Is a Disney Dining Plan Worth It? When It Makes Sense for Your Family
Don’t skip the spring roll cart as you enter Adventureland at Magic Kingdom!
“Should we add a Disney Dining Plan?”
It is one of the most common questions I hear when planning a Walt Disney World vacation. My answer is never an automatic yes or no.
A dining plan can add convenience, help with budgeting and sometimes provide real savings. It can also leave a family with unused meal credits or cause them to spend more time eating than they wanted.
The right answer depends on how your family eats and, just as importantly, how your family wants to spend its vacation.
Start With How Your Family Vacations
Before looking at dining plans, I start with a few bigger questions.
Is food an important part of your vacation? Do you want several character meals or table-service experiences? Are you comfortable taking time away from the attractions to sit down and eat?
Or are rides, shows and other activities your top priority? Would you rather grab something when you are hungry and keep moving?
Two families staying at the same resort for the same number of nights may need completely different dining plans. The goal is not simply to add a plan because one is available. It is to choose the option that supports the type of vacation you want.
What Disney Dining Plans Include
Disney Dining Plans are available as part of eligible Walt Disney Travel Company vacation packages that include a Disney Resort hotel stay.
Everyone on the reservation who is age three or older receives a set number of meals and snacks based on the number of nights in the package. Credits can be used throughout the stay, so you do not have to use the same number each day. Any remaining credits expire at midnight on your checkout day.
Disney currently offers two primary dining plan choices.
One of the best burgers at Disney is at Tiffin’s (Animal Kingdom)
Disney Quick-Service Dining Plan
Each person age three and older receives, per night of the stay:
Two quick-service meals
One snack or qualifying nonalcoholic drink
One resort-refillable drink mug for the stay
Disney Dining Plan
Each person age three and older receives, per night of the stay:
One table-service meal
One quick-service meal
One snack or qualifying nonalcoholic drink
One resort-refillable drink mug for the stay
That may sound straightforward, but deciding whether those credits match your actual plans requires a closer look.
Don’t miss Blue Ribbon Corn dog stand at Disney’s Boardwalk - the foot long mozzerella cheese on a stick is the absolute best!
When the Disney Dining Plan May Make Sense
The Disney Dining Plan may be a good fit when dining is an important part of your vacation.
It may make sense when:
You want a sit-down meal on most days
You are planning several character meals
Your family enjoys buffets and family-style dining
You prefer having much of your food cost prepaid
You do not mind allowing extra time for meals
The adults in your party would normally purchase an eligible alcoholic beverage with a meal
If you are going to schedule several table-service meals, the dining plan can sometimes provide savings. However, that depends on the restaurants you choose and what your family would normally order.
Some character meals, signature restaurants and special dining experiences require two table-service credits instead of one. Using two credits may still make sense, but it is not automatically the best value.
This is why I look at your actual dining wish list before recommending the plan. I consider which restaurants you want, how many credits they require and whether the plan fits the way your family will realistically eat.
When the Quick-Service Dining Plan May Be Better
Some families enjoy Disney food but do not want their park days structured around restaurant reservations.
The Quick-Service Dining Plan may be the better fit when:
You prefer eating on the go
Rides and activities are your highest priority
You do not want a table-service reservation every day
Your children have limited patience for longer meals
You want flexibility if your schedule changes
You like using Mobile Order and eating when it fits naturally into the day
Quick-service does not have to mean eating only burgers and chicken tenders. Disney has counter-service restaurants offering bowls, barbecue, international dishes, salads and many other choices.
The Quick-Service Dining Plan can give you the convenience of prepaid meals without requiring you to commit a large part of each day to restaurant reservations.
IYKYK - and if you don’t know - go get this GIANT cinnamon roll at Gaston’s Tavern (Magic Kingdom). And ask for extra icing!
When a Dining Plan May Not Be the Best Choice
A dining plan is not automatically a discount.
It may not make sense if your family:
Frequently shares meals
Has light eaters
Skips breakfast and eats one larger meal
Plans to eat outside Walt Disney World several times
Prefers appetizers instead of full entrées
Wants only one or two table-service meals during the vacation
Is unlikely to use all the meal and snack credits
I do not want my clients ordering food they do not really want simply because they have credits remaining.
Sometimes paying as you go provides more flexibility and costs less. Other times, having the meals prepaid is worth it for the convenience and peace of mind, even when the savings are not significant.
Goofy’s Candy Co at Disney Springs - for all the sweetness you can stand!
Your Children’s Ages Can Change the Math
Family size and children’s ages can make a major difference.
Disney considers children ages three through nine children for dining plan purposes. Once a child turns ten, Disney charges the adult dining plan price, even if that child still eats like a younger child.
The calculation for a family with children ages seven and nine may look very different from the calculation for a family with children ages ten and twelve.
A family with younger children who wants several character meals may receive more value from the dining plan. A family paying adult prices for teenagers who eat very little may not.
Gratuities also need to be considered. Tips are generally not included with the dining plan, and an automatic gratuity may apply to larger parties.
These details are why I compare the full cost and experience rather than looking at the dining plan by itself.
More Table-Service Meals Are Not Always More Convenient
Having several sit-down meals planned can sound relaxing, but every dining reservation affects the rest of the day.
A restaurant may be inside a different park, at another resort or across Disney property. You also need to consider transportation time, park hours, Lightning Lane selections, shows and whether your family will realistically want to stop what they are doing to eat.
A dining reservation that looks perfect on paper can become inconvenient when it is placed in the wrong part of the itinerary.
When I plan dining for a client, I do not select restaurants in isolation. I place them where they work with the park schedule and the overall pace of the vacation.
The goal is to enjoy the dining experience without letting meals take over the entire trip.
Could Club Level Be Better Than a Dining Plan?
There is another option that many families do not consider: staying Club Level at a Disney Deluxe Resort.
Club Level guests have access to an exclusive lounge with food and refreshments served at different times throughout the day. Offerings generally include a continental-style breakfast, snacks, evening appetizers, desserts and beverages.
I am personally hooked on Club Level.
When it is used strategically, the lounge can take care of breakfast, drinks, snacks and some evening meals. For certain families, that can cover much of what they need without adding a dining plan.
Club Level may work especially well when you:
Plan to spend time at your resort
Enjoy a slower vacation pace
Want an easy breakfast before leaving for the parks
Appreciate having drinks and snacks readily available
Are comfortable using the evening selections as a lighter meal
Still want one or two special restaurant experiences during the trip
Club Level is not a replacement for every character meal or special dinner. It may also be less practical for a family that leaves the resort early and does not return until late at night.
My personal favorite is the Old Faithful Club at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge. In my opinion, Wilderness Lodge offers the best overall Club Level experience. I love the atmosphere, service and the opportunity to enjoy the resort as part of the vacation.
The important word is strategically.
I compare the Club Level room cost with the dining plan cost, the restaurants you want and the amount of time you expect to spend at the resort.
Sometimes the dining plan is the better choice. Sometimes Club Level provides the convenience and experience the family really wants. In some cases, neither option is necessary.
How I Decide What to Recommend
Before recommending a dining plan, I consider:
The ages of everyone traveling
The restaurants and character meals on your wish list
How many park days you have
Whether you want to slow down for meals
Your children’s eating habits
Whether adults will order included beverages
Your resort and room category
Whether Club Level is available
How much of the vacation you want prepaid
Whether the plan will provide value or simply add too much food
I can then compare the options and help you choose the one that makes sense for your family.
Choosing a dining plan is only the beginning. Restaurant reservations, park days, transportation, meal credits and your family’s pace all need to work together.
My job is to make those pieces fit so you can enjoy the food, the parks and your time together without spending the entire vacation worrying about the schedule.
Is the Disney Dining Plan Worth It?
For some families, absolutely.
If food is an important part of your vacation, you want several character or table-service meals and you like having much of the cost prepaid, the Disney Dining Plan may be a very good fit.
If your family prioritizes rides and activities, prefers eating on the go and wants maximum flexibility, the Quick-Service Dining Plan may make more sense.
If you are staying at a Deluxe Resort and want a more relaxed resort experience, Club Level may be worth comparing to both dining plans.
There is no single answer that works for every family.
You do not have to sort through meal credits, restaurant categories, children’s pricing, gratuities and resort options alone. Tell me how your family likes to eat and what you want your vacation to feel like, and I will help determine the best strategy.
The goal is not simply to purchase a dining plan. It is to create a vacation where the meals, parks and schedule all work together without unnecessary stress.
About Melissa
Melissa Ragazzi is a concierge travel advisor and the owner of Wanders by Melissa. Her love for Disney started at a young age and, unlike most childhood phases, this one never wore off. Her favorite princess is Moana because Melissa loves the ocean and always seems to feel “the call.” She helps families plan Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, cruises and customized vacations based on their interests, budget and travel style.
Are you trying to decide between paying as you go, adding a Disney Dining Plan or staying Club Level?
Contact Melissa through Wanders by Melissa. I will compare the options and help build a dining strategy that fits your family and your vacation.
Melissa@wandersbymelissa.com | WANDERSBYMELISSA.COM | 601-540-7336
