Disney Dining Plan Explained

Disney World’s Dining Plan Explained

Walt Disney World offers a dining option, called the Disney Dining Plan, for those willing to commit (at least financially) to eat on the Disney property every day during their vacation to Walt Disney World (“WDW”).

The Disney Dining Plan has several benefits over traditional WDW dining. The best of which is the ability to control your second largest expense (after hotel accommodations) to a financial number that is both manageable and, more importantly, transparent. The biggest challenge at Disney (or any vacation really) is that it is so easy to spend $10 here, $20 there, and all of a sudden you go through several hundred dollars (or more!) without even realizing it. The Disney Dining Plan fixes this problem.

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What Comes with the Disney Dining Plan?

There are different levels (described in detail below), but the standard plan includes:

1 table service meal;

1 on-the-go meal;

1 refillable mug; and

1 snack per day

Where Can the Disney Dining Plan be Utilized?

The dining plan can be used at almost every restaurant on the Disney property (there are hundreds of them) including Character Dining and even Cinderella’s Royal Table as well as most lunch/dinner shows. It’s important to note, however, that Cinderella’s Royal Table is considered the most coveted dining experience at WDW, so the venue counts towards two table service meals from your Disney Dining Plan package (also, as an aside, you should book Cinderella’s Royal Table many months in advance since it fills up very fast).

How much does the Disney Dining Plan Cost?

First, its important to know that there is not one dining plan option, there are actually three:

1. Quick Service;

2. Standard; or

3. Deluxe

The Quick Service dining plan option provides for two quick service (i.e. fast food) meals, one snack and a refillable drink mug per person and is $41.99 per adult and $16.03 per child (3 to 9 years old) per day;

The Standard dining plan option provides for one table service (a nice restaurant), one quick service meal, one snack and a refillable drink mug per person and is $60.64 per adult and $19.23 per child (3 to 9 years old) per day; and

The Deluxe dining plan option offers three meals, table service or quick service – your choice, two snacks and one refillable drink mug and is $109.53 per adult and $29.86 per child (3 to 9 years old) per day.

Disney Dining Plans must be purchased as a package with your hotel stay. If you are not staying on the property, Disney will not sell this to you separately.

How Does the Disney Dining Plan Compare to Eating a la Carte?

You’re probably better off with a Disney Dining Plan unless you either:

1) stay in a unit with a stocked kitchen (i.e. a Disney timeshare), or

2) closely monitor what your family spends on food – for many, this is unrealistic.

What’s not included in the Disney Dining Plan:

alcoholic beverages;
snacks that serve more than one serving (such as a box of doughnuts);
souvenir items where the snack is incorporated as part of the gift (such as a Dumbo toy that holds a popcorn box);
certain “special event” menus (if you host your wedding at the Grand Floridian, for example, your guests can’t use their meal plan to pay for your wedding dinner); and
merchandise.

About Walt Disney World Dining (WDW Dining)

WDW Dining Reservations

To make reservations at any Walt Disney World restaurant, simply call: 407-WDW-DINE.

WDW Dining Restaurants

There are literally hundreds of restaurants on the Disney property, from the most basic to the most opulent. It’s important to note that when utilizing the Disney Dining Plan, the price of the meal does not matter. If your taste buds tend to favor tuna tartare instead of tuna sandwiches, it’s all the same price, so choose the best food available if you want to max it out!

WDW Dining Hours

Call 407-WDW-DINE to find out about the hours of your restaurant of choice

WDW Dining Allergies

Disney is an allergy friendly place. If you have a specific allergy, chances are good that Disney can accommodate your needs. To determine which restaurants can accommodate your allergies, dial 407-WDW-DINE.

WDW Dining Healthy Choices

Disney has a team that works to provide healthy dining alternatives for its guests. Virtually every menu has healthy dining options. Speak to the manager or chef if you are unsure – they are trained to deal with your needs.