Ah, the draw of an all-inclusive vacation…knowing all is paid for in way of accommodation and food is such a weight off one’s shoulders before taking a trip!
And how many times in the past year have I wished for such an option at Disney!
If I am being honest with you, I am not a “YES” mom. I wish I was…you know, the mom who does not give it a second thought when her kids ask for that dessert, that rainbow specialty smoothie, or the fun snack from the booth that looks like Ariel made a baby with a doughnut.
Sure, I may want them to taste it and let them have all the indulgent fun, but the thrifty, budget-conscious voice in my head always pulls me back. Alas, I am not naturally that mom.
To my (and many others’) relief, something BIG is returning to Disney World in 2024. Something we have not seen in years, and there is quite the buzz about its anticipated debut back for guests’ enjoyment. It is also the only way this mama will let go and stop worrying about the nickels and dimes that add up as my family makes our way through all the Disney delicacies.
Cue the Disney Dining Plan – Hurrah! Becoming available for use again January 9, 2024 and bookable in packages immediately!
The dining plans allow guests to choose a certain number of meals, drinks, and snacks for a flat fee (similar to an all-inclusive package). If one is strategic about it, and especially if character dining or other specialty meal experiences are a priority, the Disney Dining Plan can be a massive benefit for your wallet!
The first thing to understand about the plan in its newly developed form is how it will look and the options available. Unlike the past, there are only two plans to choose from.
Quick Service
- 2 quick service meals allotted per night of stay, per guest
- 1 snack or non-alcoholic beverage per night of stay, per guest
- 1 resort refillable mug (to be used at any Disney onsite hotel)
- Price: inclusive of tax
Table Service
- 1 quick service meal AND 1 table service meal allotted per night of stay, per guest (applicable at about 95% of restaurants on property)
- Table service meal includes alcoholic beverage option OR dessert
- 1 snack or non-alcoholic beverage per night of stay, per guest
- 1 resort refillable mug (to be used at any Disney onsite hotel)
- Price: inclusive of tax
In addition to savings (which I will address soon), the beauty is that guests have the ability to participate in what feels like a no-interest payment plan on their future food/bev spending. You can slowly knock away at the price of the dining plan in advance (even a year or more!), and when the big day arrives and you start your magical vacation, guess who will take her family by surprise, suddenly becoming the “YES” mom because all has already been paid for in advance!
“You get a churro, and you get a churro, and you get a churro!” ← Me as we arrive in Magic Kingdom.
You know what you are spending up front, and this provides peace of mind. As the primary planner, I won’t end up second guessing myself and my family’s wants, ultimately knocking things off our plan and itinerary because of a pricier unexpected souvenir or experience we may purchase the day before – or, honestly, because of my guilt in spending more than I first allocated. Dining is budgeted for in advance and that makes my heart happy and carefree.
Now, with all of this being said, there is indeed strategy involved in the way one uses the plan! Before we jump into optimizing the value of your plan and ensuring you actually save money, did you know there are specialized travel agents with FREE service that assist in just this type of thing – helping your family determine if the plans fit your needs and make sense, and then ensuring you maximize its use? Working with a Disney specialist from our sister company, Smart Moms Travel, is beyond useful when it comes to these details because, frankly, you don’t know what you don’t know! If your vacation is booked with me or one of our other fabulous planners, you get all the customized support you could hope for, and I guarantee you will feel totally confident in your dining decision-making! Get started now – or read below for some more generalized tips on using the dining plans wisely on your own.
The primary strategy that comes into play revolves around the credits families are given on check in day. The credits are deposited in what can best be equated to a virtual bank. Every guest on a resort package must have the plan if you are opting to purchase it (all for one and one for all when it comes to eating!). Disney makes it easy though in that all is tied to your My Disney Experience account, and – easy as pie – you can use your magic band, phone, or a key card to apply a credit for your family when you are ready to chow. When you scan for the item or meal, it simply pulls from your collective dining bank.
But not every item is created equal for the same credit! Let’s examine a few examples:
- One table service meal credit can be used at both Skipper Canteen (where the average meal is about $18-$25) OR it can be used at a character meal like Hollywood and Vine for $59 (which is all you care to eat AND includes 5 characters).
- One snack credit can be used for a bottle of water (approximately $4) OR it can be used for a $10 festival snack at one of the food booths in Epcot.
- Comparing the same single table service credit in a restaurant for a chicken dish may show a difference in value to its steak or beef counterpart of $20+.
- A quick service waffle for $7.50 is the same credit cost as a large croissant breakfast sandwich with sides for $14.00.
So if you want the best bang for your buck, it is wise to consider your choices of where you’re dining, what you’re ordering, and when you are utilizing your credits.
Now the big question: Is it really cost effective? Is there a financial benefit to the plans beyond peace of mind and getting to be the “YES” mom?
From previous years’ prices of the plans and my experience, it seems to be that if you use the plan well and wisely, the quick service comes out to break even with a smidge of savings while the table service typically saves $10-30 per person, per night when utilizing all your sit down meals and quick service credits. To exemplify this point with the table service option, another example is in order!
Let’s say your family wants to enjoy a meal at Chef Mickey’s, which is an extremely popular all you care to enjoy meal at Disney’s Contemporary Resort that includes characters who rotate around the restaurant for dancing and greetings – as well as a professional picture with the main mouse. Wildly, this meal has only ever been one credit (unlike similar experiences at other character meals that require two credits). When lunch or dinner at Chef Mickey’s for an adult is a whopping $62 per adult cost, there is no question where the savings can be had for the dining plan that is $78 for an entire day of eating and drinking.
To make it clear – Tack on an alcoholic beverage with your meal at dinner (roughly $12-15), a quick service meal enjoyed at another point in the day (approximately $15), your refillable mug of coffee in the morning ($4), and a snack credit (approximately $8)? You’re ahead by at least $30 per adult!
One last point for now – it is tempting to save up credits at times. Certainly you do not want to spend a snack credit on a $4 bottle of water when you can spend it on a $9 dole whip float later in the day. But, time and time again, guests have found themselves on their last day having hoarded credits only to discover they have a few hours left til departure and not enough time to use them well. In these circumstances, you can use the credits in the gift shops for pre-packaged snacks to take home with you, but trust me this is not the way you want to pack your suitcase nor make use of the money you have put toward your plan.
So the answer to preventing this situation at the end of the trip comes back to where we started – you, my friend, get to be the “YES” mom without any qualms. Go ahead and allow your family to experience all the delectable fun that Disney has to offer – care and guilt free.
Still unsure if the Disney meal plans will work for you? Truly, the only way to have the best advice is to speak to an experienced Disney guru, and you have that in abundance at Smart Moms Travel. If you are already working with one of our fabulous agents, schedule a call to chat about your new options for 2024! If you have not planned your trip yet and would love individual help,click here to get started!
And last, if you move forward with a Disney Dining Plan, no stress is needed in actually booking dining reservations too. We will do this for you, at 6:00 AM when your dining reservation window opens, all while you snooze. It is just one more unbelievable free service we offer our families and clients. Trust me, you do not want to pay for a plan you cannot take advantage of because you sadly can’t get into any of your desired restaurant choices.
We look forward to partnering with you in customizing the perfect, most magical trip! Bon Appetit!
