If you’re planning a trip to Walt Disney World, you’re likely in a haze of park tickets, hotel reservations, and so much more. Another factor of planning a trip to the Most Magical Place on Earth is whether you’re going to add the Disney Dining Plan onto your package.
If this is a new term for you, a Disney Dining Plan is an option to purchase as part of your Walt Disney World resort stay. Each plan includes a certain number of meal credits per night of your stay, in addition to two snacks per night and a resort refillable mug.
Click here for full details on the Disney Dining Plan.
Knowing which of the four Disney Dining Plans is best for your family can be tricky — but that’s why you have us! We’re taking a look at each plan’s offerings so you can determine which could be best for you.
Why to Choose the Quick Service Dining Plan
There are quite a few reasons why you might be led to choose a particular dining plan, and the Quick Service Dining Plan is no exception to this. This plan includes two quick-service meals per night of your trip. If you like to fit in as many attractions during your vacation as humanly possible, Quick Service might be the way to go.
By choosing this plan, you won’t be tied down to dining reservations (unless you choose to dine at Be Our Guest for breakfast or lunch) and you can simply eat when your schedule allows. The flexibility of this plan makes it a great choice for those who don’t care about table service meals and want to focus primarily on attractions. Just don’t forget to use Mobile Order at participating locations!
Why to Choose the Standard Dining Plan
The next step up on the DDP totem pole is the Standard Dining Plan, which includes one quick-service credit, one table service credit, and two snacks per night. This is a great choice for those who want a nice mix of quick-service and table service meals.
Perhaps your kiddos are begging to go to some character meals, but you don’t want to have a sit-down meal more than once a day. The Standard Dining Plan provides the best of both worlds in this regard.
Why to Choose the Disney Dining Plan Plus
A brand-new addition to the Dining Plan lineup is the Disney Dining Plan Plus. This plan includes two snacks and two meal credits per day, to use on table service or quick-service meals as required.
Learn all about the new Disney Dining Plan Plus option here!
We believe this new plan is a welcome addition, as it bridges the gap between the Standard Dining Plan and the Deluxe Dining Plan. Of course, to get the most out of your plan, you’ll want to opt for more table service meals than quick-service meals. But, with this plan, you can enjoy two nice meals per day and snack through the rest of the day. Three meals in Disney World (as included with the Deluxe Dining Plan) is A LOT of food, so we’re big fans of the flexibility offered by the Disney Dining Plan Plus.
Why to Choose the Deluxe Disney Dining Plan
Believe it or not, the Deluxe Disney Dining Plan IS right for some families. This plan includes two snacks and three meal credits per night, which you can use however you’d like. If you like to have an all-inclusive vibe on your vacation, this is one way to do it.
If you’re planning on a bunch of highly-priced character meals and signature experiences, the Deluxe Dining Plan might be right for you. I am a foodie myself, and both times I’ve opted for the Deluxe Dining Plan, I’ve saved money. I crunched the numbers in advance and knew I’d come out on top. But, it’s very, very easy to waste money by purchasing this plan. You really do need to crunch those numbers and think about what meals you’re going to enjoy before you purchase the Deluxe Dining Plan.
Now that there are four different Disney Dining Plans, there’s something that will work for every sort of traveler.
Do you use the Disney Dining Plan during your vacations? Let us know in the comments below!
Get more dining posts at the links below!
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Can I buy my 9 year old a Child’s park ticket, but buy him the Adult Dining Plan option?
I like the idea of the new plan because our family tends to at least do 2 sit down meals a day, usually lunch and dinner. We’re not big breakfast people so a good pastry or muffin on a snack credit would be just perfect for us. We find it nice to look forward to taking a long break off of our feet and a table service meal is perfect for that.
When we vacation, we go to crush the parks. Quick serve is best for our family as we can eat and go. There are plenty of nutritious meals to be had and now that there’s an adult beverage included, it really works for us. We live in Canada so we only get down there every 2-3 years. Deciding how often and how much you want to eat will determine what plan works best for you. Bon appetite 🙂
The only Dining Plan that works for me is a “free’ one, and that means I get the rate on the room that I would without it. I’d never do the calorie intake that maxing these plans out require.
Of course, it is the Disney free dining is always the best option, lol