Written By: Jennifer Gehly
Before the 2020 closure, the dining plan at Disney World was always a must. It was a great way to prepay for most of your meals and snacks during your vacation. The requirements were you needed to have a resort reservation and for each night you stayed, you got a certain amount of meals and snacks. Then when the parks reopened after the closure, the dining plan was taken away. But beginning January 9, 2024, the dining plan returns with 2 options.
The first option is the Quick Service Dining plan. This option includes 2 quick service meals, 1 snack, and a refillable mug to use at the resort for each night of your stay. A quick service meal includes an entree (might include a side) and a beverage (non alcoholic or alcoholic). These can be purchased at a resort or in the parks. The cost is about $57.01 per adult (10 years and up) and $24 per child ages 3-9 per night.
The second option is the Disney Dining plan. This option includes 1 quick service meal, 1 table service meal, 1 snack, and a refillable mug to use at the resort for each night of your stay. A table service meal is one that you will sit down and be waiting on. This does not include tip, so be prepared to spend extra on tips. The cost for this plan is about $94 per adult (10 years and up) and $30 per child ages 3-9 per night. The catch with the table service meals, if you plan to eat at Cinderella’s Royal Table, Topolino’s Terrace for breakfast, or other character meals, they might cost you 2 table service credits. This means that if you have a 5 night stay, you have 5 table service meals to use within that stay. If you plan to eat at Cinderella’s Royal Table and other signature restaurants, it will cost you 2 of those 5 credits for one meal.
So is this worth it?
A dining plan isn’t going to save you tons of money but it will help budget your vacation and prepay for some meals. I think that the Quick Service Dining plan is worth it for a family. This can get you Mickey Waffles for breakfast at your resort, pack a lunch for the parks, and then have a quick dinner and get back to rides. Then everyone can grab a Mickey pretzel or a Dole Whip as snack or dessert. Sounds good to me. Leave for vacation and you have most of your meals paid for.
As for the Disney Dining plan, that depends on what you would like to do. If you are doing a lot of sit down meals, then yes it could be worth it. If your family only wants to do one or two sit down meals, I do not think it is worth it. Pick the quick service plan and then pay any sit down meals out of pocket (which you can still budget using Disney gift cards). If it is your first trip, this is a great option if you have some must do sit down meals. I have personally did this and it was great, just plan to miss about 2 hours out of your park day for that sit down meal.
With two options and your unique family, chat with your Middle of The Magic Travel Planner to see if the dining plan is the right fit for your family
