Hello and welcome to
planDisney, Susan. I'm so glad you've stopped by to chat about your Walt Disney World vacation next summer.
I'm so glad you are getting a good start on planning your trip to the
Most Magical Place on Earth next June, Susan! Planning is half of the fun and will keep you excited until your trip is right around the corner. My husband's birthday is right around your travel dates and we've celebrated many times at Walt Disney World. That time of year is a great time to visit, you are going to have so much fun. It can be hot so hopefully, you'll schedule several trips to the pool to take a break from the heat throughout your trip.
Susan, right now the
Disney Dining Plan remains temporarily suspended. It has not yet returned to us since the shutdown of Walt Disney World last year. It is such a fan favorite and luckily we do know that it will, indeed, be coming back to us. When the
Disney Parks Blog made that announcement a few months back we were so relieved. However, at that time, they just weren't sure of the release date and told us that information will be coming out at another time. Since then, avid Disney Dining Plan fans have been anxiously awaiting more information. The good news is that if the Disney Dining Plan is released before your vacation next June, I am certain you'll be able to add it on to your existing vacation package. Previously, Guests were able to add it on up to 48 hours prior to their check-in day. I am certain it will look similar to this in the future.
In the meantime, I suggest picking up
Disney Gift Cards to use on dining while you are at Walt Disney World. This is what I've been doing and it works great. Using Disney Gift Cards for meals and snacks is similar to the Disney Dining Plan in the sense that it is already paid for ahead of time and has to be used for something at Walt Disney World. I like to pick up a small dollar amount Disney Gift Card each time I am at the grocery store. It doesn't add a lot to my bill but I am always amazed at how quickly they can add up. With the holidays coming up, it's also a great gift to ask for from family and friends! Stocking up on Disney Gift Cards before your vacation will make it a lot easier to say yes to that fancy meal that you know you are going to want to have while you are there. If the Disney Dining Plan is released before your vacation, you can always use the Disney Gift Cards you have saved up to help pay off the balance of your trip. It really is a win-win.
I hope this helps. If you have any other questions before your trip, please feel free to stop back by and
ask me. I'm here to help. Have fun and happy planning!