disney dining plan for under 3?

[TinkerBeth]

we are planning a possible Disney vacation next fall if the free dining is offered again. (and maybe even if it's not.) our son will be almost 2 and we were wondering if it we were to pay for a one day one park ticket (like the rest of would be getting) would we be able to get the free dining for him as well? we know that he would be free at the buffets but we are thinking about eating at the resort and other places that are not buffets. would it be worth it to buy the ticket (which we would use on a later trip) if this was possible or would it be cheaper to just pay for any food at the restaurants where it was necessary?

[Tinkerfreak]

I don't think you can get the dining plan for anyone under 3.

[TheRustyScupper]

1) DDP is not available for under-3.
2) At non-buffets, they eat off your plate.
3) If you order anything for them, you pay for the item(s). *
4) At buffets, they eat from the buffet.
5) There is no way for them to figure how much of your plate was kid's.

* Some people erroneously think "Kids under 3 eat free."

[potzie]

You could always book them as if they are 3 for the reservation. You do have to buy them a park ticket as you said but then they would get the dining entitlements.

At the park you just say they are 2 since they are and they don't require a ticket. Just save the 1 day park ticket for the future.

Don't ask me how I know this but it can be done. :secret: ;) :secret:

[buzznwoodysmom]

I would think you'd probably come out ahead by just paying for any of their food out of pocket. When my kids were that age they could easily eat out of my and DH's plate, both at table service and counter service, and there'd be plenty of food for all of us without having to order the kid an additional meal. Plus they do eat free at any buffets or family style dinners at that age.

[magicofdisney]

Kid's meals are generally around $10 (for dinner, unless it's a 2 TS credit meal). Unless you think you'll spend more than $65 on his meals during your trip, you'd be better off paying out of pocket.

[MickeyandTink]

We took our DS last year during free dining when he was 2 (turned 3 during the trip), along with his older sister. He's very tall for his age and is a very healthy eater and we had more than enough on our plates to feed him as well at each meal.

I would definitely forego the ticket and just pay out of pocket if necessary. That $65 a one day child's ticket cost will easily buy 7-10 CS meals or even 3-4 TS meals for kids.

[potzie]

Right but the ticket has some value plus you get all the extra snacks that anyone can use. It's not like you have wasted the money as some have assumed you have just prepurchased the ticket for a future trip.

Think about it if you go for 7 days, that's 7 snacks at $4 so $28 right there, plus as I said the ticket doesn't expire and can be upgraded at some time in the future when you actually need it.

Also if the Counter Service isn't enough you can always split the extra meals and with the Table Service if you want to order them their own meal you can.

[javamama]

My kids ended up splitting alot my ds is 5, and a picky eater at times. My dd was 2, they split lots of stuff, and then we would add on also(soups, fries, salads, etc..) they'd split an adult entree at times.

[buzznwoodysmom]

Right but the ticket has some value plus you get all the extra snacks that anyone can use. It's not like you have wasted the money as some have assumed you have just prepurchased the ticket for a future trip.

Think about it if you go for 7 days, that's 7 snacks at $4 so $28 right there, plus as I said the ticket doesn't expire and can be upgraded at some time in the future when you actually need it.

Also if the Counter Service isn't enough you can always split the extra meals and with the Table Service if you want to order them their own meal you can.

The value of the ticket will depend on how you travel. In the future if the family books any packages the child will have to be on the same package as everyone else, meaning that with the left over one day ticket he'll have an extra day in the parks since with the package he'll have the same amount of days as the parents. I am not sure if you can upgrade a single day ticket to a multiday ticket when that multiday ticket is part of a package. So when will the child use the left over ticket? He can't go into the parks by himself. Of course if the family plans to return later and not purchase a package and only need one day tickets then the ticket will be great to have, but I am not sure how often that is the case. I know for my family that ticket wouldn't come in handy in the future at all.

Plus in my past experience we've never been able to use up all our snack credits. At the end of our trips we always buy a bunch of snacks to take home with us. We are a family of 4, with 7 and 9 year old boys who love snacks and we still don't use them all.

[mjaclyn]

DH and I got the dining plan for our DD when she was 2 (we just had to list her as being 3 on the reservation). We rented DVC points so we didn't have to buy her a ticket. I think the Dining plan was definitely worth it for her. It's only $10.99 a day which pays for itself in one meal IMO. Plus, you get extra snacks which are the same for anyone in your party. I really don't feel that I'm 'cheating' Disney at all by saying she's 3 because I'm paying for her to eat - I'm not getting anything for free. I think Disney should offer a discounted Dining Plan option for those of us who DO want to get the DP for our 2 year olds. Many of them eat just as much as a 3 yo and I don't mind paying the $10 a day.

[TinkerBeth]

So when will the child use the left over ticket? He can't go into the parks by himself. Of course if the family plans to return later and not purchase a package and only need one day tickets then the ticket will be great to have, but I am not sure how often that is the case.

Right now our 5 year old (will be 6 then) already has tickets so she will not be using her 1 day 1 park either. the tickets will be used a couple years later. my husband and I will be getting tickets that will be more days than our daughters. We make it that we don't have to buy tickets for everybody at every trip so it's not such a big expense at once, so the 2 1 day tickets will come in handy on another visit when our daughters ticket will only have 2 days left to match the 2 1days that our son will have (her 1 day and his 1 day from this trip).
this is also only if the dining plan is free. how we eat the dining plan is not worth it for dh and I, just the 10.99 for the kids would be worth it, so we obviously would not be doing it if it's not free next year.

[potzie]

Right now our 5 year old (will be 6 then) already has tickets so she will not be using her 1 day 1 park either. the tickets will be used a couple years later. my husband and I will be getting tickets that will be more days than our daughters. We make it that we don't have to buy tickets for everybody at every trip so it's not such a big expense at once, so the 2 1 day tickets will come in handy on another visit when our daughters ticket will only have 2 days left to match the 2 1days that our son will have (her 1 day and his 1 day from this trip).
this is also only if the dining plan is free. how we eat the dining plan is not worth it for dh and I, just the 10.99 for the kids would be worth it, so we obviously would not be doing it if it's not free next year.


My wife and I have done the same. We need to upgrade one of our 1 day tickets from a past trip this time around, but our son still has days left and our daughter, while she has a one day ticket is still under 3 and free. We'll return this fall and pay for my wife and I's to be upgraded, when we go in the spring before my daughter turns 3 we'll upgrade a ticket for my son from a past trip and then the next trip we'd have to upgrade our daughters ticket as she'd be over 3.

Also if it's free even if you use the snacks for water in the park it avoids lugging your own water and it was free other than the fact that you had to "pre-purchase" a park ticket that will never expire and could be used years from now if that's the case. If you are a frequent visitor to The World I think it's a valid plan, if not then I wouldn't likely do it either.

We are frequent visitors, my daughter will be 3 in May and as it is she'll have 5 visits in and a DCL cruise by then. We are lucky and I know that; but effective planning never hurt either.

[TheRustyScupper]

1) I re-read your question.
2) What you want to do is AGAINST THE RULES.
3) You are trying to put in a non-guest (2-yo) for Free Dining.
. . . lie about the age
. . . get dining credits for someone not eligible
. . . get around the dining program rules for personal greed.
4) Basically, you are adding a ficitious person to your group/family.
5) SHAME.

NOTE: This was meant to be a little harsh, because it is irritating to see someone trying to deliberately skirt WDW rules and take advantage of the Free Dining program. If it was a paid-DDP, then nothing is wrong, but to get Free DDP, it is certainly wrong.

[potzie]

1) I re-read your question.
2) What you want to do is AGAINST THE RULES.
3) You are trying to put in a non-guest (2-yo) for Free Dining.
. . . lie about the age
. . . get dining credits for someone not eligible
. . . get around the dining program rules for personal greed.
4) Basically, you are adding a ficitious person to your group/family.
5) SHAME.

NOTE: This was meant to be a little harsh, because it is irritating to see someone trying to deliberately skirt WDW rules and take advantage of the Free Dining program. If it was a paid-DDP, then nothing is wrong, but to get Free DDP, it is certainly wrong.

I'm glad you are Holy enough to sit in judgement of others. My children are not fictious, let me assure you they are quite real. How is it any different if you pay for it, you are still changing their ages? Also if I took a discount on the room and paid for the dining plan you feel that's ok but not if I take free dining?

Children are not ineligible for the DDP they are just not required to purchase one but as you said you can change your child's age as long as you are prepared to pay for it but not otherwise.

I'll say this nicely, please get over yourself.

[jwildflower1981]

I agree with Rusty. What your doing is indeed cheating the system, and considering your trying to do it MIlitary tickets is just plain WRONG, which is not allowed to be disscessed on Intercot.

"Lastly, we do not promote "cheating the system". Any post discussing how to get around the rules or posting of private discount codes will immediately be deleted and the account temporarily suspended until which time a moderator can contact the offending member."

That was quoted from the Terms of Service.


I will remove myself from my :soapbox: now.

[mjaclyn]

I just wanted to add that when I change my DD's age to get her the DDP we ARE paying for it. DH and I don't book the free dining package and if we did I personally wouldn't change my child's age to get free dining. I don't see anything wrong with changing their age when you're paying for the plan but if you're getting it for free it's different.

[DisneyTwinsMommy]

What you are doing is certainly NOT wrong and we are doing the same thing in September. The booking CM actually suggested that to me.

I have twin 2 year old DS. They eat more than would allow them to share off our plates. I am getting them the DDP and PAYING for their one day ticket. In order to be eligible for the DDP, you must have a 1 day ticket which they have. So how is that possibly cheating the system?? I am giving Disney MORE money than I have to.

I wish you the best of luck and hope you have a magical vacation.

[potzie]

I agree with Rusty. What your doing is indeed cheating the system, and considering your trying to do it MIlitary tickets is just plain WRONG, which is not allowed to be disscessed on Intercot.

"Lastly, we do not promote "cheating the system". Any post discussing how to get around the rules or posting of private discount codes will immediately be deleted and the account temporarily suspended until which time a moderator can contact the offending member."

That was quoted from the Terms of Service.


I will remove myself from my :soapbox: now.


Who said anything about MIlitary Tickets? Let's not add patriotic claims to this, I saw no reference to trying and get DDP for a 2 year old member of the military.

As it was mentioned you are buying a ticket you don't have to and the strategy was suggested by a CM, so maybe it's not so wrong just not advertised as something they want to encourage either. If WDW can get you to buy out of pocket instead are they going to complain that you did?

[jwildflower1981]

My apologies for the military comment. That was on a diff thread and I mixed up the two. I am big enough to admit when I am wrong and misspoke. (I just had surgery yesterday so the pain meds have me a little woo-woo)
But, I still do believe lying about your child’s age is not being truthful and is not right since your trying to get something for free.




You could always book them as if they are 3 for the reservation. You do have to buy them a park ticket as you said but then they would get the dining entitlements.

At the park you just say they are 2 since they are and they don't require a ticket. Just save the 1 day park ticket for the future.

Don't ask me how I know this but it can be done. :secret: ;) :secret:

You appaerntly know this is sneaky and not right or you wouldn't feel the need to :secret::secret: it.

[TinkerBeth]

I'm sorry this has become such an issue. I thought I was asking a simple question. He would be eating free at most places anyway, I was thinking that because the rest of us would be on the dining plan, instead of having to pay for just his meal at some places we would have the plan for him also (yes, free as you have pointed out) to make things a) easier, and b) better for him because he already eats a lot. I'm sorry that Rusty seems to think that my child is fictitious and a non-guest. I'm sure if I were to ask the Mouse himself he would not agree.
I actually just asked a cast member online today if there was anyway to get the dining plan for a 2 year old and that is exactly what she suggested, to modify his age to 3 and buy the ticket. if now at least 2 CM's are suggesting it then I do not see that DISNEY sees that as "against the rules" or "cheating the system".
Thank you all for your help.

[megustamex]

Make that at at least 3 CM's. I knew my 2 year old would need more food than from my plate. We also booked him as a 3 year old when I asked the CM "is there any way I can get my 2 year old on the dining plan?". He suggested changing his age to 3 and getting him a one-day ticket since we all have annual passes already and are also only buying a one day ticket to get the free dining. I'm sure Disney is thrilled to know we will all be returning someday to redeem our 1-day tickets towards another 4 annual passes.

[LilOrmstonViolet38]

now this may open a can of worms too... but why wouldn't disney let you buy a ticket for the child? so what if in the register he is counted as three? guess what they just did, got you a dining plan (which the majority of the year is paid for, occassionally is free- but they run those deals to boost guest numbers) and you pretty well secured another visit to disney with that family cuz they just paid for a ticket that wouldn't be used.... yeah i would do that. if i were disney and it was give away a free dinning plan that in reality the kid eats free at half the locations and up my chances of return visit (which equals more food, more hotel room money, probably more tickets, more souvenirs... you get my point) i would be booking kids like that all the time!!!! disney is a business and whatever helps the bottom line...