The Disney dining plan reviews – Is it worth it? Exactly how good of a deal is it? Are you going to save $100’s on your bill? Well let’s that’s figure that out…
Cost Breakdown
On our trip in May 2009, we got the dining plan for 7 nights. We paid right at $630 for the dining plan. We also paid an additional $100 in tips.
We ate at 7 different character meals:
- Chef Mickey’s – 2 adults @ $22.99 each. 1 kid @ $12.99. Total of $58.97.
- 1900 Park Fare – 2 adults @ $24.99 each. 1 kid @ $13.99. Total of $63.97
- O’hanas – 2 adults @ $18.99. 1 kid @ $10.99. Total of $48.97.
- Crystal Palace – 2 adults @ $18.99. 1 kid @ $10.99. Total of $48.97.
- Garden Grill – 2 adults @ $30.99. 1 kid @ $14.99. Total of $76.97
- Akershus – 2 adults @ $30.99. 1 kid @ 18.99. Total of $80.99.
- Tusker House – 2 adults @ $20.99. 1 kid @ $11.71. Total of $53.69.
That brings the grand total for the character meals (less tips) to $432.53.
We also had 7 counter service credits:
- Flame Tree BBQ – approximately $35
- Toy Story Pizza Planet – approximately $28
- Sunshine Seasons – approximately $32
- Pecos Bill – approximately $32
- Pop Century Food Court – approximately $33 (3 times)
That brings the approximately grand total of the counter meals to $226.
But then we also got 7 snacks each, so a total of 21. Those are valued at about $4 each. So that brings us to a grand total of $742.53. I paid $630 for the plan.
Grand savings of $112.53!
Other factors to consider
Here are some questions I want you to ask yourself:
- If you dined without the dining plan, would you get a dessert at every meal?(With the dining plan you get 1 counter service meal with desert ($3 value), 1 table service meal with dessert and a snack.)
- Would you drink soda at every meal ($2.50 value) or would you opt for water? (free)
- Would you pay for a snack or would you bring your own?
- Would you share a meal with a spouse or with your kids instead of each getting your own? (This is allowed at every restaurant but the buffets.)
- Would you have a sit down meal every day?
- If your kids are 10 and up, they are considered an adult on the dining plan. Would you get them an adult entree if you were paying out of pocket?
When people email me and ask me if I think they should get the dining plan, I tell them to visit Disney’s website and pick out a table service (like Chef Mickeys), a counter service (like Pecos Bill) and a snack (like the choices at Friars Nook) and write down the prices of the food they might choose if they were at Disney today. Then multiple $45.99 times the number of adults in your party and $11.99 by the number of children. If the total for the food that you would buy from the 3 restaurants you chose is more than what you would pay for the dining plan, the dining plan is probably a good value for your family.
Learn more about Walt Disney World Dining and get suggestions for where to eat, how to use the Disney Dining Plan and more.
We have used the dining plans often when traveling and my wife discovered that by visiting one of the people in our hotel they will help you get the most out of your dining plan. We saw a lot of the shows, character breakfasts, and we always eat in the coral reef restraint (we got engaged there). The hotel rep. was very helpful in getting us the best deal out of our dinning plan. We paid for the cheaper meals out of pocket and used the dinning plan for the more expensive meals/shows.
I’ve been poking around on your site for a year or more, but have never said hi. Thanks for having such a great site…one of a handful that share my passion of Disney and where I can get excited about it all over again as I read your posts! My husband and I did the dinng plan last year for the first time for our own trip away and loved it so much we are doing it again with our whole family this year. The kids dining plan is really a super bargain! We usually do a sit down, counter, & snacks anyway, so the plan really works for us and that way we can order anything off the menu without worrying about the cost. We usually don’t get dessert, but with the dining plan we really enjoy the desserts, too! It’s just a shame the dinner at Le Cellier and Hollywood Brown Derby are 2 table service credits now…those were really great deals with the dining plan! We are still eating at some places that cost $35 or more per adult, so the dining plan makes a lot of sense when you see those prices!
Here’s a great tip about the dining plan…
Sometimes Disney offers FREE dining plan when you stay on property! If you stay in a value hotel you get 3 quick service meals, and a resort refillable mug (i believe). We stay in a moderate and get 1 quick service, 1 table service and 1 snack. We never use all of it and end up having sandwiches made for our trip home using our last quick service meals. We sign up for emails from Disney and plan our trip when these great offers come around. we even took our daughter out of school early. So, worth it.
I will NEVER go to Disney again without the DELUXE dining plan. We had so much food, but we were NEVER hungry. 3 table service meals a day w/app & dessert! Wooooo. Plus, we were able to use a snack credit one day (you get 2 a day per person) and get a GIANT Cinnamon Roll @ Mainstreet Bakery for breakfast. *I dont suggest riding Space Mountain right after =-O By doing that we saved one table service and used it at The Yachtsman *it was 2 credits* If we had NOT gotten the dining plan, it would have been almost a $180 meal!
i think the biggest advantage of the dining plan for us is that we go to fancier restaurants, char. meals, etc since on the dining plan. I thin k if we werent on the dining plan, would most likely do all quick service meals to avoid the cost of the sit down meals. I realize is all a mental thing, but its also really nice knowing 45 days ahead of vacation, that all the big items are paid for and really dont need all that much money available while actually there.
Kristin…it might be fun for AP holders to also see a comparison with the TiW card. For us it’s a better deal because, no…we don’t usually have dessert and sometimes we want an appetizer or a glass of wine with dinner. All of these things are covered with the TiW card. Or sometimes we might want an appetizer for dinner or just a bowl of soup and a salad. I see a lot of people who are confused by the 20% discount and then 18% tip. They seem to think that you are only getting a 2% discount. But no matter what plan (or no plan) you are on, most people still pay the tip….so you are really getting a 20% discount.
Good idea Carol!
I have been to WDW 17 times since 1999. I first purchased the dining plan in 2007 while on our honeymoon and cannot tell you the money we saved nor the great experience at each facility. When we went back in 2010 we had our 19 month old son and also purchased the dining package which did not work out well with our son but he did enjoy the character dinners and breakfast but having to go back to the hotel get dressed and be back at which ever park to eat did not sit well with him after being up all day he was tired and ready for bed by the time we were sitting down to dinner. The next time we go I think we are just going to purchase the quick meal plan and pay out of pocket for one or two buffets.
Just my two cents, as someone who has had the Dining Plan for my family of 2 adults and 2 kids, and we have also gone to Disney and NOT bought the plan…it is truly a vacation when you buy the plan. So nice to be able to just peruse the menu and choose what you really WANT, not the cheapest item! When we didn’t have the plan, every day I spent time thinking about cost and trying to be frugal.
That being said, we usually go to Disney for several days. If I was to just go for a long weekend or so, I may not get it for that, as I wouldn’t want to waste too much time dining. But for a longer trip, it’s great to plan your days to include time out in a nice restaurant – and my girls LOVE the character meals and bonus, no lines to wait for autographs! Many restaurants are not just a meal, but an experience.
Less than 9 months until our next Disney hit! Have to save lots, going down in peak season for the first time but it’s when our extended family can come too. Thanks Kristin for all of your tips so we can Coupon to Disney!!!!
I live in Florida and my family and I are at Disney several times a year, and unforturnatly as Passholders we can not use the dinning plan :0( ( That I know of)
This was helpful as we always choose the quick service plan because we have 2 small kids. Going for 8 days in Oct/Nov for F&W and are considering Basic or Deluxe for the sake of really going all out for our long trip.
P.S. Best bang for your Quick Service Meal buck is at Wolfgang Puck Express in our opinion. The meals are pricey, big and you get a form of “table service” with servers refilling drinks, asking how you are doing, and bringing boxes for leftovers :)
We have the same issue as Claire. We pay for 4 adults and 1 child. I figured out where we wanted to eat on our next trip and added up what I thought the cost would be for everyone to eat what they usually eat. We would still do 7 buffets or table service, 7 counter service, and 7 snacks, but not do dessert at every meal. We save money not to do the plan because myself and the two “adult” kids can not eat enough food to offset the $46 price tag for the plan each day.
We didn’t get the dining plan the first year we went and we spent so much money on food. We got the dining plan for our 2 week trip last year in June and for our trip this year in May. It saves us so much money. My family can eat some food, so having the dining plan is a must have for us. Now my youngest just turned 10, and she doesn’t have a huge appetite. But her dad and her sister will be able to finish anything that she doesn’t. I love Allears, they are my go to for any Disney questions. Love your site.
What I like most about the dining plan is the fact that everything is already paid for when we sit down (from our vacation package). Its easier to enjoy myself knowing that I’m spending “one table service” instead of trying to decide what is the cheapest thing on the menu. It allows me to feel like I’m really on vacation and enjoy myself!
Yes, I totally agree with you. We take our entire family of 8 to Disney every year. I love the Dining plan because it’s hard to get a bill for $300 for one meal. Just would rather have it paid for in advance. We usually go at a time when Disney is offering the promotion Dinning free.
I completely understand the value of the dining plan. However, when we were at Disney in March ’11, we didn’t have time to do that many character meals, and we weren’t hungry enough to eat anywhere near enough food at the counter service/snack places to justify the dining plan. We would have spent the bulk of our days eating instead of riding rides and seeing the shows. We were there for 5 days and spent less than $500 on meals (we had free breakfast at our off site hotel) for 3 adults and 1 child. That includes 2 character meals and 5 counter service meals (with tips) as well as several snacks and drinks.
Just a few other things to consider when deciding if the dining plan is for you.
This break down is old prices. The prices have gone up for all character meals. Not only that but at all restaurants at WDW. I did the break down for our trip and the dinning plan brought us in less then what it would cost out of pocket. Two sit down meals a day and a counter service. With and without dessert.
Right. It is an example of our 2009 trip when we had Magic Your Way plus Dining. Bot the plans and the meals have gone up since. I saved $150 by using the dining plan on our Anniversary trip. (I think. It might of been more than that.)
We are planning our very first Disney trip for mid-September. The dining plan is free, so we are super excited to save money on eating!
Those are very good questions to ask yourself! Now that 3 of our 4 kids are considered “adults”, I couldn’t imagine paying for 5 adults plus 1 child on any of the dining plans to eat per day. We usually eat for way less money than that at Disney. Thanks for breaking everything down.