Should I buy the Disney Dining Plan? Here’s all you need to know!
We’ll answer that question and share details about that will help you decide if you should buy Disney’s Dining Plan. First, here’s a recent announcement from Disney:
Good news! The Disney dining plan is back! Beginning May, 31st, guests are now able to purchase the Disney Quick Service Dining Plan or the Disney Dining Plan. The plan can be purchased:
- With Walt Disney Travel Company packages that include a Disney World hotel.
- For stays starting on January 9, 2024 and beyond.
Visit Disney’s Dining Plan page here to see current status. We’ll add more details here as they’re released.
On this page we’ll tell you:
- What the Disney Dining plan is (may be subject to change)
- Who can buy it
- How to buy it
- How it’s used
- Pricing and options (see below for pricing info)
- Answers to other commonly asked questions (including tipping on the dining plan)
Keep in mind that all of the above may be subject to change. We’ll keep you updated. You may also want to read this article: Is the Disney Dining Plan Worth the Money?
What is the Disney Dining Plan & how do I “pay” credits?
The Disney Dining Plan allows guests to pre-pay for their food. While at Disney you’ll be given credits to use rather than cash for your food. You’ll pay with your credits using either a MagicBand, Disney MagicMobile Pass, or your Key to the World card.
Who can get the Disney Dining Plan?
You can get the Disney Dining Plan if:
- You’re staying as a Disney Vacation Club member in a DVC resort. You may also be able to get the Disney Dining plan added to your reservation if you’ve rented DVC points from a DVC owner or rental agent.
- You’re booking a Magic Your Way Package. This includes a Disney resort room and theme park tickets. (Read Should I Book a Package or a Room-Only at Disney World? for more information about Disney Magic Your Way Packages). Minimum of 2 days is currently required.
- You’re booking an Annual Passholder Package. This includes a Disney resort room.
The resort you’re staying in must be a Disney-owned and run resort. Swan and Dolphin and Shades of Green do not qualify for the Dining Plan.
Can Children under 3 years old be on the Dining Plan?
Nope. Children under three can not be on the Disney Dining Plan. It’s assumed that they will be eating off your plate, or for infants, that you’ll be bringing baby food. Of course you can buy a children’s meal for your little ones, but you’ll need to pay for it.
How do you get the Disney Dining Plan?
You can only get the Dining plan by going through an authorized Travel Agent, by calling Disney directly or by using Disney World’s website. You will NOT be able to add a Disney Dining Plan to your trip if you booked through sites like Kayak.com, Expedia.com, etc.
If you get the Disney Dining Plan, do you have to buy it for your entire trip?
Yes, if you buy the Disney Dining Plan, you have to have it for every night of your stay. You can not buy it for only some of your stay. However you can use it during your stay any way you want. So for example if you’re leaving Disney property to go somewhere else like Universal on one of your vacation days, you can use the points up on your other days.
When does my Disney Dining Plan stop and start?
Your Disney Dining Plan:
- Starts: On the first day once you’ve checked in.
- Stops: 11:59 PM on the evening of your last day.
If you do an online check-in in advance, your Dining Plan along with your park tickets will automatically be activated early in the morning on your first day.
When can I use my Disney Dining Plan Points?
You’ll receive credits for every night of your stay, and you can use those credits anytime, in any way, from the time your credits start, to the time they end.
Unused meals and snacks will roll over day to day and expire at midnight on day of checkout. You do not have to use a certain amount per day.
So for example, let’s say you’re staying June 1st through June 9th. You’ll be there 8 nights. You will get 8 sets of credits which you can begin using on the morning of June 1st, and you can use them any time between then and 11:59 PM on the evening of June 9th.
Tip: If you have extra points on the last day of your visit, you can buy snacks to take home with you!
How can I check my credit balance on my Dining Plan?
There are three ways to see what you have left on your dining plan:
- You can see your remaining meals and snacks in the My Disney Experience app.
- You can 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.
What options do you get with the Dining Plans?
Guests can choose from a variety of Dining Plans that allow each person in your party to eat at specific types of restaurants, and to have specific types and numbers of meals and snacks each day.
The Dining Plans can include the following:
Snacks: These are all single serving size items that include:
- Frozen ice cream novelty, popsicle or fruit bar
- 2 scoops of hand-scooped ice cream
- Popcorn scoop (single-serving box)
- 12 oz. coffee, hot chocolate, hot tea, milk or juice
- Piece of whole fruit
- Single serve bag of snacks
- 20 oz. bottle of Coca-Cola, Sprite or Dasani water
- 20 oz. fountain soft drink
- Cup of soup
- Add on toppings and sauces (such as a side of cheese dipping sauce)
There are also MANY other items that qualify for snacks like dole whip or bakery items. Some of them are far more expensive and interesting than the ones listed above. For example during the Epcot Festivals like the annual Food & Wine Festival, you can use snack credits at the food and wine booths set up around the lake.
To find food choices that are eligible as snack credits, just look for this image on the right. You’ll see it on menu boards at counter service restaurants, food carts and even some merchandise locations.
When I asked my Disney planning Facebook group what their favorite snack items at Disney are, we got delicious sounding options including the macaroon ice cream sandwich in Epcot’s France Pavilion, candy from the Karamell-Kuche candy store in Epcot’s Germany Pavilion, chocolate bars from Ghirardelli’s in Disney Springs, school bread at Norway’s Pavilion (my personal favorite), sugar free goofy gummies, warm cinnamon bun’s at Gaston’s Tavern (they’re huge), Starbucks drinks, and food and wine at the Food & Wine festival booths.
Here’s an article on the Disney Tourist Blog site that talks about their favorite way to use dining snack credits.
There are snacks are NOT included. That would be items such as:
- Those that are more than a single serving like a box of donuts or jar of peanut butter.
- Items served in a souvenir container, such as the collectable popcorn containers.
- Items considered to be merchandise like glow cubes or bottle toppers.
- Special dining events offered at some table-service locations.
Drinks: These can be alcoholic (if you’re 21 or over) or non-alcoholic. For the alcoholic drinks, they can include one single serving of a mixed cocktail, beer or wine (where it’s offered). For non-alcoholic drinks they can include the following:
- Artisanal Milkshakes
- Fresh Smoothies
- Premium Hot Chocolate
- Soda, Coffee or Tea
Alcoholic beverages can include, beer, cider, wine, sangria, mixted drinks and specialty drinks.
Quick-Service meals: These include only quick-service restaurants. These are restaurants where you order at a register, and pick up your food at the counter.
Table-Service Meals: These are full-service restaurants where you sit down, order and receive service throughout your meal. They can also be used for buffet meals, and for Character Dining experiences. For an extra Table-Service credit you can also eat in Signature Dining restaurants and Dinner Shows.
Refillable Resort Mugs: These mugs are for use at your resort only, and only in certain locations. They’re refillable for the length of your package.
Can children order adult meals?
Disney says that children must order from the children’s menu, where available. When it’s not available, children should be able to order adult meals.
We have heard of cast members offering or allowing adult meals even when children’s meals were available. It doesn’t hurt to ask, but it may depend on the Cast Member.
If your child doesn’t like any of the children’s meals, ask a Cast Member if there are any other options. They may be able to help you.
Some people share their adult meals with their children and use the extra credit for an additional meal. In prior years, quick service meals exchanged for three snack credits. As of 2024, this is no longer allowed.
Can you share meals in order to save credit?
You can share quick service meals, and you should also be able to share table service meals at most table restaurants.
You can NOt share at the following types of restaurants at Disney World:
- Buffet style
- Family style (all you care to eat served at your table)
- prix fixe menu (fixed price all inclusive)
- Character dining
- Special dining reservation packages such as the Fantasmic or Rivers of Light Dining Packages
- Dinner shows
Disney Dining Plans you can choose from:
There are all different levels of Dining Plans. Below are the levels and what they include. The info below is for each night of your package stay, and for everyone in your party who’s over 3 years old (kids 3 years old and younger can eat from your dish at no charge). Prices are subject to change.
Keep in mind that gratuities are not included. If you have 6 or more in your party, Disney will automatically add an 18% gratuity to your bill.
The higher the plan level, the more that’s included. We’ve numbered the levels just to make it easier for you to see which tier the plan falls into, but Disney won’t recognize these level numbers.
Here are the various Disney Dining Plans. Please note that prices are subject to change.
Level 1 – Quick Service Dining Plan (least expensive level)
2024 Quick Service Dining Plan
Cost: Approximately $57 for adults and $24 for children ages 3-9 years old (per each night of your package).
The 2023 Quick Service Dining Plan includes:
- 2 Quick-Service meals per night of stay (includes entrée or complete combo meal and non-alcoholic or alcoholic drink if it’s offered at the location you’re dining in and you’re 21 or older.)
- 1 snack/nonalcoholic drink per night of stay
- 1 resort refillable mug for your length of stay
Two quick-service meals will be redeemed for each Pizza Pick-up at the following Disney resorts: 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.
To see Disney’s official page for the Quick Service Dining Plan, visit here.
Level 2 – Disney Dining Plan
This is a combination of Quick-Service & Table-Service meals.
2024 Disney Dining Plan
Cost: Approximately $94 for adults and $27 for children ages 3-9 years old (per each night of your package).
The 2020 Disney Dining Plan includes:
- 1 Quick-Service meal per night of stay (includes entrée and a non-alcoholic drink or alcoholic drink if it’s offered at the location you’re dining in and you’re 21 years old or older.)
- 1 snack per night of stay
- 1 Table-Service Meal, Full Buffet or Family Style Meal per night of stay (if a table-service meal, it includes an entrée, a non-alcoholic drink or an alcoholic drink (if it’s offered at the location you’re dining in) and dessert with lunch or dinner. Dessert may be substituted for an appetizer. They may be able to make a substitute but it’s not guaranteed. ( Note – the following cost 2 Credits per person rather than one: Fairytale DiningCinderella’s Royal Table, Princess Storybook Dining at Akershus Royal Banquet Hall at lunch and dinner, Story Book Dining at Artist Point with Snow White, Dinner at Be Our Guest Restaurant, all Fine Dining and Signature Dining restaurants, and Dinner Shows.)
- 1 refillable mug for your length of stay ( for guests 3 and over)
Two quick-service meals will be redeemed for each Pizza Pick-up at the following Disney resorts: 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.
To see Disney’s official page for the Disney Dining Plan, visit here.
TIPPING INFORMATION for the Disney Dining Plans
PLEASE BE AWARE that the Disney Dining Plan, the Disney Dining Plan Plus, and the Deluxe Disney Dining Plan DO NOT include a tip. The customary tip for full service dining is approximately 15%-20%, depending on how your service was, and whether the meal was a buffet style meal or not. Some people feel that it’s reasonable to tip on the lower end of the scale if you’re doing the majority of the leg work at a buffet.
For groups of 6 or more people, you’ll automatically be charged an 18% tip. Be careful not to double tip, unless of course you’d like to.
Some exceptions: Gratuities are included in dinner shows and Cinderella’s Royal Table.
You can pay for the tip in cash, as a room charge if you’ve set that up, on a credit card or Disney Gift Card.
Related Articles:
Is the Disney Dining Plan Worth the Money?
Managing with Special Dietary Needs at Disney World
For more Disney World planning tips, check out this page:
Easy Steps for Planning Your Trip to Disney World
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