Hi, Ashley!
So glad you like the tips - believe me, I have done the "gift swap" multiple times. And when they're little, there's so much less risk of you being caught! Thanks for letting me work with you - I hope I can continue to offer some helpful advice.
At table service and buffet meals, children under three do eat for free. There are no restrictions at buffets, but at a table-service restaurant, the child will need to share a plate, i.e. eat off the plate of a paying adult Guest. If you and your grownup traveling companion/s are willing to share with the little one, there is no additional charge.
Counter service restaurants operate a little differently. Should you choose to share, there is no charge. But if you choose to order a kids' meal for the little one (despite the age being under three), you will still be charged the full price of the child's meal.
One tactic that I use quite often is to have a buffet serve as breakfast/lunch. A late-morning or early afternoon seating knocks out two meals (with a small "starter" for the day: a muffin, yogurt, or granola bar). I find that often, my traveling party won't even need much in the way of dinner if we are "successful" at the buffet.
Typically, the buffets at Walt Disney World are considerably less expensive for breakfast than they are for lunch and dinner, with dinner being the most expensive of the meals.
You might also want to check into the
Disney Dining Plan. These can be money-savers, particularly if you look at the table-service options, where your little one would eat free and be able to share snacks with a generous grownup.
Please let me know if you have any further questions - and again, I'm so glad you checked in with me!
See you later, celebrator,
-Deborah B.