“Is the Disney Dining Plan worth it?” is arguably one of the most frequently asked questions when planning a Walt Disney World vacation. I have been lucky enough to get the Free Dining offer that is typically available in the fall. As a group of adults who think the food is just as important to our vacation as the entertainment, the dining plan is a huge benefit to us, particularly when it is discounted, or free.

Having used participated in DDP frequently I have put together a list to help you decide if any of the three standard options are right for your family.

PROS

1. All-inclusive feel

We love when we go to an all-inclusive resort we do not have to worry about spending money. There might be an additional fee here or there, but overall the vacation is paid for and we can relax.

DDP allows you to order what you would like regardless of price. I don’t have to crunch numbers in my head at dinner to decide if I can afford the entree I want since I bought an extra snack that day.

2. Try new things

We typically order or upgrade to the Deluxe Dining Plan. It is a lot of food, but depending on your party and your eating habits it’s worth it. The deluxe plan gives you an appetizer, entree, dessert, and alcoholic beverage with every table service credit.

I often order new appetizers that I normally wouldn’t try if I had to pay for them. However, since they are included I can sample something different. As long as you are using your credits wisely (i.e. not buying water everywhere) you can really test out new things you might skip otherwise!

3. Accept almost everywhere

The majority of places in Disney accept the dining plan. You can easily check each if a restaurant accepts the dining plan by checking Disney’s website. If you are looking at what snacks qualify for a snack credit be sure to look at All Ears. You can check out menus and photos on their site and each item that qualifies as a snack credit is marked with a symbol.

4. You have options

Everything from a quick meal in Pandora, to a buffet with Mickey and friends, and even a fine dining experience overlooking the Magic Kingdom – you really have a variety of dining options that you can select. You can pick the plan that fits your family best. Whether it is the Quick Service Plan, the Dining Plan, the Deluxe Dining Plan, or the new Disney Dining Plus Plan, it can be shaped to fit your family.

You also have the option to get a dining plan and use it for the more expensive meals and pay out of pocket for the meals that are a lower cost. The other nice feature is any quick service credit can be converted into 3 snack credits. You have to use all 3 snack credits at once in the same location, but depending on the size of your family it is very easy to find the value in that.

5. It (can) save you money

This is where a lot of number crunching comes into play, but Free Dining or not, DDP can absolutely save your family money. You need to be realistic about how much your family will eat and what they will eat. I do not have children so our trips are currently all adult trips to Disney World.

We like trying new places we haven’t eaten before and sampling different items. The addition of an alcoholic beverage to the meal helps with the value too. We typically order a glass of wine or beer with dinner.

CONS

1. It can be stressful

We love the fact that all our meals are paid for. However, that also means we have to constantly keep track of how many credits we have remaining. You have to find the balance between running out of credits to early or not having enough later.

For some people, the prepaid factor isn’t as comforting for them. They are too worried they will waste money at the end. If you want to have an “all-inclusive” feel, preload Disney gift cards through other side hustles before your trip so you already have budgeted money to spend.

2. You have to be aware of the cost

Most families are buying the dining plan to save money, not to simplify their vacation. This can lead to groups selecting restaurants that aren’t their #1 choice but offer a better value for DDP, so they eat there instead. Or they order the most expensive thing on the menu every time even if it isn’t what they really are hungry for.

If you think you are going to be swept up into making sure you are getting the most value out of your plan and not simply enjoying your food, this might not be for you.

3. It might not be the best discount

Going by the standard price for each plan, it might not be the best savings option for your family.  If you have a Disney Visa, Annual Pass, or a Disney Vacation Club membership you get discounts at various dining locations. If you are a Florida resident, Annual Passholder, or a DVC member you qualify for Tables in Wonderland which (typically) provides even more of a discount.

These discounts are part of the reason I decided to buy an annual pass even though I live nowhere near Florida. If free dining is being offered, that is an entirely different calculation you’ll have to do.

4. Your family has to eat a lot

If your family simply sees the food at Disney as something to consume when they are hungry, skip DDP altogether. If you would rather focus your time going on rides, pack food for the park and skip the restaurants. Every family vacations at Disney differently.

If yours doesn’t get as excited about the idea of eating breakfast with Mickey Mouse as they do riding Space Mountain one more time, definitely skip the dining plan.

5. Limiting from other experiences

If you are already spending money on DDP, you will most likely choose to skip over other dining options. Options like dining with an Imagineer or dessert parties. If you are going during events like the Food and Wine festival, which offers many different dining options throughout the world showcase, you will probably skip over them because your meals are already paid for.

It doesn’t make sense to pay out of pocket for those experiences when you have already covered that cost. If you plan on doing different challenges like “drinking around the world” or snacking your way through Disney Springs, you have to decide if any of the plans fit in with your schedule.

Have you used the dining plan before? Do you love it or hate it? Let me know below!

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