Hi Rachael!
Thanks for stopping by the Disney Parks Moms Panel! Your question isn't ridiculous at all, in fact I think it's a great question since this is your first time using a Disney dining plan. Guests who are under 3 years old do not receive dining entitlements when their family's reservation is using a
Disney dining plan. So this means that your little one will not receive dining entitlements. You have a few options for your little one's meals. You are welcome to share off of your plate with your little one or you can order for him or her separately and pay for that meal using cash or your MagicBand, rather than a dining entitlement.
When my little ones were under 3 years old, we actually found this worked really well for our family. At quick service restaurants, we would often share with my little one from one of the adult plates or order him a kids meal or simply a side dish, which was generally enough for him. At buffets or family-style meals, you are free to make your little one a plate of his or her own to enjoy from the dining options. This worked great for us when we were enjoying
Character Dining! At table service meals, I generally chose to share with my little ones off of my plate, but kids meals and side dishes were cost-friendly ways to give him other options to enjoy if my meal wasn't something he would like.
Please let us know if you have other questions as you continue planning your trip! T-T-F-N, ta ta for now!
~Crystal