If you are using the Disney Dining Plan, you need to make sure that you are able to stretch your credits and get your money’s worth. Here are the 5 worst values on the Disney Dining Plan:
1. Cinderella’s Royal Table – This is a signature restaurant (meaning it requires 2 credits) and it is also a money waster. The current cost for dinner is $75.83 per adult and it includes the tax and gratuity. Since we value a Table Service entitlement at $46.20 without the gratuity, we would need to add 18% to it in order to do the math, making a Table Service entitlement worth $55.44. Two Table Service entitlements would then be worth $110.88 meaning that you actually lose over $35.00 per adult by choosing to spend your dining entitlements at this Signature Restaurant. If you dine for breakfast ($60.13 per adult), you will lose over $50.00 per adult in your party.
2. Breakfast – To break even on the Disney Dining Plan, you need to spend $46.20 per adult at the Table Service meal. Most breakfasts, even character meals, cost less than this amount. It is a much better value to spend your credits on lunch or dinner.
3. Rose & Crown Pub – This delicious restaurant in the United Kingdom is not very expensive. The priciest entree is $33, but most average $21. Add $7 for dessert and $3.29 for beverage and you still fall short of the $46.20 that you need to break even. It is a much better option to pay out of pocket for this restaurant and use your credits elsewhere.
4. 50’s Prime Time Cafe – This popular restaurant in Hollywood Studios is also a bad value for the Disney Dining Plan. Entrees average $21 with the priciest on the menu being $26. This is another great option to pay for out of pocket.
5. Dinner shows – All of the dinner shows (meaning it requires 2 credits) are a bad value on the dining plan. The dining plan only covers category 2 or category 3 seating and they fall well below the $92.40 you’d need to spend to break even. Pay for it out of pocket or skip it all together.
Learn more about Walt Disney World Dining and get suggestions for where to eat, how to use the Disney Dining Plan and more.
Laura w says
The way to do Character meals in my opinion is get the ones that your kids love. I’ve heard most of the food is not amazing but not bad. Highest rated for food is ‘Ohana. We were happy to get Chef Mickey with the fab five for brunch at right on the monorail.
Sue says
Is it possible to just pay cash if youre on the dining plan for Cinderella castle? It’s our big splurge as my little one and I really REALLY want to eat in the castle. But I don’t want to waste 2 meal tickets on it if it’s not worth it.
Nichole says
Yes we do that when we go to Le Celier too just let them know up front you will be paying.
Peggy P says
We did the meal at Cinderella’s Royal Table, and I don’t think it’s worth it whether you’re paying cash or with your dining plan. The food serving is very small. We left hungry. You’re paying for the character interaction, not the food, like with a majority of the character meals. But it’s hardly worth the price it costs. We did it once and never again.