Hi Cecily!
Thanks for reaching out to the Moms Panel!
Considering the
Disney Dining Plan makes perfect sense! You save money, it's convenient, and hassle-free from having to consider pulling out your wallet or purse out near the end of every meal!
So in light of our youngest Mouseketeers (newborns - 2 years, ll months), this is what Disney officially has to say:
"Disney dining plans are unavailable for Guests under the age of 3, but they may share from an adult plate at no extra charge, or an additional meal may be purchased from the menu. The price of the meal will be added to your bill."To get around having to pay extra, when my son was that age, my wife and I would modify our meal selections to accommodate what my son ate. For instance, sometimes we would substitute one of our sides for, say, a fruit such as grapes, which is something my son loved to eat when he was 2. The host or hostess is generally accommodating in terms of if you need to make alternative meal choices from the standard menu. My wife and I would perhaps change one item on each plate, so at least my son would have 2 potential selections he would eat, and we the parents wouldn't have to alter our entire plate to resemble more of a kids meal. Just be sure to ask your host or hostess what are your options to optimize feeding both you and your child before meal ordering.
Sometimes, we would bring an extra snack that was covered under our
Dining Plan that my son liked, but in essence, we looked to find creative ways of not having to pay for an extra plate, particularly since at that age they eat much smaller portions.
Hope this provides some guidance. May you and your family have a magical time at
Disney!
Terry