Walt Disney World's Dining Plan

The Disney World Dining Plan is a way to prepay for some or all of your meals at Disney World.

The plan is open to any Disney World resort hotel guest as part of an add on to a Magic Your Way Package. The Dining Plan is available at a per day cost and there are several different options depending on the dining options that you need.

There are different levels and prices for each Disney Dining Plan level.

The Dining Plan can prove to be an excellent value for a Disney World vacation - so it is well worth looking at what your options are.

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To understand the Dining Plan you need first to know what the Magic Your Way concept is really about.

Firstly is applies only to Disney World resort hotel guests.

When you have a reservation at a Disney World resort hotel you have the option of purchasing a Disney Magic Your Way Package. This can prove to be an excellent value. There are various different types of Magic Your Way Package which vary in price and benefits.

The base Magic Your Way Package includes your hotel accommodation and a Disney World basic park ticket. You can add on Water Park Fun and More, Non Expiration and Park Hopper options to your ticket for an extra cost.

Other benefits included in the base Package include commemorative luggage tag, $15 voucher for Downtown Disney Planet Hollywood restaurant, Miniature Golf certificate valid for one round at either Disney's Fantasia Gardens or Disney's Winter Summerland Miniature Golf course, extra 90 minutes of watercraft fun when you buy 60 minutes at Sea Raycers by Sea Rays, and a card valid for 30 minutes of play at any resort video arcade.

So that is the basic Magic Your Way Package.

Now let's go through the various Disney Dining Plan Options that you can add.

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You can add a Quick Service Dining Plan to your Disney Magic Your Way Package.

The Quick Service Dining Plan includes 2 Quick Service Meals and 2 snacks per day.
What is a Quick Service Meal? You can choose one entree or combo meal, a dessert for lunch or dinner, or juice for breakfast, and a non alcoholic beverage.

A snack covers many items including a fountain service drink,a piece of fruit,pastries,popcorn or a frozen ice cream novelty. All snack items are marked on menus - with a Mickey Mouse Ear symbol!

Also included is one refillable drink mug per person.

Each guest in the room 3 and over is entitled to 2 Counter Service Meals and 2 Snacks per day.

When you check in the meals are 'credited' to your account. Say you stay for 5 days you will have 10 Counter Service Meals and 10 Snacks. You do not have to use an equal amount per day or use them for the same person. So you can save them up to use 3 on one day and 1 on another for example.

You can use the Dining Plan credits up to midnight on the day that you check out. After that your credits are lost.

The cost of the add on Quick Service Dining Plan is $29.99 for adults and $8.99 for children aged 3 to 9 per person per day.

The Quick Service Dining Plan is new for 2009 and it will be interesting to see how many guests buy this plan. Personally I cannot see that much value in this plan. I would think that most guests would use their credits and then also have to buy an additional counter service or restaurant meal in the day. So of all the Disney Dining Plans this is perhaps the one that offers the least value in my opinion.

This Disney Dining Plan option includes 1 table service meal, 1 counter service and 1 snack per person per day.

The cost of this option per person per day is $39.99 for adults and $10.99 for children aged 3 to 9.

There are over 100 Disney restaurants that participate in the Disney Dining Plan for the table service option.

When you check into your Disney World resort hotel you will receive credits for the total amount of dining options for the duration of your stay. You can use the credits as you want to - you do not have to use an equal amount each day. But you must use all of your credits before midnight on the day that you check out or you will lose them.

The Basic Disney Dining Plan option can prove to be an excellent value and is very well worth considering for your vacation.

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The Deluxe Disney Dining Plan includes 3 meals,2 snacks and a resort refillable mug. The meals can be either full service or counter service meals.

So this Dining Plan option is much more flexible than the basic plan - and it most certainly includes a lot of food! You could have a restaurant service meal for breakfast, lunch and dinner. And of course if you are still hungry after that then there are 2 snacks to be eaten as well!

The cost of the Disney Deluxe Dining Plan? $69.99 for adults and $19.99 for children aged 3 to 9. That is per person per day and children must choose from the Child's menu if there is one available.

is the Deluxe Dining Plan worth it? Well it would certainly cover all your food options. Many guests report that it is more than enough food. The advantage is that you know that you have all your meal options covered. It can also be a great choice when you know that you are going to use some of the restaurants which require 2 full service credits.

What is actually included on the Disney Dining Plan for your table service meal?

For lunch and dinner adults can choose an entree and a dessert,with a non alcoholic beverage. Or you could choose to use the credit for a full buffet. For breakfast adults can choose from an entree, juice and a non alcoholic beverage or a full buffet.

Children choose from an appetizer, entree and dessert for lunch and dinner with a beverage. For breakfast the child has the option of an entree, juice and a beverage. A child can also choose a full buffet for breakfast, lunch or dinner.

If there is a child menu available (and there pretty much always is) then a child aged 3 to 9 has to choose from that menu for it to be counted as a credit.

Gratuities are not included for table service meals. A service charge of 18% will be added to a bill for parties of 6 or more. A gratuity will also be added to items not included in the dining plan - such as alcoholic drinks for instance.

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Most Disney World resort and park restaurants are included on the Disney Dining Plan. But there are some exceptions - Victoria and Albert's at The Grand Floridian Resort for example.

There are other restaurants that will require 2 table service credits. These include:

California Grill at Disney's Contemporary Resort
Jiko at Disney's Animal Kingdom Resort
Citrico's and Narcossee's at The Grand Floridian Resort
Flying Fish at the Boardwalk
Hoop Dee Do Musical Review at Fort Wilderness
Mickey's Backyard BBQ at Fort Wilderness
Disney's Spirit of Aloha at the Polynesian Resort
Artist Point at Disney's Wilderness Lodge
Yachtsman Steakhouse
Safari Celebration Dinner at Disney's Animal Kingdom
Hollywood Brown Derby at Hollywood Studios
International Dinner and Illuminations Dessert Party at Epcot
Cinderella's Royal Table at the Magic Kingdom

This list may not be exhaustive so always check with Disney when making your Advance Dining Reservations.

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