Dining Options for Infants and Toddlers at Walt Disney World

When you are visiting Walt Disney World the prices on the menu are reflective of children 3-9 and adults 10+, even the Disney Dining Plans are for guests 3+ - so where does this leave your infant and toddler? Walt Disney World really has 5 options for you and your infant and toddler when it comes to the meals.

Buffets - Walt Disney World gives prices for buffets for everyone 3+. What Walt Disney World will allow you to do at Disney Buffet's is to have your child eat off of your plate, which I don't think they take literally. From what I have been told by the Walt Disney World Cast Members when dining at a Walt Disney World Buffet is that you are more than welcome to grab a separate plate for your infant or toddler at no extra charge. Please don't quote me on this, but I have been with an infant and toddler twice now, and have ate at quite a few Buffets or Family Style Meals and have always been told the same thing.

Splitting Meals - If you are going to a counter service restaurant or you are on the Quick Service Dining Plan, you should be able to figure out quite a few ways in how to split a meal with your infant or toddler. Whether you cut off a part of your hamburger or you give them your side of rice or veggies, there are countless ways that you will be able to feed them. Keep in mind, that the counter service meals at Walt Disney World are not skimpy by any means. This is one of the best options for infants and toddlers.

Using Snack Credits for Meals - For those that are traveling to Walt Disney World and have purchased one of the Disney Dining Plans (Quick Service Dining Plan, Disney Dining Plan or Deluxe Dining Plan) you are given a certain amount of Snack Credits for you to use at the Parks and Resorts. Some of the Snack Credits include items like bowls of rice, croissants, bowl of mixed fruit, pita chips, French fries, etc (for more details on other meal like options to get with your Disney Snack Credits, Click Here). The snacks are perfect in size for when you don't want to share your meal with your infant and toddler and allows you to get rid of some of the snack credits (which is sometimes easier said than done).

Appetizer for a meal - This is a great option for those that are using the Disney Deluxe Dining Plan on their next trip to Walt Disney World. This Dining Plan allows guests to receive an appetizer when eating at a table service meal, and many of the appetizers would be perfectly fine for a toddler to eat. A few examples of food that your toddler could (and would) eat are Pot Stickers at Epcot's Nine Dragon, Mozzarella and Tomatoes from Mama Melrose's, Calamari (my 16 month olds favourite food) at Tony's Town Square or some World Famous Chicken Tenders from Planet Hollywood in Downtown Disney.

Buy them a kids meal - I think that most of us parents have been there. We have shared several of the past meals with our infant and toddler, and can't bare to eat another chicken finger or fry. It shouldn't hurt anyone's budget to purchase the infant or toddler a meal every once in awhile, and if you are staying in a Disney Vacation Club villa, you are actually able to just purchase any of the Dining Plans at Walt Disney World (mind you, you must tell them your child is 3) without being penalized with having to also buy them a Walt Disney World Park Ticket.

If you are looking at planning a vacation to Walt Disney World, visit Magical Dream Tours, for a free no-obligation quote. Magical Dream Tours have agents that are experts in Infants and Toddlers at Walt Disney World, and would be happy to help you with any questions you may have!

Click here for more Walt Disney World information and tips by Amanda M. Rose