Disney Dining plans get mixed reviews from past guests, some love the concept, while its a hard no for others. Purchasing a Disney Dining plan is an upfront cost for your Disney vacation, then guests receive snack and meal credits to disperse as they please. Guests are essentially pre-paying for their food prior to their trip. A Dining plan can be added to any Disney World Resort vacation. This can have its advantages and disadvantages. Disadvantages include getting more food than you want or need when you already paid for it. One big advantage is guests have less to worry about during their vacation for costs. However, there is one BIG mistake guests on the dining plan make.
The #1 Disney Dining plan mistake is not accounting for tip money. While the dining plan covers your meal (see what you get for each meal plan at bottom of post), it does not cover your tip. It is customary to give an 18-20% tip. Another major mistake guests do not realize, is even at Disney World buffets a tip is expected.
Example:
For many Character meals at Disney World guests will pay an average of $60 per adult and $40 per child (age 3-9), or one meal credit each (except Cinderella’s Royal Table & Be Our Guest for dinner which are 2 credits each). For a family of 4, 2 adults & 2 children, expect your total to be around $200 or more. Which is great, since its already paid for! Except, The 20% tip would then be $40 (based on a $200 total).
If you do 1 sit-down meal each day for a week (7 days) at this rate, that is almost $300 in tip money alone ($280 to be exact). This is one consideration to go over when choosing to add a dining plan or not to your Disney World vacation.
Dining Plan & What You Get Per Person/Per Night of Resort Stay:
- Disney’s Quick-Service Dining Plan
Two Quick-Service Meals (These are also called Counter Service meals) & Two Snacks
One Resort Refillable Drink Mug good for unlimited drink refills at your resort for the duration of your stay. - The Standard Disney Dining Plan
1 Table-Service meal, 1 Quick-Service meal & 2 Snacks
One Resort Refillable Drink Mug good for unlimited drink refills at your resort for the duration of your stay. - The Deluxe Dining Plan:
3 Table-Service or Quick-Service Credits (this is the only plan that allows you to redeem your Table-Service credit at a Quick-Service location) & 2 Snacks
One Resort Refillable Drink Mug good for unlimited drink refills at your resort for the duration of your stay.
Learn more about Walt Disney World Dining and get suggestions for where to eat, how to use the Disney Dining Plan and more.
No. Only if staying onsite
I agree that many people believe the tip to be included so they don’t plan for it. I always view the menus online so I know how much 20% would be.
One note: the resort-refillable mug is good at ANY resort beverage station, not just the resort where you are staying. Since they added the chips, you can carry your mug with you if you visit another resort and enjoy a “free” beverage there, an added benefit if you like to look around other resorts on your trip.
Can we get a disney dining plan if we are staying at a hotel outside the park?