My 18 month DD is the same. However and until 2/3 weeks ago would feed several times a day, we had tackled night feeding at night when she was 12 months old. At this age they should understand what we say if we are consistent.
First week I said I will only feed you in the sofa in your bedroom, so never out and always if she wanted milk I would haul her upstairs to her room.
Second week I said I only feed when you wake up or go to sleep - this cut her down to four feeds max, sometimes when she woke up from a nap she didn't want a feed. She did have a few tantrums but distracted or bribed her - 3 chocolate buttons or 5 crisps.
Third week only fed her morning and night, we are still only getting used to this. Putting her down to sleep for her nap and her howling was awful but the first two days she only howled for 10mins and now she has stopped. I have introduced a ritual of reading her a book in her grobag, throwing her toys into the cot one by one, and singing the same song as I put her in the cot. She just talks for a while and falls asleep.
Next I need to tackle cutting the night time feed - arghhhh. Don't know how to do that but have started introducing rituals.
I'm trying to ttc, and with two early miscarriages and my age I have started to wean, but I would like to keep the 2 feeds until she is 2 but DH disagrees .
My DD was feedin 8-10 times a day so there is hope. You have to be strong and consistent and not give in which is hard.