only miss the mark by a short time period but she will still miss the mark. Remember what comes around goes around. Personally, I do believe in Karma.

I would call Disney & ask a CM or two or three & see what they have to say about it. If any of them say it's ok then go for it. If not, then suck it up.

 

[TAKitty]

In life we all pay for things we don't necessarily need. I don't need car insurance because I have never been in an accident...etc. In your post you do come across as already having made up your mind. You don’t have to buy the plan. If you do, Disney wants you to abide by their rules. Really, you can choose to lie or not. It really isn’t a hard decision.

Save the unused tickets. You said you have the Disney bug and I believe will go again at a later date.

You can always rent DVC points next time or buy in yourself. I always get the dining plan and get our tickets separate; however, I still have to buy the plan for everyone in the room.

 

[all4fun]

Ok, I've been thinking about this because I don't know how you would get around buying another ticket and keeping your dd off of ddp other than doing what you mention in your OP.

Edit. If you do a character buffet, you will either have to pay OOP or lie about her age (which, No judgement here, but personally, that would make me uncomfortable.) IMO if you're going to pay OOP for her then you would get your daily cost of DDP out of that one meal, since the kids price starts at $12.

We were on the free dining plan in September which was nice because it allowed us to try it out and see how it would work for us. Personally, we feel that $11 a day is reasonable considering how expensive everything is there. A bag of chips or a bottle of water is $2.50 (and that's on the low end of the scale). The TS kids meals aren't cheap either - about $6-7 now? CS is $4. Character meals or $12 or more (Cindy's is $22) So it can add up quickly. My ds is beyond picky (actually had oral aversion issues which we are still dealing with to some degree although it is gradually improving). On our next trip, we'll all be on DDP. DH and I added up what we would have spent on our last trip w/out DDP and we definitely would have saved money on the plan so even if ds doesn't eat, we feel we're getting a very good value out of it. Maybe you could use the extra credits to do some Signature Dining experiences, since the credits are all lumped together?

Just some thoughts. I don't know if it's helpful at all but there you go.

 

[MyZoeJane]

Ok, I've been thinking about this because I don't know how you would get around buying another ticket and keeping your dd off of ddp other than doing what you mention in your OP.

Edit. If you do a character buffet, you will either have to pay OOP or lie about her age (which, No judgement here, but personally, that would make me uncomfortable.) IMO if you're going to pay OOP for her then you would get your daily cost of DDP out of that one meal, since the kids price starts at $12.

We were on the free dining plan in September which was nice because it allowed us to try it out and see how it would work for us. Personally, we feel that $11 a day is reasonable considering how expensive everything is there. A bag of chips or a bottle of water is $2.50 (and that's on the low end of the scale). The TS kids meals aren't cheap either - about $6-7 now? CS is $4. Character meals or $12 or more (Cindy's is $22) So it can add up quickly. My ds is beyond picky (actually had oral aversion issues which we are still dealing with to some degree although it is gradually improving). On our next trip, we'll all be on DDP. DH and I added up what we would have spent on our last trip w/out DDP and we definitely would have saved money on the plan so even if ds doesn't eat, we feel we're getting a very good value out of it. Maybe you could use the extra credits to do some Signature Dining experiences, since the credits are all lumped together?

Just some thoughts. I don't know if it's helpful at all but there you go.

Good lord! Are you trying to get me into more trouble?!?!

I could not buy credits for DD and use them for adult meals... THEN I would feel I was getting something I didn't pay for since child credits cost less than adult credits.

I also considered the Character meals. We WOULD do one or two character meals and during those instances I had planned to simply pay for her OOP. But again, the cost of the DDP was not really the reason I was questioning being honest about her age. It was the tickets that I didn't need and the cost of the tickets... But as I was wondering this, I had myself paying for a 7 day park hopper for DD... and not just a one day that someone else suggested.

I'm going to go with being honest about DD age and buying one day hoppers for all of us, upgrading only my own and my mom's, using the other tickets I have for my daughter to use... that way all my one day tickets will be used and then next time I'll be able to buy length of stay park hoppers along with the DDP for everyone without having to consider admission I already have!

With this... I do not feel like I am being forced to pay for things I don't need. I can live with this and feel good about it.

Thanks guys.

 

[JCMcGinn]

Would you clarify your ticket situation? Do the park hoppers that you are holding have days left on them or are they new/unused? You mentioned 10 day no exp. tickets, which are what we buy for each of us. Left over days are not transferable, in this case to your DD.

 

[MyZoeJane]

Would you clarify your ticket situation? Do the park hoppers that you are holding have days left on them or are they new/unused? You mentioned 10 day no exp. tickets, which are what we buy for each of us. Left over days are not transferable, in this case to your DD.

No, no... I know I can't use the 10 day no exp park hoppers for DD. They're attached to DH and me. What I have are three one day park hoppers that were purchased for us by our in laws but we did not use them because we had days left on our 10 day no exp park hoppers. Did that make sense?

I know that the tickets would have more value if I kept them and upgraded them... but DH and I are so hooked on the dining plan that I know the $200 that the tickets are worth wouldn't be worth us skipping the DDP in the future. We REALLY like to indluge in the plan and we really so get the most for our money. DH and I consumed about $800 worth of food the last time we were on it and paid only $400 for the plan.

Okay, now we sound like slovenly pigs, don't we? Really, that kind of eating is reserved for only vacations! But we DO love to eat on vacation! Paying out of pocket for the kinds of dining experiences we like to have at Disney would NOT be any savings to us whatsoever!

 

[all4fun]

Good lord! Are you trying to get me into more trouble?!?!

I could not buy credits for DD and use them for adult meals... THEN I would feel I was getting something I didn't pay for since child credits cost less than adult credits.

I also considered the Character meals. We WOULD do one or two character meals and during those instances I had planned to simply pay for her OOP. But again, the cost of the DDP was not really the reason I was questioning being honest about her age. It was the tickets that I didn't need and the cost of the tickets... But as I was wondering this, I had myself paying for a 7 day park hopper for DD... and not just a one day that someone else suggested.

I'm going to go with being honest about DD age and buying one day hoppers for all of us, upgrading only my own and my mom's, using the other tickets I have for my daughter to use... that way all my one day tickets will be used and then next time I'll be able to buy length of stay park hoppers along with the DDP for everyone without having to consider admission I already have!

With this... I do not feel like I am being forced to pay for things I don't need. I can live with this and feel good about it.

Thanks guys.

Yup, that me. Miss Sorry...I certainly don't want to do that! LOL

This is the nice thing about being a DVC member because ticket purchases are seperate from our room ressies.

 

[MyZoeJane]

Yup, that me. Miss Sorry...I certainly don't want to do that! LOL

This is the nice thing about being a DVC member because ticket purchases are seperate from our room ressies.

And you can still get the DDP being a DVC member, can't you?

Well, DH might not be too thrilled about the commitment, but he's turning into a DIsney junky whether he likes it or not! This is looking like the route I am going to have to take in the future!!!!

 

[Deb & Bill]

Unfortunately, as much as you don't want to do it, if you purchase the dining plan for you and your mother, you will have to purchase the dining plan for your daughter who is age 3. That's Disney's rules. They make the rules, they make the packages. The dining plan is not available to persons not purchasing a package, except for DVC member and it was negotiated for them by their management.

 

[PoohHappens]

Just a thought, the unused hoppers you have, I am guessing they are adult tickets, because before now you would have had no reason to get a kid ticket. If so they may not let you use them for your child, because it would be obvious that is not the intended person the ticket was for. Upgrade your daughters 1 day ticket to a 7day, which is a little cheaper than an adult. Use the 2 3 day hoppers for yourself, then upgrade your moms 1 day ticket. You would then have one one day left that you can use some other time or upgrade later. It understand the ticket part, but the DP thing would have cost you more to pay oop for you daughter because there would have been tax and automatic gratuity added every time you ordered her anything. Good luck and have a wonderful trip.

The other suggestion would be to go room only this time and use some of the unused tickets, saving in tickets might give you lots to put toward food depending on how many days you have, but if you still have to buy tickets for 2 people, it may not benefit you again.

 

[rt2dz]

Most of this I don't want to get into. But just a note... Your dd's age (whatever you say it is) will be on your ressie AND linked to all your ADRs. Now, while this isn't a problem if paying oop/sharing meals at places where things are sold by the plate, it will mean you are "cheating Disney" at any place that is a buffet/family style. If not, it will be wondered, questioned and subject to "breaking the rules laws of Disney" on why you are paying for a child's meal who eats for free. It is also on your file whenever you make a ressie your child's age. When we booked for Disney this Dec. and I said DS was 2, they questioned it since he had been there first. I said "Yup, for a couple more weeks after that trip. Then he'll be 3"; which is the truth.

 

[mickeyfan2]

How do you already have tickets, since she has never had a tickets and tickets are non-transferrable?

 

[Mouse House Mama]

Okay, I hear what you're saying about your own DD. Good point. And as I have already pointed out, it's not the DDP that makes this such a big deal to me. It's the tickets. Why should I be forced into buying tickets when I have some that I already paid full price for already?

And I did not mean to insuate that I only wanted to hear responses from people that AGREE with me. That's just stupid! What I requested was to not be flamed. I can handle people disagreeing with me!

Okay- I get what you are saying, but here's my dillema. I have an AP. My dh and kids don't. Why do I have to buy park tickets for me in order to get the dining plan? I would still be paying the same price for DDP so what's the problem? I know the rules stink sometimes, but they are what they are. If you did that then why can't I just purchase the DDP without the tickets since I already have one?

 

[DisneyPhD]

The system can get complicated. Not everyone fits so comfortably in the set categories.

I was considering ways I COULD get my 2 year old on the dinning plan. We are DVC so we don't need to buy tickets for her (we are AP holders.) So I thought about saying she was 3 so we could buy it. As it is you CAN'T buy it for a 2 year old. I think we will be ok with her eating off Dh or mine plates or her big sisters (as we did in the past.) We also made ADR's at a number of buffets so she is free. Paying out of pocket can be a pain when you have the plan, especially at CS places. Now that my youngest food allergies are not as severe they can share better. The kids meal really is a good deal, and the snacks are nice too, you really do get over $11 worth of food,and there is no reason you guys can eat it too (get water for the snack and save it etc...) If I really wanted to buy my 2 year old the DD plan I think I would call up member services (for DVC) and ask what they suggest.

Personally I see nothing wrong with not getting the plan for your 3 year old and you aren't hurting anyone by doing this. There is a lot of "one rule for everyone and if you don't fit it you are WRONG" on the internet. It is really easy to hid behind screen names. It is hard to argue with, since technically they are right. The people would have to get up in arms about me lying that my DD was 3 when she really was 2 in order to pay for the dinning plan. After all it is lying. Truth be told Disney really doesn't care that much about you child's age when it comes to a few months. It is just the line has to be drawn somewhere so that is where they draw it.

Chances are if you asked a CM about it they would say it was fine. If you plan on doing that (not buying the plan for you DD) maybe that is what you should do, ask Disney.

I do know that when my older DD was 3 we bought her an AP. More then one time we forgot to put her ticket in and just stroller her in, (as we were used to that, she went many times before she was 3.) Never once was it questioned, (because if she was we would of remembered her ticket.) and since it was already paid for we weren't saving money. We realized it didn't active her ticket though and it might not work in the fast pass system though (even though if we went in line with her and no fast pass they didn't ask either.) Then again my girls are small.

I am a Disney stock holder, and I am not too concerned with Disney loosing $ with guests who don't buy their kids the dining plan. I don't think Disney is either.

I hope what ever you decided works out well for you and your family and you have a great vacation.

 

[marybrat]

I would not say she is 2.

 

[tanyaandallie]

Hmmmmm, call me unethical but I would have no problem calling her 2 as long as she has just recently turned 2 and doesn't look like she is 4. I guess I don't get into what is "right" and "wrong" when it comes to something like this. I don't feel like I have made an immoral decision if I go somewhere and say my child is 2 rather than 3. In addition, I don't ever worry about "cheating" Disney out of money. I think it's safe to say you will be giving Disney plenty of cash during the length of your vacation.

I guess I'm ready to get flamed!