Dining Plan questions

Nona

New Member
Original Poster
I will be heading to WDW in less than 2 weeks. I have ADR for a number of restaurants and have the Dining Plan. I have a 3 year old in the group. She is not a big eater. If we are at a restaurant (not character though I should ask about them too), if it is a day where she really doesn't want more than a nibble off her mom's plate, will they charge her?
 

Queen of the WDW Scene

Well-Known Member
In the Parks
No
Depends on the specific restaurant.
Somewhere like CRT you basically pay to walk in the door.
Other restaurants like Sci-Fi yes you could just have her take bites of your food.
But if you're on the dining plan then I don't think it makes much sense to save child meal credits... you have basically prepaid whether she eats or not. And if you happened to get the free child's dining plan discount then its free food anyways.
Might as well let her eat as much or little of it as she wants.
 

Nona

New Member
Original Poster
Depends on the specific restaurant.
Somewhere like CRT you basically pay to walk in the door.
Other restaurants like Sci-Fi yes you could just have her take bites of your food.
But if you're on the dining plan then I don't think it makes much sense to save child meal credits... you have basically prepaid whether she eats or not. And if you happened to get the free child's dining plan discount then its free food anyways.
Might as well let her eat as much or little of it as she wants.
I get that. I also wonder about when we are not using the dining plan (since we didn't cover all of our meals).
 

Queen of the WDW Scene

Well-Known Member
In the Parks
No
I get that. I also wonder about when we are not using the dining plan (since we didn't cover all of our meals).

Dining plan/no dining plan it all depends on the restaurant like I said above.
Chef Mickey's you're paying for the 3yr old but Skipper Canteen you can let her share.
 

Monty

Brilliant...and Canadian
In the Parks
No
At Buffets, you'll be charged for a meal whether she eats or not. At Table Service restaurants you'll only be charged if you order for her (including a drink AFAIK), but not for nibbling from your plate. I believe Character Dining charges as well whether she eats or not.

I'd confirm with your server before ordering anything though, just to be sure.
 

RememberWhen

Well-Known Member
Theoretically 3 year olds should pay. Under 3 is free to eat off a parent’s plate or get their own at a buffet. I suppose if the server had your child’s age down wrong they may not have charged you. We’re going in July and our DD will be 3 in May. I fully expect to be charged for her.
 

Queen of the WDW Scene

Well-Known Member
In the Parks
No
When we went with our 3 yo he was free to eat off my plate and get his own at a buffet.
We did not have to pay for out three year old either at any restaurant including Cinderella's table

Official policy is UNDER 3 eat free.
Just like its UNDER 3 that do not have to pay for admission.
If it were somewhere like Chef Mickey's or CRT the 3 year old NEEDS to pay.
If it was a la carte and you had the 3 year old picking food off your plate it would be acceptable.
Only other exception would be the the child turned 3 DURING the vacation.
If that was not the case you were cheating the system.
 
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