The Disney Dining Plan is a great way to save money, try new things and spend time with your favorite characters. However, when I’m in the parks, I’ve seen some of these mistakes made constantly. I have compiled a list of the five mistakes people make with the Disney Dining Plan so that you can avoid them on your next trip!
Types of Dining Plans
- Quick Service Plan: This plan entitles you to (2) quick service meals and (2) snacks per night as well as a refillable resort mug to use at your hotel.
- Disney Dining Plan: This plan entitles you to (1) quick service meal and (1) sit down meal per night as well as a refillable resort mug to use at your hotel.
- Disney Dining Plan Plus: This plan entitles you to (2) meals that can be a combination of sit down or quick service and (2) snacks per night as well as a refillable resort mug to use at your hotel.
- Disney Deluxe Dining Plan: This plan entitles you to (3) meals that can be a combination of sit down or quick service and (2) snacks per night as well as a refillable resort mug to use at your hotel.
Learn more details about Disney World’s Dining Plans here.
Mistakes to Avoid
- Not Making Reservations Ahead of Time. Disney World for the most part is not something you want to wing when you are spending that kind of money. Many of the popular restaurants will fill up at that six-month advanced reservation date (i.e. Beast’s Castle). Even if you are doing the quick service plan and want to do breakfast or lunch at a place like Beast’s Castle in the Magic Kingdom, you need to reserve it ahead of time. Tip: Mark your calendar at the six months out date so you can be one of the first to reserve and have your pick. If you book under six months out, dining should be one of the first things you try to reserve after fast passes! Login on your computer or app to My Disney Experience to make reservations.
- Forgetting You Can Order Alcohol: One of the most recent and loved changes was the ability for adults to order alcohol with their meals. You are entitled to one beverage per meal that can be wine, beer, or cocktail of your choice!
- Not Maximizing Your Snack Credits: I cry inside when I see someone order a bottle of water with a snack credit. There are so many other great values for your snack credits. Some of these items value at $8-$9 depending. I highly encourage you to check out Disney Food Blog. They have great lists and guides on the best snacks to get at Disney World! This is their youtube channel that I’m addicted too as well.
- Not Researching Restaurants Ahead of Time: I’ve talked with people that didn’t realize all the character dining options that were available with these plans. You can also use these plans for dining at different Disney resorts. You need to decide what is most important to you when picking restaurants. If it is meeting characters, bulk up on reservations at character dining. Check out my list of the best character dining restaurants here. Here is a complete list of dining locations that are available on the Disney Dining Plan!
- Ending Your Trip with Excess Credits: When you take the time to plan out your dining, you should be able to come out even. However, things come up and you may not be in the mood for a snack on some days. While it isn’t the best use of your snack credits, you can go to the gift shop on your last day and bring home some Disney goodies like candy and rice crispy treats with those snack credits. Don’t let these credits go to waste. Unless you scored free dining, you paid for them.
Final Overview
The Disney Dining Plans are a great option for planning your vacation. You do need to consider the type of trip you are planning and if these would work out for your family. If you are going for a weekend and are focused on rides, a dining plan wouldn’t be the best way to maximize your time in the parks. I personally love the plans. We usually get a quick service or a regular dining plan when my family goes. My family are foodies and definitely have some Disney Dining favorites. I hope you enjoyed this list and will avoid the five mistakes people make with the Disney Dining Plan!
Do you like the Disney Dining Plans?
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