In this post, I'm going to discuss the Disney Dining Plan in depth so that you, as a consumer, can decide whether or not it's the right choice for your Walt Disney World vacation.
There are three main plans to choose from, and then there are two packages which are pretty inclusive that have the Dining Plan incorporated into them, which I will delve into in an upcoming post about Disney for the Luxury Seeker. So stay tuned for that if it's something that you are wondering about!
The first Dining Plan that is available is designed with the budget conscious in mind- the Magic Your Way Package Plus Quick Service Dining. This plan is the least expensive and includes the following for 2018/2019:
2 Quick Service Meals Per Person/Per Night of Your Stay (Alcoholic and Specialty Beverages are included)
2 Snacks Per Person/Per Night of Your Stay
1 Resort Refillable Mug Per Person that is good for the length of your stay.
This plan is great for families that prefer to be on the go and don't want to deal with making dining reservations. If you're thinking that Quick Service means just Burgers and Fries, you'd be surprised to learn that Disney offers some really great options in that category.
For example, a meal at Wolfgang Puck Express in the Disney Springs Marketplace can consist of anything from Bacon Wrapped Meatloaf served with Mashed Potatoes and topped with Onion Straws and a Port Wine Reduction, to Brick Oven Gourmet Pizzas, to Roasted Salmon served with Broccolini. You can certainly get a Burger and Fries using your dining credits if you want to, but with these options, you can see that a Quick Service meal can be so much more than that!
The next plan that I'm going to highlight is the Magic Your Way Package Plus Dining. With this plan, you get the following:
1 Table Service Meal Per Person/Per Night of Your Stay (Including an alcoholic or specialty beverage)
1 Quick Service Meal Per Person/Per Night of Your Stay (Including an alcoholic or specialty beverage)
2 Snacks Per Person/ Per Night of Your Stay
1 Resort Refillable Mug Per Person that is good for the length of your stay.
This dining plan is ideal for those who like to take a break from touring the Parks for a sit down meal and enjoy planning out their meals ahead of time. There are so many restaurants to choose from, and all of them are unique. If you'd like to have breakfast with Mickey, Donald and Goofy, you can do that! If you're all about the gourmet experience, you can do that too! There's truly something for everyone!
If you're a foodie family that enjoys taking your time and experiencing multiple sit down meals each day, then the Magic Your Way Package Plus Deluxe Dining is for you! This plan includes:
3 Dining Credits (Can be Table Service or Quick Service) Per Person/Per Night of Your Stay (Alcoholic and specialty beverages are included with your quick service and table service credits)
2 Snacks Per Person/Per Night of Your Stay
1 Resort Refillable Mug Per Person that is good for the length of your stay.
This plan is fantastic for those who enjoy the Signature Restaurants or Dinner Shows, which all require 2 dining credits. It is also the most flexible dining plan, as the credits are interchangeable between table and quick service meals, so it allows you to decide how you want to use them during each day of your stay. You can mix and match your credits as you see fit. For example, if you'd like to enjoy a quick service breakfast at your resort, with a snack at the parks for lunch and an elegant signature dinner, you can make it happen. Your options are only limited by your imagination!
The Disney Dining Plan uses credits, which are good for different meal combinations, depending on the time of day. For example, at breakfast, you get an entree and a beverage or a full buffet and a non-alcoholic beverage. At lunch and dinner, you get an entree, a non-alcoholic beverage and a dessert or a full buffet with a non-alcoholic beverage. The Deluxe dining plan even adds an appetizer to it's lunch and dinner credits! No matter which plan you choose, it's a good amount of food and the options are endless! The Disney Dining Plan is only available to guests who book a Magic Your Way room and ticket package at a Walt Disney World Resort Hotel.
One of the main questions that my clients ask me is if the Dining Plans are worth the money. It really is up to the family's specific needs. My family always gets it because for us, it makes the most sense due to the value and convenience that it offers. If you ask yourself how many times you have gone out to eat on vacation and were limited by your budget, then you may want to consider getting it. For example, during past vacations, you really wanted to try the steak, but the chicken was cheaper, so you went with that. The nice thing about the dining plan is that it allows you to get anything that you want on the menu that costs a credit, so the 23.00 chicken and 49.00 steak both equal the same dining credit. You won't have to skip dessert, because it's included with your lunch and dinner. Now, of course, it isn't for everyone. If you are a family who will not be spending much time on Disney Property, or would rather pack a lunch than buy one, then it may be best to skip it. The beauty of the Magic Your Way Package is that it is completely customizable and you can choose to add or skip dining based on your unique needs.
Here is a video that explains the different Disney Dining Plans that are available:
I hope that this will help your family decide if the Disney Dining plan is right for you! If you'd like more information, click HERE.