How to Maximize Your Disney Dining Plan: A Complete Guide ~

Read Time:7 Minute, 2 Second

The Disney Dining Plan can be an excellent way to simplify your meals while vacationing at Walt Disney World. It allows you to prepay for your meals, saving you from worrying about prices while you’re enjoying your trip. However, to truly get the most value from the Disney Dining Plan, you’ll need a strategy. In this guide, we’ll break down how the Disney Dining Plan works and give you tips on how to maximize it for your family vacation.

Understanding the Disney Dining Plan

The Disney Dining Plan is a prepaid meal plan available for guests staying at Disney Resort hotels. There are several different tiers of the dining plan, so you can choose one that best fits your family’s needs and budget.

Types of Disney Dining Plans

The Quick-Service Disney Dining Plan

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:

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

The Disney Dining Plan

Price per night

$94.28 – Per Adult
$29.69 – Per Child (3-9)

What you get– Keep in mind that some dining locations will charge 2 table-service credits for your sit down meal. Each person (aged 3 and over) in your party receives the following during their 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 a complete breakdown of prices and details for each plan, check out Disney’s official Dining Plan page here.

How to Maximize the Value of the Disney Dining Plan

Choose Restaurants Wisely

To get the most value from your Disney Dining Plan, it’s important to choose restaurants where the per-meal cost is higher than what you would have paid out of pocket. Here are some tips to help you choose the best dining experiences:

Table-Service Meals

Character Dining: Meals like Chef Mickey’s, 1900 Park Fare, and ‘Ohana offer high-cost meals with beloved characters. These experiences are excellent value on the Dining Plan because they are usually expensive if paid out of pocket.
Buffets: Restaurants like Biergarten at Epcot and Boma at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge offer all-you-can-eat buffets, which are another great way to get maximum value from your table-service credits.
Signature Dining: Consider using two meal credits for signature dining experiences like Cinderella’s Royal Table. These upscale dining experiences give you more bang for your buck.

Quick-Service Meals

Look for quick-service restaurants with larger portion sizes and unique menus. For example:
- Satu’li Canteen at Disney’s Animal Kingdom offers customizable bowls that are hearty and delicious.
- Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Café in Magic Kingdom has generous portions, and your kids can enjoy the quirky animatronic show by Sonny Eclipse while they eat!

Prioritize Snacks

The snack credit may seem like a small part of the Dining Plan, but you can maximize it by choosing snacks that have a higher value (typically over $5). Here are some great snacks to use your credits on:

Dole Whip -Magic Kingdom and Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
Mickey Premium Ice Cream Bar (available at various locations)
Cheshire Cat Tail (Cheshire Café in Magic Kingdom)
Giant Pretzels (Germany Pavilion at Epcot)
Festival Snacks: If you’re visiting during Epcot’s food festivals, many of the food kiosks offer snacks that count as snack credits, giving you gourmet food options for great value.
Cinnamon Roll -Magic Kingdom

Use Credits for Breakfast Wisely

Breakfast typically costs less than lunch or dinner, so it may not be the best use of your meal credits. Instead, save your credits for more expensive meals and consider paying for breakfast out of pocket. If you want to use your dining plan for breakfast, opt for character breakfasts, such as at ‘Ohana or Tusker House, where you get to meet characters without the added cost of a dinner meal.

Scheduling Meals: Planning Around Your Day

One of the best ways to maximize your Disney Dining Plan is to plan your meals around your park schedule. Here are some strategies to help you:

Book Reservations Early

Dining reservations at popular Disney restaurants can fill up fast, so book your Advanced Dining Reservations (ADRs) as early as 60 days in advance to secure your preferred dining times. Prioritize popular spots like Cinderella’s Royal Table and Be Our Guest. Consider finding an authorized Disney Vacation planner like Rope Drop Travel to assist in securing these coveted dining experiences!

Plan for Downtime Meals

Consider booking table-service meals for lunch or early dinner to provide a relaxing break during a busy park day. This can help rejuvenate your family, especially if you have young children, before heading back into the parks for evening shows or fireworks.

Use Mobile Ordering for Quick Service

If you’re short on time, use Disney’s **Mobile Ordering** feature for quick-service meals. This allows you to order your food in advance and skip the lines, making it easier to manage your dining credits on a tight schedule.

Getting the Most Out of the Refillable Mug

All Disney Dining Plans come with a refillable mug that can be used at your resort for unlimited refills of soda, coffee, tea, and other beverages. These mugs can’t be used in the parks, so to maximize their value:

Fill up your mug before heading to the parks and enjoy a drink on the way.
Use it to save on beverages during resort days or while relaxing by the pool.
Keep it handy for late-night refills back at your resort.

Special Dietary Needs and Preferences

Disney is known for accommodating special dietary needs, and the Dining Plan is no exception. Whether your family has allergies, is vegetarian, or prefers plant-based options, many Disney restaurants offer alternatives. Here’s how to maximize the plan if you have specific preferences:

Inform Disney in advance: When making dining reservations, let Disney know about any allergies or dietary restrictions. Disney chefs are fantastic at creating custom meals that fit your needs.
Use the My Disney Experience App: You can find allergy-friendly menus at many quick-service locations, and you can even customize your mobile orders.

Keeping Track of Your Credits

It’s easy to lose track of your dining credits during a busy Disney vacation. Here’s how to stay on top of them:

Check your balance: You can always check how many dining credits you have left by looking at the bottom of your dining receipts or by checking on the My Disney Experience app.
Use all your credits**: Don’t leave credits unused! If you have leftover snack credits on your last day, use them to stock up on **Mickey-shaped Rice Krispies treats**, **candy apples**, or other Disney snacks to bring home.

Final Tips for Maximizing the Disney Dining Plan

Share meals: Some quick-service meals have large portion sizes, so you can share meals to stretch your credits, especially with younger children.
Save snacks for the parks: Use your snack credits wisely by grabbing higher-value treats in the parks, such as the famous Dole Whip, rather than using them for bottled water or popcorn.
Consider the dining plan based on your family’s eating habits: If your family enjoys multiple table-service meals or character dining, the Dining Plan can save you money. If you’re more likely to grab a quick bite or prefer smaller meals, consider whether paying out of pocket may be more cost-effective.

The Disney Dining Plan can be a great way to manage meal costs and enhance your Disney vacation experience, but the key to getting the most value is planning ahead. From choosing the best restaurants to strategically using your credits, these tips will help you maximize every meal, snack, and dining opportunity.

For more tips on making the most of your Disney vacation, check out our guides on Unlocking the Magic of Disney on a budget and the Ultimate guide to Planning a Walt Disney World vacation with kids. Happy dining!