To Dining Plan or Not to Dining Plan
A trip to the “Happiest Place on Earth” can often make our wallets a little sad and a whole lot thinner if we aren’t careful. And for some people, the Dining Plan makes sense and they appreciate being able to pay ahead of time for food so they don’t have to worry about their spending in that area.
But there are some who will opt to not add the Dining Plan to their vacation package and that’s okay as long as you have the facts so you can make an educated decision for you and your traveling party.
So we are here to give you the facts, the whole facts, and nothing but the facts… (Okay, there might be some opinion sprinkled in, too) so you can make that informed decision on whether to include the Dining Plan in your vacation package.
What is it exactly?
The Disney Dining Plan is a way for you to prepay for your meals and drinks. Disney likes to offer this service when you book a room at one of their resorts and purchase park tickets, they call it a “Magic Your Way” package.
**If you are a Disney Vacation Club Member (DVC) you can purchase the Dining Plan without purchasing park tickets.**
And like the resorts at Disney, the Dining Plans also have different levels to fit different budgets.
The benefits of prepaying for your meal is that you can budget for food, knowing exactly what you’ll be spending (unless you purchase something that isn’t included on the dining plan). And if you take full advantage of whatever plan you choose, you can get a lot more food for less than it would cost you to pay once you get to the parks. The downside is you often have to eat a lot and pick the higher priced items on the menu to take full advantage of the meal plan… Okay, maybe for some, it all sounds like upsides!
To participate in the Dining Plan, Disney charges a per night fee for each night you stay with them. They charge a higher amount for those who are ten and older, a lesser rate for those who are three to nine years old, and children under the age of three are free.
There are times where Disney offers the Dining Plan for free. Disney usually announces them and they get snatched up pretty quickly. This is yet another reason it’s good to use a certified Disney Travel Planner when booking your trip, they usually hear the rumors first and can let you know when Disney is about to open up new dates for their offers. There are currently some Bounce-Back Rate offers for dates in 2019 but it’s first come first serve so be sure to book those if you visit Walt Disney World (WDW) this year.
Now that we know what it is, let’s take a look at the different levels?
Quick Service Dining Plan
This is the most cost effective option of the dining plans. This includes two Quick Service (Q.S.) meals (which includes one entree and a beverage), two snacks, and a Refillable Resort Mug. And newly rolled out for 2018, this plan now includes one specialty drink (where available). This means non-alcoholic specialty drinks for those under 21, and any specialty drink including single-serve mixed cocktails, wine, or beer for anyone over 21.
This plan will run you about $52.50/night, per person over nine, and $21.75/night, for kids ages three to nine.
Standard Dining Plan
This plan allows you one Table Service (TS) meal, one QS meal, two snacks, and a Refillable Resort Mug. This plan also includes the specialty drinks mentioned above, where available (one with your QS meal and one with your TS meal). But the TS lunch and dinner meals also include an appetizer and a DESSERT! Yum! (Note, if the restaurant has a full buffet or family style meal, then the full buffet or family style meal would take the place of the appetizer, entree and dessert.)
This plan will run you about $75.50/night, per person over nine, and $25.80/night, for kids ages three to nine.
Deluxe Dining Plan
As the top of the line in dining options, this plan allows you three meals that you can take at either TS restaurants or QS restaurants. You’ll also get two snacks and a Refillable Resort Mug.
This plan also includes the specialty drink option mentioned above (where available) one with each meal.
This plan will run you about $116.25/night, per person over nine, and $39.95/night, for kids ages three to nine.
Some Signature Dining (i.e. The BOATHOUSE or California Grill), Character Dining (i.e. Cinderella’s Royal Table), and the Dinner Shows (i.e. Hoop de Doo Musical Review) will cost you 2 T.S. meal credits. So be sure to check when making your Advanced Dining Reservations (not to be confused with the Dining Plan) ADR’s are highly recommended. Take all that into consideration when planning your meals. Also, these places have a bit more formal dress code (especially the Signature Dining); tank tops, swimsuits/coverups, cutoffs, shirts with offensive language, hats for gentlemen, and torn clothing are not allowed.
What does it include?
Specialty Beverages:
NEW as of 2018!! A single-serving non-alcoholic beverage, such as:
- Artisanal Milkshakes
- Fresh Smoothies
- Premium Hot Chocolate
- Soda, Coffee or Tea
A single-serving alcoholic beverage, such as:
- Beer or Cider
- Wine or Sangria
- Mixed Drinks and Specialty Cocktails
**To receive any alcoholic drink, you must be 21 years of age and you will have to provide a valid ID. And they can only be redeemed at QS and TS meals.
Snacks
Quick-Service restaurants, select merchandise locations, and many Outdoor Carts offer snacks (a single serving of items), such as:
- Bag of snacks
- Frozen ice cream novelty, popsicle or fruit bar
- 12 oz. coffee, hot chocolate or hot tea
- Prepackaged milk or juice
- Popcorn scoop
- Piece of whole fruit
- 20 oz. bottle of Coca-Cola®, Sprite® or Dasani® water
- 20 oz. fountain soft drink
In Room Dining
Select resorts will allow you to use your dining credits for room service. And this includes gratuity. Talk the front desk cast members to see if your resort participates in this.
Pizza Delivery
You can also order pizza delivery to select resorts and have it delivered. It will cost you two adult meal credits per pizza but comes with two beverages and two desserts. And this includes gratuity. Talk the front desk cast members to see if your resort participates in this.
What’s NOT Included?
- Snacks (such as popcorn or drinks) served in a souvenir container,
- Anything that is more than a single serving (such as a box of doughnuts or a jar of peanut butter),
- Anything sold from recreational rental counters,
- Items considered to be merchandise (i.e. bottle toppers, glow cubes, and bottle straps),
- Special dining events offered at certain Table-Service locations,
- Some gratuities (so pay close attention, and ask if you are unsure).
How to Use the Dining Plan
Once you decide to add the Dining Plan to your vacation package, Disney makes it super easy to use. You simply choose your restaurant, according to the plan you’ve chosen.
Then redeem your meals and snacks using your Magic Band. When it comes time to pay, cast members often ask if you have the dining plan. They can help you if you have any problems or questions.
And finally, keep track of what credits you’ve used and what you still have available. You can do this through your My Disney Experience (MDE) app. To check this, simply go to “My Resort Stay” and then click on “Check Dining Plan” and it will have your info listed there.
You can also keep track on your most recent dining receipt or by visiting Guest Relations or your Resort Concierge to ask about your remaining credits.
New Mobile Ordering
You can also use your dining credits with Disney’s new Mobile Ordering Service on the MDE app. For more info on this, follow the link –> Mobile Ordering.
Hope you found this info useful! If you have questions or would like help planning your trip and deciding whether the Dining Plan is right for you and your traveling party, you can get a free, no obligation vacation quote from a Certified Disney Travel Planner. Remember, their services are free to you so it really is a win-win!