The Deluxe Dining Plan at Walt Disney World is a pre-paid option that allows you to get 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) and 2 snacks per night of your stay. Plus each person receives one Resort refillable drink mug.
Cost:
$119 per night ages 10 and up
$47.50 per night ages 3 to 9
What you get per person per night of resort stay:
3 Table-Service or Quick-Service Credits (this plan that allows you to redeem your Table-Service credit at a Quick-Service location). You will get an appetizer, entree, dessert and beverage at Table Service locations. You also will receive 2 Snacks entitlements per day plus a refillable mug valid at your resort location for soda, coffee or tea.
Additional costs:
You must pay gratuity on your Table-Service meal(s). This can range from 18% and up.
Details
- Everyone staying in the resort room must be on the same dining plan.
- You will automatically be charged for the dining plan for every night of your stay in your resort room. For example, you cannot have the dining plan for 3 nights of a 7 night stay. The only way to get around this is to have multiple resort reservations and transfer resorts.
- Kids ages 3-9 must order from the kid’s menu where available.
- On the first day of your resort stay, all dining credits will be added to your account. You can choose to redeem them in any order you want. Want to eat 4 snacks in one day, you can!
Price Comparison
So let’s figure out if the Deluxe Dining Plan would save your family money. Here is an example day and what it would cost you to eat if you paid cash for your meals:
Breakfast
Eat breakfast at Chef Mickey’s . The cost for the buffet for adult is $50 and includes your beverage.
Total: $50 (+ tax)
Lunch
Eat lunch at Coral Reef in Epcot.
- Crispy Rhode Island Calamari- $14.00
- Seared Mahi Mahi – $31.00
- Chocolate Wave – $10.00
- Soda – $3.99
Total: $58.99 (+ tax)
Dinner
Eat at ‘Ohanas for dinner
- Adult Meal $55
Total: $55 (+ tax)
Snack #1
Eat at Aloha Isle in Magic Kingdom.
- Dole Whip – $4.99
Total: $4.99 (+ tax)
Snack #2
Eat at Les Halles Boulangerie-Patisserie in Epcot
- Macaroons — $6.00
Total: $6.00 (+ tax)
Grand Total: $174.98 (+ tax approximately $156.52)
Cost of the Dining Plan: $119 (tax included)
So if you can eat all that food each day, sacrifice about 6 hours of your vacation to eat in the restaurants plus pay tips on all your meals, then this dining plan is definitely worth it.
My Advice
Visit Disney.com and search for the Quick Service and Table Service restaurants that appeal to your family. Check out the prices on their menu for lunch and dinner and ask yourselves the following questions:
- Would both of your kids get a kid’s meal or would they split an adult meal if you were paying out of pocket?
- Would you purchase a snack everyday for each member of your party if you were paying out of pocket?
- The refillable mugs are located at the quick service location at your resort. The cup holds approximately 12 ounces. How many times would you be able to refill it? The mug is valued at $19.99. Figure out how many times you would refill it and divide the cost of the cup by the number of refills. If you refilled it both morning and night for 7 days, you would pay approximately $1.42 per refill. Also consider the fact that you would have to either return the mug to your room or tote it with you during the day. Will you want to walk all the way back to your room before visiting a park or will you want to carry it around with you all day in the parks?
Only you can figure out if this plan is cost effective for your family and will save you money. I do hope that I provided you with the resources to conclude that on your own. Don’t just assume the dining plan is a good investment and end up spending more for the dining plan than what you would have spent out of pocket.
Check out the details on the Disney Dining Plan.
Learn more about Walt Disney World Dining and get suggestions for where to eat, how to use the Disney Dining Plan and more.
My husband and I love the deluxe plan. We are eaters (healthy most of the time) and we do breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks most days anyway. I have a food allergy and the deluxe dining plan lets me get amazing quality food and deliciously made options. There are great quick service options but the deluxe dining plan gives us so many delicious options. However, we definitely have to plan a bit more and make reservations. Definitely worth it for couples…maybe not with kids. If its free dining time, DEFINITELY upgrade.