Everything you need to know about the Disney Dining Plan

The Disney Dining Plan finally returns in 2024! Here is what you need to know about it.

The Disney Dining Plan

Save time and money on your Disney World vacation by purchasing a Disney Dining Plan. Enjoy a certain number of prepaid meals and snacks during your stay to make your vacation feel more “all-inclusive”. Spend more time enjoying your vacation and less time on meal budgeting while you’re here.

In addition, you could save up to 20% on dining for kids ages 3 to 9 when you purchase a dining plan for your family as part of a Walt Disney Travel Company package. You can read more about how to calculate if the Dining Plan will be “worth it” for you in this post.

There are only two plans when the Disney Dining Plan (DDP) returns in 2024. Unfortunately, they eliminated the Deluxe and Plus plans. We speculated why this may have occurred HERE.

Returning in 2024

It’s been a long two years without the dining plan, and Guests are ready for its return! The Dining Plans were temporarily paused with the reopening of the parks, likely due to the lack of character dining and number of restaurants open in general. It can be a bit tricky figuring out how to budget for food without the Dining Plan (although it is possible and we share how to do it in this post).

Beginning May 31, 2023, you can add a dining plan to Walt Disney Travel Company packages that include a Disney Resort hotel stay with arrivals on or after January 9, 2024.  If you already have a room, you can modify your reservation to upgrade to a package that includes a dining plan. Just be aware your arrival date must occur on/after January 9!

Please note: we do not have pricing yet, but as soon as we do I will update this post.

What is included in the Quick-Service Plan

The Disney Quick-Service Dining Plan entitles Guests to meals at counter service locations and snacks. Everyone in the travel party (ages 3 and up) will receive 2 Quick-Service meals per night and 1 snack/nonalcoholic drink per night of their package stay. Each Guest will also receive 1 Resort-refillable drink mug.

Included is 1 entree and 1 nonalcoholic beverage (or alcoholic for Guests 21+).

For example, if you book a 4-night package with a Disney Quick-Service Dining Plan, each Guest (ages 3 and up) in your party would receive 8 Quick-Service meals and 4 Snacks or Nonalcoholic Beverages—which can be used at any time during your 4-night stay.

Are you considering pizza pickup at the resorts? Two Quick-Service meals will be redeemed for each pick up meal. This includes 1 large pizza and 2 single-serving alcoholic or nonalcoholic beverages.

Participating resorts include the All-Star Resorts, Art of Animation, Caribbean Beach, Pop Century, and both Port Orleans – Riverside and French Quarter.

What is included in the Table-Service Plan

For the Table-Service plan, everyone in the travel party (ages 3 and up) will receive 1 Table-Service meal per night, 1 Quick-Service meal per night, and 1 snack/nonalcoholic drink per night of their package stay. The plan also includes 1 Resort-refillable drink mug.

For example, if you book a 4-night package with a Disney Dining Plan, each Guest (ages 3 and up) in your party would receive 4 Table-Service meals, 4 Quick-Service meals and 4 snacks or nonalcoholic beverages—which can be used at any time during your 4-night stay.

Reservations at Table-Service restaurants are subject to availability and are highly recommended. Read more about how to get those hard-to-get reservations HERE.

Two table-service meals will be redeemed from the dining plan for each person dining at a Fine/Signature Dining experience, select Character Dining experience or a Dinner Show. This includes restaurants such as:

• Cinderella’s Royal Table
• Akershus Royal Banquet Hall
• Story Book Dining at Artist Point
• Be Our Guest
• Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue

Meals redeemed at breakfast include 1 entree and 1 nonalcoholic/alcoholic beverage OR 1 full buffet (prix fixe) or family-style meal (prix fixe) and 1 nonalcoholic/alcoholic drinks.

Meals redeemed at brunch, lunch or dinner will include 1 entree, 1 dessert, and 1 nonalcoholic/alcoholic beverage OR 1 full buffet or family-style meal, and 1 nonalcoholic/alcoholic beverage.

Are you considering private-in room dining at the Grand Floridian? Each private in-room dining meal includes 1 entree, 1 dessert (lunch or dinner), and 1 nonalcoholic or alcoholic beverage. 2 Table-Service meals will be redeemed for each person dining.

Beverages and Snacks

Beverages are included with each meal. Guests under 21 years of age may choose from a variety of nonalcoholic beverages. Guests 21 and older with valid identification may substitute for beer, wine and cocktails.

For alcoholic beverages, a single-serving includes items such as beer or cider, wine or sangria, and mixed drinks or speciality cocktails. For nonalcoholic beverages, a single-serving includes items such as milkshakes, fresh smoothies, hot chocolate, soda, coffee, or tea.

At Quick-Service restaurants, most Outdoor Carts and select merchandise locations, snacks may include a single serving of items such as:

• Frozen ice cream novelty, popsicle or fruit bar
• 2 scoops of hand-scooped ice cream
• Popcorn scoop (single-serving box)
• Piece of whole fruit
• Single-serve bag of snacks
• 20-ounce bottle of Coca-Cola® products, including Dasani® water
• 20-ounce fountain soft drink
• Single-serve coffee, hot chocolate, hot tea, milk or juice
• Cup of soup
• Add on toppings or sauces (e.g. side of cheese dipping sauce)

We recommend NOT wasting your dining credit on items like fruit, fountain drinks, or toppings/sauces. Go for items that have a higher monetary value to get the most bang for your buck, and pay out of pocket for cheaper items.

Some items are NOT included, such as:

• Items that are more than a single-serving (like a box of donuts or a jar of peanut butter)
• Items served in a souvenir container (like popcorn or drinks)
• Items that are considered merchandise (bottle toppers, glow cubes, etc)
• Special dining events offered at select Table-Service restaurants (think Epcot festival packages, etc)

More important information you need to know

You may notice that Disney took away 1 snack per day. That may take some additional planning and out-of-pocket expenses if you are used to 2 snacks per day.

Specific number of meals and snacks are determined by the number of nights included in the package stay. Meals and snacks can be redeemed at any time during your stay. Unused meals and snacks will roll over day to day and expire at midnight on day of checkout. Meals and snacks are nontransferable between party members.

Guests ages 3 to 9 must order from a children’s menu, where available. Do note that children under 3 will not be charged for the Dining Plan. They may share from an adult plate at no extra charge or you can purchase a plate for them. The price of the meal will be added to your bill.

In addition, the plan must be purchased for entire length of stay and for the entire party (ages 3 and up). That means if you have a 7 day trip, you cannot purchase a dining plan for only 5 days.

Gratuities are NOT included, except for dinner shows and Cinderella’s Royal Table. Be sure to account for that at the end of your meal! 18% gratuity is automatically added for parties of 6 or more. Additionally, an automatic gratuity may be added for certain items you order that are NOT included in the dining plan.

An extra form of payment is needed if you add gratuity and have not provided a credit card at check-in to charge incidentals and expenses.

How to use your Dining Plan

Redeeming your Dining Plan is easy! Just present your valid Disney Resort ID (MagicBand, MagicMobile, or Key to the World card) to your server or cashier. If you’re traveling with another party that is also on the Dining Plan, notify your server or cashier which meals should be redeemed on each valid Disney ID.

You can redeem your meals and snacks in any order during your stay, until the number of meals and snacks associated with your package has been depleted. All unused meals and snacks and the ability to use your Resort-refillable mug expire at midnight on your package reservation checkout date.

Keep track of how many you have used/unused in 3 ways:

• View your remaining meals and snacks in the My Disney Experience app.
• Check your dining receipts. Remaining meals and snacks are printed on them.
• Ask your Resort Concierge or Guest Relations to obtain them at any time.

As a reminder, unused meals and snacks will roll over day to day and expire at midnight on day of checkout.

What questions do you have about the Disney Dining Plan? Ask them below! Do you know someone who needs this information? Be sure to pass this article along to them!