Hi, there!
Brooke, I'm so excited to hear you have an upcoming vacation planned with your toddlers. Your heart will just melt as you watch them experience the magic of the Walt Disney World Resort! I'm happy to answer your question.
We're big fans of the
Disney Dining Plan! We appreciate the flexibility and convenience it offers our family. Since our kids are little, we book two or three
Character Dining Experiences during our visits, and we find especially great value in the Disney Dining Plan for those types of meals. We first purchased the Disney Dining Plan when our boys were toddlers; our youngest, at the time, was just a year old, and our oldest was 3-years old. You are correct that Guests younger than 3-years old may not purchase the Disney Dining Plan, however, they certainly may fill their little tummies! At all-you-can-eat restaurants, like
Chef Mickey's, your 2-year old may eat from the buffet at no charge. At dining locations where you will order from a menu, like our family-favorite restaurant,
Sanaa, your youngest may share from your plate. You are also welcome to pay out of pocket to order something for your 2-year old. We found that we never had to order something extra for our son when he was under age 3 - there was plenty of food to enjoy!
Brooke, you will love Disney's Art of Animation Resort. If it's warm enough to swim during your stay, keep in mind that there are complimentary life vests for little ones at The Big Blue Pool. One less thing to pack!
Wishing you the most magical vacation with your family!
Ashley