disney tourist blog dining plan

Ultimate Disney Dining Plan Guide for 2024

If you’re using the Disney Dining Plan for your Walt Disney World vacation or are wondering, “is the meal plan worth the money?” We have a ton of resources for evaluating the pros & cons of the divisive DDP. If you do determine buying it is right for you, here are tips & tricks here for getting the most out of it! ( Updated March 20, 2024. )

This collection of posts is our Ultimate Guide to the Disney Dining Plan (DDP). We’ve used the Dining Plan over a dozen times and have also opted not to use it a ton of other times (we pay out of pocket far more often than we use the DDP). We’re neither blind fans of the Disney Dining Plan nor are we opponents of it, and we bring this balanced perspective to our articles covering the DDP.

The Disney Dining Plan can be a good or poor value depending upon how you will use it, and these articles will give you an idea of the best and worst ways to use the Disney Dining Plan from a value perspective, so you’ll know whether it’s for you (if you’ve yet to pull the trigger), or how you should plan on using the Dining Plan if you’ve already booked your Walt Disney World vacation!

With the Disney Dining Plan now back after a 4 year hiatus, it’s time to dust off this guide once again! Unsurprisingly, a lot has changed since Walt Disney World last offered the DDP. For starters, only two tiers are back for 2024: the Quick-Service Disney Dining Plan (QSDDP) and standard or regular Disney Dining Plan (DDP), with the Deluxe Disney Dining Plan (DxDDP) and Disney Dining Plan Plus (DDP+) remaining unavailable… for now .

Second, the return of the DDP has thrown us more value-for-money curveballs, as 2024 Disney Dining Plan prices for kids have  decreased  while adult prices have  increased . This is most pronounced when it comes to the regular tier, which is likely due to inflation and rising menu prices for table service restaurants. (If you’re already looking forward to next year, there are also already 2025 Disney Dining Plan Price Increases , albeit minor and below the rate of inflation.)

Beyond that, there’s a lot that has changed. For example, our lists of the best uses of credits have all changed fairly dramatically. This is the result of menus changing, meal services ending, certain spots closing completely, new ones opening, and some character meals now requiring 2-credits instead of just one.

Suffice to say, if you last used the Disney Dining Plan back in 2019 or earlier, you might need a bit of a refresher, as a lot has changed. From the obvious of prices to what’s included/excluded and the restaurants and snack spots that are best on the 2024 Disney Dining Plan…

Top Disney Dining Plan Resources

2024 Disney Dining Plan Overview, Info and Pros & Cons – Here’s all the information you need to know about the various versions of the Disney Dining Plan, including prices and what the various plans include. We also share our review of the Disney Dining Plan, and whether we think it’s worth the money. (It certainly isn’t for everyone–not even when it’s “free.” )

Full List of Restaurants on the 2024 Disney Dining Plan – Walt Disney World has released the list of participating locations for the 2024 Disney Dining Plan far earlier than normal, and this covers all of the counter service and table service restaurants that will accept both tiers of the DDP. This also covers what’s currently  missing,  including several high-profile spots like California Grill and Space 220!

Walt Disney World Restaurant Reviews – Not all Disney restaurants were created equal. While none are so bad that they have rodents in the kitchen ( as long as you don’t count Chef Mickey’s! ), some Disney restaurants are surprisingly bad…and some are surprisingly good!

Read our thoughts and opinions on each restaurant, as we give you some ideas as to our favorite restaurants and least favorite restaurants, and why we like or dislike particular restaurants. Just don’t read these on an empty stomach, as there are lots of mouth-watering photos in the reviews!

Top 10 Table Service Credit Uses on the 2024 Disney Dining Plan – The alternate name for this article is “Best Value=Order STEAK!” And really, that title would be all you need. Actually, it’s a bit more nuanced than that. This article ranks the top 10 table service restaurants at Walt Disney World in terms of objective value on the Disney Dining Plan.

In other words, we examined the menus of all Walt Disney World table service restaurants and listed the 10 that are the most expensive (and thereby offer the most “bang for your buck” on the Disney Dining Plan, objectively speaking). In addition to spots with steak, you’ll find multiple character dining experiences on this list.

Best Uses of Snack Credit on the 2024 Disney Dining Plan – That bottle of water or that banana you might spontaneously want? Bad uses of snack credits if you care about bang for your buck. Find out what items are a good use of snack credits. (Most of them are not nearly as healthy as that water or the banana…but they sure do taste better!)

Best Counter Service Credit Uses on the Disney Dining Plan – Thanks to some high priced combos and restaurants that serve expensive desserts, there are a lot of ways to maximize your counter service credit on the Disney Dining Plan, too. Some of these more expensive meals are even big enough to split, meaning that you can do breakfast, lunch, and dinner on the Disney Dining Plan if you use credits effectively!

Worst Uses of Snack Credits on the Disney Dining Plan – Same idea as above, but with the tips for avoiding common pitfalls in terms of snack usage. (Seriously, it’s easy to “misuse” snack credits, scramble at the end of your vacation, and totally waste snack credits–when you could’ve been using them wisely all along!)

Best Character Meals on the Disney Dining Plan – Just like the “Maximizing” articles listed above, except for character meals. Although this list is objective, in our experience, these are some of the better quality character meals at Walt Disney World, too. It does stand to reason that restaurants costing more would serve better food, so this shouldn’t be too surprising.

Disney Dining Plan vs. Paying Out of Pocket – Here we breakdown our dining costs from one trip where we paid out of pocket and compared that to what we would have paid on the Disney Dining Plan. This post also includes a comparison of paying out of pocket to Free Dining, and explains why Free Dining isn’t really “free.”

When You Should Buy & Skip the 2024 Disney Dining Plan! – Way too many Walt Disney World view the Disney Dining Plan in black and white terms, treating it as “good” or “bad.” As with many things, there’s actually much more nuance. Here are the circumstances where it’s advantageous and disadvantageous, so you can get a rough idea of whether it’s right for you based upon your party’s preferences, ages and appetites, where you plan to eat, and much more.

Free Dining Discount at WDW

“Free Dining” Dates & 2024 Predictions – Not currently available for the general public to book this year anymore, Free Dining will probably  return for a second wave in 2024. This post tracks rumors about Free Dining’s release date and other info about this incredibly popular promotion that offers the Free Disney Dining Plan for Walt Disney World vacation packages for eligible guests.

2024 Free Dining at Disney World FAQ – Although it’s not currently available, this answers all of the questions that readers had about the first wave of 2024 Free Dining. Lots of this will be applicable to the likely second wave in 2024, or even 2025. Easily digestible in Q&A format, too.

“ Is Free Dining Worth It? ” – When it comes to Free Dining, doing the math is incredibly important–and we break things down here. Other discounts (such as a room-only discount) might be better for your family. Remember, there is no such thing as a free lunch ; you have forfeit an alternate discount to qualify for Free Dining.

Best Walt Disney World Hotels for Free Dining – Our hotel recommendations for each resort tier that participates in Free Dining. This is based upon our preferred resorts at Walt Disney World, plus the options that will save you the most money.

Top 10 Restaurants for Free Dining – A combination of the best and most popular Walt Disney World restaurants that you’ll want to book as early as possible during Free Dining “season.”

If you need personalized help with planning any aspect of your vacation including the Disney Dining Plan, or want someone to watch for the Free Dining promotion for you and book it once it’s available—we recommend contacting a no fee “Authorized Disney Vacation Planner” (Disney’s term for a travel agent) to get a quote and to help you plan. They get their commission from Disney, so none of the authorized (key word) planners will charge you for booking their trip and helping. Here’s one such recommended Authorized Disney Vacation Planner .

Planning a Walt Disney World trip? Learn about hotels on our Walt Disney World Hotels Reviews page. For where to eat, read our Walt Disney World Restaurant Reviews . To save money on tickets or determine which type to buy, read our Tips for Saving Money on Walt Disney World Tickets post. Our What to Pack for Disney Trips post takes a unique look at clever items to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Ride Guides will help. For comprehensive advice, the best place to start is our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide for everything you need to know!

Your Thoughts

Is the Disney Dining Plan a good value for your family? If you use the Disney Dining Plan, how do you maximize your savings and enjoyment of eating at Disney while on the Dining Plan? Do you agree or disagree with our advice? Any questions we can help you answer? Hearing your feedback–even when you disagree with us–is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!

Written by Tom Bricker

I liked how you mentioned that some of the meals are so big that they can be split, thus saving some of your dining tickets for later. My family is thinking about going to Disneyland next year, and we want to have all the meals planned before we get there. This would be a good article to refer to while we are planning our dining options.

I called Disney today to find out about Chef de France accepting the dining plan. She told me they do accept it but it takes 2 credits. Has anyone done this recently? Trying to figure out if we need to change reservations next week. Thanks!

Any updates for quick service. We leave in a few weeks and the only 2…that’s right 2 restaurants have quick service. You had mentioned something before about contracts not complete yet. Is this still true?

The 2 things that catch me off guard with the dining plan are that it is per night so inevitably we are short one meal. The other is the tip. The tip amounts can be huge at certain places so one must budget for this and the whole idea at least to me is that with the dining plan you’re not supposed to have to worry or stress at all. On another note, 2 snacks is sometimes too much. I wish one of those snacks per day could be cashed into a meal somehow say 4 snacks convert to one meal for example.

Epcot almost always has some kind of Festival with food booths open. We use a bundle of snack credits to replace a meal on our Epcot day.

This year there’s 4 of us. We have 8 snack credits for that day, plus whatever we accumulate from other days. We’ll have more than enough credits to share around the World Showcase and it works out awesome 😀 We get to save a meal credit and really explore all of the festival options without wallet panic. It’s become one of the highlights in our trips. It’s also one of the best values because many Food Booth items are $7-$9.

This is a very useful post, i just have a doubt, I hope you can elo mne. I’m not sure if i can use my TS for the vip experiences,(like HS for the fantasmic showthe vip experience that includes diner in one of 3 restaurants and then a VIP pass for the show.) I read in the oficial page that two of the participant restaurants require 1 TS , and the other 2TS (in case of the fantasmic experience) but i’m not sure if i can reserve the experience to have the vip pass using my dining plan credits. Thanks!

My life is back!!! After 8 years of marriage, my husband left me with our three children. I felt like my life was about to end,and was falling apart. Thanks to a spell caster called Dr Mack who i met online. On one faithful day, as I was browsing through the internet, I was searching for a good spell caster that can solve my problems. I came across series of testimonies about this particular spell caster. Some people testified that he brought their Ex lover back, some testified that he restores womb, some testified that he can cast a spell to stop divorce and so on. There was one particular testimony I saw, it was about a woman called Grace,she testified about how Dr Mack brought back her Ex lover in less than 72 hours and at the end of her testimony she drop Dr Mack e-mail address. After reading all these,I decided to give a try. I contacted him via email and explained my problems to him. In just 3 days, my husband came back to me. We solved our issues, and we are even happier than before. Dr Mack is really a talented and gifted man and i will not stop publishing him because he is a wonderful man…If you have a problem and you are looking for a real and genuine spell caster to solve that problem for you. Try Dr Mack today, he might be the answer to your problems. Here’s his contact: Contact him for the following: Email; dr_mack@ yahoo. com …………❤

I have always thought it was impossible for me to get a boyfriend of my own being a guy myself but after i met Dr Ojoka my life change for the better and the peron i use to have a crush on he helped me perform a spell[ritual} that made him fall in love with me and since then for the first time in my life i an finally happy and begin to feel like i belong to this world to also get help from this great man email at dr.ojokaspelltemple@gmail. com or WhatsApp him +2348144172934 and let him help you get your relationship back or make someone fall in love with you no matter the gender.There is hope for us after all no matter how the world may see us or look at us do not be shy try him today and let your life change for the better Beware Of Scams

This Forum is Disney, not Dr Phil.

We love the free dining plan promo Will be sad if they stop offering this. We have never had a room discount option available to us for when we go (usually November). We always stay at value resorts. If there was a discount offer and it was 20% off a room rate of $150/night in a value resort room that would only save us $30/night. We definately would spend a lot more than $30 per night on quick service meals and snacks and drinks each day for 2 of us. I think we could easily spend double that (plus buy the occasional table service meal) so the free QS Dining always saves us a lot of money. Maybe it depends on your vacation spending budget, where you stay, how you spend your time and how many table service or character meals you plan on doing. If you’re on a tight budget and staying at a value resort I dont think it can be anything but a money saving bonus if you can score the free dining. We are usually busy enjoying our time in the parks and quick meals that dont need reservations work better for us. We do some occasional table service meals but not usually any character meals as no little kids in our group anymore. Free QS Dining plan is convenient and a better $ deal for us than a room discount.

I’ve seen this idea posted elsewhere but would love to hear from someone with real world experience. I’m traveling with my family (7 adults, 2 children) later this year. We have 3 rooms. I was planning to get the DDP for my room (2 adults, 2 children) and just use all of those table service credits (12 per day) to pay for our breakfast and dinners each day (all reserved tables service meals) and then handle lunch out of pocket. Does this make sense? Am I correct that we will be able to share all of the table service credits amongst the entire group? I’ve read that all of the credits just get lumped together in one pot and I can just pay for all of the meals from my credits. Thanks!

It is correct that they are lumped together and you can use as many as you would like at a time. The amount of food you receive is insane. With sitdown meals you receive your entrée, drink and dessert. We found that we planned early lunches and later dinners and had the snack credits in-between. We never felt hungry and at the end of the trip still had snack credits left. Many of the snack credits can be used for hearty items like large soft pretzels, chicken fried rice, and many food items in epcot. Your theory does make sense, maybe just test it on the first day and see if you really need to have lunch. We also had an amazon pantry box delivered to our resort with muffins, poptarts, bottled waters and juice that we used for “breakfast” to tide us over. Hope this helps!

We spent 5 days and 4 nights at Disney for 2 adults and 2 children using the free Disney Dining plan staying at the Caribbean Beach Resort. We used all the snack credits for us 4 and each table service and quick service meals. The unfortunate situation we did not know, the Disney Dining plan did not cover meals for the last day of our trip. We received a $225 Disney gift card for staying at the resort because of construction. That paid for our meal at a signature restaurant in Canada pavilion and some extra snacks the last day. We paid for 1 meal out of pocket during our last stay there and did not cost us a fortune.

The snack credits were more then enough. We had 4 snack credits on the last day and used them up. You can convert the unused table service and quick service meals to snack credits and extend the dining plan to the last day if you need to. I would always try to book a trip in advance and modify my vacation to add the free Disney Dining plan. It will always save me $1,500 or more for food costs.

My boyfriend and I will ONLY do the Deluxe Dining plan. We are foodies so we love to go out to the restaurants where you have to use 2 sit down meals for each person. We find it worth it every time! If we don’t use the 2 snacks each day, at the end of our trip we will pick up souvenirs for friends and family (mickey shaped Rice Krispies) or pick up snacks to eat at the airport (Chips etc.). On the contrary we love to eat so we MAKE SURE we use all of our Meal & Snack credits. From the Disney Dining Plan to the Deluxe was only 40$ more a person per day (we calculated it out). It makes our trip so much less stressful realizing we can eat wherever we want. (Just for the record, we are both healthy people, we just LOVE the food options at Disney World!

Where are the Mickey shaped rice krispie treats?

I used the Disney Dining Plan back in August for the first time.

Family of 4: Mom & Dad, 4 yo and a 2 yo.

We could not of been happier with the standard dining plan. With all the hustling around we did, we never really worried about breakfast other than buying yogurts/bagels/bananas. However almost every meal we had was a character meal. We made a shorter trip this time with only 5 nights, 6 days.

We hit up: Crystal Palace Be Our Guest Dinner Chef Mickey T-Rex Restaurant Hollywood & Vine

Each of these places would normally have charged $50-65 per adult $30-40 per child. The one quick service we had that is a must if you can book it is Be Our Guest Lunch which is a steal!

In any case, outside a big lunch we spent money on the day we arrived, the only cash we spent in the parks on food was tips and the occasional beer at Disney Springs and Be Our Guest. I can’t tell you how great it worked out.

The DDP we always get the Deluxe plan and love it, of course we are foodies 🙂 We also save a lot as we are also big steak eaters. All in all we usually save a little over 1,000.00 this way and we have what we want.

Hi Tom, My family and I (5 adults & 2 children -now aged 11) have been going to Disney every year – 18 months and have always used the Deluxe dining plan. I have carefully saved all our receipts and did the cost comparison at the end of the trip. The very least I saved using this plan was $500+. The first year we made the mistake of trying to eat 3 table service meals a day. In addition to being way too much food, it took away from our time and it seemed like we were always rushing from one meal to another. Switch tactics – we now do a character breakfast early each morning. This lets us start the day full, the kids get to meet a variety of characters in a relaxed setting allowing us to skip many of the character lines in the park. Dinner is usually around 5:30 – we are totally ready to sit down and relax a little, Our splurge for the missed lunches are several of our favorite signature dining reservations: Le Cellier, Contemporary Grill, and this year we are trying Tiffins. I know that most sites discourage this as it does not give you the best bang for your buck, but our group – including the kids, typically choose the higher priced options and so it makes it worth it or at the least we break even. If we get hungry there are still lunches we can split and snacks. It keeps us full and on the move. Guests should be aware if you are a party of 6 or more that Disney adds and automatic 18% gratuity to the bill. I did not realize this at first until one of the waiters pointed it out.

Not to sound stupid but, do you know if the “discount room rates” applies to military too? I mean it is a discount but just double checking.

Did you mean for the Free Dining Plan? I believe it does, basically Disney wants you to pay full rate for getting the free dining. However, I have found that we can often get great military rates on resort stays and then add on the dining package of your choice. It is usually about the same price and sometimes even cheaper. For example, we got the Boardwalk Inn and Resort with club level and quick service dining plan with the military discount for far cheaper than opting to use the regular Disney rate.

Stay at Shades of Green, your room rate is based on your military rank.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Notify me of follow-up comments by email.

Notify me of new posts by email.

Disney Dining Plan

Experience classic dining options at both Quick-Service and Table-Service restaurants—including Character dining locations. This option allows you to easily plan your meals: Quick-Service when you’re on the go and Table-Service when you’re ready to savor the moment.

View a list of dining experiences that participate in the Disney Dining Plan.

Dining Plan Highlights

Everyone in the party ages 3 and over receives the following during their package stay:

• 1 Quick-Service Meal Per Night of Stay*
• 1 Table-Service Meal Per Night of Stay*
• 1 Snack or Nonalcoholic Beverage Per Night of Stay*
• 1 Resort-Refillable Mug**

For example, if you book a 4-night package with a Disney Dining Plan, each Guest (ages 3 and up) in your party would receive 4 Table-Service meals, 4 Quick-Service meals and 4 snacks or nonalcoholic beverages—which can be used at any time during your 4-night stay.

Important Information

• Beverages are included with each meal. Guests under 21 years of age may choose from a variety of nonalcoholic beverages. Guests 21 and older with valid identification may substitute for beer, wine and cocktails.
• Reservations at Table-Service restaurants are highly recommended and are subject to availability.
• Guests ages 3 to 9 must order from a children’s menu, where available.
• Plan must be purchased for the entire length of stay and for the entire party (ages 3 and up).
• Meals are nontransferable between party members and expire at midnight on day of checkout.

* Specific number of meals and snacks are determined by the number of nights included in the package stay. You can redeem your meals and snacks any day during your stay, until the number associated with your package has been depleted. All unused meals and snacks and the ability to use your refillable mug expire at midnight on your package reservation checkout date.

** Resort-refillable mugs are eligible for refills from self-service beverage islands at any Disney Resort hotel Quick-Service location.

What’s Included

• 1 Nonalcoholic Beverage (or Alcoholic Beverage, for Guests 21 and older)

Table-Service Meal Meals redeemed at breakfast will include:

• 1 Buffet or Family-Style Meal

Meals redeemed at brunch, lunch or dinner will include:

Alcoholic Beverages

Guests 21 and older may choose either one nonalcoholic beverage or one-single serving mixed cocktail, beer or wine (where offered) as part of their meal. 

A single-serving alcoholic beverage includes items such as:

• Beer or Cider
• Wine or Sangria
• Mixed Drinks and Specialty Cocktails

Nonalcoholic Beverages Guests 10 years of age and older can choose one nonalcoholic beverage (including specialty beverages where offered) as part of their meal.

A single-serving nonalcoholic beverage includes items such as:

• Fresh Smoothies
• Premium Hot Chocolate
• Soda, Coffee or Tea

Snacks At Quick-Service restaurants, most Outdoor Carts and select merchandise locations, snacks may include a single serving of items such as:

• Frozen ice cream novelty, popsicle or fruit bar
• 2 scoops of hand-scooped ice cream
• Popcorn scoop (single-serving box)
• Piece of whole fruit
• Single-serve bag of snacks
• 20-ounce bottle of Coca-Cola® products, including Dasani® water
• 20-ounce fountain soft drink
• Single-serve coffee, hot chocolate, hot tea, milk or juice
• Cup of soup
• Add on toppings or sauces (e.g. side of cheese dipping sauce)

What's Not Included

• Items that are more than a single serving (such as a box of doughnuts or a jar of peanut butter)
• Items (such as popcorn or drinks) that are served in a souvenir container
• Items considered to be merchandise (such as bottle toppers, glow cubes and bottle straps)
• Special dining events offered at certain Table-Service locations

Other Magical Dining Experiences to Redeem Table-Service Meals

Character Dining Dine with some of your favorite Disney Characters! Have your camera ready for this experience that adds a little extra magic to your Table-Service meal.

Two Table-Service meals will be redeemed from the dining plan for each person dining at:

• Fairytale Dining at Cinderella’s Royal Table
• Princess Storybook Dining at Akershus Royal Banquet Hall (at lunch and dinner only)
• Story Book Dining at Artist Point with Snow White

Merchandise or photo imaging products that may be offered for sale at Character Dining experiences are not included. Gratuities are not included unless otherwise noted.

Fine/Signature Dining Restaurants Experience an elegant Table-Service option with a wide selection of cuisines ranging from traditional African, Indian and Mediterranean to premium steaks and fresh seafood.

Each meal from a Fine/Signature Dining restaurant on the Disney Dining Plan includes:

Two Table-Service meals will be redeemed from the dining plan for each person dining at a Fine/Signature Dining experience.

Signature Dining restaurants offer fine dining with a distinctly magical flair. Guests are expected to dress accordingly in attire that respects the restaurant's sophisticated and upscale aesthetic. Clothing should be clean, neat and in good condition. Please, no swimwear.

Dinner at Be Our Guest Restaurant Be Our Guest Restaurant requires 2 Table-Service meals to be exchanged for a single dining experience.

Dinner Shows Enjoy family-style dining with live entertainment at a themed dinner show. All dinner shows require advance reservations.

Two Table-Service meals will be redeemed from the dining plan for each person dining at a dinner show experience.

Private In-Room Dining When staying at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, indulge in the comfort and convenience of dining in your room.

Each private in-room dining meal on the Disney Dining Plan includes:

• 1 Dessert (lunch and dinner)

For private in-room dining, 2 Table-Service meals will be redeemed from the dining plan for each person dining.

Pizza Pickup Stop by select Quick-Service locations to pick up a pizza meal, which includes:

• 1 Large Pizza
• 2 Single-serving Nonalcoholic Beverages (or Alcoholic Beverages, for Guests 21 and older)

Two Quick-Service meals will be redeemed for each Pizza Pick-up meal. Valid at Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort, Disney’s All-Star Music Resort, Disney's All-Star Sports Resort, Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, Disney’s Pop Century Resort, Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter and Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside.

How to Get a Dining Plan

How to use your dining plan.

Simply present your valid Disney Resort ID (MagicBand, Disney MagicMobile pass or Key to the World card) to your server or cashier at participating restaurants .

For special dietary requests , Guests should note them at the time of booking their dining reservations. Guests may also speak with a chef or manager upon arrival at the dining location.

If you’re dining with another party that’s also on a dining plan, please notify the server or cashier which meals should be redeemed on each valid Disney Resort ID.

You can redeem your meals and snacks in any order during your stay, until the number of meals and snacks associated with your package has been depleted. All unused meals and snacks and the ability to use your Resort-refillable mug expire at midnight on your package reservation checkout date.

Explore dining experiences available for booking during your vacation.

How to Keep Track

Your dining plan usage is electronically linked to your reservation. Keep track of your remaining meals and snacks in 3 ways:

• View your remaining meals and snacks in the My Disney Experience app.
• Check your dining receipts. Remaining meals and snacks are printed on them.
• Ask your Resort Concierge or Guest Relations to obtain them at any time.

As a reminder, unused meals and snacks will roll over day to day and expire at midnight on day of checkout.

Reservations

Advance reservations for Table-Service restaurants—including Character Dining and Fine/Signature Dining—are strongly encouraged; advance reservations are required for dinner shows.

Make dining reservations online or via the My Disney Experience app .

An accepted major credit card guarantee is required for reservations at certain locations. A per-person cancellation charge may apply for reservations cancelled within 2 hours of the reservation time (cancellation charge varies by location). Advance reservations are highly recommended. Learn when advance reservations can be made.

• Gratuities are not included, except for the following: Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue and Cinderella’s Royal Table.
• An additional form of payment is needed if you add gratuity and have not provided a credit card at check-in to charge incidentals and other expenses to your room.
• An 18% gratuity will automatically be added to your bill for parties of 6 or more.
• An automatic gratuity charge may also be added to your bill for certain items you order that are not included in the Disney Dining Plan.

Additional Charges

Certain select menu items require payment of an additional amount in addition to redeeming the number of meals required at the location.

Dining plans are unavailable for Guests under the age of 3, but they may share from an adult plate at no extra charge, or an additional meal may be purchased from the menu. The price of the meal will be added to your bill.

• How to buy discount tickets for Disney World
• The five best travel agencies for Disney World
• Disney World Pocket Planner – Free PDF
• Our Go-To Disney World Planning Resources
• How early can you make Disney World dining reservations?
• Easy WDW Dining Reservations
• Hardest to get WDW Dining Reservations
• Guide 2 Disney World Dining Reservations
• The Ultimate Disney World Packing Guide for 2023
• Toddler Packing Guide
• Items To Beat the Heat
• The Best Shoes for WDW
• The Best Weeks to Visit Disney World
• The Best Days to Visit Magic Kingdom
• The Best Days to Visit EPCOT
• The Best Days to Visit Hollywood Studios
• The Best Days to Visit Animal Kingdom
• The Best Magic Kingdom Rides
• Magic Kingdom Motion Sickness Guide
• Magic Kingdom Toddler Guide
• Magic Kingdom Dining Guide
• Magic Kingdom Table Service Restaurants Ranked
• Magic Kingdom Menus
• Magic Kingdom Tips
• Magic Kingdom Lightning Lane Guide
• Tron Virtual Queue Guide
• The Best EPCOT Rides and Attractions
• EPCOT Toddler Guide
• EPCOT Motion Sickness Guide
• EPCOT Dining Guide
• Epcot Restaurants and Menus
• 2023 EPCOT International Festival of the Arts Guide
• 2023 EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival Guide
• 2023 EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival Guide
• 2023 EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays Guide
• Guide 2 EPCOT Festivals
• Epcot Lightning Lane Guide
• The Best Hollywood Studios Rides & Attractions
• Hollywood Studios Motion Sickness Guide
• Hollywood Studios Toddler Guide
• Hollywood Studios Dining Guide – Best Restaurants, Snacks, and Desserts
• Hollywood Studios Restaurants and Menus
• Hollywood Studios Lightning Lane Guide
• Hollywood Studios Tips
• The Best Animal Kingdom Rides & Attractions
• Animal Kingdom Toddler Guide
• Animal Kindgom Motion Sickness Guide
• Animal Kingdom Restaurants and Menus
• Animal Kingdom Tips & Tricks
• Animal Kingdom Lightning Lane Guide
• 52 Magic Kingdom Tips for 2024
• 53 EPCOT Tips for 2024
• 35 Hollywood Studios Tips for 2024
• 28 Animal Kingdom Tips & Tricks for 2024
• The 175 Best Disney World Tips for 2024
• Disney World Dining Tips & Tricks
• Time Saving Tips at Disney World
• Tips for Taking Kids to Disney World
• The Guide 2 Disney Genie
• Genie+ and Lightning Lane, Explained
• How to Maximize Genie+ Lightning Lane Reservations
• Free Vacation Planning

Breaking Down the 2024 Disney World Dining Plans: Price, Perks, and What's Included

Everything you need to know about the disney dining plan in 2024..

Attention Disney World travelers: get your utensils ready because the Disney Dining Plan is coming back in 2024 ! Starting today, May 31, you can add a Disney Dining Plan onto your WDW vacation package for stays starting January 9, 2024. In this post, Guide2WDW is breaking down the two different Disney Dining Plans and letting you know the price and what each plan includes.

Let’s take a closer look at what’s on the menu, shall we?

Table of Contents

What is the Disney Dining Plan?

First of all, here’s a quick recap of what the Disney Dining Plan entails: Guests at Disney World resorts can pay a per-night fee to add on meal and snack credits that can be redeemed at hundreds of WDW dining locations. While you get a certain number of credits per night of your stay, you have a lot of flexibility in when you can use the credits. You could use four credits on one day and then only one on the next. Or you can be an absolute mad person and try to use every single credit on one day. (We wouldn’t recommend that strategy, but it’s up to you).

There are two flavors of the Disney Dining Plan to choose from: The Quick-Service Dining Plan and the Disney Dining Plan.

The Quick-Service Disney Dining Plan in 2024

If you prefer to not spend too much time (or money) on table service meals, this dining plan is designed for you.

Price per night

• $57.01 – Per Adult
• $23.83 – Per Child (3-9)

What you get

Each person (aged 3 and over) in your party receives the following during their stay:

• 2 Quick-Service Meals Per Night of Stay
• 1 Snack or Nonalcoholic Beverage Per Night of Stay
• 1 Resort-Refillable Mug

The Disney Dining Plan in 2024

If dining at table service restaurants like Skipper Canteen and 50s Prime Time Cafe is a must-do for you, consider getting the Disney Dining Plan. This is very similar to the Quick-Service Dining Plan, but swaps one of the Quick-Service Credits for a Table Service credit, which can be redeemed at table service restaurants where you are served by a waiter.

• $94.28 – Per Adult
• $29.69 – Per Child (3-9)
• 1 Quick-Service Meal Per Night of Stay
• 1 Table-Service Meal Per Night of Stay

Just keep in mind that some dining locations will charge 2 table-service credits for your sit down meal. I go into further detail below.

Disney Dining Plan in 2024 FAQ

What’s included in a quick-service meal.

A Quick-Service Meal includes an entrée and your choice of nonalcoholic beverage, or if you’re over 21, you can swap for a beer, wine, or cocktail.

What’s included in a Table Service Meal?

If you are dining at a regular table service restaurant, what’s included depends on the meal.

For breakfast, you get:

• 1 Nonalcoholic Beverage (or Alcoholic Beverage, for Guests 21 and older)

For lunch and dinner, you get:

If you are dining at a buffet or family style restaurant like Roundup BBQ in Hollywood Studios, each guest gets:

• 1 Full Buffet (prix-fixe) or Family-Style Meal (prix-fixe)

What locations charge 2 Dining Credits at Disney World?

As I mentioned above, certain special dining experiences will charge more than one credit per meal. Here’s a breakdown of which restaurants require 2 Dining Credits.

• Princess Character Dining at Cinderella’s Royal Table, Akershus, and Artist Point costs 2 Table Service Credits
• Fine/Signature Dining Restaurants like California Grill and Le Cellier cost 2 Table Service Credits
• Dinner at Be Our Guest costs 2 Table Service Credits
• Dinner Shows like Hoop-Di-Do Revue cost 2 Table Service Credits
• Private in-room dining at the Grand Floridian costs 2 Table Service Credits
• Pizza Pickup at certain resorts costs 2 Quick-Service Credits. These meals include 1 Large Pizza and 2 Single-serving Nonalcoholic Beverages (or Alcoholic Beverages, for Guests 21 and older). This is available at Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort, Disney’s All-Star Music Resort, Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort, Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, Disney’s Pop Century Resort, Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter and Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside.

Is tip included in the Disney Dining Plan?

No! Gratuity is not included in the Disney Dining Plan, except for at dinner shows and Cinderella’s Royal Table.

What is considered a snack in the Disney Dining Plan?

Here’s Disney’s definition of a snack in the Disney Dining Plan:

At Quick-Service restaurants, most Outdoor Carts and select merchandise locations, snacks may include a single serving of items such as: Frozen ice cream novelty, popsicle or fruit bar 2 scoops of hand-scooped ice cream Popcorn scoop (single-serving box) Piece of whole fruit Single-serve bag of snacks 20-ounce bottle of Coca-Cola® products, including Dasani® water 20-ounce fountain soft drink Single-serve coffee, hot chocolate, hot tea, milk or juice Cup of soup Add on toppings or sauces (e.g. side of cheese dipping sauce)

Disney World Dining Tip: One of our favorite uses of snack credits are at the EPCOT Festival food booths. Each of the small plates counts as one snack credit, and you can save some serious dough on certain items like the Le Cellier Filet at Canada in the EPCOT Food & Wine Festival.

Where can you use the Refillable Mug?

Resort-refillable mugs are “eligible for refills from self-service beverage islands at any Disney Resort hotel Quick-Service location.”

How do I keep track of my dining credits?

You can see how many dining credits remain three different ways:

• Check the My Disney Experience app.
• Look on your dining receipts. Each time you use a dining credit, your receipt will show you how many credits you have remaining.
• Go to the front desk at your resort and ask Guest Services or the Resort Concierge.

How do you sign up for the Disney Dining Plan?

When you purchase a Disney World Resort package, you can choose to add-on a dining plan. As a reminder, the Disney World Dining Plan will be available again for stays starting January 9, 2024. You can start booking those stays on May 31, 2023.

If you work with a travel agent like our friends at Vacationeer , they can hook you up with the best dining plan for your needs.

We want to hear from you!

As always, we’re here to help make your Disney World vacation as magical and stress-free as possible. Check out our free Disney World guides or hundreds of Disney World tips . And if you have any questions about the Disney Dining Plan at Disney World, let us know in the comments!

More from Guide2WDW

September 25, 2023

Magic Kingdom Dining Guide – Best Restaurants, Snacks, and Desserts

Recommendations for table service…

September 21, 2023

The Best Table Service Restaurants at Magic Kingdom – Complete Ranking

Discover the best sit-down meals at…

September 18, 2023

Hollywood Studios Dining Guide – Best Restaurants, Snacks, and Desserts

Where to eat and what to order at…

James Grosch

James is a lifelong Disney Parks fan. While at the parks, he loves finding new details, learning more about Disney World history, and taking pictures. His favorite WDW attractions include Rise of the Resistance, Spaceship Earth, and Tower of Terror. James is a filmmaker and writer based in Atlanta, GA.

Are sides included in the table service meals?

Add comment Cancel reply

Privacy preference center, privacy preferences.

the disney food blog

food IS a theme park

Read the Latest Posts

Looking for something?

Get the dfb newsletter.

STAY CONNECTED

NEW DETAILS ANNOUNCED for the Disney Dining Plan

By Samantha Kendall 8 Comments

Are you ready? Can you even stand the excitement?!

We love Disney food!

The Disney Dining Plan is officially returning next year , and bookings will begin soon ! Disney shared few details when they first announced the comeback, but now we have a better idea of what to expect when our beloved plan finally returns — so let’s dig in!

What Is the Disney Dining Plan?

First, let’s start with a quick Disney Dining Plan 101. Basically, with a Disney Dining Plan , you pay a set amount to get a certain number of “credits” that you use throughout your stay . You can then redeem those credits for snacks, quick service meals, or table service meals (depending on the credit type and plan type).

It’s a way to essentially pre-pay for your Disney meals and make your vacation feel more all-inclusive. Once it’s time to pay for your actual meal in Disney World, you’ll simply use your credit to cover the cost of your food, instead of paying out-of-pocket at that time (since you’ve already paid for the Dining Plan itself).

Did you miss the Disney Dining Plan?

Dining Plans are pre-purchased and added onto a Disney Vacation Package (i.e. you must be staying on a Vacation Package at a Disney-owned-and-operated hotel, and have purchased at least one theme park ticket per person), so that all you have to do when you get to Disney World is head to a restaurant on the list, eat, and scan your MagicBand/card/etc. (Certain specific rules apply for Annual Passholders and Disney Vacation Club members wanting to book a Dining Plan.)

Check out our FULL Disney Dining Plan FAQ page here

The  Disney Dining Plan  will return to Disney World on  January 9th, 2024!  Disney shared that the Dining Plan is coming back for those with hotel stays with a start date of January 9th and we could NOT be more excited. You can book the Disney Dining Plan after May 31st , and we’ve learned a bit more details about what to expect this time around.

The Disney Dining Plan comes in handy!

Both the Quick Service Dining Plan and Standard Dining Plan are returning, so we’ll break the details down by plan.

Why You Definitely SHOULDN’T Buy the Disney Dining Plan

Quick service dining plan.

Everyone in your party ages 3 and up will get the following on the Quick Service plan:

• 2 Quick-Service Meals Per Night of Stay
• 1 Snack or Nonalcoholic Beverage Per Night of Stay
• 1 Resort-Refillable Mug

So, if you book a 4-night package with this plan, each person (ages 3 and up) would get 8 QS meals and 4 snacks or nonalcoholic beverages. Take a look at what’s included below:

Quick Service Meal

Meals redeemed at breakfast, lunch, or dinner will include:

• 1 Nonalcoholic Beverage (or Alcoholic Beverage, for Guests 21 and older)

Full spread from Columbia Harbour House

Alcoholic Beverages

People 21 and older may choose either one nonalcoholic beverage or one-single serving mixed cocktail, beer, or wine (where offered) as part of their meal, including:

• Beer or Cider
• Wine or Sangria
• Mixed Drinks and Specialty Cocktails

Nonalcoholic Beverages

Folks 10 years old and up can choose one nonalcoholic beverage (including specialty beverages where offered) as part of their meal.

• Fresh Smoothies
• Premium Hot Chocolate
• Soda, Coffee, or Tea

81Bay Brewing Co. Horchata Beer

At Quick Service restaurants, most Outdoor Carts and select merchandise locations, snacks may include a single serving of items such as:

• Frozen ice cream novelty, popsicle, or fruit bar
• 2 scoops of hand-scooped ice cream
• Popcorn scoop (single-serving box)
• Piece of whole fruit
• Single-serve bag of snacks
• 20-ounce bottle of Coca-Cola® products, including Dasani® water
• 20-ounce fountain soft drink
• Single-serve coffee, hot chocolate, hot tea, milk, or juice
• Cup of soup
• Add on toppings or sauces (e.g. side of cheese dipping sauce)

What’s NOT Included

• Items that are more than a single serving (such as a box of doughnuts or a jar of peanut butter)
• Items (such as popcorn or drinks) that are served in a souvenir container
• Items considered to be merchandise (such as bottle toppers, glow cubes, and bottle straps)
• Special dining events offered at certain Table Service locations

Mickey Pretzel

Phew, that’s quite a bit. Let’s take a look at the Standard Dining Plan details.

Why You Definitely SHOULD Buy the Disney Dining Plan

Standard dining plan.

Much of the details are the same for this plan, but it’s geared toward Table Service restaurants instead. Everyone in your party ages 3 and up gets the following during their stay:

• 1 Quick Service Meal Per Night of Stay
• 1 Table Service Meal Per Night of Stay

So in this case, if you were to book a 4-night stay and purchase this Dining Plan option, each person in your party (ages 3 and up) would get 4 TS meals, 4 QS meals, and 4 snacks or nonalcoholic beverages to be used any time during your stay. Here’s what’s included:

Quick Service

Eats from Cookes of Dublin

Table Service

Meals redeemed at breakfast will include:

• 1 Full Buffet (prix-fixe) or Family-Style Meal (prix-fixe)

Meals redeemed at brunch, lunch, or dinner will include:

• 1 Full Buffet (If Available) or Family-Style Meal

Full spread at Narcoossee’s upon reopening

ooh, the color!

The Dining Plan Is Finally Coming Back!

Other dining experiences, character dining.

Two Table Service meals will be redeemed from the dining plan for each person dining at:

• Fairytale Dining at Cinderella’s Royal Table
• Princess Storybook Dining at Akershus Royal Banquet Hall (at lunch and dinner only)
• Story Book Dining at Artist Point with Snow White

Dinner at Be Our Guest

Be Our Guest Restaurant requires 2 Table Service meals to be exchanged for a single dining experience.

Beast greeting guests at Be Our Guest

Fine/Signature Dining

Each meal from a Fine/Signature Dining restaurant on the Disney Dining Plan includes:

Two Table Service meals will be redeemed from the dining plan for each person dining at a Fine/Signature Dining experience.

Dinner Shows

Two Table Service meals will be redeemed from the dining plan for each person dining at a dinner show experience.

Hoop Dee Doo Musical Revue

In-Room Dining

Right now, In-Room Dining (room service) is only available at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. But, you can still use the DDP when dining in your room. Each private in-room dining meal on the Disney Dining Plan includes:

• 1 Dessert (lunch and dinner)

For private in-room dining, 2 Table Service meals will be redeemed from the dining plan for each person dining.

Pizza Pickup

Another option for in-room dining at various resorts is Pizza Pickup from select Quick Service spots, and it looks like you’ll be able to snag some ‘za with the Dining Plan too. You can stop by select Quick Service locations to pick up a pizza meal, which includes:

• 1 Large Pizza
• 2 Single-serving Nonalcoholic Beverages (or Alcoholic Beverages, for Guests 21 and older)

Two Quick Service meals will be redeemed for each Pizza Pickup meal. This is available at Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort, Disney’s All-Star Music Resort, Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort, Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, Disney’s Pop Century Resort, Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter and Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside.

With DOZENS of places to eat at Disney World, we know it can be tough to plan your meals. That’s why we wrote the DFB Guide to Dining at Walt Disney World . We have reviews, pictures, and details about every restaurant all in one digital download – along with ALL of our best tips and strategies from decades of Disney World trips. We’ve got a special discount code for DFB readers, too! Use WDW2023 at checkout for 25% off !

If you’re ready to book the Disney Dining Plan for 2024, hopefully, these details will help you choose which plan might be best for you and your travel party! But, our friends over at Small World Vacations can help you book a trip and the dining plan too!

DON'T DO IT ALONE!

Our favorite people over at Small World Vacations are ready to help you save time, headaches, and best of all, money, when you book your Disney trip or cruise.

So book that trip now, then sit back and enjoy planning your Disney World Trip with a DFB-approved expert! Click here for a no obligation price quote today, and let them know DFB sent you 🙂

GET MORE INFO

No matter what, you can be sure we’ll keep up with the latest news from around Disney World and beyond, so stay tuned to DFB!

Learn More About the Disney Dining Plan Here

Need disney restaurant advice we’ve got everything you need to know, the only disney dining planning tool you’ll need is here – get the dfb guide to walt disney world dining, see our complete disney world restaurants guide, the best magic kingdom restaurants, the best epcot restaurant restaurants, the best restaurants in disney’s hollywood studios, the best restaurants in disney’s animal kingdom, the best disney springs restaurants, the best (and worst) disney world hotel restaurants, check out dozens of disney dining tips and tools, learn all about tipping at disney restaurants, how to use mobile order in disney world, join the dfb newsletter to get all the latest disney food news right in your inbox click here to subscribe.

Will you be booking the dining plan? Tell us in the comments.

TRENDING NOW

This new line of Disney merch is not only affordable but ADORABLE. And truly, that...

We've got a warning about Disney World crowds one weekend in May!

We've never seen THIS pop up on our Disney+ screens before!

Score a deal SOON on Disney gift cards.

We've got a bit of a transportation problem in Disney World right now.

On May 1st, we'll once again see a Disney World restaurant reopen but NOT as...

You're heading to Disney World soon and don't know if you should pack these things?...

Things at a popular Disney Springs restaurant are about to get even BETTER.

Here's why we think it's going to be a busy summer in Disney World.

Universal Orlando just announced the opening date for the brand new DreamWorks Land!

Check out all the menu changes in Disney World this week.

A new expansion and coaster is coming to Shanghai Disneyland!

A refurbishment is on the way for a popular Disney World hotel -- get the...

This is NOT A DRILL! Disney just announced a NEW opening timeline for Tiana's Bayou...

These houses near Disney World will be in our dreams later, we just know it.

Heading to Animal Kingdom later this year? These are the dates we DON'T recommend!

Calling all Disney tiki mug collectors! There are four NEW mugs available online now, and...

Disney just dropped the first trailer for the upcoming 'Mufasa: The Lion King' movie!

We're here with the TOP restaurants from Disney Springs! Find out where you'll find the...

THIS is why everyone asks for the BACK row of this popular EPCOT coaster.

May 30, 2023 at 1:04 pm

Please note be our guest will include all 3 courses, not just an entree.

Also gratuities are not included for table service locations!

May 30, 2023 at 5:29 pm

Tables on wonderland??????

May 31, 2023 at 5:17 pm

Can you still trade in a quick service meal for two snacks?

June 1, 2023 at 6:28 am

When it says guests ages 10 and up can have a specialty beverage like a milkshake (non-alcoholic for under 21), what are the beverage options for ages 3-9? I’m assuming this split is due to the child vs adult ticket but I couldn’t find what the beverage options were for anyone aged 3-9.

June 1, 2023 at 2:05 pm

Why is the deluxe dining plan not coming back? There are those of us you enjoy 3 meals a day plus snacks especially those of us who are diabetic and must eat meals to keep blood sugar in acceptable ranges. Our family relied on that option when we planned our trips. Something for Disney executives to think about.

June 13, 2023 at 2:47 pm

If quick service meals can be exchanged for (2 or 3?) snack credits, will cast members know how to do this?

June 14, 2023 at 7:43 am

Jennifer, generally the beverage options on meals for kids under age ten are things like milk, small bottled water, juice box, small soft drink, and so forth. Anything like a milkshake would not be included.

June 14, 2023 at 11:39 am

Hi Kristine! Cast Members will be fully trained on how to handle these kinds of situations as they were in the past.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Notify me of followup comments via e-mail. You can also subscribe without commenting.

CHECK OUT OUR OTHER EBOOKS

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR FEED

Guide To The Disney Dining Plan

V acation mode = vacation food! For many travelers, the best part of taking a trip is experiencing the unique cuisine of their destination. While the phrase "theme park food" might conjure a connotation of gross hot dogs and generic funnel cakes, Walt Disney World's food options are a significant step above its industry's reputation. The Disney Dining Plan provides a convenient way to indulge in Disney's many unique dishes and signature snacks.

The sprawling Walt Disney World property near Orlando, Florida, offers plenty of quality food across its four theme parks, two water parks, over two dozen hotels, and entertainment district. From the international flavors of Epcot's World Showcase pavilions to a royal breakfast inside Cinderella's Castle, there's something to fit every taste, every age group, and every budget.

The Disney Dining Plan is an add-on that guests can attach to their Walt Disney World vacation package. With an allotment of meal credits for every day of the trip, many guests enjoy the Disney Dining Plan's convenience of paying for food up front. It's not quite "all-inclusive," but it's Disney's closest thing to it. How do you get the most of the Disney Dining Plan? Is it worth it in the first place? Let's find out. Please keep your hands and arms inside the ride vehicle at all times.

How Does The Disney Dining Plan Work?

Choose your own adventure between two plans. The first option, simply known as the Disney Dining Plan, comes with credits for one table-service meal, one quick-service meal, and one snack per person, each night of your vacation (the cost for 2024 is $94 per adult each night, $30 per child each night). The second option, the Disney Quick-Service Dining Plan, comes with credits for two quick-service meals and one snack per person, per night ($57 per adult each night, $24 per child each night). Both plans also come with a refillable resort mug (more on that later).

At a "table-service" restaurant, a server shows you to your table, and either a waiter takes your order or you enjoy a buffet. In contrast, at a "quick-service" dining location, you stand in a line to order food at a counter or a cash register, pick it up at a serving window, and seat yourself.

Table-service locations almost always require a reservation, while quick-service spots are walk-ups only. Also of note, the Dining Plan doesn't include gratuity, so plan on tipping your Cast Members at table-service restaurants. Children ages 3-9 are required to eat off the kids' menu, while children ages 2 and under are not eligible for a Dining Plan at all. However, these smaller travelers can eat free at buffets. If you're visiting with little tykes, plan to pay for their food on the go, even if the rest of the family is on a Dining Plan.

Is The Disney Dining Plan Worth It?

The ultimate question! This answer is subjective, but we'll do our best to help you decide. Disney says you'll save up to 20% on your food purchases with a Dining Plan. This is true, but only to a point. A table-service credit qualifies you for an entrée and a drink (or, in many cases, access to a buffet) at a sit-down restaurant. During lunch and dinner, you also get a dessert. A quick-service credit similarly qualifies you for an entrée and a drink at a walk-up location. A snack credit is eligible for quick bites or soda.

If you're already going to eat as much food as the Dining Plan gives you, it's a deal. Otherwise, you're paying for more food than you'll eat. On the flip side, the Disney Dining Plan is a great value if: 1. You typically order full meals on vacation; 2. You plan on frequenting at least one table-service restaurant every day of your trip regardless; or 3. This is a once-in-a-lifetime Disney trip and you'd like to experience as much as you can.

Beyond just the bottom dollar, the ease of paying for (almost) all of your meals before your vacation begins is enough of a selling point for many visitors to justify a Dining Plan, even if the math doesn't actually make it cheaper in the end. There's something to be said for less hassle while on vacation.

Research Menus Before Your Trip — And Make Reservations As Early As Possible

Are you a planner, or do you prefer to wing it? If you're on the Quick-Service Dining Plan and you really don't care where you eat, you can still get by with some degree of spontaneity, since quick-service locations are walk-up. If you're on the higher-tiered Disney Dining Plan, though, you'll need to plan ahead if you want to make the most of your vacation package.

Even if you purchased the Dining Plan upfront when you booked your trip, you still need to actually make dining reservations for each table-service restaurant you'd like to eat at. Guests can book reservations for Walt Disney World table-service restaurants 60 days before their resort check-in date beginning at 6 a.m. Eastern Standard Time, and spots fill up fast. If you wait until the last minute, you'll be left with slim pickings. This guidance goes for any guest, Dining Plan or not. Make those ressies early! You can do so on Disney's website, through the My Disney Experience app , or by calling 407-WDW-DINE.

Here in the digital age, you can peruse menus for each and every restaurant on Disney property on the destination's official website. Once you know which parks you'll be visiting on which days, map out how you'd like to allot your dining credits, table-service and quick-service alike. (When you view the online menus, be sure to select the filter of Dining Plan-eligible locations. It's most places, but better safe than sorry.)

Which Table-Service Restaurants Should You Use Your Dining Credits On?

With a few exceptions (more on those in a sec), most table-service restaurants "cost" the same amount in the eyes of the Disney Dining Plan — one credit. That being said, not all restaurant experiences are equal, financially speaking, when contrasting what each establishment charges guests who aren't on the Dining Plan. When exploring menus on Disney's website, pay attention to how many "$" symbols are next to each restaurant's name. If you're on the Dining Plan and deciding between two restaurants that both "cost" one credit, you'll be getting a better value for that credit by choosing whichever restaurant has more "$" symbols.

Beyond financial reasoning, you might be looking for restaurants that feel more "Disney" than others. If you prefer dining locations themed with an über-creative atmosphere, consider these table-service options: Be Our Guest at Magic Kingdom (inside the Beast's castle), Roundup Rodeo BBQ in Toy Story Land at Disney's Hollywood Studios, Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater at Disney's Hollywood Studios (the dining room is set up like a drive-in movie), or any character meal.

Speaking of characters, you can filter the menu selection on Disney's website to just show character dining. Our favorite character meal? Garden Grill at Epcot. The atmosphere is super chill, the unlimited food is locally grown, and the fun lineup of characters includes Chip, Dale, Pluto, and Mickey Mouse himself.

Some Table-Service Restaurants Cost Double-Credit

A handful of table-service eateries require two credits on the Disney Dining Plan. Since the Plan grants one table-service credit per night of your vacation, this means that if you dine at a double-credit location, you'll have one less table-service credit allotted elsewhere during your trip.

Restaurants in the double-credit category are typically premium experiences in one way or another. A few examples of locations costing two credits: Cinderella's Royal Table at Magic Kingdom (makes sense; it's inside Cinderella's Castle and you dine with the Disney Princesses), as well as restaurants that one might consider " fine dining " with a more formal atmosphere than traditional Disney fare (like Tiffins at Disney's Animal Kingdom).

Like many decisions on a Disney vacation, choosing whether to use up two dining credits on a single meal is largely subjective. It all depends on your idea of a dream vacation. That vision will look different for different people. You can check if the dining location you've got your eye on requires two credits by scrolling to the bottom of the eatery's individual page on Disney's website. (Unfortunately, the company doesn't have a handy list of them all.)

Tips For Refillable Mugs

Both the Disney Dining Plan and the Disney Quick-Service Dining Plan come with a refillable mug for every person in your travel party. These plastic cups with handles and lids are good for unlimited non-alcoholic drinks at any Disney resort hotel the length of your vacation. They also double as a great souvenir.

You can fill up your mug inside your resort's food court, where you'll find either a self-serve soda fountain or a Coca-Cola Freestyle machine. Nearby, you can alternatively help yourself to tea, hot chocolate, or Joffrey's coffee. Refillable mugs qualify for drinks at any Disney resort — even those you're not personally staying at — but they don't qualify for drinks inside the theme parks. Keep this in mind, especially in terms of bag space, as you think about when you'd like to bring your mug with you on the go, and when it might be best to leave it in your room.

A plastic cup in and of itself doesn't necessarily scream "Disney," but to us, the ritual of heading to the food court first thing in the morning to fill our mug with coffee — when the sun is first peeking out, and the resort campus is mostly quiet — is an experience as synonymous with a Disney vacation as meeting Mickey. Note: Refillable mugs are included with any Dining Plan, but they're also available for purchase separately by any guest for around $20. These same tips apply for anyone with a refillable mug, not just those using a Dining Plan.

Keeping Track Of Your Credits

You can check your remaining Dining Plan credits in the My Disney Experience app at any time. Additionally, each time you eat somewhere, you can see how many credits you have left at the bottom of your paper receipt.

Credits roll over day to day, so you can plan them strategically if you'd like. In other words, Disney allots you a certain number of meal and snack credits for each night of your vacation, but you can divvy those credits up however you prefer. Since, at their maximum, Disney Dining Plans provide two meals a day, maybe you'd rather use all your credits on three meals per day early in the trip, and then pay out of pocket for all meals on your final days. You can do that. Maybe you're not hungry for a snack today at Magic Kingdom, but tomorrow at Epcot there are two snacks you want to try. You can do that, too. It's up to you!

That being said, credits roll over within your vacation dates, but if you have any leftover credits at the end of the trip, they'll expire at midnight on your last day of vacation (the day you check out of your hotel). If you have leftover snack credits, at the very least make a pitstop by your resort's gift shop and grab some individually packaged items (like crackers or candy) for the road so that your credits don't go to waste.

The Disney Dining Plan Is For Disney Resort Guests Only

Disney only offers the Dining Plan as a vacation package option for guests staying at a Disney resort hotel . At the time of this writing, there is no multi-day dining package for offsite guests and no single-day dining package for daytrippers. We've visited other parks in America that offer all-day dining as an add-on to a one-day ticket. Some parks even offer a season-long dining package for annual passholders. No such program exists at Walt Disney World.

On one hand, it's logical that Disney would want to incentivize guests to stay at one of its own hotels as opposed to taking business elsewhere for overnight accommodations. On the other hand, even if the approach makes sense, it's a bummer that offsite guests don't have any comparable Dining Plan options available.

If having a Dining Plan is top-priority for you, but you also don't want to break the bank with your hotel selection, consider the three most economical resorts within Disney's "value" category: Disney's All-Star Sports Resort, Disney's All-Star Music Resort, and Disney's All-Star Movies Resort. Rates start around $160 per night and increase depending on the day of the week, time of the year, and room location.

What's The Difference Between The Disney Dining Plan And Tables In Wonderland?

Disney lingo can be confusing. Sometimes we feel like we need a dictionary to keep track of the ever-changing terminology. Quick-service? Refillable mug? Genie+ and Lightning Lanes ? What does it all mean? When researching the ins and outs of the Disney Dining Plan, you may come across the phrase "Tables In Wonderland" in various out-of-date resources. Though the term is defunct (for now, at least), it's still worth clarifying, if for no other reason than to emphasize Tables In Wonderland is not interchangeable vocabulary for the Disney Dining Plan if a guide you're reading happens to reference it.

Tables In Wonderland refers to a discontinued program in which Florida residents, Disney Vacation Club Members, and Walt Disney World Annual Passholders could save 20% on dining. In 2022 , a representative from Plan Disney, an official website operated by Disney itself, said, "The beloved Tables In Wonderland has not returned to Walt Disney World Resort at this time. I am sad to report I do not have any updates on the return timeframe of this wonderful program."

While we're on the topic of knee-deep Disney planning, make sure to bookmark our list of underrated Disney experiences to try on your trip.

When Does Disney Offer Free Dining?

Free? Disney? You're not imagining things. Pre-pandemic, Disney annually offered the Dining Plan for free if you booked a resort package on select dates (typically autumn). You might be wondering, "Ok, but what's the catch?" Other than staying at an eligible resort, there's really no catch. "Yeah, but there's gotta be something they're not telling you, right?" Most things that seem too good to be true probably are, but in this case, free dining really does mean free dining.

We took advantage of this glorious deal during a trip with extended family. We practically felt like we won the lottery by bringing 10 people to Disney for five days and eating free food the whole time! We visited restaurants we would've never thought to try without a Dining Plan, and found many new favorites that we returned to in later trips.

Post-pandemic, there's currently no word on when Disney might offer free Dining Plans in the future. However, for as frequently as Disney offered it in the past — literally every year for a decade — we wouldn't be surprised if the company reinstated the free dates sometime after the Dining Plan's big 2024 return settles down.

Ways To Save Money On Disney Food If You're NOT On The Dining Plan

If you think the Disney Dining Plan comes with too much food than you'll be able to eat, or if its cost isn't in your budget, there are other ways to cut costs on Walt Disney World food. For starters, order water as your drink with all meals. Cups of water are free at every dining location. (Besides, your body needs water way more than carbonated soda, especially in the Florida heat.) Also in the beverage realm, if you can't go without soda, you can purchase a refillable mug for about $20 at your resort (see above), even if you're not using the Disney Dining Plan. If you use it enough, the mug will save you some money compared to paying for soda, tea, or coffee individually.

Quick-service restaurants are less expensive than table-service restaurants. Additionally, while the kids menu at some quick-service spots have the standards that you'd expect (chicken nuggets, pizza, etc.), other locations opt for a kids menu simply consisting of smaller portions of the same food on the adult menu. If you tend to eat small meals, this is a great hack. (And you can use it at Satu'li Canteen in Pandora - The World of Avatar, one of the best quick-service hangs in all of Walt Disney World.) You can also plan to use groceries for some meals (see below).

Bringing Food From Home

You're welcome to bring food from home, helping to save money and/or supplement that third meal each day that the Dining Plan doesn't comp. Sometimes a protein bar and some fruit makes for a more practical on-the-go breakfast when you're trying to make it to the parks early anyway.

Disney resort hotel rooms come with a mini-fridge, but be aware that the rooms don't have any other kitchen appliances (with the exception of villas). However, some resorts have a microwave and toaster in their food court that any guest can use themselves.

If you plan on making a stop for groceries on your way into Orlando, most supermarkets in the immediate vicinity of Disney property are absolute nightmares. Like, horror stories . Our go-to is the Publix at Regency Village Shopping Center, near the outlet mall close to Disney Springs. It follows the typical crowd patterns of any given grocery store around the country. Read: you won't feel the need to scream into a pillow when you get back to your car, as would be the case if you visited the always-freakishly-busy-even-in-the-dead-of-night Wal-Mart on Vineland Road. Additionally, an up-and-coming area known as Flamingo Crossings is located immediately off the western side of Disney property. It will likely boom into a more touristy district in the future as it continues to develop, but for now, its Target is relatively low-key. And then, of course, there's always Instacart or similar grocery delivery services.

Read this next: Tips For Spending Less On Food When Traveling

• Disney.co.uk
• Manage My Booking
• Sign Up for Offers
• English (UK)

Disney Dining Plans

Free Disney Dining & Drinks in 2025!

Book a Hotel & Ticket package by 7th November 2024 for selected arrivals between 7th January - 17th December 2025 and you'll enjoy FREE Disney Dining & Drinks and so much more when staying at selected Disney Resort hotels. Available during most school holidays , you can reserve this amazing holiday package from as little as £50 deposit per person.

Dining plans are back on the menu at Walt Disney World Resort! You can add a dining plan to Walt Disney Travel Company packages that include a Disney Resort hotel stay.

Looking for a great value way to budget for meals without compromising on quality , flexibility or choice ? Enjoy peace of mind with prepaid meals and snacks when you add a dining plan to your Walt Disney World holiday!

There are more than 170 locations to dine at throughout our Disney Resort hotels, theme parks and selected locations at Disney Springs. So there's something to delight nearly every taste!

Exclusively available to Disney Resort hotel Guests , choose from either the Disney Quick-Service Dining Plan or the Disney Dining Plan as part of your Walt Disney Travel Company Package.

How Do Dining Plans Work?

• Your meals and snacks are loaded onto your Disney band or card .
• Touch your Disney band or card to the magic point when making a purchase.
• Your server will give you a receipt showing your updated meal balance.

Want to eat light one day and splurge the next? Not a problem! Meals and snacks can be redeemed at any time during your stay. Unused meals and snacks will roll over day to day and expire at midnight on the reservation checkout date.

Discover the Benefits of the Disney Dining Plans

• Make dining reservations up to 60 days in advance.
• No need to carry cash around.
• Planning and budgeting in advance is simple.
• Enjoy wide variety, from fine dining, to dinner with Characters or healthy choices.

Disney is committed to offering a wide range of options for guests seeking well-balanced meals, as well as those with lifestyle dining requests or special dietary requests . Guests should note dietary requests at the time of reservation, and speak with a manager upon arrival at the dining location.

The dining plans include a wide choice of beverages with each meal. Non-alcoholic drinks include artisanal milkshakes, fresh smoothies, mocktails and of course sodas, coffee and tea . Alternatively, choose an alcoholic drink ‡ , like beer, cider, most wines and speciality cocktails!

Disney Quick-Service Dining Plan

For families on the go, this is a fast and easy meal plan option - especially when you have little ones in tow. Dine at a variety of Quick-Service locations when you’re ready to stop and enjoy a casual meal.

Just order at a counter or register and then find a seat - no dining reservations required.

Available at 90+ locations.

What's Included

Per guest (ages 3 and over), per night of your stay:

• 2 Quick-Service meals
• 1 non-alcoholic/alcoholic drink per meal ‡
• 1 selected snack or drink
• Resort-refillable mug †

Meals and snacks can be redeemed at any time during the stay.

Disney Dining Plan

Want to slow down a little and savour special family moments over sit-down meals - or watch the kids light up during Character Dining? Then the Disney Dining Plan is the perfect choice to experience classic dining options at both Quick-Service and Table-Service restaurants, including Character Dining locations.

This option allows you to easily plan meals around your family's schedule: Quick-Service when you're on the go and Table-Service when you're ready to savour the moment.

Available at 170+ locations.

• 1 Quick-Service meal
• 1 Table-Service meal

How to Purchase a Dining Plan

Purchase a Holiday Package - Choose a Disney Resort Hotel Package that includes a dining plan.

Add to an Existing Reservation - Call to modify your reservation to upgrade to a Disney Resort Hotel Package that includes a dining plan.

Tips to Remember!

• Reservations are recommended! Character Dining and Signature Restaurants book up quickly, but you can make reservations up to 60 days prior to your visit freephone on 0800 169 0748 *
• Quick-Service meals are great for casual dining or pit stops in the parks, while Table-Service meals are perfect when you want to relax over your meal.
• Something to celebrate? For two Table-Service meals per person, you can experience fine dining with a distinctly magical flair at one of the Fine/Signature restaurants. Restrictions apply.
• Snacks are available at Quick-Service restaurants and outdoor food carts throughout the Resort, including drinks, popcorn, ice cream and fresh fruit .
• Dining Plans are not available for guests under the age of 3, but they can share from an adult plate at no charge, or a separate meal may be purchased from the menu.

Terms and conditions apply; click here for details.

§ The saving will be applied at check-out. This offer available until 2nd July 2024, offer with lower saving available until 7th November 2024 for selected arrivals 7th January 2025-17th December 2025. Park Tickets and minimum 5-nights stay required, selected Disney Resorts. Up to £300 saving depending on type of package. Subject to exclusions, stay requirements, availability, changes & conditions. Free Disney Dining & Drinks offer is available for bookings made until 7th November 2024 for selected arrival dates. Full terms and conditions available here

** Products and services are featured and fulfilled within a digital tool that should be downloaded upon arrival in the U.S. and are intended for or available for use in the U.S. only. Currently, the digital tool is only available in English.

Disney Dine Plans provide everyone in the party (ages 3 and over) a specific number of meals and snacks based on the number of nights of a Disney Resort stay. Guests ages 3 to 9 must order from a children's menu, where available. Plan must be purchased for entire length of stay and for the entire party (ages 3 and over). Meals are non-transferable between party members and expire at midnight on the reservation checkout date.

Excludes gratuities. Dining plan locations are subject to change without notice or liability. Dishes shown are indicative of restaurant menus on offer, but availability may vary at time of travel. Dining plan meals and snacks are not sold separately, are nonrefundable, nontransferable and have no cash value. Theme park admission is required for some dining locations. Advance reservations are strongly recommended and may be required at some Table-Service restaurants participating in the dining plan. Operating hours, menus, Characters, entertainment, participating locations, components and terms are subject to change without notice. Dining plan meals and snacks are based on the number of nights of your package stay at your Disney Resort hotel. The owners of the Walt Disney World Resort shall not be responsible for the non-utilization of package components due to refurbishing, capacity, closures, inclement weather or any circumstance beyond their control.

Disney Quick-Service Dining Plan includes: 2 Quick-Service Meals, 1 Selected Snack per person per night's stay and 1 Refillable Resort Mug per person. Disney Dining Plan includes: 1 Quick-Service Meal, 1 Table-Service Meal, 1 Selected Snack per person per night's stay and 1 Refillable Resort Mug per person.

† Refillable mugs are eligible for refills from self-service beverage islands at any Disney Resort hotel Quick-Service location. Mug design shown is indicative and is subject to change.

Gratuities are not included except at dinner shows, private in-room dining, pizza delivery, and Cinderella's Royal Table. An 18% gratuity will automatically be added to the bill for parties of six or more. Certain menu items may incur an additional cost. An additional form of payment is required if gratuities are added and if a credit card as not been provided at check-in for charging incidentals and other expenses. Participating restaurants are subject to change.

Disney Dine Plan entitlements:

Quick-Service Meal includes a choice from any Counter Service Restaurant of one main course and one single-serving beverage. Table-Service Meal includes a choice of one main course, one dessert (except at breakfast) and one single-serving beverage; OR one full buffet and one single-serving beverage.

Snack is a choice of ONE of the following 20oz fountain soft drink, 20oz bottle of soft drink or water, single-serving coffee or hot chocolate or hot tea or milk or juice, popcorn scoop (single serving box), frozen ice cream novelty, popsicle or fruit bar, Mickey pretzel with cheese, funnel cake, single serving bag of snacks, piece of fruit or cup of soup at selected locations.

Number of meals and snacks are determined by the number of nights included in the package stay. Meals and snacks can be redeemed on any day during a stay or in any order until the number associated with the package have been depleted. All unused meals and snacks and the ability to use your refillable mug expire at midnight on the reservation checkout date.

Where "beverage" is included for Table-Service and Quick-Service meals Guests may choose ONE of the following: all canned and bottled single serving non-alcoholic beverages, any size single service fountain soda, all single size non-alcoholic specialty beverages (such as smoothies, milkshakes, frozen coffees, slushes). One beverage per meal. Guests 21 and older may substitute for beer, wine, mixed drink or cocktail. Such selection will include most of the total offering of beer, wine or mixed drink or cocktail available at the location. Some beverages will be excluded. Novelty or souvenir cups are not included.

‡ Florida law permits the sale and service of alcohol products only to persons 21 years of age and older. The operators of the Walt Disney World Resort participate in Florida's Responsible Vendor program, and servers will verify age by requesting acceptable identification. Please note that all persons visiting from outside of the United States are required to present both a valid passport as well as another form of government-issued photo ID from their country of origin.

Close Window

Choose Your Country

United Kingdom (£)

Ireland (€)

Europe (€)

Deutschland (€)

España (€)