Make your Disney Trip All-Inclusive
Where families play together while fairytales come true.
The Disney Dining plan is a prepaid meal service at Walt Disney World. There are two different plans to choose from (broken down below), and depending on which you choose, you get a select number of prepaid meals throughout your stay.
Each plan offers some variety of table service restaurants, quick service restaurants, snacks, and beverages. If you have the dining plan, your vacation will essentially be an all-inclusive because the only items you will need to have extra money for will be souvenirs and magic extras!
The dining plan is also a very convenient way to explore the vast number of restaurants WDW has to offer, and it takes some of the pressure off, but only if it makes sense for you and your traveling party.
Let’s explore reasons to book this exclusive perk (and reasons not to)!
Should I add the Dining Plan?
NO!
- If you do not usually eat much at the parks, this may not be a good value.
- If you plan to bring a lot of your own meals and snacks, you won’t need the Dining plan.
- Budget-conscious guests tend to skip the dining plan and share meals more.
- You may not be hungry enough for a full meal, but the Dining Plan makes you feel like you have to have several meals throughout the day.
- There is usually way more food than necessary, so you may overeat out of principle because you need to eat a lot of food or more expensive food to make it worth it.
- Families with kids that will not be able to eat enough to justify the dining plan may opt out because the dining plan has to be purchased for everyone in your party, including kids.
Compare the Two Plans
Quick Service Dining Plan
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2 Quick Service Meals
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1 non-alcoholic or alcoholic beverage
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1 Snack or Beverage
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1 Resort Refillable Mug
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$24.71/night for kids ages 3-9
Table Service Dining Plan
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1 Table Service Meal
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1 Quick Service Meal
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1 Snack or Beverage
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1 Resort Refillable Mug
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$30.56/night for kids ages 3-9
Tips and Information
Rules for Kids
Guests ages 3-9 must order from the kid’s menu.
Guests under 3 years of age can eat off an adult’s plate or purchase an additional meal. (At buffets, kids under 3 can get their own plate)
Meal Tracking/Using the App
You can track how many meals you have left in the MyDisneyExperience app or on your restaurant receipt after paying for a meal.
You can use the MyDisneyExperience app to mobile order, and it will automatically charge your dining plan credits for you.
To use a Credit, swipe your Magic Band, Ticket, or Smart Phone to pay.
Dining Plan Rules
You must have a Disney resort package to add a dining plan.
We can add or remove a dining plan from your vacation package at any time!
If one person in your package chooses the dining plan, everyone on the reservation must purchase the dining plan as well, and it must be for the entire duration of your stay.
Although alcoholic is included in the Dining Plan, guests must be 21 or over to enjoy. Guests under 21 can get non-alcoholic beverages (including specialty treats) offered at the location.
Counting Credits Per Day
Meals and snacks are based off nights (not days) of your stay, so you still get one for travel days, which means you will have extras.
Unused credits will roll over day to day and do not expire until midnight the day of checkout!
You can use as many dining plan credits as you want per day until they are gone. You may have some days when you use 4 and some when you use 1-2, etc. The daily amount or order in which you use them does not matter, they are all given to you the first day of your stay to use at your leisure.
Gratuities
The dining plan does not include gratuity, so it is nice to tip your waiters (customary is 18-20%), especially at Table Service restaurants. It is important to note that Disney does add an 18% gratuity to parties of 6 or more. These gratuities are paid with another form of payment (not a dining plan credit).
The exception to this is at Cinderella’s Royal Table, where gratuity is included.
Quick Service Meal Credits
A quick service meal is a meal at on the go restaurants not requiring Advanced Reservations.
Quick Service meals include an entrée or combo meal and a beverage.
Table Service Meal Credits
A Table Service meal is a sit down meal requiring Advanced Dining Reservations.
Meal includes entrée, beverage, and dessert OR a full buffet meal. (The prix fixe meals include appetizer as well)
Not Included in Dining Plan
Items that are more than a single serving (box of donuts, whole pizza, jar of peanut butter, etc.)
Items served in a souvenir container.
Items considered to be merchandise or souvenirs.
Special dining events or dining packages offered at certain Table-Service locations that include a specialty event or service.
Require 2 Table Service Credits
Fairytale Dining at Cinderella’s Royal Table
Princess Storybook Dining at Akershus Royal Banquet Hall (Lunch and Dinner only)
Storybook Dining at Artist Point with Snow White
Fine/Signature Dining Experiences
Be Our Guest Restaurant
Themed Dining Shows (i.e. Hoop Dee Doo Revue)
Private In-Room Dining at Grand Floridian
Pizza Pick Up Full Meals
Having trouble deciding?
