The most common question……should I buy the Disney Dining Plan (DDP)? Well, there is no cut and dry answer to that. There are a series of denominations that come into play that determine whether or not the DDP is a good fit for you and your vacation party.
- How many people?
- Kids? How old are they?
- How do you run your day?
- Do you eat at a lot of character restaurants?
- Do you and your vacation party eat like birds or do you eat regular meals?
- Would you rather pay for most meals in advance?
- Do you have a kitchen in your room?
- Do you plan on eating breakfast in your room?
Here is why: If you have 10-12 year olds and they do not eat much, you are paying adult prices for children’s meals. If ages 3-9, it is a GREAT deal. The price per day is nothing compared to what you would normally spend for a meal, snacks, refillable mug, etc, for a child. If you eat mainly snacks and bring sandwiches to the parks, you may not want to get the DDP. There are four dining plans to choose from.
The dining plan starts on your check-in day. You will have all entitlements to use however you want on the day of your arrival through to midnight of the day you check-out. All plans are paid in advance with only having to pay tips on the TS meals at the time of dining. Everyone on your room reservation must be on the plan. It is either all or nothing. (Except children under the age of 3.)
Disney Quick-Service Dining Plan
Dining Plan Highlights
Everyone in the party ages 3 and over receives the following during their package stay:
- 2 Quick-Service Meals 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 Quick-Service Dining Plan, each Guest (ages 3 and up) in your party would receive 8 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.
- 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 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 have 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
Quick-Service Meal
Meals redeemed at breakfast, lunch or dinner will include:
- 1 Entrée
- 1 Nonalcoholic Beverage (or Alcoholic Beverage, for Guests 21 and older)
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:
- Milkshakes
- 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
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
Quick-Service Meal
Meals redeemed at breakfast, lunch or dinner will include:
- 1 Entrée
- 1 Nonalcoholic Beverage (or Alcoholic Beverage, for Guests 21 and older)
Table-Service Meal
Meals redeemed at breakfast will include:
- 1 Entrée
- 1 Nonalcoholic Beverage (or Alcoholic Beverage, for Guests 21 and older)
-OR-
- 1 Full Buffet (prix-fixe) or Family-Style Meal (prix-fixe)
- 1 Nonalcoholic Beverage (or Alcoholic Beverage, for Guests 21 and older)
Meals redeemed at brunch, lunch or dinner will include:
- 1 Entrée
- 1 Dessert
- 1 Nonalcoholic Beverage (or Alcoholic Beverage, for Guests 21 and older)
-OR-
- 1 Full Buffet (If Available) or Family-Style Meal
- 1 Nonalcoholic Beverage (or Alcoholic Beverage, for Guests 21 and older)
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:
- Milkshakes
- 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:
- 1 Entrée
- 1 Nonalcoholic Beverage (or Alcoholic Beverage, for Guests 21 and older)
- 1 Dessert
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 Entrée
- 1 Dessert (lunch and dinner)
- 1 Nonalcoholic Beverage (or Alcoholic Beverage, for Guests 21 and older)
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.
Helpful Tips/Information
Breakfast
Breakfast is the least expensive meal, so it is best to plan on buying that meal. There are some other factors where that may not be the case. If dining at a TS restaurant in the morning, use the plan and pay for the QS meal you would have later that day, which would be less expensive.
Be sure to look at pricing of the restaurants you plan to dine at. You can use your allotted snacks for breakfast at your QS resort restaurant or at the parks, if you want. We would use our daily snacks for a breakfast bagel, danish, drinks, etc. The cast member at check-out will assist you with all details or click here for more help with snacks.
How to use it
As far as how it can be used is completely up to you. If you wanted to use all TS meals on your first day, you can do that. You want to use your QS entitlements in 2 or 3 days? You can do that! If you want to evenly spread them out throughout your entire stay, it is your prerogative. Just do not leave anything on the table when it is time for you to leave. That is another way many people waste their money. They leave meals and/or snacks on their plan and go home. Plan in advance, if at all possible!
Lunch
Lunch is the second least expensive meal out of all three meals. It is best to use the QS entitlement for lunch for a few reasons, but there are some other factors where that may not be the case. If dining at a TS restaurant for lunch, use the plan and pay for the QS meal you would have that day, which would be less expensive. Be sure to look at pricing of the restaurants you plan to dine at. Here are some things to consider:
- Lunch is the less expensive compared to dinner at many restaurants.
- Some popular restaurants are not open for lunch.
- You and your party are probably running around in the parks enjoying yourselves. You never know where you may be during the day. This alleviates you having to coordinate your theme park days with your dining reservations. You can stop wherever you are for a QS meal and continue on without adding so much more time, walking, interrupting your day and missing out on rides, because you have a reservation across the park.
- The odds of getting a TS without a reservation at lunch time is difficult, if not impossible, depending on the time of year. You could waste a lot of your valuable time waiting for a table to open if you do not have a reservation. Planning is key. If you can plan your days accordingly, then using a TS for lunch is good.
Dinner
Dinner, on the other hand, is best for TS reservations. It is the most expensive meal of the day at most restaurants so you get more for your money. Many will head back to their room in late afternoon to rest, swim, nap, shower, etc. Then they can go to their reservation in a resort or at a park and enjoy the evening after they are done eating where ever they are.
It is very important to book all TS reservations as soon as possible. Disney resort guests are allowed to book them 60 plus 10 days from their check-in date. Trust me, you need to take advantage of that time frame. Click here for tips on successfully booking reservations at the restaurants you want.
Disney Dining Plan Special
Just because Disney provides dates allowed for the free dining offer and your trip dates do not fall completely into their date bracket, does NOT mean you do not qualify. It depends on when your vacation “starts”. As long as your first day is within their dates, then you qualify for your whole stay for free dining.
Tipping
MOST IMPORTANTLY, the dining plans include beverages, tax and food. They do NOT include tip. Please remember that the waiters/waitresses at all TS restaurants earn around $2-$5/hour and rely on tips just like any other restaurant in the US to make a living. All of the restaurants provide an itemized receipt with a total in order for you to calculate the 20% tip. Wouldn’t you want your hard-working son, daughter, spouse, friend, parent, grandchild be rewarded for good service? Click here for a list of all instances where you would be tipping.
Tables In Wonderland (Temporarily Suspended)
DVC members, annual/seasonal passholders, Florida residents: Depending on how you and your vacation party eat, how you like to schedule your day, the ages of your kids, etc., the dining plan may not be the best option for Disney Vacation Club members. Go to Tables In Wonderland Pros and Cons for more details. Here are some quick TIW details: It is a card purchased for $175 for Florida residents and a discounted rate of $150 for DVC members and passholders. (Be sure to look at blackout dates.)
The card can be used for up to 10 people per card for 20% discount on EVERYTHING at select table service restaurants. It is important to remember that it must be at an approved table service restaurant, be outside of blackout dates and all guests must be together for the card to be used with the owner of the card, because the card must be with the purchaser and it is not transferrable. With the TIW card, you can buy what you want. If you want an appetizer, get it with 20% off. The amount to spend to break-even for the $150 fee is $750.
Trading Entitlements
A quick service meal can be traded for 3 snacks. This is very important for those attending the Food and Wine Festival. The food at the festival is not cheap and this is how you can get the best value for your snacks (Alcohol not included). For more information, go to Greatest Value For Dining Plan Snack Entitlements.
***When trading in a QS for snacks, all snacks from that one entitlement must be used at the one location. Click here for QS restaurant recommendations in the theme parks. Disney Dining Plans cannot be used towards a dessert party.
QS–Quick Service
TS–Table Service
DVC–Disney Vacation Club
TIW–Tables In Wonderland