Hey there, Kacey. Thanks for stopping by the Disney Parks Moms Panel with your question.
Isn't it great that children under the age of three get in to the
Walt Disney World Theme Parks for free? I like to think of it as a personal gift from Mickey Mouse himself! What makes that perk even better is that children under 3 can eat for free too - here's how it works. If you are dining at all-you-care-to-enjoy style restaurants like
Cape May Cafe,
Chef Mickey's or
'Ohana, your under 3 child can have as many of his or her own plates from the buffet as their little tummies can enjoy. At restaurants where you select a single entree from the menu, your under 3 child is welcome to plate share from anyone at your table. If you wish to order your child his or her own entree at this style of restaurant, like
California Grill or
The Plaza Restaurant, only then would you need to pay.
When my daughter was younger and free we did a lot of the all-you-care-to-enjoy style meals. What's great about this is most character meals tend to be this style of meal. So not only do you get to enjoy a great meal, you also get to meet characters during this time. Then since you've already met the characters that your little one loves, you can have more time enjoying other things within the Theme Parks. It's a great way to schedule your day.
I hope this helps clear any confusion up. If you have any other questions, please feel free to come back and ask.