Hi Amanda,
Greetings from a fellow Hoosier! I'm so excited to hear that you're planning a vacation to the most magical place on earth with your
little guy! You are going to LOVE experiencing the wonder with him and through his eyes!
I'm happy to let you know that if you're dining at an all-you-care-to-enjoy restaurant, whether it is served via buffet or family style, your Mouseketeer will be able to enjoy his own plate at no cost. If you're dining somewhere where each meal is ordered individually, he's welcome to share from anyone else's plate at no cost, however, if you'd like to order him his own meal, you will need to pay separately for it. We always found the portion sizes to be large enough, though, that we had no trouble feeding our little ones off of our included meals.
While you'll find LOTS of wonderful
character dining experiences, some of the ones that my Mouseketeers loved when they were little were Chef Mickey's, The Crystal Palace, and 1900 Park Fare. Hollywood & Vine also hosts some of the beloved characters from Disney Junior shows, so that would be another great one! You'll find touches of magic and fun that little ones love at other restaurants, too. Whispering Canyon Cafe has stick horse races for all the little ones and Cast Members at 'Ohana teach the kiddos how to luau! Wherever you choose, I'm certain that your meals will not only be delicious, but also lots of fun! I'd definitely encourage you to make reservations as soon as possible, though, as some restaurants do fill up well in advance. If you don't find what you want, definitely keep checking as Guests' plans do change!
Thanks so much for visiting us at the Disney Parks Moms Panel, Amanda, and please let us know if you have any other questions as you're planning your trip! Have a truly magical vacation!
Missy