Is The Disney Dining Plan Worth It?

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Is The Disney Dining Plan Worth It?

For starters... what is the Disney Dining Plan?

The Disney Dining Plan and Disney Quick-Service Dining Plan are meal options at Walt Disney World that allow guests staying on Disney property the opportunity to pay for dining before entering the parks. The Disney Dining Plan offers guests one Table Service restaurant credit, one Quick-Service restaurant credit, and one Snack credit per person per night. The Disney Quick-Service Dining Plan offers guests two Quick-Service restaurant credits and one Snack credit per person per night. Both plans also include a Resort Refillable Mug.

 

Current Dining Plan prices:

Disney Quick-Service Dining Plan: $57.01 per night (ages 10+) & $23.83 per night (ages 3-9)

Disney Dining Plan: $94.28 per night (ages 10+) & $29.68 per night (ages 3-9)

 

When I think the Disney Dining Plan is worth it:

1. If you love all inclusives. This is the aspect that really made the Disney Dining Plan worth it for my family. We loved not having to think about how much money we were spending on our snacks and meals. Honestly, we agreed that it made the entire vacation more enjoyable for all of us! While not everything is included in the Disney Dining Plan, we found that most things that we wanted were. If you love the idea of paying for most things before even stepping foot on Disney property, this may be for you!
2. If you enjoy Character Dining. There are so many great Character Dining options to take advantage of with the Disney Dining Plan! Some favorites include Garden Grill in Epcot (normally $62/adult & $40/child), 1900 Park Fare in Disney's Grand Floridian Resort (normally $66/adult & $41/child), and Chef Mickey's in Disney's Contemporary Resort (normally $66/adult & $41/child). These restaurants all take one Table Service credit per person and would be a fantastic use of the Disney Dining Plan!
3. If you like fun drinks.  The Disney Dining Plan includes drinks such as milkshakes, slushies, sodas, juices, mocktails, etc. with each meal! I've seen these drinks range anywhere from $3.50-$13 normally, so this could be a great option. For guests 21+, the Disney Dining Plan also gives the option for one alcoholic beverage with each meal. Some of the cocktails offered at these restaurants can range anywhere from $12-$18, meaning that the Disney Dining Plan may actually SAVE you money at the end of the day.

When I think the Disney Dining Plan is NOT worth it:

1. If you're traveling on a budget. There are definitely cheaper ways to eat at Disney than by using the Disney Dining Plan. You could look into the Disney Quick-Service Dining Plan for a less-expensive meal plan, or you could do things like splitting meals, setting a personal daily budget, or even buying groceries and bringing your own sandwiches & snacks to the parks.
2. If you're not a fan of table service meals. If you're more of a 'go-go-go' type of person and would rather not spend time at table service restaurants, I would recommend either the Disney Quick-Service Dining Plan or no plan at all. If you choose the Disney Dining Plan but don't utilize all of your credits (especially your Table Service credits), your money will just be going to waste.
3. If you plan on spending multiple days off property. Let's look at an example: The Smith family is spending 8 nights in Orlando. They have chosen to stay at Disney's Polynesian Resort and will be spending 4 days at Disney, 2 days at Universal, and 1 day at Discovery Cove. Since they are staying on Disney property, their Disney Dining Plan would include 8 nights worth of meals and snacks per person. However, since they are spending 3 days in other parts of Orlando, it is highly likely that they would have multiple unused dining credits by the end of their trip.

 

My thoughts:

Personally... I love using the Disney Dining Plan! For me, this feels like one less thing to think about and makes my trip feel more like a true vacation. I love taking time to enjoy new restaurants and theming with my friends, and paying up-front has made these experiences much more attainable. Although it's not for everyone, I have found the Disney Dining Plan to be very helpful for my own trips!

Will you try out the Disney Dining Plan on your next trip?