Long time, no see Disney Dining Plan!
The pre-paid dining option disappeared from Disney World when the parks closed in 2020 due to COVID-19 and it has been missing ever since. That’s why we were SO excited to learn it was returning as of January 9th, 2024! Guests have been able to book the Dining Plan for a few months now, but the day is finally here — the Disney Dining Plan is alive and well again!
As with any new or returning thing in Disney World, there are usually some aspects we don’t expect. Emma had the Disney Dining Plan and is using it to answer all of your questions…but now we’re going to take you through some of the unexpected things we ran into. Let’s go!
Disney Dining Plan? What is that?
You may be wondering what the Dining Plan is — if that’s you, don’t worry! If you are unfamiliar with this offering, the Dining Plan is available for an additional cost on your Disney World vacation. You pay a certain amount per night to get credits that you can use at most Disney World restaurants throughout your vacation.
Depending on the plan you choose, these credits can be redeemed at table service restaurants, quick service restaurants, or snacks. Essentially, this is a way to pre-pay for your food at Disney World, and the credits are used to “pay” for your meals. Many find the Disney Dining Plan helpful with budgeting and consider it a convenient option in the parks.
There used to be more Dining Plan options before it went away in 2020, but it’s returning with only two options: the Quick-Service Dining Plan and the Basic Disney Dining Plan.
The Quick Service Disney Dining Plan includes two quick-service meals and one snack per person per night. The pricing is as follows:
- $57.01 per night per adult (ages 10 and up)
- $23.83 per night per child (age 3-9)
The Basic Disney Dining Plan includes one table service meal, one quick service meal, and one snack per person per night. This is the pricier option at:
- $94.28 per night per adult (ages 10 and up)
- $26.69 per night per child (age 3-9)
You must be staying at a Disney World hotel to add the Disney Dining Plan to your vacation package.
Things We Didn’t Expect
Of course, using the Disney Dining Plan in 2024 came with some surprises. Let’s take a look at some of the things that shocked us!
How Easy It Was To Find Your Credits
The My Disney Experience app really does compact everything, and we were pleasantly surprised with not only how easy it was to find our credits in the app, but also how easy it was to actually use them. Mobile ordering food was super convenient and a piece of cake (pun intended)!
Snack Changes
We were also taken aback by how many snacks were no longer available on the Disney Dining Plan. For example, we were looking for certain snacks at Les Halles that used to be on the plan but were nowhere to be found.
Difficulty In Figuring Out Which Snacks Counted
While purchasing our food was fairly easy, sometimes finding out what qualified under the Disney Dining Plan was a challenge. On more than one occasion we found it unnecessarily difficult to find out which snacks counted and which ones didn’t. We were using the plan on the first day it was available — so this could become easier as menu boards and signage is updated.
Cost Justification Was Iffy
Given the cost of the plans, we were disappointed in the total bang for your buck. What we mean by this is that the high price you pay for the Disney Dining Plan may ultimately be more than you normally would’ve spent each park day. We think it could be challenging to make the Disney Dining Plan actually worth it due to these prices.
Lots of $7 and $8 Snacks
On the flip side, you can make up some of that difference with the surprising amount of quality $7 and $8 snacks there were available through the Disney Dining Plan. We found quite a few of them in each park so you can get more of your money’s worth. While they may not completely justify purchasing this add-on to your vacation, they certainly ease the blow of the daily cost.
Want to learn more about the Disney Dining Plan? Check out our posts below.
- Best Table Service Restaurants for the Disney Dining Plan in 2024
- Best Quick Service Restaurants for the Disney Dining Plan in 2024
- Complete List of Participating Restaurants Revealed for Disney Dining Plan
Stay tuned to AllEars for more Disney World updates.
Disney World’s FREE Dining Plan Offer Is BACK — Here’s Why That’s a Bigger Deal Than You Think
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My family is vegan, and the vegan offerings on the menus are usually the least expensive. So the Dining Plan has never been a good option for us.
Given the cost of the plans, we were disappointed in the total bang for your buck. What we mean by this is that the high price you pay for the Disney Dining Plan may ultimately be more than you normally would’ve spent each park day. We think it could be challenging to make the Disney Dining Plan actually worth it due to these prices
VERY TRUE
I read a study about the new dining plan, and basically the only way to come out ahead in the new plan and the new prices is to only eat at the most expensive restaurants, and have alcohol as your drink for every meal. Of course, that is assuming you can drink alcohol! Those from age 10-20 who pay an adult price can’t drink, and ultimately would be better off paying for their food as they go.
Those who absolutely feel like they should pay for food before their trip so that it almost feels like they are eating free should consider buying Disney gift cards ahead of departing for their trip.